Do I need a German VAT number to sell in Germany?

If you store goods in Germany or exceed VAT distance selling thresholds, yes. Since July 2021, the EU VAT One-Stop Shop (OSS) simplifies this for EU sellers — you can report VAT for all EU countries in your home country. Non-EU sellers typically need a German VAT registration. A German tax consultant (Steuerberater) can help with the setup.

Which German marketplaces should I start with?

Start with Amazon.de — it has the largest audience (44 million monthly visitors). Add Kaufland.de next for lower competition and lower fees. OTTO is selective (invitation-only for most categories) but excellent for fashion, furniture, and lifestyle. Marqetir lets you list on all three from one dashboard.

What is the German Packaging Act (VerpackG) and do I need to comply?

Yes. Any seller shipping products to German consumers must register with the LUCID Packaging Register and contract with a dual system provider (like Der Grune Punkt). This applies to all packaging — primary, secondary, and shipping packaging. Non-compliance can result in sales bans. Registration costs around €50-200/year depending on packaging volumes.

How does Marqetir help with German compliance?

Marqetir handles the product listing side — AI translates your titles and descriptions into German, maps categories for each marketplace, and ensures your listing content meets German marketplace requirements. For legal compliance (VAT, VerpackG, WEEE), we provide guidance and recommend specialized compliance partners.

What are the fees on German marketplaces?

Amazon.de charges 7-15% commission plus a €39/month subscription. Kaufland.de charges 6.5-12.5% with no monthly fee. OTTO takes 15-40% commission depending on the category. Use our fee calculators for exact figures for your product categories.

Can I sell on German marketplaces without speaking German?

With Marqetir, absolutely. The AI translates and localizes all your product content into native German. Customer service is the one area where you may need German support — consider hiring a German-speaking VA or using a translation service for customer messages.

Expand Your E-Commerce to Germany

Germany is Europe's largest e-commerce market at €112 billion annually. Three marketplaces dominate: Amazon.de, Kaufland, and OTTO. Marqetir's AI translates your product listings into native German and publishes to all three from one dashboard.

Start Selling in Germany Compare German Marketplaces

Free 7-day trial. No credit card required.

€112B

Annual e-commerce market

69M

Online shoppers

Major marketplaces

EU e-commerce market

Germany's three major marketplaces compared

Each marketplace serves a different audience. The smart strategy is to list on all three and let each channel bring different customer segments.

Feature	Amazon.de	Kaufland.de	OTTO
Monthly visitors	44M+	32M+	14M+
Commission	7-15%	6.5-12.5%	15-40%
Monthly fee	€39	Free	Varies
Best for	All categories	Electronics, Home	Fashion, Lifestyle
Competition	Very high	Medium	Low (curated)
Seller requirements	Open	Open	Invitation-only
FBA equivalent	FBA available	No	OTTO Fulfillment

Last updated: March 2026

How Marqetir gets you live on German marketplaces

Step 1

Connect your store

Import your product catalog from Shopify or WooCommerce. All product data — titles, descriptions, images, prices, and inventory — syncs automatically.

Step 2

AI creates German listings

Marqetir's AI translates every listing into native German. It doesn't just translate words — it rewrites copy for German search behavior, maps categories for each marketplace, and fills marketplace-specific required fields.

Step 3

Go live on 3 marketplaces

Publish simultaneously to Amazon.de, Kaufland, and OTTO. Inventory syncs across all channels. Prices can be adjusted per marketplace. Manage everything from one dashboard.

German compliance checklist for e-commerce sellers

Germany has strict consumer protection and environmental laws. Here's what you need before selling.

VAT Registration

Register for German VAT (19% standard rate) or use the EU VAT OSS scheme. Required before listing on any German marketplace.

Packaging Act (VerpackG)

WEEE Registration

Required if you sell electronics. Register with stiftung EAR and contract a take-back provider for e-waste.

Product Safety (ProdSG)

Products must meet German safety standards. CE marking required for applicable product categories. Keep technical documentation.

Imprint (Impressum)

German law requires a full legal imprint on all marketplace seller pages — company name, address, registration number, and contact info.

Return Policy

German consumers have 14-day return rights under EU consumer law. Returns must be free for the buyer in most cases.

"Germany was our biggest expansion target but also the most intimidating — the compliance requirements seemed endless. Marqetir handled the listing side perfectly, and their guidance on VerpackG and VAT saved us weeks of research. We're now doing €8,200/month across Amazon.de and Kaufland combined."
— Marco D., Consumer Electronics, Italy

Frequently asked questions about selling in Germany

Everything you need to know about expanding to the German market.

Enter Europe's largest e-commerce market today.

List on Amazon.de, Kaufland, and OTTO with AI-translated German listings. Free 7-day trial — no credit card required.

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Expand Your E-Commerce to Germany

Germany's three major marketplaces compared

How Marqetir gets you live on German marketplaces

Connect your store

AI creates German listings

Go live on 3 marketplaces

German compliance checklist for e-commerce sellers

VAT Registration

Packaging Act (VerpackG)

WEEE Registration

Product Safety (ProdSG)

Imprint (Impressum)

Return Policy

Related resources

Sell in Germany

Kaufland Fee Calculator

Amazon FBA Calculator

How to Sell on Kaufland

Cross-Border Selling in Europe

Germany VAT Calculator

Frequently asked questions about selling in Germany

Enter Europe's largest e-commerce market today.