UPS is a reliable courier company to use if you’re looking to send your items cross-border. However, it’s important to be familiar with their conditions for carriage, specifically their restricted and prohibited items.

By being mindful of UPS mailing restrictions, you can ensure that your account remains in good standing and most importantly, that your packages are able to be shipped to their final destination.

UPS® Shipping Restrictions

When it comes to UPS shipping, not all items can be sent freely. If an item is restricted, you may still be able to ship it—but only if you have a contract with regular volume and can comply with all applicable shipping regulations. Approval is at the discretion of UPS and may require written approval from UPS.

UPS Restricted Items

The following is UPS’s list of restricted items, regardless of origin country or destination country. These items may not be shipped without prior written authorization from UPS and must adhere to all packaging, labeling, and documentation requirements under UPS terms and conditions:

Alcoholic beverages
Animal products (non-domesticated)
Articles of high/unusual value
Biological substances, Category B and exempt human or animal specimens
Dangerous goods and hazardous materials
Electronic cigarettes
Firearms and weapons, including replica explosive weapons
Furs
Gold or other precious metals
Live animals
Perishables
Personal effects
Plants and seeds
Tobacco
Items requiring shipping papers shippers declaration for hazardous material

These UPS restricted items may also require UPS provided materials, such as envelopes, labels, label printers, and accurate shipping documents. Shipping hazardous waste, industrial diamonds, or marijuana intended for medicinal use may be prohibited by law or require special permits and compliance with federal, state, or provincial regulations.

International Shipping and Country-Specific Restrictions

Each country enforces its own prohibited and restricted items, which can affect cross-border shipping with UPS. For international shipments, you must understand the territory regulation topics that apply to your destination country.

UPS offers a Country or Territory Regulations Tool to help identify international restrictions. Here's how to use it:

Enter the origin country and destination country in the dropdown.
Under “Country or Territory Regulation Topics”, select “Prohibited or Restricted Commodities”.
Review the list of items and special facilities safety precautions required for specific items.

This is especially important for UPS account holders managing international shipping logistics and attempting to avoid shipments prohibited by law or subject to customs seizures.

Prohibited Items and Items Requiring Approval

UPS will not accept certain items under any circumstances, especially if the shipment is handled by a third party without prior written approval, or if it is prohibited by law. Examples include:

Bank bills, notes, or currency
Hazardous waste
Firearms requiring shipping declaration
Marijuana intended for medicinal use
Items exceeding UPS’ maximum weight, size restrictions, or maximum dimensions

Some items may incur a prohibited item fee if mistakenly included in a package. It’s essential to verify all contents before shipping, especially when dealing with cross-border shipping or UPS access point drop-offs.

Simplifying Compliance

UPS offers tools and services to help retailers and individuals comply with UPS shipping system entry requirements, such as:

UPS TradeAbility® solutions for customs compliance
Technology that simplifies international shipping
Support for pre-processed drop-offs at UPS access points
Guidance for shippers declarations, hazardous material shipping papers, and documentation compliance

Whether you’re a third-party retailer or UPS account holder, using UPS services responsibly ensures smoother border shipping with confidence.

UPS Shipping Size Restrictions

UPS package size restrictions for individual packages to most destinations are as follows:

The maximum weight per parcel is 150 lbs (70 kg).
The maximum length per parcel is 107.9 inches (274 cm).
Maximum dimensions per parcel is 165 inches (419 cm) - length and girth combined

Shipments that exceed these size restrictions would have to be shipped by either the UPS Freight or UPS Worldwide Express Freight® service.

UPS® Ground Shipping Restrictions

In terms of UPS mailing restrictions, they do have the right to refuse ground service to any shipment with the following characteristics:

Contents of the package are considered dangerous
Contents could possibly damage other merchandise or equipment
The package is economically or operationally impractical for transport
The package is not packaged or wrapped properly

High-value items

UPS will not ship items that are valued at over US$50,000. Jewelry has a lower limit, at US$500.

Should your high-value item get lost or damaged in UPS’ service, they will only assume a maximum liability of US$100. It is recommended to buy the additional shipping insurance for items valued over US$100 to ensure coverage.

No illegal items

If an item is prohibited for import by law to a state, region, or country, UPS will not accept your shipment.

Other size and weight restrictions

Should your package exceed the UPS® shipping size restrictions, it can be denied for shipment using UPS® Ground. Additionally, if you are shipping hazardous materials, they cannot weigh more than 70 pounds.

Perishable items

UPS® doesn’t provide any special services that protect perishable shipments against heat or cold, so ship these items at your own risk.

Can UPS Deny a Package?

Yes, UPS can deny packages if the item is prohibited. This means it is strictly not allowed to be shipped by UPS. Service will automatically be declined if your shipment’s contents are prohibited. If you weren’t honest about the contents of your shipment and UPS finds out, they can either suspend or close your account.

The following items are currently prohibited for shipments through UPS:

Ammunition (except as expressly provided in the "UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service - United States")
Bank bills, notes or currency (other than coins)
Fireworks
Hazardous waste
Industrial diamonds
Ivory
Marijuana, including marijuana intended for medicinal use
Postage stamps
Shark fins
Shipments prohibited by law
Watches exceeding the value of US$500

For additional details and the most up-to-date list, visit UPS’ List of Prohibited Articles for Shipping.

UPS Prohibited Items – International

As every country has its own import laws and agreements, certain items may be prohibited from international shipping with UPS.

UPS’ Country or Territory Regulations tool helps you discover prohibited items that are not allowed to be shipped to specific countries.

It’s also important to note that currently, UPS is not allowed to ship products made in Iran due to a current embargo.

Can You Ship Hand Sanitizer with UPS?

With the current COVID-19 pandemic, many people are rightly questioning whether you can ship hand sanitizer with UPS - or indeed, any other kind of protective product or gear.

The short answer is that yes, technically, you can ship hand sanitizer with UPS, as well as things like wipes and masks. However, products containing alcohol (like hand sanitizer) are subject to IATA shipping rules. That means you'll need to keep them in their original packaging and your parcel may be subject to further scrutiny by customs. In large amounts, you may also be required to pay tax.

For hand sanitizer specifically, bottles should be a maximum of 30ml, and there shouldn't be more than 500ml in one package. It can be packed with masks, but not with alcohol wipes.

Of course, you'll also have to complete the relevant customs declaration, but Easyship can help with that by automatically generating this paperwork for you.

Prevent UPS Shipping Issues with Easyship

Hopefully, your eCommerce inventory isn’t on the UPS prohibited items list! But if they are on the restricted list, be sure to speak to your account manager about getting permission to ship such items.

Also, it’s never wise to be untruthful about your shipment contents on your UPS label and paperwork. Doing so puts your account at risk for suspension or closure.

By paying attention and following UPS’ restrictions, you can ensure your shipment will be allowed to ship and ultimately be delivered to your customer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are shipping restrictions?

Shipping restrictions are limitations set by couriers or government authorities on the types of items that can be shipped. These may include hazardous materials, prohibited items, size and weight limits, or goods restricted by destination country regulations. Carriers like UPS often require special contracts, permits, or written approval to handle restricted shipments.

What are UPS packaging guidelines?

UPS requires that all parcels be securely packaged to protect the contents and other shipments in transit. Items must be in new, corrugated boxes, sealed with strong tape, and labeled correctly. For dangerous goods or hazardous material, specific packaging, labels, and shipping papers/shippers declarations are mandatory.

Is UPS allowed to open packages?

Yes. UPS reserves the right to inspect or open packages if they suspect a violation of their shipping policy or need to verify the contents for safety, legal compliance, or customs regulations. This is especially true for international shipments and items that fall under the prohibited or restricted items list.

Where can UPS not ship to?

UPS cannot ship to countries or regions under international embargo, such as Iran. Additionally, certain destinations have import laws that prohibit specific items. Use the UPS Country or Territory Regulations tool to check item-specific and destination-specific shipping restrictions.

What are the limitations of UPS?

UPS has weight restrictions (max 150 lbs per parcel), maximum size limits, and prohibits certain goods including hazardous waste, firearms, and high-value jewelry over US$500. Some services like UPS® Ground may not accept perishables, items requiring special handling, or oversized packages without special arrangements.

Does UPS confiscate packages?

UPS may refuse, return, or confiscate a package if it contains prohibited items, violates shipping laws, or is falsely declared. If a violation is confirmed, the sender’s UPS account may be suspended or terminated, and legal consequences may follow depending on the item.

UPS® Shipping Restrictions & Prohibited Items