You’ve bought all the gifts, but can you get them where they need to go? Here’s what you can—and can’t—mail from the post office.
Think Twice Before Sending These Types of Presents in the Mail
Published on Dec. 17, 2024
You’ve found the perfect holiday present for that person on your list who’s impossible to shop for, and all you need to do is pop it in the mail to get it there in time for Christmas. Not so fast! The U.S. Post Office might not allow you to send that gift through the mail.
What gives? Well, there’s a long list of rules and regulations surrounding shipping and what’s safe—and legal—to send by mail. Believe it or not, your seemingly innocuous gift may violate a whole slew of rules, and you could get in a lot of trouble if you don’t disclose what’s in your package. Read on to find out which gifts won’t end up on your loved ones’ doorsteps for Christmas this year—and may get you put on the naughty list.
Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more holiday tips, humor, cleaning, travel, tech and fun facts all week long.
Why does the U.S. Postal Service ban certain items from being mailed?
It’s all about safety. “The U.S. Postal Service prohibits certain items from being mailed to ensure safety, security and compliance with legal and regulatory statutes,” Jonathan Castillo, a senior public relations representative for the U.S. Postal Service, tells Reader’s Digest. “As a rule of thumb: If what is being sent could harm people or cause damage, you can’t mail it.”
Still, while the Postal Service says a hard no to certain items—especially those that are at risk of exploding—it might give the green light to others, provided they’re packed and mailed the right way. (More on that below.) The U.S. Postal Service recommends that customers check what falls under this umbrella on its site before packing up the items. And if you are heading to the post office to have your package weighed and mailed, make sure to disclose what’s inside your box when the postal worker asks.
Which popular items can’t be mailed?
The main concerns for holiday gifts typically revolve around items that are potentially flammable or explosive. If you’re shaking your head at people who would even think to send something dangerous like that, check yourself—you could easily be one of them. Problematic items can range from children’s toys to popular electronics to a celebratory bottle of bubbly. Read on for the specifics.
Alcohol
Believe it or not, wine, beer, Champagne, vodka and hard liquors are all a hard no. With an alcohol content of 0.5% or more, they are all prohibited by the U.S. Postal Service because they are considered flammable. Castillo says people often aren’t aware of this restriction.
CBD products
Even though recreational marijuana is now legal in some places, you probably wouldn’t risk mailing it—and that’s a good call. But even hemp and CBD products can be an issue, and they pop up in everything these days, from lotions to gummies. In addition to complying with federal, state and local laws, the product must contain 0.3% or less of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Firearms
If you live in certain parts of the country, it may surprise you that people sometimes give firearms as gifts, but this is a thing. According to the U.S. Postal Service, “only licensed manufacturers and dealers may mail or receive handguns. Even though unloaded rifles and shotguns are mailable, mailers must comply with applicable regulations.”
And while we’re (sort of) on the topic: Explosives of any kind, including fireworks, are strictly prohibited for any kind of international mail or domestic mailing via air. Ground transportation could be an exception if it is approved by a director and you have the right paperwork.
Which gifts can be sent by mail only if you abide by certain rules?
The items below may be banned from mail via air, but they could qualify for ground shipping. Again, you need to disclose that you have these items before attempting to ship them.
Electronics and toys with lithium batteries
Those little lithium batteries are in a lot of items you may not even realize, from cellphones and laptops to toy cars, interactive plush toys, toy drones, some toy musical instruments and more. Since they contain a lot of energy and can overheat and be a fire risk, they are banned from air shipping (and air travel), but they can be considered for ground shipping.
Perfume
We’re guessing you didn’t guess that perfume would be a problem! But remember: It contains alcohol and, therefore, is a flammability risk. As a result, perfumes cannot be sent via air but could be sent via ground transportation.
Nail polish
Think twice before you add nail polish to thoughtfully curated spa baskets. It contains flammable compounds, so air travel is out. Opt for ground transport if you have your heart set on this gift.
Knives
Whether it’s a supercool Swiss Army knife or a fancy set of Ginsu knives, the knife must be presented to your local postmaster to determine whether it can be mailed.
What will happen if you try to send these items through the mail?
Don’t try to game the system. If you’re in the know and still postmark these off-limits goods or aren’t honest about the contents inside a box, you could get slapped with hefty fines or even jail time. You may also be on the hook for cleanup fees or other fees associated with problems caused by the contents of your package, such as leaking, catching on fire or becoming harmful to the post office, delivery process or receiver.
“If a customer knowingly mails materials that are dangerous or injurious to life, health or property, for each violation, they face a civil penalty of at least $250 (but not more than $100,000), the costs of any cleanup and damages,” Castillo says. “Additionally, they may also face criminal penalties.”
How should you send these items instead?
While some items simply cannot be transported via air, there are other options if your gift is on the strictly no-send list. For starters, check the guidelines for your item, and see if it qualifies for ground shipping. If not, speak with local post office officials to see if there are any other options for what you are trying to send. The key is being completely honest with what you are mailing and answering all the questions you are asked about your package.
If the U.S. Post Office isn’t an option, you can discuss with UPS, FedEx and other shipping services. Of course, you can always order the gift from a website and have the company deliver the package directly to the happy recipient.
About the expert
|
Why trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Jonathan Castillo, senior public relations representative of the U.S. Postal Service and host of the official Postal Service podcast, Mailin’ It!
- USPS: “Domestic Shipping Prohibitions, Restrictions & HAZMAT”
