Yes, USPS ships to mainland China with four international services. Priority Mail Express International, Priority Mail International, First-Class Mail International and First-Class Package International Service are all available.
Does USPS ship to China with every service? No. Global Express Guaranteed has been suspended for China since September 29, 2024.
China also has one of the longest prohibited items lists in the USPS International Mail Manual. Most returned or seized parcels break one of those rules, not a postage rule. This guide covers the services, the limits, the customs rules and the items China refuses.
Does USPS ship to China with every service?
The USPS country listing for China sets a weight limit and a customs form for each service. The table below summarizes it.
| Service | Weight limit | Size limit | Customs form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Priority Mail Express International | 66 lb (flat rate envelope 4 lb) | 60 in long, 108 in length plus girth | PS Form 2976-B in a PS Form 2976-E envelope |
| Priority Mail International | 66 lb (medium and large flat rate boxes 20 lb) | 42 in long, 79 in length plus girth | PS Form 2976-A in a PS Form 2976-E envelope |
| First-Class Package International Service | 4 lb | Small packet rules | PS Form 2976 as required |
| First-Class Mail International | Letters 3.5 oz, large envelopes just under 1 lb | Letter and flat sizes | None for documents |
| Global Express Guaranteed | Suspended since September 29, 2024 | ||
Priority Mail Express International to China carries a money back guarantee and merchandise insurance. Priority Mail International also offers merchandise insurance. Registered Mail is available only with First-Class Mail International, and its maximum indemnity is $40.20.
For the details of each service, see our guides to Priority Mail International, Priority Mail Express International and First-Class Mail International.
How much it costs to ship to China
China sits in USPS price group 14 for Priority Mail Express International, Priority Mail International and First-Class Package International Service. Letters and large envelopes use price group 3. The price depends on the service, the weight and, for flat rate options, the box you choose.
Prices change with each USPS price notice, so check the current figure before you buy postage. Our postage price calculator helps you compare services. The official numbers are in the USPS country listing for China and the price list it points to.
Duties and taxes are separate from postage. The person in China usually pays them on delivery. You can get a rough figure with our international duty estimator.
China’s customs rules for personal parcels
China applies strict value limits to parcels for personal use. The USPS listing spells them out, and they catch many senders by surprise.
- Personal items are subject to duty and tax unless the total comes to 50 CNY or less.
- A single personal parcel may not exceed 2,000 CNY in value. Parcels from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are treated differently.
- Parcels over the limit may be returned, cleared as commercial goods, or cleared as personal items with documents such as a commercial invoice.
- Commercial goods go through commercial clearance, often with a registered customs agent.
The listing also sets a limit of RMB 100 per shipment and RMB 800 per family each year for some personal articles. Items over these limits can be returned or confiscated under Chinese law.
Every parcel with goods needs the recipient’s phone number on the customs form, ideally a mobile number. Since November 30, 2018, Chinese customs may dispose of parcels that lack proper customs information. A missing phone number or a vague description is a real risk.
What you cannot mail to China
Before you ask does USPS ship to China for a particular item, check the prohibited list. It is long, and several entries surprise first time senders.
- Food: eggs, meat, milk and dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables, and edible birds’ nests.
- Plants and soil: seeds, seedlings, nursery stock, soil and growing media.
- Animals: live animals, animal specimens and animal derived medicinal materials.
- Weapons: firearms, replicas, ammunition, prohibited knives, crossbows, pepper spray and stun guns.
- Electronics: radio and television receivers and transmitters, walkie talkies and related parts.
- Money and valuables: Chinese currency, and coins, banknotes, jewelry and precious metals unless sent as insured mail.
- Other items: used clothing and bedding, cremated remains, radioactive and toxic substances, and sealed opaque containers.
The list also names some printed matter and recordings that China considers harmful. Old entries such as wristwatches, cameras and bicycles still appear on it too.
Restricted items have quantity caps. Medicines are limited to RMB 40, fabric to about 10 m and stamps to 100 pieces. A pocket calculator needs prior customs approval by the recipient.
US rules apply on top of China’s. Lithium batteries, liquids and aerosols have their own international mail limits. Our guide to prohibited items for international shipping covers the US side.
Batteries, liquids and powders
China Post does not carry powders, liquids or lithium batteries on domestic flights. Approved items that reach the arrival gateway travel onward by ground instead. China Post is not liable for the delays this causes.
So a parcel with a phone or a bottle of lotion may arrive much later than the delivery estimate. If speed matters, leave these items out. Our guide on mailing liquids through USPS explains the US packing rules.
How to send a package to China step by step
- Check the item against China’s prohibited and restricted lists.
- Choose a service by weight, speed and budget.
- Pack the item firmly in a strong box with cushioning.
- Complete the customs declaration online, item by item, with honest values.
- Add the recipient’s mobile number and a full address, ideally with the Chinese address too.
- Pay postage online or at a Post Office counter and keep the receipt.
Clearance times vary a lot. Our guide to how long customs takes explains what to expect once the parcel leaves the US.
Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan
USPS treats Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan as separate destinations, each with its own country listing. The mainland China rules above do not apply to them. Check the listing for the exact destination before you ship.
The bottom line
So, does USPS ship to China? Yes, with Priority Mail Express International, Priority Mail International, First-Class Package International Service and First-Class Mail International. Global Express Guaranteed is suspended.
Most problems come from China’s customs rules, not from USPS. Keep personal parcels under the value limits, avoid the prohibited items and always include the recipient’s phone number.
