Hermes vs. DHL: A comparison for online retailers in Germany

For time-critical broadcasts DHL Often, it's the right choice. For price-sensitive packages, however, it's worth comparing with DPD, GLS, or UPS. Which parcel service is best depends on weight, dimensions, destination region, delivery time, and desired service.

Important: Hermes is not offered through Paket International. The provider is only included in this comparison because many online retailers are looking for a direct comparison between DHL and Hermes. Instead, Paket International offers companies shipping solutions from, among others, DHL, DPD, GLS,UPS and FedEx compare and book.

• Fast and predictable: DHL typically delivers domestic shipments within a few business days. In addition, the company offers a dense network of branches, parcel shops, and automated parcel lockers. This makes DHL particularly attractive for B2C shipments and recipients with varying availability.
• Price-conscious standard shipping: For certain package sizes outside of Parcel International, Hermes can be a cost-effective option. Within our shipping platform, you can instead compare the available rates from DPD, GLS, DHL, UPS, and other shipping providers for price-sensitive shipments.
• Valuable or time-critical programs: For high-value goods and fixed delivery dates, DHL, UPS, or FedEx are particularly suitable, depending on the shipping destination. Crucial factors include not only transport costs, but also tracking, liability, delivery options, and transit time.

Pro tip: Focusing solely on the lowest base price doesn't automatically save on shipping costs. Additional fees, packaging costs, returns, redeliveries, and internal service costs must also be considered. Paket International therefore recommends creating multiple shipping profiles for each product category.

How do Hermes and DHL compare directly?

One important detail is the different way package sizes are calculated. DHL and Hermes each use their own size, weight, and product limits. Therefore, a bulky but lightweight package can be classified differently by the two providers.

However, the decision should not be based solely on a theoretical price comparison. Regional delivery times, surcharges, delivery options, and the retailer's actual terms and conditions influence the overall costs much more than a single publicly stated starting price.

Hermes can therefore serve as an external benchmark. Since Hermes is not available for international parcel delivery, our customers compare their shipments against other providers such as DHL, DPD, GLS, UPS, and FedEx.

You can find a more detailed comparison in our Parcel delivery service comparison.

What alternatives to Hermes does Paket International offer?

Those who have previously used Hermes for price-sensitive shipments will find several alternatives at Paket International.
DPD for scheduled B2C shipments

DPD is particularly suitable for national and European parcel shipments. Shipment tracking with delivery forecasts makes planning easier for recipients. Depending on the route, parcel size, and customer conditions, DPD can be a cost-effective alternative to standard shipping.

GLS for compact and heavier packages

GLS can be particularly attractive for compact packages and certain European shipping profiles. Companies should take into account the permissible dimensions, weight limits, and potential surcharges.

You can find more information about GLS and other parcel services in the
Comparison of the most important shipping providers
.

DHL for a large delivery network

DHL is particularly suitable for retailers whose customers want to use parcel lockers, branches, and flexible delivery options. The shipping provider's high brand recognition can also strengthen trust during the ordering process.

UPS for national and international business shipments

UPS is a key option for scheduled B2B shipments and international shipping. Its global network, detailed tracking, and various transit-time options make UPS particularly attractive for business and high-value goods.

FedEx for international and time-sensitive shipments

FedEx offers an extensive international network and is particularly suitable for urgent shipments to countries outside the EU. Depending on the destination country, different economy and express shipping options are available.

 

Which decision rules truly help retailers?

Define shipping profiles

Companies should create at least two to three shipping profiles per product category. Possible profiles include:

• Standard package up to 2 kg
• Medium-sized package between 2 and 10 kg
• Heavy or bulky package
• Time-critical express shipment
• International shipment with customs clearance

For each profile, a preferred shipping provider and at least one alternative solution can be defined.

 

Calculate total costs instead of base price

In addition to the shipping costs alone, retailers should consider the following costs:

• packing material
• Collection costs
• Fuel and other surcharges
• Fees for plus sizes or special sizes
• Return costs
• Effort required for customer inquiries
• Costs of redeliveries
• Customs duties, import taxes and flat-rate expenses

A seemingly cheaper plan can end up being more expensive overall than a slightly higher base price with better delivery and tracking options. You can find out more on our page about... affordable shipping with no hidden extra costs.

Accurately record dimensions and weight

Even a few centimeters can lead to a different price category or a surcharge. Therefore, length, width, height, and actual weight should be recorded automatically or carefully.

For international shipping, the volumetric weight can also determine the price. Particularly light but large packages often end up being more expensive than expected as a result.

Consider delivery options

For B2C shipments, parcel shops, automated parcel lockers, and flexible delivery options can reduce the number of unsuccessful deliveries. For B2B shipments, however, predictable transit times, reliable tracking, and clear delivery documentation are particularly important.

Select the appropriate carrier for each shipment

Using a single parcel service for all orders is not always the most economical solution. A sensible multi-carrier setup could look like this, for example:

• DHL for classic B2C shipments and Packstation recipients
• DPD or GLS for price-sensitive standard parcels
• UPS for international B2B shipments
• FedEx for time-critical deliveries outside the EU

Hermes is not part of this carrier portfolio for Paket International.

Pro tip: The decision shouldn't be made once for the entire shop. Package dimensions, destination regions, and available rates change. Therefore, it makes sense to compare shipping costs for each order or shipping profile.

 

International Parcel: Automating Carrier Selection and Customs Clearance

Manually comparing DHL, DPD, GLS, UPS, and FedEx wastes valuable time with every shipment. Paket International consolidates available shipping offers into a single, central platform.

Businesses can compare shipping costs, select suitable shipping products, and automatically generate shipping labels. For international shipping, the platform also supports the digital creation of the necessary customs and export documents.

This eliminates the need to manually switch between different carrier portals and to enter identical shipping data multiple times.

Paket International supports companies with, among other things:

• comparing available shipping rates
• the selection of suitable shipping service providers
• the automatic creation of shipping labels
• the calculation of customs duties and import taxes
• shipping with DDP or DAP
• the preparation of commercial and pro forma invoices
• the preparation of necessary export documents
• the central tracking of international shipments
• the integration of online shops and ERP systems

APIs and plugins allow orders to be imported directly from connected systems. Shipping labels and relevant documents can then be created without duplicate data entry.

Note: Hermes shipments cannot be calculated or booked via Paket International. For cost-conscious shipping profiles, alternatives such as DPD, GLS, DHL, UPS, or FedEx are available, depending on the route and package details.

Calculate shipping costs and compare available parcel services now.

Further information and price calculator

Public price lists offer a starting point. However, they are of limited use to business customers, as individual terms and conditions, package quantities, shipping destinations, and surcharges influence the actual price.

For a reliable comparison, retailers should always enter the specific shipment data. This includes:

• Sender and recipient country
• Postcode of sender and recipient
• Length, width and height
• Actual weight
• Type and value of goods
• Desired duration
• Required additional services

This makes it easier to assess whether DHL, DPD, GLS, UPS or FedEx offers the most economical solution for the respective order.

• Calculate shipping costs for a specific shipment
  
• View available shipping providers
  
• Compare parcel delivery services based on price and services
  
• Express shipping for time-critical shipments
  

Key insights

DHL or Hermes are not automatically the best choice for online retailers. The crucial factor is which available shipping provider best suits the specific shipping profile.