Germany’s most widely-used postal service, Deutsche Post, delivers more than 61 million letters every day! Although originally a public company, Deutsche Post was privatised in 1995; in 2002, it merged with DHL to become the world’s largest postal and international courier service. This page contains all the information expats need to know about sending and receiving letters and parcels in Germany.
Post offices in Germany
The number of dedicated post offices is declining rapidly in Germany; far more common nowadays are outlets, DHL Packet Shops and sale points in kiosks that offer postal services. Consequently, opening hours vary enormously, depending on your location. In Berlin and Bonn, there are even some 24-hour post office services. You can find your nearest post service here.
Post boxes
Post boxes in Germany are bright yellow, and often bear the Deutsche Post logo. They usually have two separate slots: the one on the left is for local postcodes / zip codes (PLZ) and the one on the right is for other mail (andere PLZ / Orte).
Post boxes are usually emptied several times per day; the last collection is usually around 5.30 pm but can be as late as 10.00 pm. The collection times will be printed on the front of the post box. You can find your closest post box here.
Receiving post
If you have have only just moved in or have changed address, it is worth noting that, in Germany, individual apartments and their respective letter boxes rarely have numbers. Instead, they are signified by the occupant’s name. The name on your letter must match the name on your doorbell and letter box, otherwise you might not receive it.
Ask your landlord to add your name to the postbox, or alternatively, request that the sender write “bei” (care of) and the name on your doorbell on the front of the envelope.
Buying postage stamps & Paying for postage
Stamps can be bought in the traditional way from a post office or a kiosk displaying the Deutsche Post logo. It is also possible to buy stamps online directly from the Deutsche Post website.
Alternatively, you can use #PORTO, an on-the-go service which allows you to pay for postage using the Post & DHL app - at no extra cost. Just open the app, select the appropriate postage service, tick "Code for labelling" (Code zum Beschriften), and pay with PayPal. You will immediately receive a code to write on the front of your envelope. The code is valid for 14 days and can only be used for mail to German addresses.
How to send a letter in Germany
You can send your letter by putting it in a post box or handing it in at your local post office.
German address
An address in Germany differs from addresses in some other parts of the world in two ways: the house number is always written after the street name, and the post code comes before the city.
German address format
German addresses are therefore written in the following format:
- Name of recipient
- Street name, number
- Post code, city
So, the direction on a typical letter in Germany would read like this:
- Max Mustermann
- Deutschlandstr. 89
- 10785 Berlin
Note that Str. is the abbreviation for the German word Straße (street).
Mailing cost for a letter or postcard (within Germany) 2024
| Format | Max dimensions (cm) | Max weight (g) | Price (euros) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postcard | 23,5 x 12,5 | 500 | 0,70 |
| Standard | 23,5 x 12,5 x 0,5 | 20 | 0,85 |
| Kompakt | 23,5 x 12,5 x 1 | 50 | 1,00 |
| Groß | 35,3 x 25 x 2 | 500 | 1,60 |
| Maxi | 35,3 x 25 x 5 | 1.000 | 2,75 |
Mailing cost for a letter or postcard (international) 2024
| Format | Max dimensions (cm) | Max weight (g) | Price (euros) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postcard | 23,5 x 12,5 | 500 | 0,95 |
| Standard | 23,5 x 12,5 x 0,5 | 20 | 1,10 |
| Kompakt | 23,5 x 12,5 x 1 | 50 | 1,70 |
| Groß | L + B + H = 90 | 500 | 3,70 |
| Maxi | L + B + H = 90 | 1.000 | 7,00 |
| Maxi | L + B + H = 90 | 2.000 | 17,00 |
Sending parcels in Germany
DHL is the parcel sending service of the Deutsche Post. The cost of sending a package varies according to its size and weight. It is normally cheaper to pay for postage online than at your local DHL shop (Paketshop). You can also pay extra to have DHL collect the parcel directly from your house.
Cost of sending a parcel (within Germany) 2024
| Format | Max dimensions (cm) | Max weight (kg) | Price (euros) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small packet (Päckchen) S | 35 x 25 x 10 | 2 | 3,99 |
| Small packet (Päckchen) M | 60 x 30 x 15 | 2 | 4,79 |
| DHL Packet 5 (Paket) | 120 x 60 x 60 | 5 | 6,99 |
| DHL Packet 10 (Paket) | 120 x 60 x 60 | 10 | 10,49 |
| DHL Packet 31,5 (Paket) | 120 x 60 x 60 | 31,5 | 19,99 |
Cost of sending a parcel (EU) 2024
| Format | Max dimensions (cm) | Max weight (kg) | Price (euros) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small packet M (Päckchen) | L + B + H = 90 | 2 | 11,99 |
| DHL Packet (Paket) | 120 x 60 x 60 | 5 | 19,49 |
| DHL Packet (Paket) | 120 x 60 x 60 | 10 | 24,49 |
| DHL Packet (Paket) | 120 x 60 x 60 | 20 | 35,49 |
| DHL Packet (Paket) | 120 x 60 x 60 | 31,5 | 48,49 |
Cost of sending a parcel (worldwide) 2024
| Format | Max dimensions (cm) | Max weight (kg) | Price (euros)* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small packet M (Päckchen) | L + B + H = 90 | 2 | from 16,99 |
| DHL Packet (Paket) | 120 x 60 x 60 | 5 | from 29,99 |
| DHL Packet (Paket) | 120 x 60 x 60 | 10 | from 37,99 |
| DHL Packet (Paket) | 120 x 60 x 60 | 20 | from 51,99 |
| DHL Packet (Paket) | 120 x 60 x 60 | 31,5 | from 65,99 |
* Price varies according to country
Postage calculator
You can calculate the cost of your letter or parcel using this postage cost calculator.
Customs clearance tax
Parcels sent to Germany from outside the EU may incur an additional customs clearance tax, including VAT and customs duties. This applies to:
- Commercial parcels containing goods worth more than 22 euros
- Private parcels containing goods worth more than 45 euros
Registered mail
For an additional fee, you can also choose to send your post via recorded delivery (Einschreiben). Once you have posted your item, you can track its progress using the Deutsche Post tracking feature (Sendungsverfolgung).
Packstation pickup points
In certain cases, your package may be delivered to a local pickup point for you to collect, rather than to your home address. If you know you are not going to be home to accept the package, you can also opt to have it sent to a Packstation. These are automated lockers, run by DHL, where you can collect parcels at your own convenience. You can also drop off your own parcels for shipping.
