Here is the thing most guides miss: Deutsche Post and DHL are part of the same company, Deutsche Post DHL Group, but they use different tracking systems, different number formats, and sometimes different websites. If you enter a DHL parcel number on the Deutsche Post letter-tracking page, you get nothing. And vice versa.
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On top of that, the status messages on the official site are still displayed in German even for international users, so you end up staring at words like ‘Im Zustellstützpunkt’ or ‘Zollabfertigung’ with no idea what they mean.
This guide fixes all of that. You will know exactly which website to use, which tracking format you have, what every German status actually means in plain English, and what to do when something goes wrong.
Deutsche Post vs DHL: Which One Are You Tracking?
Before you enter a tracking number anywhere, you need to know whether your item is a Deutsche Post shipment or a DHL shipment. They share the same parent company but operate different networks.
| Deutsche Post | DHL Paket / DHL Express | |
| What it handles | Letters, registered mail, small packets, international mail, Warenpost | Parcels above 2 kg, express deliveries, e-commerce packages |
| Tracking website | deutschepost.de/en/s/shipment-tracking.html | dhl.de (Germany) or dhl.com (international) |
| Tracking number format | 13 characters, starts with 2 letters, ends in DE (e.g. RR123456789DE) | 12-digit or 20-digit numeric (e.g. 445209416454 or 00340434192314429377) |
| Who uses it | Individuals, small senders, cross-border e-commerce (Warenpost) | Online retailers, businesses, express shippers |
| Packstation support | No | Yes, 11,000+ Packstations across Germany |
If you ordered something online from a German retailer and the seller used a shipping label generated through their DHL business account, your number is almost certainly a DHL Paket number even if the shop’s website says ‘Deutsche Post.’ When in doubt, try both tracking pages.
Deutsche Post Tracking Number Formats Explained
Every Deutsche Post tracking number tells you something about the shipment before you even enter it into a tracker. International items follow the UPU S10 standard, which is the same format used by national postal services in over 190 countries.
International Format (13 Characters)
| Format: XX 000000000 DE
Two letters (service type) + nine digits (unique identifier) + two letters (country code DE for Germany) Example: RR 123456789 DE The spaces are optional. You can enter the number with or without spaces on the tracking page. |
| Prefix Letters | Service Type | Typical Use |
| RR, RA, RF… | Registered mail | Tracked letters and small packets up to 2 kg |
| CP, CX… | Standard parcel / tracked packet | Parcels and merchandise shipments |
| EE, EA… | EMS Express Mail Service | Priority international express delivery |
| LX, LA… | Warenpost International | Small tracked items for e-commerce sellers |
| CD, CF… | Small packet (Päckchen) | Lightweight unregistered items |
| VG, VR… | Insured value letter | High-value items with declared value |
Domestic Germany Formats
Within Germany, Deutsche Post letters are tracked using a matrix code (Matrixcode) printed on the stamp or label. The reference number is typically a short alphanumeric code found on your receipt. DHL Paket domestic numbers are 12 or 20 digits and fully numeric.
A 9-digit shipment reference number is also possible for certain business-account shipments. These work on the same tracking pages.
How to Track a Deutsche Post Package: Step by Step
Method 1: Official Deutsche Post Website
- Open a browser and go to deutschepost.de/en/s/shipment-tracking.html
- Type your tracking number in the search field
- Click ‘Sendung verfolgen’ (Track shipment)
- View the full event timeline with timestamps and facility names
You can enter multiple tracking numbers at once. Separate them using a comma, space, semicolon, or Tab key. The minimum tracking number length is 5 characters. The system auto-detects whether the item is a letter or parcel.
Method 2: DHL Tracking Page (for Paket shipments)
- Go to dhl.de/en/privatkunden/dhl-sendungsverfolgung.html
- Enter the 12-digit or 20-digit numeric tracking number
- Click Track
- View delivery events, estimated arrival, and Packstation instructions if applicable
Method 3: Post and DHL Mobile App
The official ‘Post and DHL’ app (available for iOS and Android) combines letter and parcel tracking in one place. You can add tracking numbers manually or scan the barcode on your shipping label. Push notifications alert you when status changes, including when the postman is on the way and when a delivery attempt was made.
The app also shows your nearest Packstations and post office locations with opening hours, which is useful when you need to collect a missed delivery.
Method 4: Third-Party Trackers
If you want to track shipments from multiple carriers side by side or get updates in English with automatic translation of German statuses, these platforms support Deutsche Post:
| Platform | Best For |
| 17track.net | All-in-one tracking for 3,200+ carriers including Deutsche Post and DHL |
| parcelsapp.com | Mobile-first, push notifications, AliExpress and marketplace orders |
| aftership.com | E-commerce sellers managing bulk shipments |
| postal.ninja | Detailed transit breakdowns and IMPC facility information |
| ship24.com | Track up to 10 shipments at once with estimated dates |
| packageradar.com | Full list of German status messages translated to English |
These platforms pull from the same official Deutsche Post system. They are especially helpful for international recipients who receive German status messages they cannot read.
Deutsche Post Tracking Status Meanings: German to English
The official Deutsche Post tracking system displays status messages in German. Here is a full translation and explanation of every status you are likely to see, so you always know where your shipment actually is.
| German Status | English Translation | What It Means |
| Angenommen | Accepted / Received | The post office or parcel center has received and logged the shipment. First scan in the system. |
| In Bearbeitung | In processing | The item is being sorted at a distribution center. |
| Im Zustellstützpunkt | At the local delivery depot | Your parcel has arrived at the final sorting point before your postman loads it for delivery. |
| In Zustellung | Out for delivery | Your postman has loaded the parcel onto the delivery vehicle. Expect it today. |
| Zugestellt | Delivered | The item has been delivered to the mailbox, recipient, or safe place. |
| Abgeholt | Picked up | The recipient collected the item from a Packstation or post office. |
| Sendung liegt im Paketshop bereit | Ready at Paketshop | A first delivery attempt failed. The parcel is held at a nearby Paketshop for pickup. |
| Sendung liegt in der Filiale bereit | Ready at post office branch | The item is waiting at your local Deutsche Post branch for collection. |
| Empfanger nicht angetroffen | Recipient not found | The postman tried to deliver but no one was home. A notice card was left. |
| Zollabfertigung | Customs clearance | The shipment is being inspected by customs. This can take 1 to 5 business days. |
| Rücksendung | Return to sender | The parcel could not be delivered and is being sent back to the origin address. |
| Sendung wurde umgeleitet | Shipment redirected | The delivery address was changed by the recipient using the Paket umleiten feature. |
| Sendung liegt beim Zoll | Held at customs office | The recipient must contact their local customs office (Zollamt) to release the item. |
One status that surprises many recipients is ‘Im Zustellstützpunkt.’ It looks like bad news but it is actually good news. It means your parcel has left the big sorting hub and is now at the final small depot before your street delivery. You should receive it the same day or the next morning.
Deutsche Post and DHL Delivery Times by Destination
Domestic Germany
| Service | Typical Delivery Time | Notes |
| Standard letter (Brief) | 1 to 2 business days | No tracking unless sent as Einschreiben (registered) |
| Einschreiben (Registered letter) | 1 to 2 business days | Requires recipient signature, fully tracked |
| Päckchen (Small packet) | 2 to 3 business days | Under 2 kg, limited tracking |
| DHL Paket | 1 to 2 business days | Full tracking, Packstation delivery available |
| DHL Express / Prio | Next business day | Guaranteed if dropped before daily cutoff |
International Destinations
| Destination | Standard Mail | DHL Express |
| EU (France, Netherlands, Austria) | 3 to 5 business days | 1 to 2 business days |
| UK | 4 to 7 business days | 1 to 3 business days |
| USA and Canada | 7 to 14 business days | 2 to 4 business days |
| China and Japan | 8 to 15 business days | 3 to 5 business days |
| Australia | 10 to 18 business days | 4 to 6 business days |
| Middle East and Africa | 12 to 20 business days | 3 to 5 business days |
These estimates assume normal operating conditions. Customs clearance, peak periods (November to December), national holidays in Germany or the destination country, and weather disruptions can all add time. Business days in Germany exclude Saturdays and Sundays, unlike some other countries.
The Packstation System: What Tracking Events Mean
Germany’s Packstation network is one of the most extensive automated parcel locker systems in the world. With over 11,000 Packstations at supermarkets, train stations, and street corners, it is one of the best features of the DHL Paket system. But it creates confusion in tracking if you do not know how it works.
How Packstation Delivery Works
- You register for a free DHL customer account and get a Packstation customer number
- When ordering online, enter your Packstation number as the delivery address
- When the parcel arrives, you receive an mTAN code by SMS or app notification
- Go to the Packstation at any time (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
- Enter the mTAN code on the terminal to open your locker
Tracking events Related to Packstation
| Tracking Status | What It Means |
| Sendung liegt im PACKSTATION bereit | Your parcel is in the Packstation locker. You have received or will receive your mTAN code. |
| Abgeholt | You successfully collected the parcel from the Packstation. |
| Sendung wurde an Packstation weitergeleitet | A home delivery attempt failed and the parcel was automatically redirected to a nearby Packstation. |
| Empfanger hat PACKSTATION als neue Lieferadresse gewahlt | The recipient redirected the delivery to a Packstation using the DHL app before delivery. |
Parcels are held at a Packstation for 9 business days. If you do not collect within that window, the parcel is returned to the sender.
Solving the 6 Most Common Deutsche Post Tracking Problems
1. Tracking Number Not Found
The three most likely causes: the number was entered with a typo (the digit 0 and the letter O are commonly confused), the shipment is less than 24 hours old and has not yet received its first scan, or the item was sent without tracking (unregistered letters and some standard Päckchen do not have trackable numbers).
Wait 24 hours and try again. If there is still nothing after 48 hours, contact the sender to confirm the number is correct.
2. Status Has Not Updated in Several Days
Tracking only updates at scan points. Between checkpoints, especially during long-haul air transit for international shipments, there can be gaps of three to five days with no new event. This does not mean the parcel is lost. It means it is moving through a leg of the journey without a scan facility.
If the status has been static for more than seven business days and the estimated delivery window has passed, contact Deutsche Post using the Nachforschungsauftrag (investigation request) process on their website.
3. Parcel Stuck at Customs (Zollabfertigung)
Customs holds are common for shipments entering Germany from outside the EU, or for German shipments going to countries with strict import controls. The hold typically lasts one to five business days but can extend longer if documentation is incomplete or if duties need to be paid.
If you receive a customs notification letter (Zollbenachrichtigung), follow the instructions on the letter. You can often pay import duties online through the German customs portal at zoll.de. Delays in responding extend the hold.
4. ‘Zugestellt’ But Parcel Not Received
Deutsche Post postmen are allowed to leave parcels with neighbors if you are not home, or to place small items in the communal mailbox. When this happens, they should leave a notice card (Benachrichtigungskarte) in your own mailbox.
- Check with your immediate neighbors
- Check with your building’s concierge or reception area
- Look in communal areas like a mailroom or secure parcel box
- Check the mailbox for a pickup notice directing you to a Paketshop
- If none of the above, contact Deutsche Post within 7 days to file a loss investigation
5. Shipment Returned to Sender (Rücksendung)
Returns happen for several reasons: the recipient was not reachable after multiple attempts, the address was incomplete, import duties were not paid at customs, or the item was refused. If you are the sender, contact the recipient immediately. If you are the recipient and believe the return was an error, contact Deutsche Post customer service as quickly as possible to try to redirect the shipment before it leaves Germany.
6. Wrong Tracking Page (Deutsche Post vs DHL)
This is the most common mistake of all. If your tracking number is 12 or 20 digits and fully numeric, go to dhl.de. If it is 13 characters with letters at the start and ends in DE, go to deutschepost.de. Using the wrong site returns zero results and makes people think the shipment does not exist.
Also Read : Ukrposhta Tracking: How to Track Your Package Step by Step (2026 Guide)
Expert Tips for Tracking Deutsche Post Shipments
- Use the Post and DHL app for push notifications. It is the fastest way to get alerted the moment a status changes, including when the postman loads your parcel onto the vehicle that morning.
- Track on the destination country’s postal site too. Once a Deutsche Post international shipment is handed to the local carrier in the destination country, the tracking often continues on that carrier’s website. For the US, check USPS. For the UK, check Royal Mail.
- Redirect before ‘In Zustellung.‘ The DHL app’s ‘Paket umleiten’ (redirect parcel) feature lets you send a parcel to a Packstation or post office if you will not be home. You can only do this before the postman loads the parcel onto the vehicle. Once ‘In Zustellung’ appears, the option closes.
- Keep your tracking number until delivery is confirmed. Deutsche Post investigation requests and damage claims require it. Screenshots of the tracking history are also useful if you need to file a claim later.
- Registered mail requires a signature. If you ordered something sent by Einschreiben (registered post), someone must be home to sign. If no one is available, the postman will leave a pickup card and the item goes to your local branch.
- File a Nachforschungsauftrag promptly. Deutsche Post can only investigate a missing shipment if you file within the claim window (typically 30 to 60 days from dispatch depending on the destination). International investigations are filed by the sender, not the recipient.
Deutsche Post Contact Information
| Contact Method | Details |
| Private customers phone (Germany) | 0180 6 333333 (Mon to Fri 7am to 8pm, Sat 7am to 4pm, EUR 0.20 per call) |
| Business customers phone | 0228 4333112 |
| Packstation support | 0180 6 999999 |
| Email / Online contact form | Available at deutschepost.de (no direct email address published) |
| International inquiries | Use the local DHL country website for your destination |
| 24/7 chatbot | Available on the Deutsche Post website and in the Post and DHL app |
| Head office address | Deutsche Post AG, Charles-de-Gaulle-Str. 20, 53113 Bonn, Germany |
| Official tracking (letters) | deutschepost.de/en/s/shipment-tracking.html |
| Official tracking (parcels) | dhl.de/en/privatkunden/dhl-sendungsverfolgung.html |
| Branch locator | deutschepost.de (Filialfinder), 28,000+ locations across Germany |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Deutsche Post and DHL tracking?
Deutsche Post handles letters, registered mail, and light international packages. DHL handles parcels above 2 kg and express deliveries. Both are part of Deutsche Post DHL Group but use separate tracking systems and websites. Deutsche Post tracking numbers are 13 characters and end in DE. DHL Paket numbers are 12 or 20 digits and fully numeric.
Why is my Deutsche Post tracking not updating?
Tracking updates only trigger when the item is physically scanned at a checkpoint. Between facilities, especially during international transit, gaps of two to five days are normal. If no update appears after 48 hours from dispatch, first confirm the number is correct. If the estimated delivery window has passed and there is still no movement after seven business days, file a Nachforschungsauftrag investigation request on the Deutsche Post website.
Can I track a Deutsche Post parcel from outside Germany?
Yes. The official tracking page at deutschepost.de works from any country. Third-party platforms like 17track.net and parcelsapp.com also support Deutsche Post and display statuses in English. Once your shipment transitions to the local postal carrier in your country, that carrier’s own tracking site will continue the journey history.
How long does Deutsche Post hold a parcel if I miss delivery?
If your parcel is redirected to a Paketshop or Deutsche Post branch after a failed delivery attempt, you have 7 business days to collect it before it is returned to the sender. Packstation items are held for 9 business days. Always bring a valid photo ID and your tracking number when collecting.
What does ‘Im Zustellstützpunkt’ mean?
It translates to ‘at the local delivery depot.’ This means your parcel has left the regional sorting center and is now at the small local depot where your postman works. Delivery to your address typically happens the same day or the following morning. It is one of the best statuses to see.
My tracking shows ‘Zugestellt’ but I have not received anything. What do I do?
First check with your neighbors, building concierge, or any communal mailroom area, since German postmen can legally leave parcels with neighbors. Look in your mailbox for a pickup notice card. If you still cannot find the parcel after checking all of these, contact Deutsche Post within 7 days to start a loss investigation. The sooner you report, the better.
Can I redirect a Deutsche Post parcel to a different address?
For DHL Paket shipments, use the ‘Paket umleiten’ feature in the Post and DHL app. You can redirect to a Packstation, a Paketshop, or a different address while the parcel is still in transit, but only before the ‘In Zustellung’ (out for delivery) status appears. For Deutsche Post letter or registered mail redirections, a paid Nachsendeauftrag (mail forwarding service) is required.
Does Deutsche Post deliver on Saturdays?
Yes. Deutsche Post delivers letters and standard mail on Saturdays in Germany. DHL Paket does not deliver on Saturdays except in some metropolitan areas through special Saturday delivery services. There is no Sunday delivery for either service.
