How to Ship to Germany from the US
Germany is the largest ecommerce market in the EU and DHL's home country — making DHL the natural first-choice carrier. Post-2021, the EU requires VAT collection on all imports regardless of value (the €22 low-value exemption was eliminated). Sellers can register for IOSS (Import One Stop Shop) to collect VAT at checkout and avoid recipient-pays-at-delivery surprises.
German consumers expect fast, reliable delivery with precise tracking. DHL Deutschland handles most last-mile delivery for both international and domestic parcels.
Typical 1 lb cost
$20-$40 USD
Typical transit
3-10 business days
Carrier Options to Germany
DHL Express Worldwide
Best for Germany — home market. 1-3 business days, excellent tracking.
FedEx International Priority
1-3 business days. Strong network for business-to-business.
UPS Worldwide Expedited
2-5 business days. Good for heavier packages.
USPS Priority Mail International
7-10 business days. Cheap for under 2 lbs. Final delivery by Deutsche Post.
Customs Forms Required
CN22 for items under $400. CN23 + commercial invoice above.
Commonly Prohibited Items
- ✕Propaganda and symbols of extremist organizations (swastikas, Nazi paraphernalia)
- ✕Counterfeit goods
- ✕Certain drugs and medical products
- ✕Weapons including replicas
- ✕Explicit games/media classified above certain ratings
Germany-Specific Shipping Tips
- 💡 Register for IOSS to collect VAT at checkout — avoids recipient-pays surprises and improves buyer experience
- 💡 German addresses include street + house number (Straße + Hausnummer) and postal code (5 digits)
- 💡 Germans strongly prefer tracked shipments — budget for at least DHL Packet to Deutschland
- 💡 DHL offers the best German coverage (they deliver 75% of domestic parcels)
- 💡 German VAT is 19% (7% for some categories like books). Add to IOSS collection if applicable
Frequently asked questions
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