Mailing packages within the U.S. requires adherence to specific guidelines set by the USPS®. It’s crucial to understand what you can and cannot send through the mail, especially when it comes to items like food. Navigating these rules ensures your packages are delivered smoothly and legally.
- Prohibited Items: Some items are completely forbidden from being mailed.
- Restricted Items: Others are allowed only under specific conditions.
- Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT): These may face prohibitions or restrictions depending on their nature.
For international shipments, refer to the International Shipping Prohibitions & Restrictions for relevant regulations.
Understanding USPS shipping restrictions for hazardous, prohibited, and restricted items.
Important Reminder: Mercury, a liquid silver metal at room temperature, is strictly prohibited from mailing, whether alone or within devices like antique thermometers. However, items with trace amounts of mercury vapor, such as compact fluorescent lamps, are permissible for domestic mailing. Learn more about mercury restrictions.
USPS Mailer Responsibilities
As a USPS customer, you are responsible for:
- Consulting USPS Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, & Perishable Mail: This publication is your primary resource to determine if your item is mailable. Access Publication 52
- Compliance: Adhering to all Postal Service™ regulations and U.S. laws.
- Secure Packaging and Marking: Ensuring your package is securely packed and correctly labeled. You can visit a Post Office™ for labeling verification.
Shipping Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT)
Hazardous materials (HAZMAT) are substances that pose risks of injury or damage if mishandled. This category includes chemicals and flammable items, and importantly, certain food items due to preservation methods or inherent risks.
HAZMAT also encompasses lithium batteries and liquid mercury. Key points to remember about HAZMAT:
- Prohibition: Some HAZMAT cannot be mailed via USPS and requires alternative carriers.
- Restriction: Other HAZMAT can be mailed if all regulations are strictly followed.
- Transportation Limits: Certain HAZMAT can only be shipped via ground transportation, not by air.
- Separation and Marking: Packages containing HAZMAT must be separated from other packages and presented in containers clearly marked “HAZMAT.”
Mailing dangerous materials knowingly can lead to severe penalties, including civil fines (from $250 to $100,000+), cleanup costs, damages, and potential criminal charges.
Tip: Explore the HAZMAT Shipping Safety tutorial for guidance on safely shipping hazardous materials.
Domestically Prohibited Items
These items are not allowed in U.S. domestic mail:
- Air Bags
- Ammunition
- Explosives
- Gasoline
- Liquid Mercury
- Marijuana (including medical marijuana); hemp/CBD has specific restrictions
Domestically Restricted Items: Can You Mail Food and Other Perishables?
Many items, including certain types of food, fall under restricted categories. Mailing these requires strict adherence to specific rules. For a comprehensive list, refer to USPS Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, & Perishable Mail.
Open or Close Content below Aerosols
Mailable gases and aerosols include propane, butane, and fire extinguishers, but they are subject to specific regulations.
Open or Close Content below Alcoholic Beverages
Generally, mailing beer, wine, and liquor is prohibited, except in limited, specific circumstances.
When reusing boxes, ensure to remove all alcoholic beverage labels to avoid issues in the mail system.
Exceptions for Mailing Intoxicating Liquors
Open or Close Content below Cigarettes, Cigars, & Tobacco
Cigarettes and smokeless tobacco have restricted mailing conditions, while cigars can be mailed domestically. Review the Definitions and Mailability guidelines for tobacco products.
Exceptions for Mailing Cigarette & Smokeless Tobacco:
Limited circumstances for mailing include:
- Shipments within Alaska and Hawaii.
- Business/regulatory purposes.
- Small “gift” quantities to individuals.
- Returns of unacceptable tobacco products to manufacturers.
Shipping & Packaging Requirements:
Approved cigarette or smokeless tobacco shipments must be verified by a Postal employee at a Post Office™ to confirm the recipient’s legal age.
Tobacco Shipments to APO/FPO/DPO:
While treated as domestic mail, shipments to APO/FPO/DPO locations in foreign countries are subject to those countries’ restrictions. Check International Country Listings for specific prohibitions.
Open or Close Content below Cremated Remains
USPS is the sole carrier for shipping cremated remains (ashes of humans or pets). Domestic shipments are allowed via Priority Mail Express®, requiring a strong, sealed inner container and specific outer packaging like Cremated Remains Kits or properly labeled durable containers with Label 139. Free shipping supplies are available at The Postal Store®.
Watch How to Ship Cremated Remains Safely Video Publication 139 – How to Package & Ship Cremated Remains Other Guidelines on Shipping & Packaging Cremated Remains
Open or Close Content below Dry Ice
Dry ice, used as a refrigerant for hazardous or nonhazardous materials, is mailable if packaged in containers that allow carbon dioxide gas release.
Shipping Dry Ice Rules & Restrictions
Open or Close Content below Firearms
Only licensed manufacturers and dealers can mail or receive handguns. Rifles and shotguns, if unloaded, are mailable but require compliance with regulations.
Additional Information on Mailing Firearms
Open or Close Content below Glues
Mailing glues depends on their flashpoint and toxicity. Flammable glues, if classified as consumer commodities, can be mailed, sometimes with ground transportation restrictions. Glues are referred to as “adhesives” in resources.
Shipping Flammable & Combustible Liquids Packaging Instructions for Combustible Liquids
Open or Close Content below Hand Sanitizer
Shipping hand sanitizers, including wipes, requires USPS Ground Advantage™ or Parcel Select® service, available only via your local Post Office™ branch.
Most hand sanitizers are flammable due to alcohol content and are treated as HAZMAT, limited to ground transportation domestically and prohibited for international mail, including APO/FPO/DPO.
Verify flammability with the manufacturer before mailing if unsure.
Publication 52-Hazardous, Restricted and Perishable Mail Packaging Instructions 3A
Open or Close Content below Hemp Products (including CBD)
Hemp, defined as cannabis with 0.3 percent or less THC, and CBD products are mailable domestically if compliant with all laws. International and military (APO/FPO/DPO) shipping is prohibited.
Requirements include following Publication 52, Section 453 guidelines, complying with federal, state, and local hemp laws, and retaining compliance records for at least 2 years.
Open or Close Content below Lithium Batteries
Small consumer-type primary lithium batteries are mailable domestically under conditions.
Lithium Batteries in Electronic Devices:
Pre-owned, damaged, or defective electronics with lithium batteries must be shipped via ground transportation and marked “Restricted Electronic Device” and “Surface Transportation Only.” Air transportation is prohibited.
Open or Close Content below Live Animals
Generally, pets and warm-blooded animals cannot be mailed, except in limited situations. Live animal shipments like poultry, reptiles, and bees have specific packaging needs and extra handling fees, with shipping dependent on transportation availability.
Regulations on Shipping Live Animals
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Safety Matches:
Safety matches require ground transportation only and are not for international mailing.
Additional Information on Mailing Safety Matches
Strike-Anywhere Matches:
Strike-anywhere matches are prohibited from domestic mailing.
Open or Close Content below Medicines & Prescription Drugs
Mailing medicines and drugs requires understanding their characteristics and adhering to strict regulations. Prescription medications can only be mailed by DEA-registered distributors. Similar rules apply to some over-the-counter medications.
Shipping Controlled Substances & Drugs
Open or Close Content below Mercury
Liquid mercury and devices with visible mercury are prohibited from mailing.
Mercury Vapor Devices:
Consumer devices like compact fluorescent bulbs with trace mercury vapor are restricted but mailable. See Pub 52, Section 348.22g and Packaging Instruction 8C for details.
Open or Close Content below Nail Polish
Flammable nail polishes, if consumer commodities, are mailable domestically, potentially with ground transport restrictions. Know the flashpoint and toxicity of the nail polish before mailing.
Shipping Flammable & Combustible Liquids Packaging Instructions for Combustible Liquids
Open or Close Content below Paint
Flammable or combustible paints are generally mailable as consumer commodities or ORM-D (surface only), within quantity and packaging limits. Non-flammable, water-based paints like latex paint are not restricted.
Additional Information on Mailing Paint
Open or Close Content below Perfumes
Perfumes with alcohol cannot be shipped internationally or via domestic air transport. Ground transportation within the U.S. is permitted.
Shipping Flammable & Combustible Liquids Packaging Instructions for Combustible Liquids
Open or Close Content below Perishable Items – Mailing Food
Perishable items, including food, plants, and live animals, can deteriorate during mailing and are sent at the mailer’s risk. When considering “Can You Mail Food?”, the answer is nuanced. Some foods are mailable if they are non-perishable or properly packaged to prevent spoilage and meet specific USPS guidelines. Highly perishable foods that can spoil quickly or pose health risks if not handled correctly are generally restricted or prohibited.
Key Guidelines for Mailing Food:
- Non-Perishable Foods: Durable, non-perishable foods like canned goods, packaged snacks, and dried foods are generally acceptable for mailing domestically. Ensure they are securely packaged to prevent damage during transit.
- Perishable Foods (with restrictions): Certain perishable foods may be mailed under strict conditions. This often involves using expedited shipping services like Priority Mail Express® to ensure quick delivery, along with appropriate packaging such as insulated containers and cooling materials (like dry ice, when permissible and correctly handled). However, even with these measures, mailing highly perishable food is risky and may not be advisable.
- Prohibited Food Items: Certain food items might be prohibited due to potential hazards or spoilage risks, especially if they could attract pests or leak. It’s essential to consult USPS Publication 52 for specific prohibitions and restrictions.
- Extra Handling Fees: Perishable items often incur extra handling fees depending on the shipping service used.
In summary, while “can you mail food?” is technically yes for some types, it comes with significant considerations. Prioritize non-perishable options and always check USPS guidelines for specific food types before shipping. When mailing any food, proper packaging and understanding the risks are paramount.
Shipping Perishable Materials Guidelines
Open or Close Content below Poisons
Poisons are classified as toxins, and their mailability depends on their toxicity. Some can be sent via air and ground, while others are restricted to ground transport only.
Mailable Class 6 Materials Packaging Instructions for Toxic Substances
This guide provides an overview of USPS domestic shipping prohibitions and restrictions, particularly addressing the question, “can you mail food?”. Always refer to official USPS publications and guidelines for the most accurate and up-to-date information before sending any package.
