DHL Express tracking: waybill numbers and statuses

DHL Express tracking number: where to find the waybill

DHL Express calls its tracking number the waybill number. DHL says the sender or shop usually provides it, most often in the order confirmation or shipping email; if not, ask them. DHL's own On Demand Delivery messages arrive by SMS or email with a link. More in where to find a tracking number.

DHL Express describes two shapes:

Mondial Relay, Relais Colis, TIPSA, Estafeta and DHL eCommerce Iberia use 10 digits too, so check which carrier the shop's email names. A number with letters or another length is probably another DHL division, such as DHL Paket or DHL eCommerce UK, with its own tracking.

DHL recycles waybill numbers, so tracking can briefly show another shipment's history. Your parcel still goes to its own address.

What DHL Express tracking statuses mean

DHL Express's tracking shows these lines in English. Many end with the facility, for example Processed at followed by a town and country.

The customs line can appear right after the parcel leaves the origin country, since clearance may start in transit. It lets you see early whether customs needs more information: open "Further details" beside it.

Processed at and Shipment is in transit to destination are ordinary transit steps. The delivery town shown is the DHL service station's, not necessarily yours. Returned to Shipper means it's going back, after a customs problem, a refusal or unpaid fees.

Missed DHL Express delivery and changing it

With DHL's free On Demand Delivery, enter the waybill as a guest and choose among up to six options: a safe place without signature, another date, a neighbour or concierge, a DHL Express Service Point or locker, another address, or a vacation hold of up to 30 days. Which options you get varies by country.

DHL Express Italy describes a missed delivery: the courier tries to call the phone number on the waybill and comes back a second time; then the parcel waits at the nearest service centre for instructions.

Duties and taxes. DHL usually pays import duties and taxes for you and collects them before or on delivery: "Generally, DHL Express is unable to deliver parcels until these have been paid." If the shop chose Duty Tax Paid, you pay nothing. In the UK, DHL's 2026 rate guide adds a Duty Tax Processing fee for non-account customers of 2.5% of the duties and taxes, at least £11.00; other countries' amounts are in DHL Express's Service and Rate Guide for that country. See what customs charges.

DHL Express parcel delayed, on hold, lost or damaged

When tracking says to contact DHL, it usually lacks information, often a wrong address, which DHL says is "resolved very quickly by contacting Customer Service". For Shipment is on hold, DHL also says to contact it to find out why. DHL's Malaysian status page advises contacting DHL if tracking stays the same for more than 3 days; see also tracking that isn't updating.

For a lost, late or damaged parcel, DHL's claim forms accept claims from the sender, the recipient or whoever paid for the transport, within 30 days. Depending on the country, that counts from acceptance or from delivery, so act early. For damage, keep the contents and packaging, take photos and have proof of value ready.

DHL Express customer service number

DHL Express's channels for recipients, as its MyDHL+ contact pages listed them on 13 October 2026:

• United Kingdom: 0344 248 0012 for individuals (local call rates), Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; business customers 0844 248 0844. A Digital Assistant chat around the clock, WhatsApp, and forms for a tracking query, a claim or a rearranged delivery on the UK Help and Support page.
• Ireland: 0818 725 725, or 00 353 1 8700790 from abroad, Monday to Friday 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; chat around the clock and WhatsApp.
• United States: 1-800-CALL DHL (1-800-225-5345), Monday to Friday 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Arizona time; 1-888-273-8876 for Attempted Delivery Notices; chat around the clock.

Tracking DHL Express parcels with Peek

Peek recognises a 10-digit waybill that passes DHL Express's check digit, puts DHL Express first and asks it, Relais Colis, TIPSA and DHL eCommerce Iberia at once, naming whoever has the parcel. A 10-digit number that fails the check isn't offered to DHL Express: pick it with "Change". JD01 piece numbers and JJD0146 labels (JJD014612345678901234) are named DHL Express at once and traced to their waybill. Links from mydhl.express.dhl work too. For a dhl.com link, paste the waybill itself instead; if a parcel ends up under "DHL", switch it to "DHL Express" with "Change".

Peek reads DHL Express through the service behind its mobile app, or else opens dhl.com's tracking page in a browser on its server, which is slower and can be refused; then tracking services fill in. It checks every 10 minutes, every 2 minutes once out for delivery, and can notify you at every scan, at important steps or on delivery day only.

It shows the status, each scan with its facility on a map and the destination country. Scan times are placed by the facility's town; a scan it can't place makes Peek date the history from tracking services and ask DHL again every 6 hours. Scans read in DHL's English, except Delivered, Shipment picked up and Shipment information received, which appear in Peek's own words. Peek drops the signature, ignores old scans from a recycled waybill, and shows no expected delivery day, weight or Service Point. It can't pay duties or change a delivery.

Questions about DHL Express tracking

Is the DHL waybill number the same as the tracking number?

Yes. For DHL Express the 10-digit waybill number tracks the whole shipment; the JD piece identifier belongs to a single parcel.

Is DHL the same as DHL Express?

No: they are separate divisions of one group, each with its own tracking. Parcels without a 10-digit waybill usually belong to DHL eCommerce or DHL Paket.

Why is my DHL waybill number invalid?

Often it is another DHL division's number: DHL Express waybills have exactly 10 digits. A new waybill shows only Shipment information received until DHL has the parcel.

Can I track DHL Express without a waybill number?

Yes, if you have the shipper's reference: DHL Express offers Shipper's Reference Tracking. Otherwise ask the sender or shop for the waybill.