Shipping cost guides

What you can and cannot ship

Carrier rules for batteries, liquids, aerosols, food, plants, medicines, weapons and the rest, item by item, with the carrier page each rule came from.

112 guides

All 112 guides in this topic

Every guide in this topic, in library order. Prices inside them are examples captured on the date each guide shows.

Can You Ship a Laptop Battery Alone?A Dell laptop battery, about 49 Wh, quoted $12.52 to $22.59 shipped alone on ground service, captured 2026-08-21. Can FedEx Ship Perfume? Ground Path and Ground LimitsFedEx ships perfume as UN1266 flammable liquid: by FedEx Ground under Limited Quantity from an approved hazmat shipper, or Express only from a trained shipper. Can I Ship Medication? Who Can Legally Mail Rx and OTCAnyone can mail over-the-counter medicine. Prescription and controlled drugs may be mailed only by DEA-registered pharmacies, practitioners and dispensers. Can You Mail a Knife? USPS, UPS and FedEx RulesWhich knives ship legally, which are restricted to dealers, and how to pack and label them. USPS Publication 52 sections 441-443 quoted, read 2026-08-11. Can You Ship Alcohol as a Gift? The Licensed Retailer PathCan you mail a bottle of alcohol to a friend? Not yourself: carriers take alcohol only from licensed shippers. A licensed retailer or winery can send the gift for you. Can You Ship Alcohol From Texas? TABC Permit RulesFrom Texas, a permitted winery can ship wine to an adult buyer within monthly and yearly caps through a Texas-licensed carrier; beer and spirits cannot ship direct. Can You Ship Alcohol in Florida? State RulesFlorida bars direct alcohol shipments to consumers from unlicensed sources under Statute 561.545. Only a licensed winery shipper (s. Can You Ship Alcohol Overseas? The Blunt AnswerUSPS bars alcohol from international mail under 18 USC 1716; UPS and FedEx move it only for licensed shippers under contract. Can You Ship Alcohol to Hawaii? Wine Yes, Spirits NoHawaii direct-to-consumer alcohol law: wine allowed under manufacturer permits, beer and distilled spirits restricted at the state level. Can You Ship Alcohol to Indiana? ATC RulesOnly wine goes direct to an Indiana consumer, and only from a producing winery with a Direct Wine Seller's Permit. Beer and spirits DTC are prohibited. Can You Ship Alcohol to Washington DC? One Case a MonthLicensed shippers can send alcohol to DC homes, but DC Code 25-772 caps carrier deliveries at one case per address per month, with an adult signature at the door. Can You Ship Batteries USPS? The Postal RulesYes: alkaline and NiMH batteries mail with covered terminals; lithium mails by ground only, up to 20 Wh a cell or 100 Wh a pack, never damaged. Can You Ship Food Overnight? Cold-Chain RulesYes, you can ship food overnight: FedEx First, Priority or Standard Overnight, UPS Next Day Air or Priority Mail Express, packed to hold temperature for 24 extra hours. Can You Ship Knives Internationally? Country by CountryKitchen and pocket knives ship internationally to many countries with a proper customs form; switchblades are barred. Can You Ship Medication Through FedEx? Rules by CategoryFedEx rules on over-the-counter, prescription and controlled medications: who can ship them, temperature options, licensing and DSCSA compliance. Can You Ship Vitamins in the Mail? Yes, With CaveatsYes. USPS, UPS, FedEx and DHL ship vitamins as ordinary parcels under USPS Publication 52. Prescription drugs and hemp CBD have separate rules. Read 2026-08-23. Can You Ship Wine as a Gift? What Really WorksIndividuals cannot buy a common-carrier label for wine. Ship gifts through a licensed winery, retailer or wine-club that already holds the state permit. Can You Ship Wine in Virginia? License and Two-Case CapVirginia allows direct wine shipment only under a Wine and Beer Shipper's License: two cases per month, adult signature, 16-point label. Va. Can You Ship Wine to Colorado? Winery Permit RequiredColorado accepts direct-to-consumer wine only from wineries holding a Winery Direct Shipper's Permit, with a 21+ recipient and a labeled carton. Can You Ship Wine to Maine? Winery-Direct OnlyMaine admits DTC wine only from licensed wineries with a $200/$50 permit, capped at 12 shipments of 9,000 mL per household per year with adult signature. Can You Ship Wine to Massachusetts? Rules and LimitsOnly licensed wineries with a Massachusetts Direct Wine Shipper permit can ship to a consumer, up to 12 nine-liter cases per person per year. Can You Ship Wine to Pennsylvania? Only With PLCBPennsylvania wine shipping runs on a Direct Wine Shipper License from the PLCB, a 36-case-per-year consumer cap, and adult signature at delivery. Can You Ship Wine to Tennessee? License RulesA Tennessee Winery Direct Shipper license lets an out-of-state winery send wine to a TN adult. Can You Ship Wine to Texas? TABC RulesA licensed out-of-state winery can ship wine to Texas under a TABC permit, up to 9 gallons a month and 36 a year per household. Private senders cannot. How to Ship Aquatic Plants: Pack, Insulate, OvernightShip aquatic plants with damp roots sealed in a bag, inside an insulated box, by overnight or two-day service in mild weather. USDA APHIS rules and state quirks. How to Ship Flowers: Overnight, Cold Pack, and Box ShapeFresh cut and potted flower shipping: cold pack timing, breathable box, water tube versus oasis foam, and why overnight is the only realistic service in summer. How to Ship Hot Wheels: Blister Cards and Loose DiecastPacking method for Hot Wheels blister cards and loose diecast, humidity protection, and a live parcel rate for a twelve-car box. Quoted 2026-08-11. How to Ship Plant Cuttings: Damp Wrap, 2-Day ServiceA cutting travels in a moist paper wrap inside a sealed plastic sleeve, in a rigid box, on Monday or Tuesday under a 2-day service. What States Can You Ship Spirits To? The 2026 Short ListDirect-to-consumer spirits are legal in nine jurisdictions in 2026: AK, AZ, CA (pilot), DC, KY, NE, NH, NY, ND, plus RI on-premises. Can UPS Ship Perfume? The Rules UPS PrintsUPS carries fragrance as a dangerous good on ground service in the lower 48. Three perfume parcels quoted 2026-07-29, with UPS Ground from $11.61. Can You Mail a Lighter? Publication 52 RulesA fuelled lighter is hazardous cargo: surface transport only, prior written approval, a DOT approval number and Surface Only markings. Can You Mail Cash? The Honest AnswerYes, USPS lets you send cash in the mail, but lost currency is barely compensated outside Registered Mail, and UPS refuses banknotes. The rule and safer options. Can You Mail Cigarettes? What the Rule SaysCigarettes, smokeless tobacco and vaping products are generally nonmailable, with narrow exceptions that need applications and age checks. Can You Mail Medication? The Postal RuleCan a parent mail your prescription to you? Under the postal rule, almost never: only pharmacists, practitioners and authorized dispensers may mail prescription medicine. Can You Ship a Firearm? The Actual RulesHandguns are nonmailable outside a listed set of parties, unloaded rifles and shotguns are mailable with conditions, FedEx requires an FFL. Can You Ship Ammo? Mail and Carrier RulesUSPS treats small arms ammunition as a Class 1 explosive and refuses it, primers and powder included. Can You Ship Cremated Remains? USPS OnlyCremated remains travel domestically by Priority Mail Express only, in the USPS-produced BOX-CRE packaging. Can You Ship Eggs? The USPS Rule, and the CatchEggs are mailable under USPS Publication 52 section 54 when each one is cushioned. Fresh, hatching and shelf-stable eggs get different answers. Can You Ship Liquids? Packing and LimitsPackaging for liquids shipping: triple-box anything over 4 oz per USPS Pub 52, plus the flashpoint table that decides which bottles can move at all. Can You Ship Live Animals? The Short ListBees, day-old poultry, adult birds and small cold-blooded animals are mailable under postal conditions. FedEx Shipping Restrictions: Refused vs DeclarableWhat FedEx refuses outright and what it accepts with a declaration or an approval: lithium batteries, dry ice, alcohol, firearms and hazardous materials. Hazmat Shipping: The Nine Classes ExplainedHazmat shipping is nine hazard classes, each with its own rule. Class 9 and the rest: what the mail accepts by class and what stays on the ground. How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Dog on a Plane?A dog is not a parcel, and no label here can carry one. What airline cargo desks publish about crates, temperature bands, breeds and paperwork, read 2026-07-29. ORM-D Label: Retired and ReplacedORM-D marking expired at the end of 2020 and 49 CFR 172.316 now reads Reserved. The limited quantity square-on-point replaced it: 100 mm a side, 2 mm border. UPS Shipping Restrictions: The Two ListsUPS keeps a refusal list and a contract-only list. What sits on each, per ups.com, plus five contents run through our own calculator. USPS Media Mail Rules: What QualifiesThe DMM 273.3.1 eligibility list quoted in full, the advertising clause, the USPS inspection right. What Is UN3480? The Lithium Codes DecodedUN3480 covers lithium ion batteries shipped alone, UN3481 covers them in or with equipment. The federal thresholds, package limits and mark dimensions, quoted. Can I Mail Perfume Through USPS? Ground OnlyUSPS accepts perfume containing alcohol only by domestic ground transportation. No Priority Mail Express, no air, no international. Rules dated 2026-08-11. Can You Send Supplements in the Mail? A US Sender's AnswerVitamins, protein powders and dietary supplements are non-restricted parcels for US domestic shipping under USPS Publication 52. Can You Send Wine in the Mail? USPS Answer, With SourcesUSPS refuses beverage alcohol from private senders; UPS and FedEx carry wine only under a licensed shipper contract. What that means for a bottle in the mail. Can You Ship a Car Battery? Class 8 Rules ExplainedLead-acid car batteries are Class 8 hazmat under DOT rules. USPS Pub 52 excludes wet batteries; UPS and FedEx move them ground-only under contract. Can You Ship Alcohol With FedEx? Program RulesFedEx carries alcohol only under a signed FedEx Alcohol Shipping Agreement with a licensed business. Shipping Alcohol to California: The Wine-Only RuleCalifornia accepts direct wine shipments from Type 82-permitted out-of-state wineries with 21+ signature at delivery. Can You Ship Alcohol Through UPS? The Contract RuleUPS accepts wine, spirits and beer only from licensed shippers who have signed an approved shippers agreement. Rules quoted from ups.com, read 2026-08-11. Can You Ship Alcohol to Utah? Direct-to-Consumer BanUtah bans direct-to-consumer alcohol shipment; the DABS state monopoly is the only path in. Can You Ship Food to Canada? CFIA and Carrier RulesShelf-stable US food to Canada is allowed with a commercial invoice; meat is refused when sent by mail or courier. CFIA and carrier rules dated 2026-08-11. Can You Ship LiPo Batteries? Ground Only, Wh CappedLithium polymer batteries ship by ground only when alone (UN3480); air is possible only when packed in equipment (UN3481) within Wh limits. Read 2026-08-11. Can You Ship Lithium Batteries via UPS? Ground vs AirUPS accepts lithium batteries by ground under Section II and by air only as fully regulated shipments. Can You Ship Wine to Florida? State Rule, SourcedFlorida takes direct wine from any US winery without a state DTC permit — but with a 1 gallon container cap, adult signature and two dry counties. Shipping Wine to Delaware: What the State AllowsDelaware Code Title 4 has no provision for direct wine shipment to consumers, so wineries cannot legally ship to a Delaware address. Shipping Wine to Georgia: The Special-Order LicenseGeorgia allows direct wine shipment to consumers only under a Special Order Shipping License issued by the Department of Revenue. Can You Ship Wine to Maryland? Permit and CapMaryland allows direct wine shipment under a $200 permit, capped at 18 nine-liter cases per address per year. Can You Ship Wine to New Jersey? 12 Cases a YearNew Jersey allows licensed direct wine shipping: 12 cases per person per year from wineries under a 250,000 gallon cap. Licenses, taxes and adult signature. Can You Ship Wine to Washington State? Permit RulesWashington accepts direct wine shipments from any US winery holding a $150 Wine Shipper Permit. No per-consumer annual cap. Cheapest Way to Ship Shoes: Service by ServiceA boxed pair of shoes at 3 lb ships cheapest on USPS Ground Advantage at $13.04. Documents for International Shipping: What You FileCustoms paperwork a US sender actually needs — CN22 short form, CN23 long form, commercial invoice, HS codes and the AES filing line at $2,500. Does FedEx Offer Insurance? What Declared Value BuysFedEx sells declared value, not insurance, and says so on its own page. Coverage ceilings, excluded items, the sublimit categories. Does Shopify Ship for You? The Answer, ExplainedShopify does not ship your orders. Shopify Shipping prints labels, Shop Promise is a badge, Shopify Fulfillment Network is warehouse partners. Does USPS Sell Poly Mailers? The Honest AnswerUSPS gives away Priority Mail poly envelopes but not a plain shipping poly mailer — the difference, where to buy the plain ones, and what to pay. Does Walmart Sell Shipping Supplies? What's In StoreWalmart carries boxes, mailers, tape and cushioning in the office aisle and online, but the selection is smaller than the shipping-materials sections of USPS. FedEx Shipping Account: What It Is, and Who Needs OneA FedEx shipping account is free to open, holds card details, saves addresses and applies a small discount. Rules quoted from fedex.com, read 2026-08-11. Your FedEx Account Number: Where to Find ItA FedEx shipping account number is the nine-digit id in the top-right corner of every invoice and inside My Profile at fedex.com. Read 2026-08-11. How Much Does Shipping Protection Cost, Carrier by CarrierUSPS fees from Notice 123, UPS and FedEx declared-value schedules and the third-party pricing that sits alongside. Priced across a $500 box, read 2026-08-11. How to Negotiate UPS Rates: What Small Shippers Actually GetUPS discount ladders, the volume the account manager needs to move on price, quarterly rate reviews. Whose Tracking Number Is This? A Format DecoderA tracking number's first digits and its length say which carrier printed the label. IRS Proof of Delivery: Certified, Registered or PDS26 CFR 301.7502-1 recognizes Certified Mail, Registered Mail and IRS-designated PDS as prima facie evidence of timely filing. Is ShipCover Insurance Worth It? The Cost per $100eBay ShipCover from Parcel Insurance Plan at $1.70 per $100 domestic, $2.82 international, on USPS, UPS or FedEx labels. When it beats the base coverage. Damaged in Shipping: Who Is Actually Responsible?Sender, carrier, buyer or marketplace: the liability chain by shipment type, from FOB terms to platform seller protection. Padded Shipping Envelope Sizes: The #000-#7 ChartStandard bubble mailer sizes from #000 through #7 with outside dimensions, common fit examples, and the size that best beats a small box on price. PO Box vs Home Mailbox for PackagesA PO Box only sees USPS mail; a home mailbox is served by every carrier. Size limits, delivery rules, and sender-side implications of the buyer's choice. Certificate of Mailing (PS Form 3817): The BasicsUSPS PS Form 3817 is a $2.45 counter receipt proving a piece was mailed on a specific date. It does not track delivery. Read 2026-08-11. Proof of Shipment: What Counts, Where to Get ItProof of shipment is not the same as proof of delivery. What the acceptance scan, label receipt and PS Form 3817 prove, and when each defends a dispute. Shipping Receipt: What It Is and How to Get OneA shipping receipt is not the label. Fields that belong on one for taxes and disputes, and how to pull or reprint one from USPS, UPS and FedEx. Shipping Supplies: What You Need and Where Each Is CheapestBoxes, tape, mailers, labels and void fill for US shippers, plus the exact spot each of them costs least, from USPS free Priority stock to wholesale cartons. Shopify Shipping Apps: What Each Category FixesFive app categories a Shopify store might install: rate calculators, label buyers, tracking, shipping protection, returns. Shopify Shipping Insurance: Every Path, PricedShopify shipping insurance four ways: the carrier's built-in cover, Shopify's own Shipsurance product, buyer-paid apps like Route, and declared value. Cost and caps. Shopify Shipping Insurance Claim: The Filing PlaybookShopify Shipping coverage is written by Shipsurance. How to file after loss or damage: window, evidence, payout mechanics. Shopify Shipping Rules: Zones, Rates and ExceptionsShopify shipping rules cover zones (which countries a shipping profile serves), rate types (flat, price-based, weight-based. Shopify Shipping vs ShipStation: Cost Break-EvenShopify Shipping is free with a Shopify plan; ShipStation starts at $14.99/mo. Where the monthly fee starts to pay for itself, and where it never does. 2026. States Where You Can Ship Wine (2026): The MapUtah bans direct-to-consumer wine outright and Delaware's 2026 law is restrictive; the other 48 plus DC open the door with permits. Sources dated 2026-08-11. TCG Shipping Supplies: A Working Packing KitThe packing kit a TCG seller actually keeps on the desk: top loaders, team bags, bubble mailers, rigid mailers and small boxes, with the crossover on cost. TikTok Shop Shipping Fee: How Sellers Are ChargedTikTok Shop sets a seller's shipping fee by the label option chosen and the weight the carrier measures. The three label paths, and what your own label changes. UPS Ground Saver Claim: What You Can RecoverUPS Ground Saver claims are accepted only while the parcel is in the UPS network; the $20 declared value cap since April 2 2025 is the recovery ceiling. UPS to a PO Box: What Ground and Express Actually DoUPS Ground and Express refuse PO Box addresses; only UPS Ground Saver can land there, because it hands the last mile to USPS. UPS Store Hold for Pickup: Access Point RulesHow UPS Access Point pickup at a UPS Store works: routing a shipment, 7 calendar day hold, ID rules and the difference from FedEx and USPS hold-for-pickup. USPS Insurance Claim Appeal: 30-Day First and SecondA denied USPS claim gets one 30-day appeal, then a 30-day second appeal to the Consumer Advocate. What evidence flips a denial into a payout. Read 2026-08-11. What Does Shipping Insurance Cover? Cross-Carrier ViewUSPS, UPS and FedEx coverage compared: loss, damage, exclusions, declared-value ceilings and the categories capped at $1,000. Sources dated 2026-08-11. Mailer Box: The Self-Locking Corrugated StandardA mailer box is a self-locking corrugated carton with a hinged folding lid, made for e-commerce unboxing. Best Size Box for Moving: What Belongs in EachMoving boxes come in five useful sizes - small, medium, large, dish-pack and wardrobe. Who Pays for Shipping on Vinted? Buyer at CheckoutOn US Vinted the buyer picks and pays the shipping option at checkout; the seller prints a prepaid label and drops off. Rules from vinted.com, read 2026-08-11. Why Get a PO Box? Six Real Reasons, SizedReasons to rent a USPS PO Box - business address privacy, package security, mail forwarding, five size tiers, and Street Addressing that accepts UPS and FedEx. FedEx Shipping Requirements: Weight, Size, TapeWhat FedEx requires to accept a package: box condition, tape, cushioning, labels, and the weight and size limits. Quoted from fedex.com, read 2026-08-16. Is Media Mail Safe to Use?Media Mail can be opened for inspection and carries no built-in coverage. The rulebook, read 2026-08-16, and one parcel priced as the covered alternative. UPS Shipping Requirements: Weight, Size, TapeWhat UPS requires to accept a package: box condition, tape, cushioning, labels, and the weight and size limits. Quoted from ups.com, read 2026-08-16. Can I Ship Medication Through UPS? OTC vs RxUPS names no medication category on its own prohibited or restricted items list. What that silence means for OTC, prescription and controlled drugs, read 2026-08-28. Can You Send Food Through UPS? Rules and a Live RateUPS accepts shelf-stable food as an ordinary parcel and perishables only on a contract; a snack box quoted $12.84 on UPS Ground Saver, 2026-08-28. Can You Ship Liquid Internationally? Why the Rule FlipsUSPS Publication 52 bans flammable and combustible liquids from international mail outright, with no flashpoint carve-out and no Limited Quantity exception. Read 2026-08-28. Can I Ship Ice Cream? What It Actually TakesIce cream needs a heavy dry ice load and overnight air, but USPS caps air dry ice at 5 lb per mailpiece (Pub 52, checked 2026-08-28). Why DIY rarely survives the trip. How Does Omaha Steaks Ship?Omaha Steaks packs orders under its own Perfectly Cold system and names no carrier or delivery day. Read the actual FAQ line, checked 2026-08-30. Can You Mail Bear Spray?No. Bear, pepper, mace and OC spray are DOT-regulated self-defense sprays, not ordinary aerosols, and our checkout blocks all four. Checked 2026-08-30. Can You Mail Matchbooks? USPS RulesBook and card safety matches mail by USPS surface transport only, 25 lb per piece, with required markings. Strike-anywhere matches do not. Read 2026-08-31. Can You Ship Perfume Internationally?A live checkout test returned zero international rates for a bottle of perfume — blocked as a flammable liquid on all four lanes. Tested 2026-09-01.

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