Pipped at the porch: Parcels lost to the tune of $867 million
A massive wave of lost and stolen deliveries is costing Australians a fortune as packages vanish from doorsteps and transit routes nationwide, according to new research by Finder.
A Finder survey of 1,006 Australians found nearly 1 in 5 (18%) have had a parcel go missing in the past year – the equivalent of 3.9 million lost deliveries nationwide.
While 4% reported theft from their property, others faced logistical failures, with packages vanishing in transit (7%) being delivered to the wrong location (7%).
These mishaps carry a heavy price tag, with the average lost parcel valued at $221, resulting in a staggering $867 million nationwide loss.
Angus Kidman, money expert at Finder, said missed or stolen deliveries have become an increasingly common headache for Australian shoppers.
"As online purchases surge, so do reports of parcels going missing before they ever reach the front door.
"The problem isn't just annoying – it's costly."
Kidman said the increase in home deliveries has made unattended packages an easy target for opportunistic thieves.
"Tracking estimated delivery dates can help people plan ahead. Redirecting parcels to secure collection points, like your workplace or a parcel locker, is a safer option if no one will be home or the delivery date isn't clear.
"Other measures, such as requesting signature-on-delivery, installing security cameras and providing clear instructions for couriers to leave packages in a secure location can also help protect your purchases.
"If goods never arrive, you can also potentially claim a chargeback on the credit card used to pay for the goods."
Residents of New South Wales and Victoria were the most likely to have a parcel go missing (20%), but for different reasons.
Those in New South Wales were most likely to have a parcel delivered to the wrong address (10%), whilst those in Victoria and Queensland were more likely to report a package was lost in transit (9%).
Gen Y was the generation most likely to have a package go missing (27%), followed by gen Z (22%).
Not surprisingly, regional Aussies were less likely to have a package stolen from their address (1% vs 6%), but slightly more likely for it to go missing in transit (8% vs 7%).
Australia's favorite home security systems have been revealed by Finder in the Customer Satisfaction Retail Awards 2025.
Eufy dominated this year, taking out 3 awards including most loved, most recommended, and top value home security system.
The most reliable home security system was secured by Ring.
| Most Loved Home Security System | Eufy |
| Most Recommended Home Security System | Eufy |
| Top Value Home Security System | Eufy |
| Most Reliable Home Security System | Ring |
| Source: Finder Customer Satisfaction Retail Awards 2025 |  |
Have you had a parcel go missing in the past 12 months?
| Yes, it was stolen from my address | 4% |
| Yes, it was delivered to the wrong address | 7% |
| Yes, it was lost in transit | 7% |
| No | 82% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,006 respondents, December 2025 | |
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