APAC · Comparison

SF Express vs DHL Express

Side-by-side dimensional weight comparison. Same package, two carriers — see exactly what each would bill, and which wins for your shipment profile.

SF Express
÷ 6000 cm³/kg
DHL Express
÷ 5000 cm³/kg
Compute billable weight
CALC.001 / DIM-WEIGHT
Unit system
Package dimensions
L
W
H
Actual weight (lb)
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Awaiting dimensions. Enter package details to compute billable weight.

Head-to-head

SF Express vs DHL Express — the divisors

SF Express has the more favorable divisor (6000 vs 5000 cm³/kg) — meaning lower billable weight for the same package.

  SF Express DHL Express
Imperial divisor (in³/lb) Metric only 139
Metric divisor (cm³/kg) 6000 5000
DIM applies No minimum No minimum
Region China Germany · Global
When to pick which

Which carrier wins for your shipment

— 01 · CHOOSE SF EXPRESS

When SF Express wins

China domestic e-commerce, Asia-Pacific international, B2B inter-China

— 02 · CHOOSE DHL EXPRESS

When DHL Express wins

International express shipments, cross-border B2B, Asia-Europe lanes

— 03 · RUN A LIVE QUOTE

Confirm with the carriers

Divisors don't tell you everything — base rates, fuel surcharges, and discounts also matter.

SF Express ↗
DHL Express ↗

Common questions

SF Express vs DHL Express — FAQ

Which is cheaper, SF Express or DHL Express?

It depends on your package. SF Express's divisor is 6000 cm³/kg, while DHL Express's is 5000 cm³/kg. For DIM-weighted packages (lightweight bulky), the carrier with the higher divisor wins on billable weight. For dense packages where actual weight wins, the divisor doesn't matter and the cheaper base rate wins. Use the calculator above to see which gives you the lower billable weight for your specific package.

Do SF Express and DHL Express use the same DIM weight formula?

The formula is the same: volume divided by the divisor, rounded up, with the billable weight being the greater of the result or the actual weight. The divisors differ (6000 cm³/kg for SF Express, 5000 cm³/kg for DHL Express), which is what produces different billable weights for the same package.

Can I use both SF Express and DHL Express?

Yes — many shippers use both, routing each package to whichever carrier is cheaper for that shipment profile. Multi-carrier rate-shopping platforms (Shippo, ShipStation, Easyship) automate this decision in real time based on weight, dimensions, destination, and your negotiated rates with each carrier.

Compare every carrier for your package

This page focuses on SF Express vs DHL Express. To see how all major carriers compare for your specific shipment, use the main calculator with the global setting.

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