Packstücke

Packstücke is a term used in German logistics and postal practice to denote an individual packaged unit within a shipment. A Packstück is typically a single item that has been packaged for transport, such as a box, crate, or parcel. A shipment, conversely, may consist of several Packstücke, each of which can be separately labeled and tracked. In many contexts a loading unit such as a pallet, crate, or container is considered a separate loading unit rather than a Packstück; however, a single Packstück may be shipped on a pallet and counted as one piece in the overall shipment.

Each Packstück usually carries its own label or tracking code, and its own set of transport particulars, including weight, dimensions, declared contents, value, and, if applicable, hazard class or special handling instructions. In customs documentation and freight forwarding, Packstücke are itemized to facilitate clearance, tariff assessment, and shipment tracking. The term is common in German-speaking logistics, mail services, and contract logistics and is used in both domestic and international consignments.

The precise definition can vary by carrier or contract: some define a Packstück as any externally packaged unit regardless of contents, while others distinguish between consumer parcels and business shipments. In practice, the concept helps clarify how many transport pieces exist, how they will be handled, and how charges are calculated.