January 11, 2025, 3:12 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Since the beginning of the year, some changes have been implemented at the post office. Perhaps the most important: Packages must now have their weight indicated. However, there are a few exceptions. TECHBOOK reveals what these are and what to consider when indicating the weight.
Anyone sending letters or packages in 2025 must be aware of some changes. While postage rates are increasing, customers will also need to write the weight of their package on the shipment. Otherwise, package services will no longer be allowed to transport the shipments.
New Regulation Aims to Protect Package Deliverers
The change was announced in December, just days before Christmas. It specifically concerns packages weighing more than ten kilograms. The change is not due to the package services themselves but is based on a change in the law. The new postal law has been in effect since January 1, 2025; specifically, it concerns Chapter Nine, Paragraph 73.
The background includes the protection of package deliverers. Since July 2024, packages weighing 20 kilograms or more must be delivered by two people unless there are appropriate technical aids that allow for single delivery. However, these are not specifically defined.
The requirement to indicate weight is intended to provide clarity in some areas and improve working conditions. Among other things, deliverers can directly assess the weight and avoid straining themselves.
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Which Packages Are Affected by the Labeling Requirement
As mentioned at the beginning, it specifically concerns packages weighing more than 10 kilograms. For packages weighing 20 kilograms or more, stricter rules apply. The category a package falls into must also be labeled.
Returns are exempt from the regulation. This would be difficult to implement, as return labels are often already included with a package. However, if a customer decides to keep only part of the goods and return the rest, the weight would differ from that of the original shipment.
The following prices have been in effect since early January for packages, depending on the weight:
How to Indicate the Weight on a Package
Whether you indicate the weight directly on the shipping label or add it by hand is irrelevant. The main thing is that it is clearly visible on the package. This was also emphasized by a spokesperson for the DHL Group in response to a TECHBOOK inquiry.
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There are no specific legal requirements for the exact size of a package. “It is only required that packages with increased weight are marked with clearly visible and easily understandable notices.” There is also no exact regulation on where the weight must be indicated on the package. However, at DHL, the indication must be on the same side as the address label. The spokesperson also noted that DHL’s own weight notices are at least 1 x 1 centimeter in size. Private customers should adhere to this minimum size. To be on the safe side, a larger label is recommended.
The law does not allow for any discretion regarding weight, as the DHL Group also emphasized in response to a TECHBOOK inquiry. Therefore, it is essential to weigh a package accurately before labeling it. “DHL complies with legal requirements. This means DHL ensures the appropriate labeling for packages weighing 10 kilograms, but not 20 kilograms, or those exceeding 20 kilograms,” the company stated.