What You Should Know About USPS Shipping Restrictions

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.

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.

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:

• 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

USPS list of prohibited items includes:

• Air Bags
• Ammunition
• Explosives
• Gasoline
• Marijuana (medical or otherwise)

Although some USPS-prohibited items, like marijuana, are legal in several states, their distribution is a federal crime with a potential penalty of up to five years in a federal penitentiary (in the case of marijuana, for an amount of 50 grams and over).

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.

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

This type of mail is not designed for commercial use, which takes video games, hard drives, and printed media with advertisements off the table. To find out whether your goods qualify as Media Mail, check the official standards.

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.

For USPS Priority Mail weight limit is similar, boiling down to the size and weight limit of up to 108 inches and 70 lbs, regardless of whether a Flat Rate box is used.

What are the USPS first class package restrictions?

USPS First-Class Package restrictions include a maximum weight of 15.99 ounces and size limits of 22 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 15 inches thick. Packages must be rectangular and uniform in shape. Items must be non-fragile and not require special handling. For accurate shipping, ensure your package adheres to these guidelines and check for any additional 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.

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.

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.

To send a package to one of the sanctioned destinations, you have to obtain a license or authorization from the regulatory authorities.

• Cuba (BIS* license)
• Iran (OFAC** license)
• North Korea (BIS* license)
• Sudan (OFAC** license)
• Syria (BIS* license)

* The Bureau of Industry and Security
** 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.

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

For global shipping, the prohibited items list varies from country to country. Check the index for all the destinations you can ship to.