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Stretch is Boston Dynamics' warehouse robot for the industry's worst job: unloading floor-loaded trailers and containers. A mobile base the size of a pallet carries a 7-DoF arm with a vacuum gripper that moves cases up to 23 kg at up to 700 cases per hour. Commercially deployed since 2023, its anchor customer DHL signed a 2025 MOU covering more than 1,000 additional units by 2030, and case picking and palletizing are now on the roadmap.
- First commercially deployed by DHL Supply Chain in 2023 to unload trailers and containers [source]
- DHL MOU (May 2025) paves the way for 1,000+ additional Stretch robots by 2030, expanding into case picking [source]
- Computer vision identifies boxes without pre-programming, handling mixed stacking and recovering fallen cases [source]
Specifications
| Specification | Value | Confidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max case weight | 23 kg | verified | bostondynamics.com (2026-09-01) |
| Vertical reach | 3.2 m | verified | bostondynamics.com (2026-09-01) |
| Max pallet build height | 1.8 m | verified | bostondynamics.com (2026-09-01) |
| Battery life | up to 16 hours | verified | bostondynamics.com (2026-09-01) |
| Charge time (Fast Charger) | under 120 min | verified | bostondynamics.com (2026-09-01) |
| Max driving speed | 2 m/s | verified | bostondynamics.com (2026-09-01) |
| Towable pallet weight | 1300 kg | verified | bostondynamics.com (2026-09-01) |
| Throughput | up to 700 cases/hour | reported | group.dhl.com (2026-09-01) |
| Arm degrees of freedom | 7 | reported | group.dhl.com (2026-09-01) |
Every spec is cited to its source with a retrieval date. verified = manufacturer-published · reported = reputable press/analyst. Verify with the manufacturer before purchase decisions.
Change timeline
- milestone DHL Group signs MOU with Boston Dynamics for 1,000+ additional Stretch robots by 2030 [source]
- announcement Boston Dynamics unveils Stretch, a mobile case-handling robot for truck unloading [source]
Our take
Stretch is the proven answer for container unloading — a task with brutal turnover and injury rates — and DHL's 1,000-unit commitment is the strongest third-party validation any warehouse manipulation robot has. Caveats: it is a single-task specialist expanding only gradually into palletizing and case picking, pricing is undisclosed enterprise-level, and ROI depends on steady inbound container volume. Best suited to high-volume 3PLs, parcel networks, and retail DCs with dedicated inbound docks.
Best suited for
- Floor-loaded trailer and container unloading at inbound docks
- Mixed-SKU pallet building up to 1.8 m
- Case picking in distribution centers (emerging application)
Stretch: common questions
How much does Boston Dynamics Stretch cost?
Boston Dynamics does not publish Stretch pricing; it is sold via enterprise sales, typically justified against the labor cost and injury risk of manual container unloading.
Who uses the Stretch robot?
DHL is the anchor customer — DHL Supply Chain first deployed Stretch commercially in North America in 2023, expanded to the UK and Europe, and in May 2025 DHL Group signed an MOU for over 1,000 additional robots by 2030.
How many boxes can Stretch move per hour?
DHL reports Stretch handles up to 700 cases per hour, including in hot, cold, or confined trailer environments, with individual cases weighing up to 50 lb (23 kg).
Can Stretch build pallets as well as unload trucks?
Yes. Beyond truck unloading, Boston Dynamics says Stretch builds dense, stable mixed-SKU pallets up to 1.8 m (6 ft) tall, and case picking is being rolled out as its next application.
How long does Stretch run on a charge?
Boston Dynamics quotes up to 16 hours of battery life — enough for two shifts — with recharging in under two hours using the Fast Charger.
Sources
- Boston Dynamics — bostondynamics.com, retrieved 2026-09-01
- Boston Dynamics — bostondynamics.com, retrieved 2026-09-01
- DHL Group — group.dhl.com, retrieved 2026-09-01
- DHL — dhl.com, retrieved 2026-09-01
- The Robot Report — therobotreport.com, retrieved 2026-09-01
- The Robot Report — therobotreport.com, retrieved 2026-09-01
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