International ShippingRestricted and prohibited items abroad
Some things that ship fine in the US are banned or limited in other countries. Check before you sell overseas.
Every country keeps its own list of goods it won't accept, and each carrier — USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL Express and the local postal services — adds its own restrictions on top. Something one carrier accepts, another may refuse. A package containing a prohibited item may be seized, destroyed, or returned — and postage isn't refunded.
Commonly restricted categories
- Lithium batteries shipped on their own (batteries installed in a device have narrower rules)
- Perfume, nail polish, aerosols and other flammable liquids
- Food, seeds, plants, and animal products
- Cosmetics and supplements in some countries
- Knives, replica weapons, and anything that looks like one
- Cash, gift cards, and precious metals
USPS publishes country-by-country restrictions in its International Mail Manual, and the courier services publish their own country guides. When you enter a destination in Octoship, we show a short notice if that country or the selected carrier has unusual rules, but it isn't a complete list — always double-check for products in the categories above.
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