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,d and you will be contacted by DHL.

All parcels, including gifts, cards and documents sent with DHL Express will be subject to inspection by a qualified DHL employee. These inspections may involve physically opening packages or utilising X-ray imaging.

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 and of any type
including but not limited to power banks, USB chargers and common household batteries

Cash

Cosmetics (prohibited in the EU only)
including but not limited to makeup, hair dye and face creams
Credit / debit cards - activated and unactivated

Foodstuffs (prohibited in the EU only)

Medications (prohibited in the 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 shipment. The batteries must be contained within the devices. Devices should be packed to minimise movement and avoid short circuits 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 (prohibited in the 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 traveller's cheques
legal tender – bank notes, currency notes, coins

Commemorative coins, medals and other high-value collectables
with an individual or total shipment value over £1,800

Jewellery, costume jewellery, watches, watch parts and objects constructed of precious metal and / or stones
with a total shipment value of over £4,000

Loose precious and semi-precious stones
cut or uncut, polished or unpolished

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

As an example, you can send shoes by DHL

As an example, you can send passports by DHL

As an example, you can send cameras by DHL

The list is virtually endless, but here are a few examples:

Documents
Cameras
Phones

Clothing
Fabric
Shoes

Photos
Passports
DVDs

Computers
Laptops

Will my parcel be opened for inspection?

At DHL Express, we prioritise safety and regulatory compliance in all our operations. To ensure this, we conduct inspections of shipments to identify any restricted or prohibited items, hazardous materials, or contraband. These inspections may involve physically opening packages or utilising X-ray imaging and must be easy to inspect to avoid delays.

All parcels, including gifts, cards and documents, sent with DHL Express by non-account customers will be subject to hand-searched inspections by a qualified DHL employee. These inspections will take place at the DHL Service Centres (DHL-owned locations) while you’re processing your shipment or when the shipment arrives at the Service Centre after the courier/driver collected them. Leave your parcel unsealed (no screws, locks or heavily taped) to avoid it being rejected.

Note that all heavyweight and pallet shipments, including suitcases, containers and crates, sent by non-account customers will be inspected by a courier prior to collection. You can then seal, lock, tape or pallet-wrap them in front of the courier.

These inspections are in accordance with UK Aviation Security regulations and the safety of our employees, and you can read more about it in DHL’s Terms and Conditions. All items are handled with care throughout the inspection process.

To help us avoid any delays during the inspection process, please follow these guidelines:

Cooperate with DHL staff during the hand-search inspection.

Do not seal cards, envelopes, documents or parcels as they will also be opened for inspection.

When sending gifts, consider using gift bags instead of gift-wrap because it will be opened for inspection.

Make sure to check what you can and can’t send and, if it’s still not clear, contact DHL Customer Service who will be able to advise you according to the destination that you’re sending to.