Prohibited items for international shipping fall under three layers of rules. USPS bans some items from every country, and each destination country adds its own list.
US export law controls others, such as body armor, which can need a license.
An item has to clear all three before it can leave the country. This guide covers the USPS rules in detail, then explains how country lists and export controls fit on top.
Prohibited items for international shipping with USPS
USPS lists items that cannot be mailed from the US to any country. These come from its international shipping restrictions page.
| Prohibited item | Why it is banned |
|---|---|
| Aerosols | Pressurized and often flammable |
| Air bags | Contain explosive inflators |
| Alcoholic beverages | Banned in the mail |
| Ammunition and explosives | Dangerous goods |
| Cigarettes and electronic cigarette products | Banned outbound and inbound |
| Dry ice | Dangerous goods in international mail |
| Gasoline and mercury | Flammable or toxic |
| Hemp products, CBD and marijuana | Banned for international mail |
| Nail polish and perfume with alcohol | Flammable liquids |
| Poisons | Toxic substances |
The USPS page also says hand sanitizer and flammable sanitizing wipes cannot go overseas. Many everyday items, from perfume to nail polish, are on this list because they are flammable.
The International Mail Manual adds more categories. Section 136 bans dangerous goods under United Nations rules and counterfeit or pirated goods. It also bans replica and inert military ordnance, such as dummy grenades and shells.
Restricted items you can send with conditions
Some items are not banned outright but come with conditions. They must meet the domestic USPS rules and the destination country’s rules.
- Lithium batteries: only new batteries installed in the equipment they power. Spare, used, damaged or recalled batteries are prohibited.
- Cigars: only to countries that accept them.
- Firearms: restricted, and only licensed manufacturers and dealers may mail handguns. Export licensing also applies.
- Glues and paint: flammable kinds are not allowed. Non flammable latex paint is fine.
- Matches: cannot be mailed internationally.
- Medicines and prescription drugs: subject to US and destination rules.
- Cremated remains, live animals and perishables: allowed only in limited cases.
The lithium battery limits in detail
IMM section 135 sets the numbers. A shipment can hold no more than four lithium cells or two lithium batteries, installed in equipment.
Rechargeable lithium ion cells are limited to 20 watt hours each and batteries to 100 watt hours, with the rating marked on the battery. Lithium metal cells may hold no more than 1 g of lithium, and batteries no more than 2 g. The device must be protected against switching on, and the package must not be marked as containing lithium batteries.
Common items people ask about
A few everyday items cause most of the confusion at the Post Office counter. Here is how the rules treat them.
- Perfume and cologne: prohibited if they contain alcohol, which nearly all do.
- Hand sanitizer: prohibited, because most kinds are alcohol based and flammable.
- Phones, laptops and tablets: allowed with the battery installed, within the lithium limits. A spare battery or power bank cannot go.
- Prescription medicines: restricted, and many countries require an import permit or a prescription copy.
- Food: often banned by the destination, especially meat, dairy, fresh produce and seeds.
- Cash and gift cards: many country listings ban currency, and carriers refuse cash in normal service.
If an item is on any of the three lists, leave it out of the box. Customs officers open many international parcels, and banned items are rarely returned.
Destination country prohibitions
Every country publishes its own list of prohibited items for international shipping into its territory. USPS collects these in the Individual Country Listings of the International Mail Manual.
Some lists are short, while others are long and specific. China, for example, bans used clothing, seeds, dairy products and radio transmitters, among many other items. Our guide on whether USPS ships to China walks through that list.
Check the country listing every time you ship somewhere new. A parcel that breaks a destination rule can be returned, seized or destroyed by customs. Our guide on how long customs takes explains what happens at the border.
US export controls: when you need a license
Postal rules are only part of the picture. US export law covers goods leaving the country, whatever the carrier.
The Export Administration Regulations, run by the Commerce Department, control many technical and military related items. Body armor is one example. It is listed under export control number 1A005 and needs a license for most destinations.
Other items that often need a license or special handling include:
- Firearms, parts and some optics.
- Night vision equipment and certain lasers.
- Encryption hardware and some software.
- Items for military use, which fall under the State Department’s arms rules.
- Most goods sent to sanctioned countries or to listed people and companies.
You also need to file Electronic Export Information in some cases. It is required when one type of goods in a shipment is worth more than $2,500, or when the item needs an export license. The filing goes through the Automated Export System, and the confirmation number goes on the customs form.
UPS, FedEx and DHL have their own lists
Private carriers set their own rules on top of the law. All three refuse items such as cash, illegal drugs and many hazardous materials in normal service. Some allow dangerous goods under a separate contract.
Read the carrier’s prohibited list before you choose it. Our guides to mailing liquids through UPS and USPS show how the rules differ between carriers.
How to check an item before you ship
- Check the USPS international restrictions and the carrier’s own list.
- Open the destination’s country listing and read the prohibitions and restrictions.
- Ask whether the item could be export controlled, especially if it is technical or military.
- Describe the contents precisely on the customs form, with honest values.
- Estimate duties for the recipient with our international duty estimator.
The bottom line
Prohibited items for international shipping are set by USPS, by the destination country and by US export law. Aerosols, alcohol, perfume, ammunition, dry ice and spare lithium batteries cannot go through the mail at all.
Technical and military items, such as body armor, often need an export license, whatever the carrier. When in doubt, check all three layers before you pack the box.
