In the past, Warenpost was a cost-effective and practical solution for shipping small-format goods such as jewelry, cosmetics or small electronics. But from January 1, 2025, there is an important change: Warenpost is replaced by DHL Kleinpaket. In this article you get all the important information on the changes you can expect as an online retailer.
Kleinpaket vs. Warenpost: What are the differences?
From January 1, 2025, the DHL Kleinpaket will replace “Warenpost national” – with some relevant changes for online retailers. One major change is that the maximum height of parcels will increase from 5 to 8 cm, which offers more flexibility for packaged goods. Moreover, liability up to a value of 20 euros will be introduced for Kleinpaket parcels. In addition to GoGreen, DHL now also offers the GoGreen Plus option for more sustainable shipping.
Legally, Deutsche Post’s general terms and conditions will be converted to DHL’s general terms and conditions (AGB Paket Express national). Your contractual partner will therefore be DHL Paket GmbH.
Besides, the delivery time will be extended from one to two working days. Deliveries are always made from Monday to Saturday.
DHL Kleinpaket: the details
- Dimensions: minimum 7.0 cm x 10.0 cm x 0.1 cm and maximum 25.0 cm x 35.3 cm x 8.0 cm
- Weight: maximum 1 kg
- Delivery time: two working days after posting (Monday to Saturday)
- Liability: up to 20 euros value of goods
- Collection: included from 6000 shipments per year
- Services: Shipment notification, drop-off location and “neighbor” option available for customers
Is DHL Kleinpaket suitable for your parcels?
Similar to Warenpost, DHL Kleinpaket parcels are particularly suitable for e-commerce entrepreneurs who regularly send small and lightweight goods. These include cosmetics, small electronics, jewelry, food supplements, pet supplies and small textiles.
To use the Kleinpaket service, you must be a DHL business customer. You can open a business customer account via the DHL website if you regularly ship 200 parcels a year or more.
How much does the DHL Kleinpaket cost?
The prices for DHL business customers are calculated individually and are based on the expected shipment volume. The minimum price for a Kleinpaket is 2.99 euros. You can calculate your personal shipping prices here.
How long is the delivery time of the Kleinpaket?
Normally, the parcel is delivered to the recipient within two working days after posting (Monday to Saturday).
What you need to do to change from Warenpost to Kleinpaket
The new parcel format has been available since January 1, 2025. So what do you need to do now as an online retailer? If you use the Post & DHL business customer portal to prepare your shipments, you were automatically activated for the DHL Kleinpaket on January 1, 2025. If you use partner connections, the change was carried out by the partners themselves. Here too, you can use the Kleinpaket already.
If you use the DHL API or generate your shipping labels using EDI-CC, minor adjustments may be necessary on your part. This mainly involves the manual renaming of “Warenpost” to “DHL Kleinpaket”.
Advantages of the DHL Kleinpaket for shippers and recipients
- Transparency and security: thanks to shipment tracking and liability up to a value of 20 euros, your parcels are protected against loss.
- Practical services included: shipment notification, drop-off location and neighbor delivery are available at no extra charge.
- Documented delivery: Documentation is provided after delivery to the customer, to a post office or when deposited in a Packstation.
- Flexibility for different customer requirements: If required, you can add options such as branch routing, GoGreen, GoGreen Plus or Parcel Stop (from 01.03.2025) in the DHL Business Customer Portal.
Will the Kleinpaket also replace “Warenpost international”?
The change from Warenpost to Kleinpaket only affects national parcel shipping. International shipping with “Warenpost international” remains unchanged.
With “Warenpost international” you can send small-format goods with a maximum weight of 1 kg to over 220 countries, but without liability, shipment tracking and collection.
What is the difference between Kleinpaket and Warensendung?
The Kleinpaket is the replacement of Warenpost and should not be confused with Warenendung, which is intended for private customers. With the Warensendung, private individuals can send small parcels up to 5 cm high and 1 kg in weight via the German letter network. These items are sent without a tracking ID and cost 2.55 euros. If you want to send heavier items, you can use the weight surcharge for an additional 0.85 euros. This increases the maximum weight to 2 kg, whereas the dimensions stay the same.
Automated printing of Kleinpaket labels
As an official partner of DHL, easybill supports the printing of shipping labels for online retailers: As an easybill customer, you can use the direct connection between easybill’s Import Manager and the DHL business customer portal to print Kleinpaket labels automatically. This makes the creation of shipping labels more efficient and less prone to errors.
What the switch to DHL Kleinpaket means for you
From 2025, DHL Kleinpaket will replace “Warenpost national”, which will bring a number of changes for online retailers. With the increase in the maximum height of the shipment from 5 to 8 cm and the introduction of liability up to a goods value of 20 euros, the DHL Kleinpaket now offers more flexibility and security. However, retailers must also expect a longer delivery time of two working days instead of one. Overall, the Kleinpaket remains a practical and cost-efficient shipping solution for small-format goods.
