Hey there! With over 4,700 stores across the United States, Walmart is famous for its ‘everyday low prices’ on everything you could need – from groceries and homewares to the latest tech and toys.
But I bet you’re wondering – with such great deals available, does Walmart deliver to the UK?
Unfortunately, if you search “does Walmart ship to UK”, the short answer is no.
Walmart does not deliver outside of the USA right now.
But don’t worry! In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how you can get items from Walmart shipped over to the UK, so you don’t miss out on the famous American deals.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- Why Walmart doesn’t currently deliver overseas
- How to use package forwarding to get Walmart orders to the UK
- What it costs to ship Walmart goods to the UK
- If there are any Walmart stores in the UK
- The top Walmart alternatives here in the UK
Let’s get started!
Why Doesn’t the World‘s Largest Retailer Ship To The UK?
As the world’s biggest retailer with over $550 billion in revenue, you’d think Walmart would have the infrastructure to ship worldwide.
But right now, Walmart’s delivery network only operates within the United States.
Here are the key reasons why Walmart does not deliver overseas to places like the UK:
Logistical Challenges
Walmart’s supply chain is designed for fast and efficient delivery across the US’s vast distances.
Most Walmart stores hold just enough stock to meet local demand levels. They are not set up for global fulfilment.
Shipping worldwide requires much more extensive transportation and warehouse capabilities that Walmart currently does not have.
Complex Regulations
Delivering overseas also means complying with import regulations in every country you ship to.
For example, shipments to the UK need to meet customs clearance, duties payments and VAT charges. This adds legal and operational complexity compared to domestic delivery.
Significant Costs
Shipping internationally is very expensive compared to domestic delivery:
- Overseas freight costs are high
- Customs duties need to be paid on import
- VAT and taxes apply in the destination country
Walmart would have to significantly increase prices to cover these costs – going against their ‘everyday low prices’ promise.
Strategic Focus
In recent years, Walmart has strategically focused on serving the US market and growing their domestic ecommerce offering to compete with Amazon.
International delivery has not been a priority for Walmart. Their priority is winning over American customers first and foremost.
| Reason | Details |
|---|---|
| Logistical Challenges | Designed for US supply chain. Lacks global infrastructure. |
| Regulations | Importing rules add legal and operational complexity. |
| Costs | Expensive overseas shipping and duties. |
| Strategic Focus | Priority is growing US ecommerce. |
So in summary, shipping overseas to the UK is just too complicated and expensive for Walmart right now. Their priority is serving US customers with speedy, affordable delivery.
But don’t worry – you can still get your hands on Walmart goods in the UK using package forwarding. Keep reading to find out how!
How To Ship Walmart Orders To The UK With Package Forwarders
If you come across an item on Walmart.com you’d love to get shipped over to the UK, package forwarding is the solution.
Here is exactly how package forwarding works in 4 simple steps:
Step 1: Set Up An Account
First, you need to set up an account with a package forwarding service that provides you with a U.S. address.
Some top package forwarders include:
Visit their sites and choose the best one for your needs.
Step 2: Ship To The Forwarder First
When checking out your order on Walmart.com, enter the U.S. address provided by your forwarder as the shipping address.
Walmart will then ship your package to the forwarder’s warehouse in America.
Step 3: Forwarder Ships On To The UK
Once your parcel arrives at the warehouse, the forwarder will then ship your package on to your address in the UK.
Some will repackage into one box first to save on international shipping costs.
Step 4: Receive Your Walmart Delivery!
You’ll get tracking updates once your order is on its way. Then it’s just a case of waiting for your Walmart haul to arrive from the USA!
This forwarding process allows you to shop Walmart’s US site, even though they don’t ship to the UK themselves.
The Pros of Using Package Forwarders
There are a few advantages to using a package forwarding service:
- Access to Walmart’s US site with its unbeatable deals and wide range.
- Potentially cheaper than shopping in the UK on some items.
- Consolidated shipping can save costs versus multiple parcels.
- Door-to-door tracking from purchase to UK delivery.
The Cons of Using Forwarders
But there are some downsides to consider too:
- Additional forwarding fees and international shipping costs.
- Extra time taken for forwarding process – up to 7-14 days.
- Customs delays possible which can hold up delivery.
- Returns will be complicated and expensive.
So weigh up the pros and cons before using a forwarder to decide if it‘s right for your Walmart order.
What Does It Cost To Ship Walmart To The UK?
Using a package forwarder to ship from Walmart to the UK does come with extra costs.
You’ll need to pay:
-
Forwarder fees – For receiving, storing and forwarding your item. Starts around $10-$30.
-
International shipping – To ship from USA to UK. Varies based on weight and speed. Starts around $30.
-
Customs duties – Paid to UK customs on arrival. Around 2-5% of order value.
-
UK taxes – Import VAT at 20% plus any customs duties must be paid.
In total you can expect to pay 30-50% more than the original Walmart order cost.
The heavier the parcel and the faster the shipping service, the higher these extra fees will be.
| Cost | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Forwarder Fees | $15 – $30 |
| Shipping | $30 – $60 |
| Customs Duties | 2% – 5% |
| UK Taxes | 20% of value + duties |
As an example, a $100 Walmart order could cost $130 – $170 shipped to the UK after taxes, duties and fees.
Always get a complete landed cost quote before ordering to ensure it still offers value compared to UK prices. Otherwise the extra fees can quickly stack up.
Comparing Forwarder Fees
To give you an idea of the extra costs involved, here is a comparison of fees charged by top package forwarders for a 5lb parcel from Walmart in the US to the UK:
| Forwarder | Forwarding Fee | Shipping Cost | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stackry | $19 | $39 | 4-8 days |
| Shipito | $24 | $64 | 6-10 days |
| Forward2Me | $15 | $49 | 3-7 days |
| MyUS | $25 | $54 | 4-9 days |
As you can see, total costs including forwarding and shipping can range from around $60 – $110 for a 5lb Walmart parcel to the UK.
Forward2Me is the cheapest in this example, but always compare the latest quotes between different forwarders against your specific order details.
Are There Any Walmart Stores in the UK Right Now?
Unfortunately, there are currently no Walmart stores located anywhere in the United Kingdom.
Up until 2020, Walmart did own the ASDA supermarket chain in the UK, after acquiring it way back in 1999.
At its peak, ASDA had over 600 supermarkets and stores across Britain.
However, Walmart sold ASDA in 2020 to new owners – the Issa brothers and private equity group TDR Capital – for a whopping $8.8 billion.
So as it stands today, Walmart no longer operates or owns any physical stores left anywhere in the UK.
The only way you can get a taste of that authentic US-style Walmart shopping experience is by visiting American military base stores that have Walmarts onsite.
But these are restricted to military personnel only.
So for now, using package forwarding or finding good local alternatives are your best options for accessing Walmart goods and low prices when based here in the UK.
The Best Walmart Alternatives in the UK
While package forwarding allows you to ship Walmart orders from the US, it’s often cheaper and faster to shop with popular British retailers instead.
Here are my top recommended alternatives to Walmart that you can use for everything from weekly groceries to clothes, tech, toys and more:
ASDA – The Closest Alternative
Since Walmart owned ASDA up until 2020, it shares many similarities with the Walmart model.
With over 600 stores across the UK, ASDA is your best bet for finding those familiar rollback deals on big brands.
You can shop everything from groceries to homewares, clothing, electronics, toys, entertainment and more.
Amazon UK – The One Stop Online Shop
Amazon UK should be your go-to for speedy delivery and easy returns on millions of items.
As well as Marketplace sellers, Amazon themselves stock extensive ranges of electronics, books, home goods, health products, DIY supplies, toys and much more.
You can even get fresh groceries delivered through Amazon Fresh.
Tesco – For One Stop Shopping
As the #1 supermarket in the UK, Tesco has over 3,400 stores nationwide – giving you easy access for all your grocery needs.
The huge Tesco Extra hypermarkets also offer clothing, homewares, electricals, mobile, banking and more – making them a serious competitor to Walmart Supercenters.
Argos – Affordable Homewares and Tech
With 700+ stores and fast home delivery, Argos is perfect for affordable deals on toys, jewellery, home appliances, electronics and furniture.
It also owns the Habitat brand – so check them out for stylish but inexpensive furniture and homewares.
B&M – For Value Shopping
B&M is a popular discount chain with over 650 stores across the UK.
Reminiscent of Walmart, you’ll find super low prices on food, homewares, furniture, pets, seasonal items and more at B&M. It‘s worth a browse for real bargains.
So while Walmart itself may not operate any stores or deliveries in the UK right now – there are still plenty of ways to get your hands on its famous deals through local alternatives or using package forwarding when you really want specific American items!
I hope this guide has given you a complete overview of all your options for accessing Walmart from here in Britain. Feel free to reach out if you need any other tips!
