DHL DE labels expire after 10 days. If the parcel isn’t shipped within that time, the registration is canceled, and DHL may charge the 31.5 kg rate for unannounced shipments.

To avoid this, ship immediately after printing or cancel the label if unused. DHL only charges for scanned parcels.

For all items with special manual processing due to exceptional format or with special packaging features:

The dimensions 120 x 60 x 60 cm are exceeded

The maximum dimensions (diameter of 60 cm) for roll-shaped parcels are exceeded

The parcel is packaged inadequately the price of the shipment will increase, or a supplement will be payable

Applicable when the routing code is missing, incorrect or not readable. This surcharge also applies when the postal address is incorrect, because the routing code can't be created.

When a parcel can't be delivered to the recipient (e.g. refusal to accept the parcel, incorrect address etc.) the customer will get charged for the return of the shipment.

DHL charges a fee in case they need to relabel your parcel. This could happen for various reasons. For example:

The label was damaged

The barcode couldn't be read

The address on the label was incorrect

The wrong weight was added, leading to incorrect or missing information

etc.

As of January 1st, 2025, new regulations on shipping heavy parcels have come into effect in Germany. These rules apply to parcels weighing between 10 and 20 kg, as well as those over 20 kg. If these requirements are not met, it will lead to a weight correction, for which DHL charges a fee.

Click here for more information about Weight requirements for shipping to/from and via Germany

Surcharge due to state levies directly related to the transport service: the fee for the use of federal highways with heavy commercial vehicles (LKW Mautzuschlag) and the costs resulting from the German federal government's CO₂ pricing.

If a label is created with the wrong weight information (for example, if the parcel weighs 4 kg but is created with the DHL Paket 0-2 kg shipping method), the price difference between the two shipping methods and an additional surcharge of €2.20 will be charged.

Lump sum (per each item) of deliberately false info

Lump-sum for ordering shipping materials using other methods per order

Coding fee applied when the postal routing code or international routing code is not available, incorrect or illegible.

Surcharge due to state levies directly related to the transport service: the fee for the use of federal highways with heavy commercial vehicles (LKW Mautzuschlag) and the costs resulting from the German federal government's CO₂ pricing.

Surcharge additional to the parcel price, valid in November and December, to ensure necessary investments in DHL's infrastructure. https://www.dhl.de/surcharges

Surcharge applied during specific peak periods within November and December, independently of the Peak Surcharge. The exact period is determined by DHL each year by July 1st. https://www.dhl.de/surcharges

Necessary surcharge due to recent pricing changes made by the airlines used by DHL Group for international shipments. https://www.dhl.de/transportcostsurcharge

Fee for the effort required to make shipments exportable when their electronic customs data is incomplete or incorrect. Post-processing is only possible to the extent that DHL has the necessary data available. https://www.dhl.de/customs-data-post-processing

When ordering DHL Paket International Premium to Sweden or Finland, an additional charge per parcel is applied when no individual country tariffs for Sweden or Finland have been contractually agreed.

Surcharge for delivery to remote or hard-to-reach geographic areas. List of affected zip codes available online. https://www.dhl.de/remote-areas-europaket-en

Surcharge due to state levies directly related to the transport service: the fee for the use of federal highways with heavy commercial vehicles (LKW Mautzuschlag) and the costs resulting from the German federal government's CO₂ pricing.

Surcharge additional to the parcel price, valid in November and December, to ensure necessary investments in DHL's infrastructure. https://www.dhl.de/surcharges

Surcharge applied during specific peak periods within November and December, independently of the Peak Surcharge. The exact period is determined by DHL each year by July 1st. https://www.dhl.de/surcharges

Fee for the effort required to make shipments exportable when their electronic customs data is incomplete or incorrect. https://www.dhl.de/customs-data-post-processing

Coding fee applied when the postal routing code or international routing code is not available, incorrect or illegible.

Manual processing surcharge for international return shipments caused by non-compliance with country-specific weight and dimension limits.

Surcharge due to state levies directly related to the transport service: the fee for the use of federal highways with heavy commercial vehicles (LKW Mautzuschlag) and the costs resulting from the German federal government's CO₂ pricing.

Surcharge additional to the parcel price, valid in November and December, to ensure necessary investments in DHL's infrastructure. https://www.dhl.de/surcharges

Surcharge applied during specific peak periods within November and December, independently of the Peak Surcharge. The exact period is determined by DHL each year by July 1st. https://www.dhl.de/surcharges

Fee applied when a Warenpost International or Warenpost International Premium shipment is returned to the sender.

Surcharge additional to the parcel price, valid in November and December, to ensure necessary investments in DHL's infrastructure. https://www.dhl.de/surcharges

Surcharge applied during specific peak periods within November and December, independently of the Peak Surcharge. The exact period is determined by DHL each year by July 1st. https://www.dhl.de/surcharges

Coding fee applied when the postal routing code or international routing code is not available, incorrect or illegible.