the german post service deutsche post has been the face of the mail in germany for a long time. it was privatized in the 90s, but it is still the main and even “official” way of sending mail. together with dhl, they handle most of the mail in germany! So if you are an expat looking to send mail or packages home, German Post is there for you. so let’s dive into how the German mail system works, so you can get your mail to its destination as quickly as possible!
how to send a letter in germany
Sending mail in Germany is very easy!
- write your letter or postcard,
- put it in a standard envelope,
- address it correctly,
- make sure you have the correct amount postage
- drop it in a post office box or take it to a post office.
You can buy envelopes and postage stamps at your local post office or local stores. You can tell if the store has these basic items in stock if they display a German Post or DHL label in the window. These days postage stamps are also available online! more on that later. if you want to send a package, dhl is your best option. take your package to a german post office or dhl parcel point and your package will be weighed and appropriately labeled there.
how to write an address on an envelope in germany?
so you want to make sure your mail arrives quickly and to the right place? well then you will need to know what is the correct way to write addresses in germany. In the German postal system, addresses are read by machines! so to make sure things can be easily figured out by the machine, make sure you write clearly, preferably in all caps. in addition, you can follow the following conventions:
- write only on the front of the envelope (the side without the flap)
- write your own (return’s) address in the upper left corner.
- Type the recipient and their address in the bottom right corner.
- the upper right corner is reserved for stamps or other printed postage.
- make sure there is no other printing on the envelope that could be confused with mailing labels or printing.
the format should be as follows:
deutsche post ag (company name, if applicable) maria schwien (recipient name, can be herr or frau plus last name, if name unknown ) mariastrasse 55a (street name + building number and name) 53325 berlin (postal code + city)
mail prices in germany
You can pay for your mail by buying physical postage stamps, but these days you can also pay for your postage online. all you need to do is select the correct type of mail, pay online and print the postal certificate yourself. once you’ve done that, be sure to affix the stamp to the top right corner of your envelope.
local mail
Sending mail within Germany is quite affordable! local mail usually takes a day or two at most to arrive.
international mail
Sending mail or packages abroad is, as you may have guessed, a bit more expensive. sending international mail takes more time as it also depends on the foreign post office and its operation. Airmail usually takes 3-4 days to arrive, but could take up to 2 weeks.
deutsche post charges the following for international mail:
local and international packages
The price of local and international packages is variable, as it depends on the exact size, weight and destination of your package! To find out exactly how much you owe, you can use this calculator provided by German Post. In general, there are two rates for local and international mail, the economic option and the one that includes insurance for your package. so if you’re sending or receiving something valuable, I highly recommend spending the extra euros to make sure your goods are well insured!
mail and parcel reception in germany
Most German homes have a mail slot in the front door or, in the case of an apartment building, large rows of mailboxes intended to accommodate paper mail such as envelopes and postcards. For package delivery, a delivery person will simply ring your doorbell for you to accept the package. Alternatively, he can have packages delivered to a nearby post office, if he knows he won’t be able to accept the package at your door. make sure you bring your ID, otherwise the clerk can’t give you your email.
In general, paper mail and packages are delivered separately, and you can receive your mail any day except Sundays and holidays.
what if I’m not home?
we’ve all seen the videos from usa. in the US, where people steal packages directly from other people’s porches or front doors. Fortunately, that kind of occurrence is rare in Germany. If you’re not home to receive your mail or package and it doesn’t fit your mailbox or mail slot, the delivery person will simply try again. if you’re not home for multiple delivery attempts, they’ll deliver your packages to one of your neighbors (and leave you a note) or drop you off at a nearby post office or package pickup point, like a local store. If your package requires a signature, Deutsche Post will deliver it to the post office, so you can sign for it there.