How to Mail a Package Between Two 7-Elevens in Taiwan

Did you know that it’s extremely easy and cheap to send a package between any two 7-Elevens in Taiwan? You can send it to anyone, even yourself.

I recently tried this after climbing Yushan (who wants to travel around with a helmet, crampons, and ice axe?) I stopped my car at a random 711 in the countryside of Kaohsiung, mailed the items to my family in New Taipei City, and was shocked to find it only cost TWD 60 (2 USD)!

This is just one of the many things you can do at those amazing iBon machines, which are found in virtually every 711 across the country.

Unfortunately, though, you’ll need to navigate the touchscreen pages in Mandarin. With this guide, you’ll be able to key in all the necessary info and mail your parcel like a pro!

Also read: How to buy Alishan bus tickets at FamilyMart‘s FamiPort machine.

What You’ll Need

There are a few things you’ll need to prepare to mail a package at any 7-Eleven in Taiwan.

• A Taiwan phone number (for you, the sender, but not essential)
• A Taiwan phone number for the recipient (could be you or someone else, essential)
• Branch number (see map) or address of the 7-Eleven you want to send it to
• A box, thick envelope, or strong opaque bag. It must be flat on the top and bottom and large enough to fit the sticker (7.5 X 12 cm).

Most (but in my personal experience not all) 7-Elevens sell boxes and cardboard envelopes for mailing. See images and prices of them here in the official guide to mailing packages at 7-Elevens (scroll down).

If you can’t speak Mandarin, just point out the image of the one you want in the above link to 7-Eleven staff.

If you need to find an empty box or envelope elsewhere, you can try asking your hotel, buy one at a stationery store, or check for random free boxes at big grocery stores like Carrefour.

You can also purchase a variety of boxes or bubbled envelopes at post offices in Taiwan. The different types and prices are listed here. Just make sure you get a blank one and not one that comes with prepaid postage for mailing at the post office.

The maximum weight of products you can send via the iBon shipping system is 5 kilograms (11 pounds).

For sending heavier items, 7-Eleven also offers shipping to addresses (not other 7-Elevens) in Taiwan via via T-Cat, but I won’t cover that in that in this article. For T-Cat, you’ll need to input an address in Mandarin.

For larger or heavier items, you can also consider using the regular post office or the Taiwan Railways shipping service to send by train.

How it Works: Quick Overview

Once you’re ready to mail the items, take them to any 7-Eleven and ask for a box or envelope, or come prepared with your own box, envelope, or opaque bag.

After following the I’ll introduce below steps on the iBon screen, a sticker and receipt will be printed. Put the sticker on the box, take it to the counter, and the staff will give you tape to close the box, if needed.

The price starts from TWD 60 for regular sized packages with value up to TWD 1000 and goes up to TWD for value up TWD 5000. It’s not recommended to send items worth more than that.

The largest box allowable is 120 centimeters (45 x 40 x 35 cm) – the mailing cost for this size is TWD 135 and you must use their box (25 TWD).

There’s a maximum weight limit of 5 kg (11 pounds) for all packages.

Shipments to/from Taiwan’s outlying islands (Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu only) is TWD 140 per package. Only packages below 120 centimeters (width + length + height) are allowed.

In two business days, the package will arrive at the destination 7-Eleven. Packages two/from Taiwan’s outlying islands could take slightly longer. Typhoons can also cause slight delays. You can track packages by entering the tracking number here.

When the packages arrives, the recipient will receive a text message. The recipient can then pick up the package by showing the text message and ID. They must do this within seven days of receiving the text.

Please note: it’s not recommended to use this service to send valuable items such as passports, ID cards, bank cards, or bank books.

How to Navigate the iBon Machine Pages

Before starting, if you plan to purchase one of the 7-Eleven boxes, it’s probably best to ask (and pay) for it first, since some 7-Eleven branches don’t carry them. Then proceed with the below steps at the iBon machine.

On the main screen, select 寄件/購物 (Shipping / Shopping).

Now click the first button, 交貨便 (Convenient Delivery).

Again the first button, 寄件 (Shipping).

Choose the first option, iBon寄件 (iBon Delivery).

Now choose 一般材積寄件 (Regular Volume Delivery). This option works if you’ve brought your own box, or if you intend to purchase one of boxes they sell.

If you’d like to purchase the largest sized box, 120 cm (45 x 40 x 35 cm), choose the second option (120CM大材積寄件).

The additional fee for the box itself will be added at the till. You can ask and pay for the box first before using the iBon machine, or you could do the iBon machine process first and then ask for the box and pay for it all together.

But as I mentioned above, it’s probably best to buy the box first, just to make sure they have it.

On the next page, select the button at the bottom right to agree (同意) to the terms.

Now you’ll see a pop-up mentioning that you aren’t supposed to send important documents. Select 確認 (confirm).

On this page, you need to select the value of the items in Taiwan dollars. When I selected “1 to 1000”, it indicated a shipping price of TWD 60. Then I clicked 下一步 (next step) at the bottom right.

The prices to send higher-value items are TWD 70 (1001-2000 value), TWD 80 (2001-3000), TWD 90 (3001-4000) and TWD 100 (4001-5000).

If shipping to/from outlying islands, the prices will be 140, 150, 160, 170, and 180, respectively.

Here I confirmed (確認) another pop-up, which explains that the recipient’s name I’m about to enter will need to match their ID when they pick up the package.

On this page, you need to enter the sender’s name (寄件者姓名) and phone number on the left and the recipient’s name (取件者姓名) and phone number on the right.

If you’re send the package to yourself, these will be the same, as in my example screenshot above.

Note: there’s a short character limit here (since most Mandarin names only have three characters). I wasn’t able to enter my full first and last names, so I just entered my first name and the initial of my last name.

Just fill in as many characters as you can but make sure they match the name on the ID (ARC or passport) of the recipient.

Once complete, click 下一步 (next step) at the bottom right.

Now it’s time to find the 7-Eleven branch you want to send the package to. The easiest way is enter the 7-11 branch number, which you can find by searching on this map. Enter the branch number in the top bar, as I have done above.

A second way is to select the city or county, district, and street of the 7-Eleven (the three bars on the second row).

Then click 下一步 (next step) at the bottom right.

Whichever way you choose, you should now see a map with the possible 7-Elevens. If you entered a correct branch number, it should only show one, like in my screenshot.

If you enter the second way, it’s possible there will be a few options and you’ll need to choose the correct one on the left side. You can check the 7-Eleven’s entry on GoogleMaps to find its Mandarin address.

Then click 下一步 (next step) at the bottom right.

Finally, you’ll see an overview of the details. Select 取件者姓名 (Finished Inputting) at the bottom-right.

The iBon machine will now print the sticker label for your package. It doesn’t hurt to take a photo of this, just in case, but you’ll also get a receipt with shipping number once you pay.

Place the sticker on the box you’re going to send. You’re supposed to put it at the top-left corner, but it’s not a big deal, as long as its visible.

Take it to the counter. You don’t need to say anything – just show the staff and they will know what it is.

The clerk will scan the QR code and you’ll pay the fee. They will also give you tape to seal the box if needed. And that’s it!

In two business days, the recipient will receive a text message notification that the package is ready to be picked up.

They should proceed to the destination 7-Eleven, show the text and their ID to the clerk, and pick up the package (no additional fee).

They must do this within seven days of receiving the notification or it will be sent back to the original 7-Eleven and the sender will be notified.

And that’s it, folks! If you give this a try or have any questions about mailing things at 7-Eleven in Taiwan, please share them in the comments below!