DHL Prohibited And Restricted Items - What You Can And Can’t Send With DHL
What are prohibited items?
These are items that cannot be sent on the DHL network and the list below applies to customers without a DHL Express account. Please check our list of prohibited items to ensure that your parcel can be delivered without any delays.
Do you have a DHL Express account? Some of the items listed below can be shipped by account holders with prior approval from DHL. Please refer to the Standard DHL Express Restricted Commodities list.
There are some obvious things that you cannot send with DHL (such as animals, illegal substances, guns and explosives for instance). But there are also less obvious items that DHL can’t transport, including aerosols, perfumes, aftershaves, eau de toilettes and cash.
Note that the prohibited items listed below apply to parcels being sent from and within the United Kingdom. For international carriage there may be additional prohibited items specified by the country of destination.
Please also refer to our advice on sending gifts with DHL Express.
This list includes items which are prohibited for carriage by any law, regulation or statute of any federal, state or local government of any country from, to or through which the items may be carried. The list is not exhaustive and DHL may update this list from time to time and/or refuse to carry other items not listed below.
Shipment of any prohibited item(s) shall be considered a material breach of our Terms and Conditions of Carriage and DHL shall hold no liability for any prohibited item(s), which are subsequently damaged or lost whilst in our control. You shall remain fully liable to DHL for any losses caused to DHL as a consequence of your shipping of a Prohibited Item in accordance with our Terms and Conditions of Carriage.
If your parcel contains a prohibited item, it may be delayed or stopped and you will be contacted by DHL.
Most common items
- Combination of liquids/gels and electronic items in the same parcel
- Aerosols, perfumes and aftershaves
including eau de parfum and eau de toilette - Batteries - damaged or defective
- Batteries - loose of any type
including but not limited to power banks, USB chargers and common household batteries - Cash
- Cosmetics (EU only)
including but not limited to makeup, hair dye and face creams
- Credit / debit cards - activated and unactivated
- Foodstuffs (EU only)
- Medications (EU only)
prescription and non-prescription, including supplements - Nail polish
- Paracetamol
- Power banks
- Rechargeable wireless earbuds
including but not limited to Apple AirPods and Samsung Galaxy Buds
Alcohol, cigarettes and narcotics
- Alcohol
Sending alcohol within the UK is permitted, but shipments containing alcohol to destinations outside the UK may be subject to local restrictions - Cigarettes, cigars and tobacco products
- Electronic cigarettes and pipes, e-hookahs, e-cigars and vape pens
including any device that, through an aerosolised solution, delivers nicotine, flavour, or any other inhalable substance - Illegal narcotics and cannabis-derived products, including CBD
Electronic devices
- More than 2 mobile phones, laptops and other small electronic items
You can send a maximum of 2 devices per box. The batteries must be contained within the devices. Devices should be packed to minimise movement, so as to avoid short circuit or unintentional activation. Your total shipment value can be up to £5,000 - Samsung Galaxy Note7 and Samsung Note7 devices
Hazardous and dangerous items
- Bladed items
including but not limited to knives and cutters
- Dangerous / hazardous goods
including but not limited to flammable and corrosive substances, dry ice and biological substances
- Firearms, ammunition and explosives
including explosive devices, inert explosives and test pieces, air guns, toy guns, tasers, replica and imitation firearms and all firearm parts and attachments
- Party poppers and Christmas crackers
- Used car parts and engines
only acceptable if professionally cleaned to remove residues
Human, animal and plants
- Animal trophies, animal parts and furs
including ivory, shark fins, animal remains and ashes, animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption - Clinical and / or biological samples
including but not limited to bodily fluids and tissue samples - Clinical testing kits
new or used, including COVID-19 - Flowers and plants
- Human remains or ashes
in any form - Live animals
including insects, larvae and pupae
- Plant based material (EU only)
Money, valuables and tax stickers
- Antiques, works of art and fine art
with an individual value over £5,000 - Banderols / tax stickers
- Bullion
of any precious metal - Cash and travellers cheques
Legal tender – bank notes, currency notes, coins - Commemorative coins, medals and other high valuable collectibles
with an individual or total shipment value in excess of £1,800 - Jewellery, costume jewellery, watches, watch parts and objects constructed of precious metal and/or stones
with a total shipment value over £4,000 - Loose precious and semi-precious stones
cut or un-cut, polished or un-polished
Other
- Counterfeit goods
in breach of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) - Illegal goods
such as offensive bladed weapons, illicit drugs, including but not limited to narcotic stimulants, depressants or hallucinogens, cannabis or its derivatives - Pornography
printed, film or digital format
- Shipment trackers / active loggers
The list is virtually endless, but here are a few examples:
- Documents
- Cameras
- Phones
- Clothing
- Fabric
- Shoes
- Photos
- Passports
- DVDs
- Computers
- Laptops
With over 1,200 DHL Service Points located in high streets and retail outlets across the UK,
there is bound to be a DHL Service Point near you.
