Shipping hazardous materials like perfume, nail polish, or lithium-ion batteries? It’s totally doable through Thryft Ship — but there are a few important rules to follow to keep you (and your packages) in compliance with USPS regulations.

This guide breaks down what counts as hazmat, how to package it, and which shipping services to use.

🚨 What Counts as Hazardous?

Some everyday items are considered hazardous by USPS and must follow special rules. These include:

• Aerosols (like hair spray or air freshener)
• Perfume or cologne
• Nail polish
• Hand sanitizer & cleaning supplies
• Paint or inks
• Lighters and lighter fluid
• Lithium-ion batteries, especially in used or damaged electronics
• Pre-owned devices like phones, tablets, laptops, or cameras with lithium-ion batteries

📦 Packaging Requirements

If you’re shipping hazmat items through Thryft Ship (which uses USPS), you need to make sure your packaging meets these USPS standards:

• Use rigid outer packaging like corrugated cardboard boxes. No envelopes or poly mailers!
• Add cushioning like bubble wrap or foam to keep the item secure.
• Exception for lithium batteries: If you’re shipping a new or manufacturer-refurbished device with a battery, you can use a padded envelope — as long as it’s packed in the original box and can withstand a 1.2-meter drop test.

🚚 Shipping Services You Can (and Can’t) Use

Hazardous materials must be shipped using USPS Ground Advantage.
That means no air-based services like Priority Mail or Priority Express for these items.

✅ Allowed:

• USPS Ground Advantage (required for hazmat)

❌ Not Allowed:

• Priority Mail
• Priority Mail Express
• Any international destinations
• APO/FPO military addresses
• Certain areas in Alaska that don’t have ground transportation: 99545, 99546, 99547, 99548, 99549, 99550, 99551, 99552, 99553, 99554, 99555, 99557, 99558, 99559, 99561, 99563, 99564, 99565, 99569, 99571, 99574, 99575, 99576, 99578, 99579, 99580, 99581, 99583, 99585, 99589, 99590, 99591, 99602, 99604, 99606, 99607, 99608, 99609, 99612, 99613, 99614, 99615, 99619, 99620, 99621, 99622, 99624, 99625, 99626, 99627, 99628, 99630, 99632, 99633, 99634, 99636, 99637, 99638, 99640, 99641, 99643, 99644, 99647, 99648, 99649, 99650, 99651, 99653, 99655, 99656, 99657, 99658, 99659, 99660, 99661, 99662, 99663, 99665, 99666, 99667, 99668, 99670, 99671, 99675, 99677, 99678, 99679, 99680, 99681, 99682, 99684, 99685, 99689, 99690, 99691, 99692, 99695, 99697, 99720, 99721, 99722, 99723, 99724, 99726, 99727, 99730, 99732, 99733, 99734, 99736, 99738, 99739, 99740, 99741, 99742, 99745, 99746, 99747, 99748, 99749, 99750, 99751, 99752, 99753, 99754, 99756, 99757, 99758, 99759, 99761, 99762, 99763, 99765, 99766, 99767, 99768, 99769, 99770, 99771, 99772, 99773, 99774, 99777, 99778, 99781, 99782, 99783, 99784, 99785, 99786, 99788, 99789, 99790, 99791, 99801, 99802, 99803, 99811, 99812, 99820, 99821, 99824, 99825, 99826, 99827, 99829, 99830, 99832, 99833, 99835, 99836, 99840, 99841, 99850, 99901, 99903, 99918, 99919, 99921, 99922, 99923, 99925, 99926, 99927, 99928, 99929, 99950

📝 How to Ship Hazmat Items on Thryft Ship

1. Select the “Hazardous Materials” checkbox when filling out your shipping info.
2. Choose USPS Ground Advantage as your service.
3. Attach a “Limited Quantity” sticker to the label side of your package (you can buy them online or print one).
4. Double-check your packaging is rigid and cushioned properly.

Selecting the HazMat checkbox ensures your label includes the correct barcode information for USPS. If it’s not included, USPS may charge a $0.25 noncompliance fee.

📱 Shipping Electronics with Lithium Batteries

✅ New or Manufacturer-Refurbished:

• Can be shipped via any USPS service
• Do not check the “Hazardous Materials” box

⚠️ Used or Damaged Devices:

• Only ship via USPS Ground Advantage
• Select the “Hazardous Materials” box
• Include this label:
  “Restricted Electronic Device – Surface Transportation Only.”
• Separate from non-lithium battery items if shipping multiple products

🚫 Prohibited Items

Some items just can’t be shipped with USPS or Thryft Ship at all — like alcohol, firearms, or certain chemicals. When in doubt, check USPS’s Prohibited Items list.

🌍 No International HazMat Shipments

Hazardous materials cannot be shipped internationally via Thryft Ship. That includes:

• All countries outside the U.S.
• APO/FPO military bases
• U.S. territories

🙋 Need Help?

We’re always here to help! If you’re unsure whether your item qualifies as hazardous or need help with labeling, just shoot us a DM or reach out via our contact form.

Thryft Ship is here to make shipping easy, even when things get a little hazmat-y 💅📦