Key Points:
- Your DHL eCommerce shipment can take anywhere from 2 to 8 business days for domestic shipments within the US
- Easily reschedule or change delivery times via the My DHL app
- Your DHL Express shipment can take anywhere from 3 to 4 business days for most international shipments
- Easily reschedule or change delivery times via DHL On Demand Delivery for Express shipments
- Create a delivery experience your customers love and discover exclusive DHL shipping rates with Easyship
What Is the Difference Between DHL eCommerce and DHL Express?
While they have the same parent company, DHL Express and DHL eCommerce are two separate companies, owned by DHL Group. DHL eCommerce provides both international and domestic services within the US, while DHL Express exclusively offers fast international shipping services.
DHL is a leading express courier for international eCommerce. Headquartered in Bonn, Germany, DHL processes millions of shipments to 220+ countries and territories every day.
DHL is best known for reliable delivery times and competitive rates on international shipments. That said, DHL also offers US-domestic shipping via its DHL eCommerce service.
DHL delivery times range from same-day to weeks depending on your chosen shipping option. Factors that impact delivery time and cost include:
- Shipping distance
- Size of shipment
- Product category
- Chosen service option
Want to quickly scope the delivery time and delivery hours for DHL? The Easyship free shipping rate calculator lets you compare DHL delivery times for domestic and international shipments. This will help you meet your customers' expectations for a timely delivery, no matter where they live.
You’ll also get up to 91% off retail on all DHL rates because Easyship is a direct DHL partner. This means we offer the cheapest rates on DHL and other courier services – guaranteed.
Use this article to learn all about DHL delivery hours and DHL delivery days.
Table of Contents
Domestic DHL Delivery Times By Service
You can find domestic DHL delivery times and shipping rates via DHL eCommerce.
These services provide national coverage to every state. DHL partners with USPS to complete local deliveries in the last mile.
DHL offers several domestic delivery services in the US, including:
- DHL Smart Parcel: Maximum weight of 16 oz.
- DHL Smart Parcel Plus: Maximum weight of 25 lbs
- DHL Smart Parcel Return: Maximum weight of 70 lbs, designed for returns
- DHL SmartMail Bound Printed Matter: Book rate shipping, basically
- DHL SmartMail Flats: Envelope service
Delivery times vary for these services by the service speed you choose for the delivery.
The table below shows the DHL delivery times for these three DHL domestic service speed: Ground, Expedited, and Expedited Max.
| DHL eCommerce Service | Estimated Delivery Time |
|---|---|
| Expedited Max | 2-3 business days |
| Expedited | 2-5 business days |
| Ground | 3-8 business days |
Here we see that DHL delivery times in the US range from 2-8 business days, depending on the service speed. All US-domestic DHL delivery times are all in business days, meaning that DHL domestic delivery doesn’t operate on holidays or weekends.
These delivery times are estimates, and may vary given unforeseen factors such as inclement weather or traffic issues. Expedited Max delivery speed isn’t available for Smart Parcel Returns, Bound Printed Matter, or SmartMail Flats services.
These delivery times are not guaranteed, meaning there’s no possibility of a refund if the package arrives late. Generally, though, DHL Domestic is a flexible and affordable option for merchants looking to ship lightweight parcels under 5 lbs.
International DHL Delivery Times Per Service
DHL specializes in international shipping services, available both on DHL eCommerce and DHL Express. This means you can expect faster delivery times and hours on DHL international than domestic on the following two services.
- DHL eCommerce International is an economical shipping option for merchants looking to cheaply send parcels across international borders.
- DHL Express offers expedited delivery on international packages for an added cost. Guaranteed delivery is available on some options.
The table below shows international DHL Express Delivery time by service.
| DHL Express Service | Estimated Delivery Time |
|---|---|
| DHL Same Day | End of business day |
| DHL Express 9:00 | Next possible day by 9:00 AM |
| DHL Express 10:30 | Next possible day by 10:30 AM |
| DHL Express 12:00 | Next possible day by noon |
| DHL Express international | End of next possible day |
| DHL Express Envelope | End of next possible day |
All DHL Express shipping times are shown in business days.
DHL Express offers several guaranteed shipping options. With the exception of Express Worldwide and Express Envelope, these DHL Express services offer guaranteed delivery with a money-back guarantee. If your DHL Express package doesn’t arrive on time, you can request a full refund on postage.
How long does DHL Express take? DHL delivery hours for Express Services are included in the name, with the exception of Express Worldwide and Express Envelope.
For example, DHL Express 9:00 offers guaranteed delivery by 9:00 AM on the quoted delivery date. The same goes for Express 10:30 and Express 12:00 (noon).
What about delivery times for DHL eCommerce international? The table below shows DHL eCommerce International Delivery Times.
| DHL eCommerce International Service | Estimated Delivery Time |
|---|---|
| Parcel Direct | 3-10 business days |
| Packet International | 4-8 business days |
| Parcel Standard | Europe: 4-8 business days; Rest of the world: 8-14 business days |
Here we see that three days is the minimum delivery window for DHL eCommerce International, increasing up to 10 business days.
DHL eCommerce International is suited for inexpensive international shipping. DHL Express is ideal for urgent cross-border shipments.
DHL Delivery Hours
DHL Delivery hours vary by service and by domestic or international service. Holidays and weekends also impact delivery timelines.
DHL delivery hours are between 8 AM to 6 PM, Monday to Friday in the US. DHL doesn't offer weekend or holiday delivery in the US, unless you’re willing to pay extra and make special arrangements.
For international shipments, DHL Express Service point locations are open from 9 AM to 6 PM. Delivery hours are between 8 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday.
DHL Weekend Service is available in Europe and other non-US countries. This covers extensive delivery options throughout the weekend in available countries. Plus, DHL’s standard delivery operations run from Monday to Saturday in Europe. DHL doesn’t offer delivery service on international national holidays.
Related post: FedEx Delivery Times and Hours
Factors of DHL Delivery Times
Trying to give accurate delivery times to customers? Be sure to familiarize yourself with the factors that can speed up – or slow down – your next DHL delivery, including:
Shipping service: DHL delivery times depend on your chosen shipping service. Say you want to send a 5 lb package from the US to Scotland.
If we hop over to the Easyship Free Shipping Rate Calculator, it shows our package arriving in 1-3 business with DHL Express international. By contrast, choosing DHL eCommerce Parcel Direct increases delivery to 9-11 days.
Shipping cost increases with speed: Faster DHL services are more expensive than slower options. For instance, it costs $64.07 to send a 5lb package from the US to the UK in 1-3 days via DHL Express international. But you can also opt for a slower option, like DHL eCommerce Parcel Direct, at $46.34. There is a difference of about $17 between the two services.
Always compare rates: You can use Easyship’s Free Shipping Rate Calculator to calculate rates, but also compare different DHL delivery times. This makes it easy to select the service that fits your timeline and budget at once.
Holidays: DHL observes most federal and bank holidays. This means their store locations are closed on these days, and deliveries aren’t available. Though DHL is reliable, it’s best to anticipate minor delays during the holiday season.
Urgent shipments: DHL Same Day is meant for mission-critical shipments that need immediate pickup and door-to-door delivery within the shortest possible timeframe. Consult with the DHL team if you have urgent shipments that may have a unique delivery timeframe.
Create a Delivery Experience Customers Love With Easyship
While DHL Express and DHL eCommerce delivery times and hours vary depending on the chosen service, Easyship can help you find the perfect solution for your customers in just a few clicks. Instantly compare estimated delivery times for over 550+ courier services worldwide with our Free Shipping Rates Calculator.
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DHL Delivery Times FAQ
When is DHL's latest delivery time?
DHL delivery times are between 8 AM to 6 PM local time. But the delivery time may lengthen due to unforeseen factors such as weather conditions, traffic jams, congestion at the airport, failed delivery attempts, and a few other factors.
How to schedule or change delivery time DHL?
You can easily reschedule or change delivery time if the scheduled delivery time isn't convenient for you using the My DHL app. From your My DHL app, you can see the various upcoming deliveries pinned to your home address. Simply change schedule deliveries by choosing your preferred time and dates.
What happens if you miss DHL delivery times?
If a delivery is missed, you’ll find a yellow notification card at the specified delivery location. Follow the steps listed to coordinate a second delivery, or simply wait for DHL to automatically return the next working day.
What does DHL mean by the end of the day?
This simply means the end of DHL business day, which is usually 6:00 PM, but delivery cannot be guaranteed at the exact time. That means your package may arrive earlier or later.
What are the key benefits of DHL Express?
There are three key benefits of DHL Express:
- Competitive prices for fast door-to-door international delivery options to fit a business of any size
- Simple multi-piece/single shipment creation and label printing to make cross-border shipping easy
- Digital Customs document generation with DHL Paperless Trade®
