When selecting your packaging, please refer to our guidelines for shipping bulky goods to ensure your items are not subject to additional manual processing charges for non-machinable items.
To ensure that every parcel arrives on time and in great shape, we rely on the fast and reliable processing of our highly automated parcel network. For shippers, that means sturdy packaging is essential for protecting parcel contents. This page provides a range of tips and information on how to best package your items and illustrates to you by means of examples the background why good packaging is so important.

In exceptional cases it can come to transport bruises and strains of parcel shipping
- Items stacked on top of one another in vehicles and swap bodies: Heavier items may be placed atop lighter items
- External impacts: Parcels weighing up to 31.5 kg may impact light items
- Weather conditions (heat and cold): During the loading of swap bodies, parcels may be exposed for several hours to temperatures ranging from -10 to +60 oC

Possible impacts of unsuitable packaging
- Transit time delays for damaged items since they have to be re-processed
- Bad first impressions made on customers and higher return rates due to damaged shipments
- Liability for damaged operating equipment (e.g., conveyors) or third-party shipments
PACKING IT RIGHT: TIPS AND INFORMATION FOR BEST RESULTS
Generally speaking, the shipment contents and the transport route determine what packaging you need.
As a result, delicate or sensitive items (e.g., liquids or fragile goods) or international items must be packaged with particular care. Special packaging restrictions (as per European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR)) apply to hazardous goods in limited quantities.
Selecting the right packaging for your shipment involves more than just considering the contents. You also need to consider the following:
Find here an overview of the most important packaging tips

THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN USING POLY MAILER BAGS OR PLASTIC ENVELOPES AND FLYER BAGS
- The surrounding edges height must at least also here (analog to the parcel) be at least 1 cm thick all around
- Pay attention that the basic form must be rectangular with minimum dimensions of 15 x 11 x 1 cm
- Glue the flap closure folded down and sealed tightly
- Avoid that smaller goods are protruded in any way
- Recommendation: bags or poly mailers used to ship clothing should be reinforced (e.g., corrugated cardboard sheets)
- Avoid packaging with handholds or carry handles as it cannot be processed by our machines
Please also note the detailed information factsheet about shipping with foil pouches: dhl.de/plasticpouches
You can find details on DHL-approved poly-bags here: dhl.de/approvedpolybag
IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION
According to the General Terms and Conditions and dispatch conditions of DHL Paket, shipments must be packaged in such a way that they provide adequate protection against damage and loss and cause no damage to Deutsche Post or third parties.