18 kwietnia 2026/3 min czytania
EMS vs DHL vs YunExpress for Reps: 2026 Carrier Comparison
Side-by-side EMS, DHL, and YunExpress for rep shipments. Transit times, cost curves, customs behavior across US, UK, EU, AU.
Three carriers handle 80%+ of rep shipments from China to Western markets: EMS (postal, cheapest), DHL (express, premium), and YunExpress (mid-tier). Which is right for your parcel depends on destination, value, and timing.
Headline comparison
| Factor | EMS | DHL | YunExpress |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost (3kg to US) | $75 | $145 | $90 |
| Transit (US) | 14-21d | 7-10d | 10-16d |
| Transit (UK) | 14-21d | 6-10d | 10-14d |
| Transit (EU) | 16-24d | 8-12d | 12-18d |
| Transit (AU) | 18-26d | 9-14d | 14-20d |
| Customs reliability | Medium | High | Medium |
| Damage rate | ~0.5% | ~0.1% | ~0.4% |
| Lost rate | ~0.3% | ~0.05% | ~0.2% |
When to use each carrier
Use EMS when…
- Parcel value under $150
- Delivery date isn't urgent
- Destination is a major city with active postal network
- Total parcel weight is 2-5kg (EMS's sweet spot)
Use DHL when…
- Parcel value over $300
- You need predictable transit
- Destination is EU or AU (DHL DDP simplifies customs)
- Sensitive items (watches, leather bags)
Use YunExpress when…
- Parcel value $150-300
- You want cost-time balance
- Destination has good YunExpress infrastructure (US, UK)
- You've verified the carrier handles your specific country well
Per-country notes
US
All three work. DHL is fastest, EMS cheapest, YunExpress balanced. See US shipping guide.
UK
DHL DDP or Standard for VAT predictability. EMS and YunExpress work for under-£135 parcels. See UK shipping guide.
EU
DHL DDP is the default. YunExpress has partial EU coverage; country-by-country check required. See EU shipping guide.
AU
DHL DDP is cleanest. 4PX / YunExpress work for budget orders. EMS works but transit is long. See AU shipping guide.
Weight-cost curves
For DHL, cost is roughly linear per kg above 500g. For EMS, price breaks happen at 2kg, 5kg, 10kg (cheaper per kg at higher weight). YunExpress is most linear but with volumetric-weight discount on large dimension items.
Typical break points (to US):
| Weight | EMS | DHL | YunExpress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1kg | $45 | $100 | $55 |
| 3kg | $75 | $145 | $90 |
| 5kg | $105 | $190 | $125 |
| 10kg | $180 | $310 | $205 |
For 10kg+ parcels, consider sea-air hybrid lines (SEA Express) — cheaper than any of these three above 10kg.
Customs treatment per carrier
EMS → USPS (US) / Royal Mail (UK) / etc.
Postal handoff. Customs interacts with postal inbound queue. Hold rates are highest on EMS due to less pre-clearance.
DHL → direct delivery
Private courier. DHL handles customs-to-delivery without postal handoff. Lowest hold rates, most predictable.
YunExpress → USPS (US) / Royal Mail / etc.
Similar to EMS with better tracking. Occasional hold but generally smoother.
Damage and loss
DHL has the lowest damage rate (~0.1%) and the lowest loss rate (~0.05%). For $500+ parcels, DHL's reliability advantage is worth the premium.
EMS and YunExpress have comparable damage/loss rates; neither is catastrophically unsafe, but both are less reliable than DHL.
Insurance
- DHL: included up to $100 typically; higher coverage via paid add- on
- YunExpress: included up to $50; paid coverage available
- EMS: included up to ~$90; additional coverage in some destinations
For parcels over $300 declared, paid insurance is cheap ($5-10) and worth it regardless of carrier.
Combined strategy
Many experienced buyers split parcels by category:
- High-value or time-sensitive (sneakers drop, watch): DHL
- Apparel bulk: YunExpress or 4PX
- Budget single-item apparel: EMS
Agent-to-agent:
- Kakobuy: all three supported
- Superbuy: all three + SEA options
- Hoobuy: DHL-focused, limited YunExpress
Frequently asked
Can I upgrade from EMS to DHL after submit?
No. Once shipping line is selected and parcel is handed off, you're committed.
Is there a way to track EMS more accurately?
EMS tracking is carrier-country dependent. 17track.net aggregates all carriers; often more useful than EMS's own tracker.
Does DHL guarantee delivery date?
Published transit is an estimate. Actual varies by 1-3 days typical. Express guarantee exists as paid service (rarely used for reps).
Which carrier handles disputes best?
DHL. Customer service is responsive and resolutions are predictable.
What's the cheapest for a 10+ kg parcel?
SEA Express, not any of the three. Sea-air hybrid beats EMS at weight.