Purpose: learn how to avoid unwanted PostNL surcharges when your package does not meet the carrier shipping conditions.
Important: To dispute a PostNL surcharge, submit your request within 14 days of the invoice date, including all required evidence. This includes:
- Photos of the shipment’s dimensions (with a measuring tape),
- A photo of the shipment on a scale,
- the sales invoice for the shipment.
You can file your dispute on the Support page in your Sendcloud panel. Please note that missing any required details or submitting after the 14-day period may result in the carrier rejecting your dispute.
PostNL Netherlands surcharges | ||||||||||||||
| Surcharge | Description | Cost | ||||||||||||
| Peak surcharges | Peak season surcharges help carriers maintain service quality during periods of high shipping volume. They cover extra costs like added staff and extended hours, and are charged on top of regular surcharges. | |||||||||||||
| Energy surcharge | The Energy surcharge applies to all PostNL shipments within the Netherlands and Europe, excluding Mailbox and non-EU services. It’s updated monthly based on PostNL’s energy index, which reflects diesel and energy price trends. Learn more on Energy surcharge for parcels. | |||||||||||||
| Incorrectly announced |
PostNL charges a surcharge if the announcement of a parcel has not been done correctly. There are several reasons why a parcel cannot be announced correctly. Some examples are: - The parcel has not been handed over to PostNL within 7 days after the pre-notification - The label is damaged - The label is not easily readable - The label is too close to one side - Pre-notification does not match the data in the barcode |
€1.35 | ||||||||||||
| Surcharge nature of packaging |
PostNL applies this surcharge when a parcel can’t be processed automatically. The fee depends on the destination country. It also applies if the label is covered with tape or a plastic sleeve, which can cause glare and prevent scanning. Examples of non-machine suitable parcels: - Too small (<10x10x1 cm) or too large (>95x70x58 cm within the EU) - Glassware (e.g. wine bottles) or flowers not packed appropriately - Lab samples or X-rays - “Fragile” indications on the packaging - Tubes or packaging where the label can't be read horizontally - Address or barcode not on the largest side - Packaging made of wood, metal, bubble wrap, or polystyrene - Combined packages taped together - Contents not secured inside (sliding around) Prevention tips: - Don’t use tubes or combine parcels - Avoid labels like "fragile" - Place the barcode label horizontally on the longest side - Secure contents with enough inner packaging This surcharge can be hard to avoid due to varying factors. For help, contact our Customer Service. |
Destination country: NL/BE: €5.05 FR: SE/DK: ROW: |
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| Surcharge parcels >23kg | This surcharge applies to parcels over 23 kg and up to 31.5 kg, as they require extra handling during shipping. |
Destination country: BE/NL: €5.80 SE/DK: €13.70 FR: ROW: |
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| Exceeding maximum package dimensions |
If a parcel is too large or heavy for PostNL’s regular delivery vans, it will be sent via the Extra@Home network, and a surcharge for exceeding maximum dimensions will apply. Max dimensions:
When the parcel dimensions are filled in at the order details, the estimated costs will be visible at the price breakdown. This does not mean you will immediately be charged for this surcharge. It is displayed for visibility and informative reasons. How to avoid it: |
€88.15 | ||||||||||||
| Volumetric surcharge |
PostNL applies a volumetric surcharge for parcels larger than 50 dm³, as research shows that many shipments contain unnecessary empty space. This helps reduce CO₂ emissions and increase logistics capacity. Volumetric weight = L × H × W (in decimeters)
When the parcel dimensions are filled in at the order details, the estimated costs will be visible at the price breakdown. This does not mean you will immediately be charged for this surcharge. It is displayed for visibility and informative reasons. *List of other EU countriesBG, CY, DK, DE, EE, FI, FR, GR, HU, IE, IT, HR, LV, LT, LU, MT, AT, PL, PT, RO, SL, SK, ES, CZ, SE. |
See table (left) | ||||||||||||
| Return to Sender | Return costs are charged to the sender if the parcel is refused, undeliverable, has incorrect address details, or isn’t picked up at the depot/service point. | Returns charged at original rate | ||||||||||||
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Additional costs weight PostNL non-EU |
PostNL non-EU costs are based on weight. If the declared weight is lower than the actual or volumetric weight, extra charges apply. The amount depends on the destination. PostNL uses volumetric weight when it exceeds actual weight: Example: If the package weighs 10 kg and is 80 x 60 x 40 cm, the volumetric weight would be (80 x 60 x 40 / 7.500) 25,6 kg. In that case, the weight you use for the shipment should be 25,6 kg. |
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| PostNL Mailbox dimensions/weight |
This surcharge is 5 times the stamp price + EUR 0.20 and will be charged if you send Mailbox packages larger and/or heavier than allowed according to the shipping conditions. Shipping conditions: Dimensions: 38 x 26.5 x 3.2 cm Weight: 2 kg |
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Where can I see these surcharges on my invoice?
Surcharges are applied by the carrier after the shipment has been processed and may not be visible when you create the label.
You can find these charges in your Sendcloud account via Account > Billing, where you can download your invoice in PDF or CSV format:
- PDF invoice: Shows a summary of your total costs, including surcharges.
- CSV invoice: Shows a detailed breakdown per shipment, including the tracking number, shipping cost, and any applied surcharges.
💡 Tip: Use the tracking number in the CSV to identify which shipment a surcharge applies to.
For a full explanation of how shipping costs and surcharges are invoiced and how to read them, see Shipment invoicing.
Please carefully read the shipping conditions to avoid the above surcharges. Make sure that you stay well within the permitted dimensions and ensure that the packaging meets the correct criteria.