USPS Shipping Restrictions
If you are shipping packages via USPS it is important to know U.S. regulations and USPS guidelines for restricted and prohibited items.
Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail provides answers to your possible questions and details about restrictions and regulations for both domestic and international destinations.
Restrictions for Domestic Shipping
Domestic shipping does have prohibited (completely forbidden) and restricted items. If an item is restricted, it means that it can be shipped but it must meet USPS requirements, in addition to all federal, state, and local laws that apply to that item. Notice that all prohibited domestic items are also prohibited for international shipping.
Prohibited items for domestic shipping are:
- Air Bags
- Ammunition
- Explosives
- Gasoline
- Marijuana (medical or otherwise)
Restricted items for domestic shipping are:
- Aerosols – Mailability
- Alcoholic Beverages - Mailability
- Cigarettes, Cigars, & Tobacco - Mailability
- Cremated Remains - Mailability
- Dry Ice - Mailability
- Firearms - Mailability
- Fragile Items - Insurance & Extra Services
- Glues - Mailability
- Hand Sanitizer - Mailability
- Lithium Batteries - Mailability
- Live Animals - Mailability
- Matches - Mailability
- Medicines & Prescription Drugs - Mailability
- Nail Polish - Mailability
- Paint - Mailability
- Perfumes - Mailability
- Perishable Items - Mailability
- Poisons – Mailability
Restrictions for International Shipping
For international shipping, you must comply with the USPS international shipping regulations and the regulations of the destination country of where you are shipping to. Each country has its own list of regulations for prohibited and restricted items, please review the country-specific info here.
The USPS regulations of prohibited and restricted items for international shipping you can find here.
Prohibited items for international shipments are:
- Aerosols
- Air Bags
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Ammunition
- Cigarettes
- Dry Ice
- Explosives
- Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
- Gasoline
- Marijuana (medical or otherwise)
- Nail Polish
- Perfumes (containing alcohol)
- Poisons
Restricted items for intentional shipping are:
- Cigars – Mailability
- Cremated Remains- more info
- Firearms - additional information
- Glues - Mailability
- Lithium Batteries - Mailability
- Live Animals - Mailability
- Matches - Mailability
- Medical Devices - Mailability
- Medicines & Prescription Drugs - Mailability
- Paint - Mailability
- Perishable Items - Mailability
Restricted items can be shipped out of the US if the item meets all shipping requirements of USPS and destination country.
For any questions or additional assistance please contact us via email, support@myibservices.com.