Shipping Books (in Germany)
There are several products for shipping books in Germany. The 'Warensendung' product may be cheaper for certain books, but they are slowly transported and there is no tracking. The following table compares different attributes and constraints of the products available in the market (last update: 2026-03-22).
| Company | Product | € | < g | w < cm | h < cm | d < cm | w > cm | h > cm | constr. | track. | ETA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DP | Warensendung | 2.70 | 1000 | 35.3 | 25 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 'Warensendung' caption | no | 4 |
| DP | Warensendung heavy | 3.55 | 2000 | 35.3 | 25 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 'Warensendung' caption | no | 4 |
| DP | Standard Brief | 0.95 | 20 | 23.5 | 12.5 | 0.5 | 14 | 9 | rectangular | no | 2 |
| DP | Standard Brief Einsch. | 3.30 | 20 | 23.5 | 12.5 | 0.5 | 14 | 9 | rectangular | yes | 1 |
| DP | Kompakt Brief | 1.10 | 50 | 23.5 | 12.5 | 1 | 10 | 7 | rectangular | no | 2 |
| DP | Kompakt Brief Einsch. | 3.45 | 50 | 23.5 | 12.5 | 1 | 10 | 7 | rectangular | yes | 1 |
| DP | Groß Brief | 1.80 | 500 | 35.3 | 25 | 2 | 10 | 7 | no | 2 | |
| DP | Groß Brief Einsch. | 4.15 | 500 | 35.3 | 25 | 2 | 10 | 7 | yes | 1 | |
| DP | Maxi Brief | 2.90 | 1000 | 35.3 | 25 | 5 | 10 | 7 | no | 2 | |
| DP | Maxi Brief Einsch. | 5.25 | 1000 | 35.3 | 25 | 5 | 10 | 7 | yes | 1 | |
| Hermes | Päckchen | 5.19 | 25000 | long + short < 37 | yes | 2 | |||||
| Hermes | S-Paket | 5.79 | 25000 | long + short < 50 | yes | 2 | |||||
| Hermes | M-Paket | 6.99 | 25000 | long + short < 80 | yes | 2 | |||||
| Hermes | L-Paket | 10.99 | 25000 | long + short < 120 | yes | 2 | |||||
| DHL | Päckchen S | 4.19 | 2000 | 35 | 25 | 10 | no | 2 | |||
| DHL | Päckchen M | 5.19 | 2000 | 60 | 30 | 15 | no | 2 | |||
| DHL | Paket 2 | 6.19 | 2000 | 60 | 30 | 15 | yes | 1 | |||
| DHL | Paket 5 | 7.69 | 5000 | 120 | 60 | 60 | long + 2 * (short + d) < 300 | yes | 1 | ||
| DHL | Paket 10 | 10.49 | 10000 | 120 | 60 | 60 | long + 2 * (short + d) < 300 | yes | 1 | ||
| DHL | Paket 31,5 | 18.99 | 31500 | 120 | 60 | 60 | yes | 1 |
Note that you have to print the qualifier 'Warensendung' on the package when using the first two products. In contrast to the previously available 'Büchersendung' product those packages don't need to be resealable, anymore. However, Deutsche Post still restricts the content, i.e. contractually you are only allowed to ship books and wares as 'Warensendung'.
An address that is prefixed with 'Packstation' can only be delivered by Deutsche Post (DP) or DHL because it is their DHL parcel collection service.
Online Purchase¶
Buying the postage online is recommended since it is way more convenient and often also cheaper:
The prices in the above table are all 'online' prices in case there is a difference.
Update (2016-09-28): The Deutsche Post also provides a web-service for buying online postage. After a separate registration it can be used to buy postage online really fast. No tedious clicking in some web GUI anymore. I've created the open-source program frank for easily buying one or multiple stamps (including addressing) from the command line.
However, since 2025, the Deutsche Post postage order API is only available for business customers, anymore. Meaning you have to register as 'Selbstständiger' or other business entity.