How to Ship Hazardous Materials with Thryft Ship

3 min read · Updated June 2026

Shipping perfume, nail polish, or anything with a lithium battery? That counts as hazmat — and it’s totally doable through Thryft Ship, as long as you follow a few USPS rules.

TL;DR

Many everyday items (aerosols, perfume, nail polish, batteries) are hazmat to USPS.
They must be packaged correctly and sent by an approved service — usually Ground Advantage.
When you check the hazmat box on Thryft Ship, we guide you to the right options.

What counts as hazardous?

Some common reseller items are considered hazardous by USPS and follow special rules:

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

When in doubt, check Publication 52 USPS’s Publication 52 is the official rulebook for hazardous and restricted materials. It’s your responsibility to confirm an item is mailable before you buy the label.

Packaging requirements

To ship hazmat through Thryft Ship (which uses USPS), make sure you:

Use sturdy, leak-proof packaging — secure caps and seal liquids so nothing can spill.
Cushion the contents so they can’t shift or break in transit.
Keep batteries installed or properly protected — loose or damaged lithium batteries have stricter limits.
Choose a ground service — most hazmat must travel by ground (Ground Advantage), not air.

How to flag hazmat on Thryft Ship

Check the Hazardous Materials box
When you fill in your package details, tick the Hazardous Materials checkbox. This tells the system to show only services that can legally carry your item.
Pick an approved rate
Get rates as usual and choose from the hazmat-eligible options (typically Ground Advantage). Then buy and print your label like normal.

Common questions

Can I ship a used phone or laptop?

Yes — devices with lithium batteries are mailable as hazmat when packaged properly and sent by an approved ground service. Damaged batteries have tighter restrictions.

Why can’t I see my usual rates?

Once the hazmat box is checked, Thryft Ship only shows services allowed to carry hazardous items — that’s expected.

Can I ship hazmat internationally?

Usually not — most hazardous items are prohibited internationally. See our Prohibited Items guide.

Not sure if your item qualifies? Check Publication 52 or reach out before you ship.