AliExpress is Alibaba's international marketplace, where thousands of sellers, mostly based in China, sell direct to UK buyers. Prices are low because you buy close to the factory. The trade-off is that quality, sizing and delivery vary from seller to seller.
A good AliExpress UK order comes down to choosing the seller, reading the listing properly, knowing what delivery option you are paying for, and using AliExpress buyer protection when something goes wrong.
Vetting an AliExpress seller
Every AliExpress store shows a positive feedback score, how long it has been open, and follower numbers. Favour stores with a long history and consistently high feedback.
Read the reviews with photos. They show what actually arrived, and are more useful than the seller's product images, which are sometimes borrowed from elsewhere.
Several AliExpress stores often sell the same item. Compare the delivered price and delivery estimate, not just the headline, and pick the better-rated store if the difference is small.
Be sceptical of branded goods at a fraction of their normal price. Genuine brand stores exist on AliExpress, but a famous brand at a tenth of the usual cost is unlikely to be real.
AliExpress Choice and delivery
Items labelled Choice are part of AliExpress's own service, with more predictable delivery, free shipping above a basket threshold and, on many items, free returns. Mixing Choice items from different sellers in one basket can help reach that threshold.
Non-Choice items ship from the individual seller. Delivery times vary widely, from about a week to much longer. Check the estimated delivery date shown in the listing before paying.
Some AliExpress listings offer shipping from a UK or European warehouse. It is usually faster and simpler, sometimes at a slightly higher price.
VAT and the final price
Since 2021, marketplaces selling imported goods worth up to £135 to UK buyers must collect VAT at checkout. AliExpress adds it to your order total, so you should not face a surprise charge on delivery for those orders.
Always compare the final AliExpress checkout total, including VAT and shipping, with UK retailers. The difference is often smaller than listing prices suggest.
Large or high-value items above that threshold may be handled differently. Check the checkout summary.
Sizing clothing and shoes
Many AliExpress clothing sellers use Asian sizing, which usually runs smaller than UK sizing. An XL can fit like a UK medium.
Ignore the letter. Measure a garment you own that fits, and compare its measurements in centimetres with the listing's size chart. Many reviewers post their height, weight and the size they chose — use those.
For shoes, measure your foot length in centimetres and match it to the chart. Do not rely on UK or EU sizes on an AliExpress listing.
Electricals, plugs and safety
Check the plug type before ordering electrical goods. Many AliExpress listings offer UK, EU, US or AU plugs as a variant; choose the UK option. Adaptors on high-power items are a poor fix.
Be cautious with anything that plugs into the mains or charges a battery, such as chargers, power banks, heaters and hair tools. Cheap unbranded chargers are a known fire risk. For these, buy from well-established brand stores, or from a UK retailer.
Look for UKCA or CE marking, and remember markings can be faked. Well-reviewed branded stores are the safer route on AliExpress.
Buyer protection and disputes
AliExpress holds payment until you confirm receipt or the protection period ends. Do not confirm receipt until the item has arrived and you have checked it.
If an item is missing, damaged or not as described, open a dispute from the order page before the protection period closes. Include clear photos and, for faults, a short video. Keep communication in AliExpress messages so there is a record.
AliExpress can extend the protection period on a slow delivery if you ask the seller. Watch the countdown on your order.
Where the AliExpress UK savings are
AliExpress UK promo codes are usually spend-threshold codes, and higher-value codes need bigger baskets:
AliExpress UK code values are in pounds, and each has a minimum spend. Match the code to your basket: the small code on an everyday order, the large one only if you were already buying that much.
AliExpress promo codes can often be combined with seller store coupons and AliExpress's own platform coupons. Collect store coupons from the seller's page before checkout, then add the promo code.
The deepest AliExpress prices land during its big sales — the March anniversary sale, the summer sale, 11.11 and Black Friday — when codes are released in tiers. Many run out quickly, so have your basket ready.
Codes usually apply to the goods total before VAT. Check the final figure.
Common questions
Do I pay VAT on AliExpress UK orders?
Yes. On most orders up to £135, AliExpress collects UK VAT at checkout.
Does AliExpress sizing run small?
Often, yes. Use the size chart in centimetres, not the letter size.
What is AliExpress Choice?
AliExpress's own service tier with more predictable delivery, free shipping over a threshold and often free returns.
When should I confirm receipt on AliExpress?
Only after the item arrives and you have checked it works and matches the listing.
| Discount | Type | Get the deal |
|---|---|---|
| 40% off | Promo code | View at AliExpress UK → |
| £25 off | Promo code | View at AliExpress UK → |
| £30 off | Promo code | View at AliExpress UK → |
| £7 off | Promo code | View at AliExpress UK → |
