# DHL Tracking Number Format Guide [2026] > A 10-digit DHL tracking number belongs to Express, while numbers with letters or 10 to 39 characters route through eCommerce, Parcel, or Freight. - **Author**: Charles Helms - **Published**: 2020-10-20 - **Updated**: 2026-10-29 - **Category**: dhl - **URL**: https://trackingadvice.com/dhl-tracking-numbers/ --- For a parcel, a 10-digit number with no letters is DHL Express. Anything longer, or containing letters, belongs to another DHL division such as eCommerce, Parcel, Paket, Global Forwarding, or Freight, and each division maintains its own tracking system. [TrackingAdvice is independent](https://trackingadvice.com/about/) and not affiliated with DHL. What Do DHL Tracking Numbers Look Like? ## DHL tracking number formats by division DHL has no single tracking number format: each DHL division issues its own. **Only DHL Express parcels promise exactly 10 digits and no letters; the other DHL divisions use other lengths, letters or hyphens.** | Division | What the number looks like | DHL's example | Where to track | | -------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | DHL Express (worldwide) | 10 digits (never letters) | 1234567890 | [DHL global tracking](https://www.dhl.com/us-en/home/tracking.html) | | DHL Express domestic Germany | 20 digits | No example published | [DHL Express Germany](https://www.dhl.de/de/geschaeftskunden/express/verfolgen/tracking-tracing-faq.html) | | DHL eCommerce (global) | 10 to 39 characters, usually starts with a letter | GM9999999999999 | [DHL tracking](https://www.dhl.com/us-en/home/tracking.html) | | DHL eCommerce U.S. (GM number + USPS number) | GM packageId (CCN), DHL ID, or USPS IMpb tracking number | GM60511234500000001, 3387191106122423, 9361269903500011492028 | [DHL eCommerce Americas](https://developer.dhl.com/api-reference/references-dhl-ecommerce-americas) or USPS | | DHL eCommerce UK (14 / 7 / JJD 24) | 14 digits for shipments, 7 digits on calling cards, or 24 digits starting with JJD for returns | 41505910017980, 3710615, JJD... | [DHL eCommerce UK](https://track.dhlparcel.co.uk/) | | DHL Parcel (Europe) | Starts with 2 letters, followed by alphanumeric characters | 3SBCC000123456, CY111111111DE | [DHL tracking](https://www.dhl.com/us-en/home/tracking.html) | | DHL Paket Germany | 10 to 39 characters; an example in DHL Paket's business info sheet is 20 digits | 0012345678901XXXXXXC | [DHL Germany tracking](https://www.dhl.de/en/privatkunden/hilfe-kundenservice/sendungsverfolgung/probleme-loesungen.html) | | DHL Global Forwarding | Plain digits, letters and digits, or hyphenated codes | 1234567, 1AB12345, ABC123456, 123-12345678 | [DHL Global Forwarding](https://developer.dhl.com/api-reference/shipment-tracking-v2-dhl-global-forwarding) | | DHL Freight | Hyphenated codes or plain digits; DHL Freight Sweden says normally 10 digits, with order numbers like ABC-EC-123467 or 11 digits for foreign countries | ABC-DE-1234567, 1234-12345, 123456789, ABC-EC-123467 | [DHL Freight Sweden](https://www.dhl.com/se-en/home/customer-service/dhl-freight-customer-service/tracking-and-shipment-status-faq.html) | Formats verified on DHL-owned pages on 2026-10-23. One catch: DHL Freight in Sweden also uses 10-digit numbers, so a 10-digit number on a pallet or road-freight delivery is not proof of DHL Express. The examples in the table reflect organizational divisions across DHL. As explained on the [DHL Express Hungary guidance page](https://dhlexpress.hu/en/shipping-advice/how-do-i-know-that-my-parcel-is-a-dhl-express-shipment/), the DHL eCommerce Solutions division was renamed DHL eCommerce, and European operations outside Germany that previously carried the DHL Parcel name now operate under DHL eCommerce. For German domestic shipments, see [whether Deutsche Post and DHL are the same](https://trackingadvice.com/is-deutsche-post-and-dhl-the-same/). ## How to tell DHL Express from DHL eCommerce on the label **On a DHL label, the word waybill on the top barcode means DHL Express, and the letters (J)VGL on the bottom barcode mean DHL eCommerce.** That rule comes from [DHL Express Netherlands](https://www.dhlexpress.nl/en/consumer/track-trace), which adds that a DHL Express shipment number is always 10 digits and never letters. [DHL Express Hungary](https://dhlexpress.hu/en/shipping-advice/how-do-i-know-that-my-parcel-is-a-dhl-express-shipment/) agrees: "if your tracking number is not 10 digits, your parcel is not being delivered by DHL Express." Some shipping blogs say DHL Express numbers can start with letters such as JJD or JVGL. DHL Express says the opposite. Trust the carrier. ## DHL eCommerce numbers in the U.S.: GM number vs USPS number A DHL eCommerce parcel in the U.S. usually has two numbers people see: the merchant's GM number and a USPS tracking number. **Both numbers follow the same parcel, so you can track it on DHL or on USPS.** Two numbers, one box. The [DHL eCommerce Americas developer glossary](https://developer.dhl.com/api-reference/references-dhl-ecommerce-americas) notes that a single U.S. package can carry several identification numbers: - packageId: The customer-provided package ID, also known as the customer confirmation number (CCN) or GM number (for example, GM60511234500000001). - dhlPackageId: The internal DHL-generated package identifier (for example, 3387191106122423). - trackingId: The last-mile carrier package ID, which for domestic U.S. shipments is the full USPS Intelligent Mail package barcode (for example, 420071149361269903500011492028). - deliveryConfirmationNumber: The domestic USPS tracking number entered on the postal website (for example, 9361269903500011492028). For international shipments originating in the U.S., the last-mile identifier is available only after the package has shipped. [DHL eCommerce and USPS entered an exclusive long-term agreement](https://www.dhl.com/us-en/home/press/press-archive/2026/dhl-ecommerce-and-usps-enter-10-billion-dollar-plus-long-term-exclusive-agreement.html), announced on May 28, 2026, making USPS the final-mile carrier for all domestic DHL eCommerce deliveries. For DHL's cross-border mail service, see [DHL Global Mail](https://trackingadvice.com/dhl-global-mail/). The [DHL eCommerce U.S. tracking FAQ](https://www.dhl.com/us-en/home/customer-service/ecommerce-tracking-faq.html) explains that these parcels receive milestone tracking. If your parcel has not arrived within 10 days after the expected delivery date, contact the merchant, who opens the investigation. For transit times, see [how long DHL shipping takes](https://trackingadvice.com/how-long-does-dhl-shipping-take/). ## Where to find your DHL tracking number Your DHL tracking number is on the label, the receipt, or the shipping email from the seller. **An order number from the store is not a DHL tracking number, so ask the seller for the carrier's number if you only have an order number.** Check these four locations to retrieve your tracking code: - Physical shipping label or receipt: For DHL Express, the 10-digit air waybill (AWB) number is on the shipment receipt and the air waybill document, as explained in the [DHL Express Discover guide to air waybills](https://www.dhl.com/discover/en-ph/logistics-advice/essential-guides/guide-to-dhl-express-air-waybill). For DHL eCommerce, use the number in the seller's shipping email. - Shipment confirmation email: The [DHL eCommerce Asia Pacific tracking FAQ](https://ecommerceportal.dhl.com/track/pages/customer/customerServiceFAQPublic.xhtml) notes that the merchant or online shop issues the tracking number in your dispatch email or shipping notification. - MyDHL+ account: Account holders can find the waybill number in MyDHL+. - Retailer customer service: [DHL Germany tracking help](https://www.dhl.de/en/privatkunden/hilfe-kundenservice/sendungsverfolgung/probleme-loesungen.html) states that a tracking number is not the same as an order number. DHL Germany says customer service cannot check a shipment without the tracking number, so you must ask the seller for the carrier tracking code. If you are expecting an Express parcel but do not have the 10-digit code, the [DHL Express Germany FAQ](https://www.dhl.de/de/geschaeftskunden/express/verfolgen/tracking-tracing-faq.html) notes that you can track an Express shipment without the number if you have the shipper's reference number, using the reference search. Other DHL questions are in our [DHL FAQs](https://trackingadvice.com/dhl-faqs/). ## How to track a DHL number **Track any DHL number on the DHL tracking page: it finds which DHL division handles the number, and it also checks piece IDs and references.** Some divisions also have their own tracker. To track several numbers at once, separate them with a tab, comma, space, or semicolon. DHL's [unified tracking system](https://developer.dhl.com/api-reference/shipment-tracking) covers DHL Express, DHL Global Forwarding (including DHL Same Day), DHL Freight, DHL eCommerce and Post & Parcel Germany. To track it: 1. Clean the code: Confirm that the number has at least 5 characters and no special characters, as required on the [DHL global tracking page](https://www.dhl.com/us-en/home/tracking.html). 2. Check the global portal: Enter your code on the [TrackingAdvice DHL tracking hub](https://trackingadvice.com/carriers/dhl/) or on the DHL tracking page. 3. Switch to the division-specific portal if needed: - DHL Express: Search the 10-digit waybill on DHL tracking. - DHL eCommerce U.S.: Search the number from the merchant on DHL tracking, or enter the USPS tracking number on the USPS website. - DHL eCommerce UK: Track 14-digit UK parcels or 24-digit JJD return codes on the [DHL eCommerce UK portal](https://track.dhlparcel.co.uk/). (Yes, the 7-digit number on a UK calling card works there too.) - Post & Parcel Germany: Search 10- to 39-character codes for German shipments on [dhl.de](https://www.dhl.de/en/privatkunden/hilfe-kundenservice/sendungsverfolgung/probleme-loesungen.html). - DHL Global Forwarding: Track using the housebill number (also called the DHL shipment number), customer reference, or shipment ID, as documented in the [DHL Global Forwarding API guide](https://developer.dhl.com/api-reference/shipment-tracking-v2-dhl-global-forwarding). Housebills can also be retrieved using a container number or masterbill number. - DHL Freight: Track using hyphenated order codes, plain digits, or Swedish domestic formats on the [DHL Freight Sweden tracking FAQ](https://www.dhl.com/se-en/home/customer-service/dhl-freight-customer-service/tracking-and-shipment-status-faq.html). ## Why a DHL tracking number does not work A DHL tracking number that returns "not found" usually has one of three problems. **Check three things first: you have the carrier's tracking number (not an order number), the label is old enough for a first scan, and you are on the right DHL tracker.** | Reason | What to check | Fact | | ---------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Label newly created | Time since merchant notification | Tracking events appear within 24 to 48 hours for DHL eCommerce, as the first event is created when the shipment leaves the merchant fulfillment center ([DHL eCommerce FAQ](https://ecommerceportal.dhl.com/track/pages/customer/customerServiceFAQPublic.xhtml)). German parcels take up to 24 hours ([dhl.de](https://www.dhl.de/en/privatkunden/hilfe-kundenservice/sendungsverfolgung/probleme-loesungen.html)). | | Typo or digit transposition | Character-by-character accuracy | Tracking is only possible with a valid tracking number; customer support cannot check status without it ([dhl.de](https://www.dhl.de/en/privatkunden/hilfe-kundenservice/sendungsverfolgung/probleme-loesungen.html)). | | Wrong division tracker | Number length and letters | DHL Express numbers are 10 digits with no letters; a longer number, or one with letters, is not DHL Express ([DHL Express Netherlands](https://www.dhlexpress.nl/en/consumer/track-trace), [DHL Express Hungary](https://dhlexpress.hu/en/shipping-advice/how-do-i-know-that-my-parcel-is-a-dhl-express-shipment/)). | | Retailer order number entered | Email subject and label text | The retailer assigns the order number, which is not the same as a DHL tracking number ([dhl.de](https://www.dhl.de/en/privatkunden/hilfe-kundenservice/sendungsverfolgung/probleme-loesungen.html)). | | GM number vs USPS number confusion | Domestic carrier handoff | Domestic U.S. eCommerce parcels carry a GM packageId for DHL and a separate delivery confirmation number for USPS ([DHL eCommerce Americas glossary](https://developer.dhl.com/api-reference/references-dhl-ecommerce-americas)). | | Untracked shipping service | Service level on receipt | Not all DHL eCommerce shipments include tracking numbers ([DHL eCommerce FAQ](https://ecommerceportal.dhl.com/track/pages/customer/customerServiceFAQPublic.xhtml)), and German DHL Päckchen do not have tracking ([dhl.de](https://www.dhl.de/en/privatkunden/hilfe-kundenservice/sendungsverfolgung/probleme-loesungen.html)). | | Invalid length or punctuation | Format syntax | Tracking numbers require a minimum length of 5 characters and cannot contain invalid special characters ([DHL global tracking](https://www.dhl.com/us-en/home/tracking.html)). | When DHL says the number was not found: 1. Confirm that you copied the carrier tracking code rather than the merchant order number, and remove any extra spaces or symbols. 2. On a new DHL eCommerce label, wait 24 to 48 hours for the first scan (up to 24 hours for a parcel in Germany). 3. If the code worked previously but updates stopped mid-transit, review our guide on [DHL tracking not updating](https://trackingadvice.com/dhl-tracking-not-updating/). If delivery failed completely, check our steps for handling a [DHL return to shipper](https://trackingadvice.com/dhl-return-to-shipper/). 4. Contact the support channel for your DHL division (table below). | DHL division | Who to contact | When | Contact | | ------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | DHL Express (U.S.) | DHL Express customer service | Monday to Friday, 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM Arizona time | 1-800-CALL-DHL (1-800-225-5345), [DHL Express contact page](https://www.dhl.com/us-en/home/express/help-and-support/contact-dhl-express.html) | | DHL eCommerce | The merchant, who opens the investigation | Parcel not arrived 10 days after the expected delivery date | The merchant's customer service ([DHL eCommerce U.S. FAQ](https://www.dhl.com/us-en/home/customer-service/ecommerce-tracking-faq.html)) | | DHL Paket (Germany) | The sender first, then DHL | No new status for more than 5 working days | [dhl.de tracking help](https://www.dhl.de/en/privatkunden/hilfe-kundenservice/sendungsverfolgung/probleme-loesungen.html) | Verified on DHL-owned pages on 2026-10-29. ## Holiday peak: fake DHL tracking texts and customs stops Check any DHL tracking text or email before you click, especially during the holiday peak. **Official DHL messages come only from DHL addresses, such as @dhl.com, @express.dhl.com or a country address like @dhl.de, and link only to DHL websites.** The [DHL Fraud Awareness guide](https://www.dhl.com/us-en/home/footer/fraud-awareness.html) gives these signs and steps: - Fraud indicators: Warning signs include shortened URLs (such as bit.ly addresses) and messages sent from generic names like "Delivery." - Reporting scams: Forward a suspicious email to `phishing@dhl.com` as an attachment. For a suspicious text message, email `phishing@dhl.com` a screenshot that shows the sender's phone number. If your number works but tracking stops on a customs or hold status, that is a hold, not a format problem: see [DHL shipment on hold](https://trackingadvice.com/dhl-shipment-on-hold/) for duties and paperwork. Peak-season delivery times are in [DHL delivery hours](https://trackingadvice.com/dhl-delivery-hours/). ## FAQ ### Why doesn't my DHL tracking number work? Usually the number is too new for a first scan (24 to 48 hours for DHL eCommerce, up to 24 hours in Germany), it is an order number rather than a tracking number, or it is on the wrong DHL tracker. A typo or a service without tracking, such as a German DHL Päckchen, also causes it. ### Where is the 10-digit DHL tracking number? The 10-digit DHL Express waybill number is on the shipment receipt, on the air waybill (the DHL Express label has "waybill" on the top barcode), in the shipment confirmation email, and in MyDHL+ for account holders. ### What does a DHL tracking number look like? A DHL Express tracking number consists of exactly 10 digits without letters. A DHL eCommerce number ranges from 10 to 39 characters and usually starts with a letter like GM. European parcel shipments start with two letters, while freight shipments use hyphenated formats or plain digits. ### What does JJD mean on a DHL tracking number? On DHL eCommerce UK shipments (formerly DHL Parcel UK), a 24-digit tracking number starting with the letters JJD designates a UK return shipment. ### Can a DHL tracking number have letters? Yes. While DHL Express shipments never contain letters, tracking numbers for DHL eCommerce, DHL Parcel in Europe, DHL Global Forwarding, and DHL Freight frequently include them. ### Can I track a DHL eCommerce package on USPS? Yes. USPS completes the final mile for all DHL eCommerce deliveries in the U.S., and a domestic package carries a USPS tracking number besides the merchant's GM number. Enter the USPS number, not the GM number, on the USPS website.