The German postal service: How it works

The German postal service is easy and efficient! Find out how to send letters, receive post, and what to do when expecting a package.

Bas

5 minute read

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Updated on 27 Sep 2024

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Living

After you move to Germany you’ll need to figure out the German way of doing things. The German postal service might work a little differently to your home country’s, so it’s important to learn how it works so you can send and receive all you need. The main players in the German postal service are Deutsche Post and DHL, so most of your post and deliveries will be handled by them. But how does the German postal service really work? Let’s dive into all you need to know about German mail and how it works.

Sending mail in Germany is very easy!

• Write your letter or postcard,
• Put it in a standard envelope,
• Write down the correct address,
• Make sure you have the right amount of postage
• Drop it in a postal box or bring it to a postal office.

You can purchase envelopes and postage stamps at your local German post office or at a local shop. You can tell if a shop has these basic items available if it displays a Deutsche Post or DHL sticker in the window.

If you want to send a package, DHL is your best bet. Bring your package to a Deutsche Post office or a DHL Package Point, and your package will be weighed and labelled appropriately there.

So, you want to make sure your mail arrives quickly and at the right place? Well then, you’ll need to know how to address an envelope in Germany. In the German postal system, addresses are read by machines! So to make sure make sure you write clearly, preferably in capital letters.

Additionally, you can follow the following guidelines:

• Write only on the front of the envelope (the side without the flap)
• Write your own (the sender’s) address in the top left corner.
• Write the recipient and their address in the bottom right corner.
• The top right corner is reserved for stamps or other printed postage.
• Make sure there’s no other print on the envelope that could be confused with postal labels or prints.

The formatting for addressing a German envelope is:

Deutsche Post AG (company name, if applicable) Maria Schwien (Recipient name can be Herr or Frau plus last name if the first name is unknown) Mariastrasse 55A (street name + building number and denomination) 53325 Berlin (postal code + city)

You can pay for postage in Germany with physical stamps or even online. If you pay online after you’ve selected the correct type of mail, you pay the postage cost, print the postage label and attach it to your post. The cost of postage in Germany varies depending on what you send and where you send it.

Local mail costs in Germany

Sending mail inside Germany is quite affordable and quick! Local mail usually arrives in one or two days at most, so if you send a letter to your friend who’s just moved to Berlin, it’ll get there in no time!

International mail costs in Germany

As you might have guessed, sending mail or packages abroad is slightly more expensive. Sending international mail takes longer, as it also depends on the foreign postal office and its operation. Generally, air mail takes 3-4 days to arrive, but it could take up to 2 weeks.

Deutsche Post charges the following for international mail:

Local and international packages

The pricing of local and international packages varies, as it depends on the exact size, weight and destination of your package. To find out how much you owe exactly, you can use this calculator provided by Deutsche Post.

In general, there are two tariffs for local and international mail; the affordable option and the one which includes insurance for your package. So, if you’re sending or receiving something valuable, it’s worth spending the extra euros to make sure your goods are well-insured!

Most German houses have a mail slot in the front door. If you live in an apartment building, you’ll probably have one of a large rows of mailboxes for smaller packages and letters.

For package deliveries, a delivery person will simply ring your doorbell to have you accept the package. Alternatively, you can have packages delivered to a nearby postal office or package depot if you know you won’t be able to accept the package at your door. Make sure you bring your ID, otherwise the clerk is not allowed to give you your mail.

If your order is coming via DHL, they’ll usually send you an email ahead of your delivery time. In this email, you’ll often have the option to redirect your delivery to a neighbour, ask them to leave it in a safe place, or have it delivered to a pick-up point in case you’re not home. You can even reschedule your delivery for a day you're home.

In general, paper mail and packages are delivered separately, and you can expect your mail on any day except Sundays and public holidays.

Will my package be delivered if I’m not home?

If you’re not home to receive a package or it doesn’t fit into your mailbox, don’t worry! The delivery person will typically leave a note to let you know they’ve attempted to deliver or if they’ve delivered it to a neighbour or pick-up point.

If your package requires a signature to be delivered, it’ll usually be delivered to a post office or collection point, where you can then collect and sign for it. Make sure you bring your ID, though!

Whether you’re in Germany for a quick visit and want to send a postcard home or you're already searching for homes to rent in Berlin so you can settle into life in Germany, understanding how the German postal service works is key. Hopefully, our guide has answered all of your burning questions about mail in Germany—now get posting!

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