CALCURATES BLOG
What You Should Know About USPS Shipping Restrictions
Nikolay Pasholok
Product Owner, Calcurates
Table of contents
- USPS Shipping Restrictions and Prohibitions
- USPS Shipping Restrictions
- What are the USPS Restricted Items?
- What Is the List of USPS Prohibited Items for Shipping?
- What are the USPS Domestic Shipping Restrictions?
- What are the USPS Size Restrictions?
- What are the USPS Media Mail Rules?
- What are the USPS First-Class and Priority Mail Restrictions?
- Are There any USPS Flat Rate Restrictions?
- What are the USPS Liquid Restrictions?
- What are the USPS APO Shipping Restrictions?
- What are the USPS International Shipping Size Restrictions?
- Which Are the USPS Restricted Countries?
- What Is the List of USPS Prohibited Items for International Shipping?
- Configure USPS Shipping Restrictions Using Calcurates
USPS Shipping Restrictions and Prohibitions
USPS outperforms any competitor by overall package turnover. Even its competitors — FedEx and UPS — are resorting to the help of USPS for their last-mile deliveries.
If your e-commerce business operates in North America, it may be crucial for you to have a grasp of the USPS logistics restrictions. There is a list of USPS prohibited and restricted items, which you cant ship unless you follow certain shipping guidelines.
If your e-commerce business operates in North America, it may be crucial for you to have a grasp of the USPS logistics restrictions. There is a list of USPS prohibited and restricted items, which you cant ship unless you follow certain shipping guidelines.
USPS Shipping Restrictions
Shipping restrictions exist primarily for security reasons. Like any other carrier, USPS shipping restrictions follow the principle of preventing unmonitored and unregistered deliveries of potentially harmful items.
While you can't send such products using standard shipping, there is a way to deliver them by following certain packaging guidelines and preparing the documentation.
While you can't send such products using standard shipping, there is a way to deliver them by following certain packaging guidelines and preparing the documentation.
What are the USPS Restricted Items?
Goods in the USPS restricted items list are not prohibited from transportation but are subject to limitations and additional licensing. Some restricted items for shipping require special packaging, while others can only be transported by ground or domestically.
The following items are subject to restrictions:
The following items are subject to restrictions:
- Aerosols
- Alcoholic beverages
- Exceptions for mailing intoxicating liquors
- Cigarettes, cigars, and tobacco
- Cremated remains
- Dry ice
- Firearms
- Fragile items
- Glues
- Hand sanitizer
- Lithium batteries
- Live animals
- Matches
- Medicines and prescription drugs
- Nail polish
- Paint
- Perfumes
- Perishable items
- Poisons
What Is the List of USPS Prohibited Items for Shipping?
USPS list of prohibited items includes:
- Air Bags
- Ammunition
- Explosives
- Gasoline
- Marijuana (medical or otherwise)
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What are the USPS Domestic Shipping Restrictions?
Sending mail and shipping packages within the country are affected by fewer constraints than international deliveries are. For example, USPS domestic shipping restrictions allow for perfume containing alcohol to be sent via ground transportation; however, this transaction is prohibited for cross-border shipments.
For more details on shipping restricted items domestically, we advise you to consult with the official USPS recommendations.
For more details on shipping restricted items domestically, we advise you to consult with the official USPS recommendations.
What are the USPS Size Restrictions?
There are a few USPS size limits:
- Your thinnest mailpiece must be 0.007 inches. If it is 0.25 inches thick or less, it must be rectangular.
- The maximum size is 108 inches in girth.
- USPS weight limit is 70 lbs.
What are the USPS Media Mail Rules?
USPS low-cost way to ship media and educational materials. While there are no USPS Media Mail size restrictions, the company has a list of what is allowed in Media Mail.
- Books (at least eight pages)
- 16-millimeter or narrower films
- Printed music and test materials
- Video and sound recordings
- Playscripts and manuscripts
- Printed educational reference charts
- Medical loose-leaf pages and binders
- Computer-readable media
What are the USPS First-Class and Priority Mail Restrictions?
First-Class Mail is an excellent way to send documents, postcards, and similarly shaped items. Of all mailing restrictions, size and weight are the main ones in this category:
- The maximum weight for letters is 3.5 oz.
- The maximum weight for large envelopes and parcels is 13 oz.
- Postcards or envelopes that are not rectangular are subject to an extra charge.
Are There any USPS Flat Rate Restrictions?
There are no specific USPS Flat Rate shipping restrictions except for the box size. If you use a Flat Rate envelope, restrictions are the same. The weight limit of 70 lbs is in effect for all packages.
What are the USPS Liquid Restrictions?
USPS liquid restrictions say that liquids must be nonflammable and nonhazardous. Liquids have to be sealed in a waterproof container. If the volume of transported fluids exceeds 4 oz, you need to add extra padding around them and put them in a supplementary rigid case.
What are the USPS APO Shipping Restrictions?
When sending mail and packages to Army Post Offices, you have to deal with formalities and regulations on top of the standard international shipping restrictions. For military and diplomatic correspondence, USPS and the US government do not set shipping restrictions by country but by individual post offices.
What are the USPS International Shipping Size Restrictions?
There are certain USPS international shipping size restrictions for packages, letters, and postcards. Your shipment will not be processed if the total weight is over 70 lbs. However, USPS warns that for some countries, the limit is even stricter; check the list of the carrier's size restrictions by country.
Which Are the USPS Restricted Countries?
To send a package to one of the sanctioned destinations, you have to obtain a license or authorization from the regulatory authorities.
** The Office of Foreign Assets Control
Always keep in mind that even if you get the license, you may still face additional restrictions on the regular international shipping requirements because of the strained relationships between the countries on the list and the US.
- Cuba (BIS* license)
- Iran (OFAC** license)
- North Korea (BIS* license)
- Sudan (OFAC** license)
- Syria (BIS* license)
** The Office of Foreign Assets Control
Always keep in mind that even if you get the license, you may still face additional restrictions on the regular international shipping requirements because of the strained relationships between the countries on the list and the US.
What Is the List of USPS Prohibited Items for International Shipping?
No wonder that there are even more items prohibited from international shipping. Under no circumstances can you mail the following items to any country via USPS:
- Aerosols
- Airbags
- Alcoholic beverages
- Ammunition
- Cigarettes
- Dry ice
- Explosives
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Gasoline
- Marijuana (medical or otherwise)
- Nail polish
- Perfumes (containing alcohol)
- Poisons
Configure USPS Shipping Restrictions Using Calcurates
for Magento, Shopify, and WooCommerce
- Connect your Stamps.com account to Calcurates to display USPS real-time rates at your store's checkout.
- Create a USPS shipping option and enable certain USPS services (USPS Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, etc.)
- Add Shipping Segment as a preset condition for your future Restriction Rule. Segment should cover your USPS restrictions:
- Include certain SKUs, product categories, vendors, suppliers or any other product parameters.
- Add geo conditions (countries, states, postcodes where you don't ship with USPS
- Add cart weight condition (orders over 70 lbs.).
- Add a Shipping Rule with a "Hide" action applied to USPS services using your Segment. The Rule will disallow USPS services if your Segment's conditions are met.
- Optionally you may add a restrictive message displayed to your customers at checkout in the Rule's settings.
- When using the Smart Packaging you may enable and disable certain packages for USPS. Allow only those package sizes that meet USPS requirements.
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