Shipping with DHL starts on their website, where you can create a shipment, print your label, and either schedule a pickup or drop off your package at a DHL ServicePoint location. The entire process takes about 10 minutes once you have your package details ready. Here’s how it works from start to finish, including what paperwork you’ll need, what you can and can’t send, and what the fees look like.
Create Your Shipment Online
Go to DHL’s website and open their ShipNow tool. You’ll enter the sender and recipient addresses, describe what’s in your package, and provide the weight and dimensions. The system will then show you available service options and prices based on what you’ve entered.
Once you’ve selected a service, choose how you want DHL to get your package. You can book a courier pickup on a date that works for you, or you can drop the shipment off at a nearby DHL ServicePoint. Payment can be handled online during booking or at the ServicePoint when you drop off.
After completing the booking, print the shipping label (called an air waybill) and any required customs documents. Attach the label to your package, and you’re done. DHL handles everything from there, and you’ll get a tracking number to follow your shipment.
Choosing Between DHL Express and DHL eCommerce
DHL operates two distinct shipping services, and picking the right one depends on how fast your package needs to arrive and how much it weighs.
DHL Express is built for speed and international reach. Their Express Worldwide service delivers internationally in 4 to 8 business days and can handle shipments up to about 2,200 pounds. They also offer a domestic overnight option for next-business-day delivery within the U.S. Every Express shipment includes end-to-end tracking and customs clearance handled by DHL.
DHL eCommerce is the more affordable option, designed primarily for lightweight parcels. Domestic services include three tiers, all capped at 25 pounds:
- Smart Mail Parcel Ground: 3 to 8 postal days
- Smart Mail Parcel Expedited: 2 to 5 postal days
- Smart Mail Parcel Expedited Max: 2 to 3 postal days
For international eCommerce shipments, you have options ranging from DHL Packet International (up to 4.4 pounds, delivered in 4 to 8 business days) to DHL Parcel International Direct (up to 44 or 66 pounds depending on destination, delivered in 3 to 10 business days). If you’re a small business shipping lightweight products to customers, eCommerce pricing will generally be easier on your budget. If you need guaranteed speed or are shipping something heavy, Express is the better fit.
Documents You Need for International Shipping
Domestic shipments only require the shipping label. International shipments need additional paperwork for customs clearance. DHL’s online tools will generate most of this for you, but you need to supply accurate information.
The commercial invoice is the most important document. It tells customs authorities what’s in your shipment and what it’s worth. You’ll need to include the sender and receiver’s names, addresses, and contact details, a description of the goods, the quantity and weight, the declared value and currency, the country where the goods were manufactured, and the HS code (a standardized product classification number used worldwide to identify goods). If you don’t know your item’s HS code, DHL’s system can help you look it up, or you can search for it on your country’s customs website.
The air waybill acts as your shipment’s passport. It includes the sender and receiver details, a content description, and the package’s weight, dimensions, and value. When you book through ShipNow, the air waybill is generated automatically.
Some shipments also require a certificate of origin, which verifies where the goods were manufactured. This is typically needed when the destination country applies different tariff rates based on where products come from. Certain categories of goods, like controlled technology or specific chemicals, may also require export licenses from both the origin and destination countries. Each country sets its own rules on what requires a license, and you’ll need a separate one for each shipment of controlled goods.
As the shipper, you’re legally responsible for making sure all information, permits, and documentation are accurate and complete. Incorrect paperwork can delay your shipment at customs or result in it being returned.
Items DHL Won’t Ship
DHL prohibits certain items under all circumstances. You cannot send animals, firearms or ammunition, currency, bullion, jewelry, precious metals or stones, narcotics, human remains (including ashes), furs, antiques that are fragile or breakable, or asbestos. Anything prohibited by law in the origin, destination, or transit country is also banned.
Some items you might not expect fall under “dangerous goods” regulations. Perfumes, food flavorings, certain chemicals, and electronics containing lithium batteries all have special handling requirements under international aviation rules (IATA regulations). Lithium batteries in particular face rigorous shipping restrictions due to fire safety concerns. If you’re shipping any of these items, contact DHL’s restricted commodities team before booking to confirm whether your shipment is eligible and what additional steps you’ll need to take.
Surcharges to Watch For
Beyond the base shipping rate, DHL applies surcharges in specific situations. Knowing these in advance helps you avoid surprises on your invoice.
Fuel surcharge: This applies to every shipment and fluctuates monthly based on jet fuel prices. It’s calculated as a percentage on top of your transportation charges and most other surcharges. The rate adjusts based on U.S. Gulf Coast jet fuel spot prices reported by the Department of Energy, so it changes regularly.
Oversize piece: If any side of your package exceeds 40 inches (or the second-longest side exceeds 32 inches), you’ll pay $30 per piece. Overweight piece: Any single piece over 150 pounds triggers a $100 surcharge. These apply per piece, not per shipment, so a shipment with three overweight boxes means three separate $100 charges.
Remote area delivery or pickup: Shipments going to or coming from hard-to-reach locations (distant islands, highlands, or infrequently served postal codes) carry a surcharge of $50 per shipment or $0.50 per pound, whichever is higher. DHL’s website has a tool to check whether a specific postal code qualifies as remote.
Address correction: If the address you provide is incomplete or incorrect, DHL charges $25.50 to research and correct it. Data entry: If your label isn’t produced electronically through DHL’s system and requires manual processing, that’s an additional $6.50. The easiest way to avoid both of these is to book through ShipNow and double-check your recipient’s address before confirming.
For pallet shipments, a non-stackable pallet surcharge of $355 per pallet applies when pallets can’t be stacked due to their shape, contents, or packaging, or when the shipper specifically requests they not be stacked.
Packing and Label Tips
Use a sturdy box with no old labels or barcodes that could confuse scanning equipment. Cushion your items with at least two inches of padding on all sides, and seal the box with strong packing tape on all seams. DHL calculates shipping cost using either the actual weight or the volumetric weight (length × width × height divided by 5,000 in centimeters), whichever is greater. So a large, lightweight box can cost more than you’d expect based on the scale alone. Using the smallest box that safely fits your items keeps costs down.
Place one copy of your shipping label on the outside of the box and tuck a second copy of your documents inside. For international shipments, attach the commercial invoice in a clear pouch on the outside so customs officials can access it without opening the package. If you’re shipping multiple boxes as one shipment, each box needs its own label clearly marked with the piece number (1 of 3, 2 of 3, etc.).
Tracking Your Shipment
Every DHL shipment comes with a tracking number, which you’ll receive as soon as your booking is confirmed. Enter it on DHL’s tracking page or in the DHL mobile app to see real-time updates. For Express shipments, tracking is detailed and end-to-end, showing each scan from pickup through customs clearance to final delivery. eCommerce tracking is available but typically less granular, especially once the package is handed off to a local postal carrier for final delivery.
You can also sign up for proactive notifications by email or text, so you’ll get alerts when your package clears customs, is out for delivery, or has been delivered. If a shipment gets held at customs due to missing paperwork, DHL will contact you with instructions on what’s needed to release it.