.jpg)
By
·
7 minute read
If you manage an e-commerce business then you know the importance of choosing the right mail courier.
In this article you will discover which shipping service is best for your business, DHL vs FedEx. See the differences between each company and choose the best courier for your shipping needs.
Choosing the correct courier is not just a search for the right supplier. It’s about identifying a serious ally that will help you deliver the best value and service to your customers. The right courier will satisfy your customers with the best quality, speed, and cost-effective services.
If you are searching for a guide to help clarify your decision between DHL vs FedEx, read on for more information.
DHL vs FedEx
Here at ShippyPro, we want to help you in your search for that perfect carrier. Today we will be analyzing DHL vs FedEx.
FedEx is based in the US while DHL is headquartered in Germany, both of which have a key role in the global shipping market.
In this article, we will be analyzing DHL vs FedEx National US services, National UK services, European, and international services. Be informed on the differences between DHL vs FedEx. Here are some additional articles to help you choose the best service for your shipments.
- How to choose the best European courier for e-commerce
- DHL vs UPS
- DHL vs TNT
- FedEx vs UPS
- FedEx vs TNT
DHL vs FedEx: National US Shipments
| DHL | FedEx | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service | Delivery Time | Cost | Service | Delivery Time | Cost |
| DHL SmartMail Parcel | By end of one 2-3 business days | FedEx First Overnight | Next business day by 8:00am | ||
| DHL SmartMail Parcel Plus | By end of one 2-3 business days | FedEx First Priority Overnight | Next business day by 10:00am | ||
| DHL SmartMail Parcel Return | By end of one 1-3 business days | FedEx Standard Overnight | Next business day by 3:00pm | ||
| DHL Smart Mail Flats | By end of one 2-5 business days | FedEx 2Day | Second business day between 4:30 pm and 7:00 pm | ||
| DHL SmartMail Bundle Printed Matter | By end of one 2-5 business days | FedEx Express Saver | Third business day delivery by 4:30 pm | ||
| FedEx Ground | By end of 1-5 business days | ||||
| FedEx 1Day Freight | Next business day by 10:30am | ||||
| FedEx 2Day Freight | Second business day by 12:00 pm | ||||
| FedEx 3Day Freight | Third business day by 3:00 pm |
The table above compares DHL and FedEx’s domestic services within the United States. DHL’s US domestic services can be broken into three categories based on delivery time.
- DHL SmartMail Parcel and DHL SmartMail Parcel Plus both guarantee delivery within 2-3 days. The only difference between the two is DHL SmartMail Parcel Plus has a maximum weight of 25lbs while DHL SmartMail Parcel only has a maximum weight of 1lb. Subsequently, DHL SmartMail Parcel Plus costs a bit more.
- DHL SmartMail Bundle Printed Matter and DHL Smart Mail Flats both guarantee delivery in 2-5 days. The only difference between the two is DHL SmartMail Bundle Printed Matter has a maximum weight of 15lbs while DHL Smart Mail Flats only has a maximum weight of 1lb. As a result, DHL SmartMail Bundle Printed Matter costs slightly more than DHL Smart Mail Flats.
- DHL SmartMail Parcel Return easily handles return packages within 1-3 days.
FedEx’s US domestic services can be separated into four categories: Next day delivery, second-day delivery, third-day delivery and economy delivery
- FedEx First Overnight guarantees delivery the next business day by 8:00 am Monday through Friday.
- FedEx First Priority Overnight guarantees delivery the next business day by 10:00 am Monday through Saturday.
- FedEx Standard Overnight guarantees delivery the next business day by 3:00 pm Monday through Friday.
- FedEx 2Day guarantees delivery in two business days between 4:30 pm and 7:00 pm Monday through Saturday.
- FedEx Express Saver guarantees delivery in three business days by 4:30 pm.
- FedEx 1Day Freight guarantees delivery the next business day by 10:30 pm Monday through Friday.
- FedEx 2Day Freight guarantees delivery in two business days by 12:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- FedEx 3Day Freight guarantees delivery in three business-days by 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- FedEx Ground guarantees delivery in 1-5 business days by the end of the day Monday – Friday.
DHL vs FedEx: National UK Shipments
This table compares DHL and FedEx’s domestic services throughout the UK.
| DHL | FedEx | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service | Delivery Time | Cost | Service | Delivery Time | Cost |
| DHL Domestic Express 9:00 | Delivery by 9:00 am next business day | FedEx Next Day | By end of next business day | ||
| DHL Domestic Express 12:00 | Delivery by 12:00 pm next business day | FedEx Next Day by Noon | By 12:00 pm next business day | ||
| DHL Domestic Express | Delivery by end of next business day | FedEx Next Day by 10:00pm | By 10:00 am next business day | ||
| DHL Domestic Express Easy | Delivery by end of next business day once handed over to a DHL Service Point | FedEx Next Day by 9:00pm | By 9:00 am next business day | ||
| FedEx Economy | By end of the day in 1-3 business days |
DHL’s UK services all offer next business day delivery with variations in time of delivery.
The options for time of delivery the next day are 9:00 am, 12:00 pm, by the end of the day, and by the end of the day once the parcel reaches a DHL Service Point.
Additionally, all of these services come with tracking and liability protection. FedEx also offers a range of times for their next business day delivery services. But also offer an economical option.
The next day delivery options are by 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, or by the end of the day Monday through Friday.
FedEx Economy offers delivery by the end of 1-3 business days Monday through Friday.
DHL vs FedEx: European Shipments
| DHL | FedEX | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service | Delivery Time | Cost | Service | Delivery Time | Cost |
| DHL Same Day Sprintline |
One business day after the withdrawal | Europe First | The morning after the withdrawal | ||
| DHL Express Worldwide | One business day after the withdrawal |
Europe Economy | By end of day in 2-5 business days | ||
| DHL Express 9:00 | By 9:00 am next business day | International Priority | By end of day in 1-2 business days | ||
| DHL Express 12:00 | By 12:00 pm next business day | International Economy | By end of day in 4 business days | ||
| DHL Economy Select | By end of day in 1-4 business days |
DHL ships to Europe using many of the same services it uses for international shipments. Express Worldwide is the most used service, reaching around 220 countries worldwide.
The Economy Select service is the most used service in Europe. It is a door to door service that allows sending single, multicolored packages and pallets in Europe.
The delivery is from 1 to 4 working days, with a weight limit of 30 kg per package and volumetric weight of 200 kg per m³. It is the cheapest service DHL provides for shipments in Europe, the service can be integrated with additional options to improve the quality.
One of these additional options is continuous monitoring, which allows you to follow the progress of the goods from start to finish.
The Same Day Sprintline service is the fast road service that reaches the entire eurozone. The speed of the service does raise the cost, even if the distances are relatively short.
FedEx for Europe with the Europe First service ensures a rapid delivery the morning after the collection of the goods. The timeliness of the service does result in an increased price.
Europe Economy, on the other hand, represents the basic shipping service on European territory with delivery within 2-5 working days. These delivery times are more cost-effective.
DHL vs FedEX: International Shipments
The table below lists the international shipping services provided by DHL and FedEx.
| DHL | FedEx | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service | Delivery Time | Cost | Service | Delivery Time | Cost |
| DHL Sameday Jetline | By end of business day via air | International Priority | By end of 1-2 business days | ||
| DHL Sameday Sprintline | By end of business days via ground | International Economy | By end of 4 business days | ||
| DHL Express Worldwide | By end of 1 business day from withdrawal | Ground | By end of defined by a in Canada and US | ||
| DHL Express 12:00 | By 12:00 pm in 1 business day | Same Day | By end of business day in the US | ||
| DHL Express Envelope | End of one business day (documents only) | Europe First | By 12:00 pm the next business day from withdrawal | ||
| Europe Economy | By end of 2-5 business days |
Internationally, both FedEx and DHL offer a large variety of services with different costs and shipping times.
DHL provides many services, some as expensive as the Same Day service available both by air and by road. WorldWide Express is the most frequently used service, with slightly longer times but at a lower cost.
The exclusive DHL Envelope service reserved only for documents enables rapid delivery of documentation in approximately 220 countries around the world.
The International Priority service represents the fastest option for FedEx international shipments. Depending on the destination FedEx is able to deliver the goods the next morning in Europe, in a single business day in the US and Canada, and in 2 working days for Latin America.
The same service can be purchased for a cheaper cost if you are willing to extend the time of delivery. The International Economy offer allows that shipments arrive at your destination in 4 working days.
The FedEx Same Day service, thanks to the widespread distribution network in the US, allows the company to complete shipments on the same day the goods are picked up.
The Ground service is an economic service designed for shipments throughout North America.
Additional Services for E-commerce
Both companies have well-structured services that are full of additional options.
DHL offers its
Specific industries such as fashion and food have their own unique services. DHL offers services designed for the fashion industry.
- DHL Express for Fashion offers solutions for the fashion industry and an ad hoc packaging, with an elegant and refined design.
- DHL Medical Express manages the transportation of time and temperature sensitive shipments for the Life Science sector.
- For non-perishable food products, DHL Express Food & Beverage packages and places these items in suitable packaging.
FedEx is also very attentive to the industrial sector and offers a wide range of support services to improve customer loyalty and satisfaction. FedEx Office offers other services to businesses including printing, digital printing, computer rental and internet access.
FedEx has a deposit service at authorized outlets, called Pick up and Drop-off. Through this service, FedEx customers can receive and send packages from selected stores, manage withdrawals and purchase supplies to be received at the designated point of sale.
Reviews and Considerations
ShippyPro operate in the e-commerce sector, especially in the field of online shipments. We are in daily contact with many domestic and international couriers.
Evaluating all the work of a courier is not an easy task. The one perfect courier does not exist, however, there are certain couriers that are more suited to the needs of your business.
In this article we have introduced the main services of both DHL and FedEx, used heavily at a national and international level. We want to help you choose the ideal logistics partner for your needs, but there are other considerations we need to look at.
To do this, we will show you the only measure of transparent judgment we have; the reviews of our customers who use DHL and FedEx daily to ship domestically and around the globe.
Below are the total reviews of the two couriers formed on the basis of daily feedback from our customers.
Who do we choose to ship?
At this point, you understand how difficult it is to determine which courier is better than another. Now, considering that your goal is to provide the best customer service, there is nothing better than trying to enter into a contract with not one, but multiple couriers.
This way you will be able to offer excellent service in every area and category of product. Don’t limit yourself to a single shipping service provider.
Instead, look into choosing different couriers, each with a specific scope, to significantly reduce asset management costs. In fact, each freight forwarder charges very different tariffs in relation to the weight, size, and destination of the goods.
Compare and choose the best carriers for any type of shipping you make! Yes, it is a time-consuming process, but there are services for managing the various shippers that can help.
Connect DHL and Fedex to ShippyPro
The best way to manage this is through ShippyPro, which automatically compares the prices of different vendors and/or allows you to set shipping rules, saving you time and money.
Make your shipping management run more smoothly, start your 30 order trial now.
ShippyPro is the complete shipping software for online and offline retail. With Label Creator, Track & Trace, Easy Return and Analytics features, our software simplifies your shipping operations. ShippyPro integrates with over 180 carriers and 80 sales channels, making it compatible with a wide range of products and use cases.