How to Ship from the US to Czech Republic: Complete 2026 Guide

Shipping to the Czech Republic — or Czechia, as it has officially been known since 2016 — is one of the more straightforward international shipping experiences you can have from the United States. The country sits in the heart of Central Europe with excellent logistics infrastructure, EU membership that standardizes customs procedures, and a population that shops online at rates comparable to Western Europe.

If you are an e-commerce business looking to expand into Central European markets, or you simply need to send a package to Prague, here is what you need to know about carriers, costs, customs, and the practical details that shipping guides usually skip.

The Basics: Distance, Currency, and What to Expect

Packages traveling from the US East Coast to Czechia cover roughly 4,800 miles. The country operates on Central European Time, which is six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time during winter and six hours ahead during daylight saving time as well, since both regions shift clocks.

The Czech Republic uses the Czech Koruna (CZK) as its currency, not the euro, despite being an EU member state. This matters for customs declarations because EU duty thresholds are denominated in euros — the import duty exemption is EUR 150, and VAT applies to all commercial imports regardless of value. The standard Czech VAT rate is 21 percent, which your customers will need to pay on delivery unless you pre-collect it through an IOSS registration.

Czech is the official language, and while younger people in Prague and Brno speak English well, customs documentation should be in Czech or English to avoid processing delays.

Carrier Options and What They Actually Cost

Express Shipping: 2 to 5 Business Days

FedEx International Priority, UPS Worldwide Express, and DHL Express all serve Czechia with delivery times of two to three business days to Prague and most major cities. USPS Priority Mail Express International takes slightly longer at three to five business days but costs significantly less.

For a one-pound package, expect to pay between 45 and 72 dollars for express service depending on the carrier and your negotiated rates. DHL tends to be the most competitive for European destinations because their European ground network is extensive — once your package clears customs in Germany or the Netherlands, DHL moves it overland to Czechia faster than competitors who rely on additional air legs.

Standard Shipping: 6 to 14 Business Days

USPS Priority Mail International is the workhorse option for most small businesses shipping to Czechia. Transit times run six to twelve business days, and rates for a one-pound package fall between 34 and 50 dollars. FedEx International Economy and UPS Worldwide Expedited offer similar timelines at slightly higher prices but with more reliable tracking and delivery confirmation.

If you ship regularly to Czechia, standard service through a multi-carrier platform often gets you the best balance of cost, speed, and tracking quality. The few extra dollars over economy shipping buys you significantly better visibility into where your package is.

Economy Shipping: 14 to 30 Business Days

USPS First-Class Package International Service is the budget option, starting around 11 to 15 dollars for a one-pound package with delivery in 14 to 25 business days. DHL eCommerce Packet offers similar pricing with comparable timelines.

Economy shipping works well for low-value items where the customer is not in a rush, but be aware that tracking coverage gets spotty once the package enters the Czech postal system. You will see it leave the US and clear customs, but the last-mile tracking within Czechia can be minimal.

Customs and Duties: EU Rules Apply

Because Czechia is an EU member state, your shipments are subject to EU-wide customs regulations. This actually makes things more predictable than shipping to countries with their own idiosyncratic customs regimes.

Commercial shipments valued under EUR 150 are exempt from import duties but still subject to VAT at 21 percent. Shipments over EUR 150 face both duties and VAT, with duty rates varying by product category under the EU's Common Customs Tariff. Clothing typically attracts duties of 12 percent, electronics around 2 to 4 percent, and most consumer goods fall somewhere in between.

Every shipment needs a commercial invoice with the sender and receiver addresses, a detailed description of the contents, the quantity and value of each item, the Harmonized System code for each product, and the country of origin. Czech customs officers are thorough, and vague descriptions like "gift" or "merchandise" will trigger inspections that delay delivery by days or weeks.

If you are doing consistent volume to EU countries, registering for the Import One-Stop Shop allows you to collect VAT at checkout and remit it directly to EU tax authorities. This means your customers pay the final price upfront and do not get surprised by a VAT collection fee at delivery — a much better customer experience.

Packaging and Prohibited Items

Czech customs enforces standard EU prohibited items rules. You cannot ship firearms, certain chemicals, or controlled substances. Tobacco products and alcohol face heavy restrictions and additional excise duties.

Food products are allowed but must comply with EU food safety labeling requirements if shipped commercially. Personal shipments of food in small quantities generally clear customs without issue as long as they do not contain meat or dairy products, which are restricted under EU biosecurity rules.

For packaging, standard international shipping practices apply. Use sturdy corrugated boxes, secure contents with appropriate cushioning, and ensure your customs documentation is attached in a visible pouch on the outside of the package. Czech Post and DHL both recommend placing a copy of the commercial invoice inside the package as a backup in case the external documents are lost in transit.

Practical Tips for Regular Shippers

If you are shipping to Czechia regularly, a few strategies will save you money and headaches. First, consider using a fulfillment center within the EU. Shipping in bulk to a warehouse in Germany or the Netherlands and then distributing within the EU eliminates per-package customs clearance and reduces transit times to one to three days for Czech customers.

Second, get your HS codes right the first time. Incorrect classification is the number one cause of customs delays to Czechia, and repeated misclassification can flag your shipments for routine inspection.

Third, provide your Czech customers with a local tracking link. Czech Post's tracking system is separate from USPS tracking, and giving customers the Czech tracking number once the package enters the country dramatically reduces where-is-my-package inquiries.

Platforms like atoship can help you compare carrier rates for Czech Republic shipments, generate compliant customs documentation, and manage tracking across carriers — all of which simplify what can otherwise be a time-consuming process for international shipping.