How to Ship Honey Without Leaks or Broken Jars

To ship honey, seal it in a screw-cap jar, bag it in a leakproof secondary container with enough absorbent material to soak up the whole jar, and cushion it in a sturdy box marked as containing liquid with “this way up” arrows. Honey is shelf-stable, so it doesn’t need ice or overnight service: USPS Ground Advantage, USPS Priority Mail and UPS Ground all work for domestic orders.

The real risks are leaks and broken glass, not spoilage. USPS treats honey as a nonhazardous liquid, and its packaging rule for liquids in breakable containers is the standard to build your box around, whichever carrier you use.

Can you ship honey through USPS and UPS?

Yes. Honey is mailable within the United States through USPS and ships through UPS like any other packaged food, as long as it is sealed and packed so it can’t leak onto other parcels. It isn’t a hazardous material, and it isn’t perishable in the way meat or dairy are, so no coolant, dry ice declaration or special label is required.

USPS does set specific rules for liquids in the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM 601.3.4). The outer box must be marked to show it contains liquid and must carry orientation arrows, and primary containers need screw-on caps with at least one and a half turns, soldering, clips or a similar positive closure. Friction-top, push-down lids aren’t allowed on their own, which rules out some tins and squeeze-top tubs unless you add a locking ring or tape the lid.

A sender who fails these rules can be held responsible for damage to other mail, and a sticky leak is the fastest way to have a package pulled from the network. The same packaging also protects you with UPS, which expects shippers to pack contents so they survive normal handling.

How do you package honey so it doesn’t leak?

Use triple packaging: a sealed jar, a leakproof secondary container, and a strong outer box. USPS requires this for any breakable container (glass, plastic, porcelain or earthenware) holding more than 4 fluid ounces, which covers nearly every retail honey jar.

1. Seal the jar. Tighten the screw cap fully, then wrap the lid seam with plastic film or a shrink band so it can’t back off with vibration.
2. Add absorbent material. Surround each jar with paper towels, absorbent pads or similar material able to soak up all of the honey in that jar if it breaks.
3. Bag it. Place the wrapped jar in a sealed, leakproof secondary container such as a heavy zip bag or a sealed plastic sleeve.
4. Cushion it. Wrap each bagged jar in bubble wrap and leave about 2 inches of cushioning between the jars and every wall of the box. Use dividers when shipping several jars.
5. Fill the voids. Loose fill should overfill the box slightly before you close it, so nothing shifts when the box is shaken.
6. Mark the box. Write “Liquid” on the outer box, add up arrows, and tape all seams with packing tape.

The general rules in our guide to how to ship a package (box strength, tape and label placement) apply here too. Honey just adds the liquid and glass steps on top.

Should you ship honey in glass or plastic jars?

Plastic is the safer choice for shipping, and glass is fine when you pack it properly. Food-grade PET or HDPE jars and squeeze bottles survive drops that would shatter glass. Glass looks better for gifts and premium honey, though, and many buyers expect it.

If you ship glass, the extra care in our guide to shipping fragile items and valuables applies. USPS says “Fragile” markings belong only on packages containing delicate items such as glass, so mark glass honey shipments fragile but leave plastic ones unmarked.

Which shipping service is best for honey?

Because honey doesn’t spoil in transit, choose a service for its weight, distance and how fast your customer expects it. Glass and multiple jars make the box heavy quickly, so it pays to compare services before you buy a label.

All three USPS services above include insurance up to $100 for most shipments with a tracking barcode. For a higher-value case of honey you can add coverage through Shipsurance when you buy the label. To see which service is cheapest for your box, compare live UPS and USPS rates in the ParcelPath rate calculator. ParcelPath is free to use, with no subscription or per-label fee, and gives up to 89% off USPS and up to 85% off UPS retail rates.

If you don’t own a printer, ParcelPath labels can be printed free at the counter with USPS Label Broker at the Post Office or a UPS Mobile Barcode at The UPS Store. That’s handy for beekeepers shipping from a farm stand rather than an office.

How do heat and cold affect honey in transit?

Heat thins honey and builds pressure inside the jar, which is when weak lids leak. Cold makes honey crystallize faster, but crystallization is natural and doesn’t mean the honey has spoiled: the buyer can warm the jar gently in water to make it liquid again.

• Summer: leave a little headspace in each jar, tape the lid seam, and choose a faster service so the box spends less time in hot trucks. Coolant isn’t necessary.
• Winter: expect some crystallization on arrival and say so on a packing slip, since buyers often mistake it for spoilage.
• Weekends: ship Monday to Wednesday so jars don’t sit in a hot or freezing facility over a weekend.

Honey that has crystallized is still good, and that is the most common “my honey arrived ruined” complaint sellers get. A one-line note in the box saves a refund request.

What should honey sellers know before shipping?

If you sell honey, food rules apply on top of the carrier rules. Facilities that manufacture, process, pack or hold food for consumption in the United States generally have to register with the FDA, although farms and retail food establishments are treated differently, so check the FDA’s registration guidance or your state department of agriculture before you start selling across state lines. Labeling rules for packaged food (product name, net weight and the producer’s name and address) apply to honey sold online as well.

FDA prior notice is a separate rule that applies to imported food, not to domestic shipments, so a beekeeper shipping from Ohio to Texas doesn’t file prior notice. Honey is also covered in our broader guide to sending food in the mail, which explains how carriers treat shelf-stable and perishable foods differently.

For the cold-chain items you might sell alongside honey, such as cheese, butter or baked goods, see our guide to shipping perishables and food. Those items need insulation and fast service, and honey doesn’t.

Can you ship honey internationally?

Sometimes, but many countries restrict or ban imported honey and other animal products to protect their bee populations. Check the destination’s listing in the USPS International Mail Manual before you ship. Australia’s listing, for example, prohibits most food, plant and animal products.

When the destination allows it, declare the honey accurately on the customs form, use the same triple packaging, and expect inspection delays. UPS international shipments also need a commercial invoice. Plastic containers are the better choice for international shipments, which pass through more handling points.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you mail honey through USPS?

Yes. USPS accepts honey as a nonhazardous liquid within the United States. Use screw-cap jars, and triple-package any breakable container over 4 fluid ounces: absorbent material able to soak up all the honey, a sealed leakproof secondary bag, and a strong outer box. Mark the box as containing liquid and add orientation arrows so it is handled upright.

Does honey need to be shipped with ice packs?

No. Honey is shelf-stable and doesn’t need refrigeration in transit, so ice packs and dry ice aren’t necessary. In hot weather, the bigger risk is a lid leaking as the honey thins and warms. Tape the lid seam, leave a little headspace, and choose a faster service such as USPS Priority Mail or UPS 2nd Day Air during summer heat waves.

What is the best box for shipping glass honey jars?

Use a sturdy corrugated box large enough to leave about 2 inches of cushioning between every jar and the box walls, with cardboard dividers between jars. Wrap each jar in absorbent material and bubble wrap, seal it in a leakproof bag, and fill all voids so jars can’t touch. Mark the box fragile, as containing liquid, and this side up.

Why did my shipped honey arrive crystallized?

Cold temperatures in trucks and sorting facilities speed up natural crystallization, which is common in winter shipments. Crystallized honey hasn’t spoiled. Set the closed jar in warm water and stir as it softens until it turns liquid again. Many sellers include a short packing-slip note explaining this so buyers don’t mistake it for a damaged product.

Sources

• USPS Domestic Mail Manual 601: Mailability, section 3.4 Liquids
• USPS: Mail and shipping services (delivery times and weight limits)
• USPS: Insurance and extra services
• USPS International Mail Manual: Individual country listings
• UPS: Domestic shipping services
• FDA: Registration of food facilities and other submissions

Part of our Shipping Guides hub. Related: How to Ship Frozen Food and How to Ship Perishables and Food.