How to Send Mail in Germany: Format, Stamps, and Envelopes

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Reposted from Germany Mail｜Deutsche Post Complete Guide to Sending Letters, Online Tutorial!

by : 一分钱·腿腿快跑

Living in Germany, you’re probably no stranger to receiving and sending letters. From the moment you open a bank account, letters start piling up — written communication is a key and formal way to get things done here. But what’s the standard format for sending a letter in Germany? What are the sizes and prices? How do you buy stamps? If you’re not entirely sure, let me walk you through everything step by step.

The first step is to write the recipient and sender information on the envelope. All contact details go on the front — leave the back blank for important info!

You can start with “Absender” (sender) or leave it out — the top left is generally understood as the sender’s address.

Line 1: First name, Last name (capitalize both; if you’re worried about confusion, write the last name in all caps)

Example: Baobao Li or Baobao LI

Line 2: Street name, building number, apartment number (building number is usually enough, but add apartment if there are many residents)

Example: Sonnenstraße 6 (Nr.34)

Line 3: Postal code, City

Example: 80331 München

Line 4: Deutschland

You can start with “An” (to) or leave it out — it’s assumed to be the recipient.

Line 1: First name, Last name

Line 2: Street name, building number, apartment number

Line 3: Postal code, City

Line 4: Nach + Country name

Note: If sending abroad, e.g., to China, you can write the address in Chinese for the first three lines, and the last line should be Nach China!

Example:

You can buy envelopes at post offices, supermarkets, drugstores, stationery shops, and even at Euro shops (like Tedi or Action). Plenty of styles to choose from.

Every Deutsche Post branch has a stamp vending machine where you can buy stamps of different values.

Many kiosks, especially those selling magazines, also sell stamps.

1. Order physical stamps online — choose from cool designs, delivered next business day.

2. Buy digital stamps online

This option is great if you prefer DIY and don’t want to visit a post office. You can see exact costs, choose the best option, and avoid hunting for a post office. Here’s how:

First, go to the Deutsche Post website (click here ) and register/log in.

Select the stamp you want, and you’ll see this page

Choose any additional services you need, then pay. You’ll get a QR code and a code like this:

Print the QR code and stick it on the envelope, or simply write the code by hand — perfect if you don’t have a printer!

Image | Deutsche Post

Here are the domestic letter rates for different sizes, so you know what to buy:

A standard domestic letter costs €0.80; international standard letter costs €1.10.

For important documents like contracts or applications, you can choose registered mail (Einschreiben). Here’s how to buy it online:

Find “Einschreiben” on the Deutsche Post website, select the type you want, and purchase it. (The process is similar to buying a digital stamp, but with tracking and signature options.)