The end-of-year holiday season is a very busy time for postal workers.
From the end of November, Germany’s package delivery and express mail service, DHL, is hit with a surge of deliveries and returns following Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Then there is an uptick in personal packages and letters being sent ahead of the Christmas holiday.
According to the German-based trade magazine Inside Digital, DHL expects to handle 11 million parcels each day during the busiest days in the coming weeks. That’s compared to about 6.3 million parcels per day through the rest of the year.
To handle this surge in volume, DHL delivery and sorting staff will be supported by an additional 10,000 seasonal workers.
Still, the postal service provider has warned that customers should make sure to send their letters and packages early to ensure they can be received ahead of the Christmas holidays.
Here are the dates you need to know.
Key deadlines for sending Christmas packages within Germany
Starting with domestic mail, DHL says the final deadline for sending parcels to arrive before Christmas is Friday, December 20th this year – for both regular and express services.
For holiday cards or letters within Germany, DHL suggests these can be collected from your mailbox one day later, on Saturday the 21st.
Packages within Europe
If you’re sending packages to Germany’s neighbouring countries, such as France, Austria or the Netherlands, etc., you should ensure that your package is dropped off at the DHL centre by Saturday, December 14th.
Packages going to all other European countries need to be on their way a few days earlier, by Tuesday the 12th.
For letters and postcards being sent within Europe, it’d be best to send them by Friday the 13th.
International shipping
For international packages being sent outside of Europe, you’ll want to move quickly as DHL recommends posting them by November 26th to ensure they arrive at the recipient’s door before Christmas Day.
But you can buy an additional week if you ship your package with Service Premium – in this case you’ll want to send your package by Tuesday December 3rd.
Again letters and postcards can be sent just a little bit later – by Friday December 6th.
Best Carriers for Sending Christmas Packages from Germany
Keep in mind that all of the above dates were for packages and letters sent with DHL.
You can also send letters and parcels within Germany and internationally with Deutsche Post or a few other carriers, and their post-by deadlines may vary.
For general shipping times to specific countries with Deutsche Post, you can check this webpage, but keep in mind that normal shipping times might be extended during the busy holiday season.
To ship items last minute, you might also try express carrier services like UPS or Hermes (for national and international shipments) or GLS (for within Europe).
Shipping to Germany
On the other hand, if you’re planning to ship a package to your loved ones who are living in Germany, it’d be wise to check with your trusted package shipping services.
It’s worth noting that in many cases packages delivered in Germany need to be accepted in-person, either by your recipient or a neighbour, or they can sometimes be collected from a pick-up location. This can add a day or two to the delivery process, so sending items sooner is better than later.
Packages sent from the UK via Royal Mail’s international standard shipping should be sent by Wednesday, December 13th at the latest. For more UK shipping deadlines you can check this UK post office webpage.
According to the US Postal Service, packages coming to Europe should be sent by December 9th this year, or by the 16th if you ship with priority express service.
Australia post recommends sending standard parcels by November 26th or express letters and parcels by December 3rd.
Quick tips for sending Christmas packages
As previously mentioned, it’s always a good idea to send your packages early. The earlier you send, the less likely you are to experience last-minute shipping hiccups.
Additionally the following best practices will ensure that your package has the best chance of arriving securely and on-time:
- Pack Securely: Protect your gifts by packing them well. Fragile items should be wrapped with extra care and clearly labelled
- Opt for Tracking: Especially for valuable goods, you may want to opt for service with tracking capabilities such as Deutsche Post’s ‘registered mail’ (Einschreiben)
- Double-Check Addresses: Ensure that addresses are legible and complete, including your return address
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