DHL Express (Import)
- How it Works
- Packing Requirements
- Size & Weight Restrictions
- Volumetric Weight
- Surcharges
- Prohibited Items
General Information
Our DHL Express Import services offer both premium and economical imports from virtually every country in the world. These services enable you to import goods through the network of one of the world’s leading global carriers at an excellent price. Both our premium DHL Express Worldwide Import service and road-based DHL Economy Select Import service are fully trackable from your designated collection point through to delivery and you can easily book a collection online.
Suitable for: | Information | UK | Europe | International | |
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Premium worldwide express import service by air from over 200 international destinations. | ![]() |
Estimated Transit Time (Europe)* Next business day delivery from most European gateway cities 2 days from Cyprus
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Estimated Transit Time (International)* Singapore - 1 day USA - 2 days Australia - 2 days Asia (inc. China, Taiwan and Japan) - 2 days
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Economical, road-based import service from most European countries into the UK | ![]() |
Estimated Transit Time (Europe)* 2-5 days from most European Gateway cities
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*These estimates are based on your goods being transported between major gateway cities. If your collection address or delivery address is more remote, please allow extra time for delivery. You can access more accurate transit time estimates by entering your collection and delivery postcodes here.
Our carrier also publishes an overview of transit times per country and service. You can access it here.
How It Works...
- When making a booking, you set the day of collection. Please note that this is subject to service restrictions at weekends and local public holidays.
- Your shipping documentation will be emailed to you within an hour of placing your order.*
- Following the labelling instructions provided, any printed labels will need to be attached to parcels at the point of collection.
- As soon as your parcel has been collected, you can trace its progress by entering your TP reference into our tracking tool.
*Please note that import orders placed outside of working hours will be attended to on the next working day.
Your Customs Invoice
Your shipment must be accompanied by a Customs Invoice. This is a document required for customs clearance which details the content and value of your shipment. See our Customs Advice page for more information.
We will generate this for you as part of your booking, along with your shipping labels. Please follow the labelling instructions.
Packing Requirements
Lighter goods (weighing less than 30kg) can be boxed. Caution should be taken over structurally weak, long and narrow cardboard packaging (more than 120cm long), which you will need to reinforce.
Use double-walled boxes and ensure a distance of 6cm between the contents and walls of the box. Fill all void space using cushioning material.
When sealing, use pressure-sensitive tape of at least 28mm width. Use an H-taping method: tape both ends of the box as well as where the flaps close. Seal all edges and seams.
Apply your labels to the top face of your package. They must be applied to a single surface.
For goods 30kg-70kg in weight, DHL recommends using a pallet or crate. If using a box, it must be capable of supporting the full weight of the goods. For goods heavier than 70kg, you must use a pallet or crate. Use quality hard wood for crates and brace them diagonally to increase strength. The wood must be heat or chemically treated prior to use.
Items on a pallet must be secured in place, with a level and even surface on top. Boxes should not overhang the pallet's edge.
DHL Express will not pick up goods that are improperly packed.
Size and Weight Restrictions
Restrictions may vary depending on the destination of your shipment. The following information is provided as a general guide:
- Maximum piece weight (non-palletised): 70kg
- Maximum dimensions per item (non-palletised): 120 x 80 x 80 cm high
- Maximum piece weight (palletised): 1000 kg
- Maximum dimensions per item (palletised): 120 x 100 x 160 cm high
For multi-piece shipments, DHL calculates the actual weight or the volumetric weight of each parcel (whichever is greater) and then adds them all together, rather than calculating the total weight or volume of the whole consignment.
Volumetric Weight
Your shipment will be charged by either actual weight or volumetric weight – whichever is greater.
Volumetric weight is a value derived from the size rather than the weight of your parcel and may apply if your parcel is particularly large and contains relatively light items.
DHL calculates volumetric weight by multiplying the three dimensions of your parcel together and dividing by 5000.
For example:
Service | Parcel Weight | Actual Weight | Dimensions | Divisor | Volumetric Weight | Chargeable Weight |
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10kg | 10kg | 50 x 30 x 20cm | 5000 | 6kg | 10kg |
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10kg | 10kg | 50 x 60 x 40cm | 5000 | 24kg | 24kg |
Surcharges
Category | Description | Fee |
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Brexit Fee | From 1st January 2021, a fee will be levied on all dutiable shipments between Great Britain and European Union countries, both inbound and outbound. This fee is subject to change as the situation changes. | £0.25 per kg with a minimum charged amount of £4.50 per shipment. |
Remote Area Service | Applied when the delivery destination is defined as remote (e.g. islands, highlands or other postcodes that are difficult to serve). Please check the DHL Remote Area list (PDF) to see if your delivery address will be affected. | For air services: £20.61 or £0.42 per Kg, whichever is greater. For road services: £19.21 or £0.39 per Kg, whichever is greater.* |
Over Weight Piece | Applied to any piece in a shipment over 70kg in weight. | £64.76 per piece for air services; £60.36 for road services* |
Over Sized Piece | Applied to packages/pallets with a single dimension in excess of 120cm. | £70.65 per piece for air services; £65.85 for road services* |
Non-stackable Pallet | When any pallet in a shipment cannot be stacked due to the shape, content or packaging of the goods on the pallet. | £182.51 per item for air services; £170.11 per item for road services* |
Address correction | Administered if any part of the delivery address requires amendment. | £9 per international shipment, £4.50 per domestic shipment |
Delivered Taxes Paid (Duty Reversal) Admin Fee | Admin charge administered for billing customs duties and taxes to the shipper rather than the receiver. | £16 per shipment |
Disbursement Fee | IMPORTS TO UK ONLY: Applied to duty/tax invoices for clearing the shipment through customs on DHL's deferment account. Only applicable if duty/tax is applied. | £11 or 2.5% of the total duty and/or VAT incurred, whichever is greater |
*DHL Express Worldwide is an air service; DHL Economy Select is a road service.
Prohibited Items
- Our list of hazardous, prohibited and owner’s risk items is available here.
- For up-to-date information specific to the carrier, please check their prohibited items page. Please note that prohibited items are subject to vary depending on your delivery destination.
- If you’d like advice on whether or not your items are prohibited, please contact our Customer Services team via Live Chat, email or telephone (0345 145 1212 8:00am-6:30pm Mon-Fri, 9:00am-1:00pm Sat).
DHL Service Information
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