How to Ship Perishables and Food Safely

By the ParcelPath Editorial Team · Last updated: October 2026

To ship perishables and food, pre-chill or freeze it, seal it against leaks, pack it in an insulated foam cooler inside a sturdy box with gel packs for refrigerated food or dry ice for frozen food, and send it overnight or 2-day early in the week. USPS and UPS both carry perishable food at the shipper’s risk, so the packaging has to hold temperature for the whole trip.

Which food guide do you need?

Every food has a temperature it needs to hold and a time limit before it spoils, and those two facts decide the method. Find your food below, then follow the dedicated guide.

What food can you ship by USPS and UPS?

Most food can be shipped domestically if it is packaged to arrive before it spoils. USPS Publication 52 defines perishable matter as anything that can deteriorate in the mail, and says mailable perishables may be sent at the mailer’s own risk when packaged as required and deliverable within reasonable time limits.

The same section draws the line: perishable food that decomposes easily or can’t reach its destination without spoiling is nonmailable, and fresh fruits and vegetables must be presented in a dry condition. Separate Publication 52 sections cover eggs, meat and plants, and USDA plant quarantines restrict some produce leaving Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and quarantined areas of the mainland.

UPS carries food too, and its tariff says it provides no protective service for perishables, which travel solely at the shipper’s risk. In practice, shelf-stable foods such as honey, coffee, hard candy and canned goods ship like any other package, while anything that needs refrigeration needs an insulated box, coolant and fast service.

What do you need before shipping food?

• An insulated foam cooler (EPS) that fits inside a corrugated outer box. UPS notes that the thicker the foam wall, the less coolant you need. Our roundup of cold shipping boxes compares insulated options.
• The right coolant: frozen gel packs for refrigerated foods, dry ice for frozen foods.
• Leak-proof bags and absorbent pads so meltwater or juices can’t soak through the box.
• Gloves and dry-ice markings if you use dry ice.
• A printed label, or a printer-free code. Our guide to shipping labels and label printers covers printing at home.

How do you pack perishables and food so it arrives safe?

Food fails from temperature and time. Build the cold chain tightly, seal it against leaks and ship fast.

1. Pre-chill or freeze. Bring refrigerated food to fridge temperature and freeze frozen food solid before packing. Coolant maintains a temperature; it doesn’t create one.
2. Pre-cool the cooler. UPS recommends cooling the insulated container before you pack it, so the walls don’t warm the food.
3. Seal against leaks. Bag food in leak-proof bags, double-bag liquids and line the cooler with absorbent pads.
4. Add coolant. Place gel packs around refrigerated food. Put dry ice on top of frozen food, because cold air sinks, and keep it from touching items that could freeze-burn.
5. Box, mark and ship. Put the cooler inside the corrugated box with padding, tape the box but never seal dry ice airtight, mark it “Perishable,” add any dry-ice markings and ship overnight or 2-day early in the week.

Gel packs or dry ice: which do you need?

Which shipping service is best for perishable food?

Use overnight for anything frozen or highly perishable, and 2-day only for refrigerated food in a well-insulated box with ample coolant. Ground services are for shelf-stable food.

USPS adds a Live Animal and Perishable Handling Fee to perishable items such as fruit and meat sent by Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail or Ground Advantage. To see the full cost for your box, enter the packed weight, including the cooler and coolant, in the ParcelPath rate calculator. Our shipping calculator guide explains how weight, size and distance affect a rate, and food sellers can use the product pricing with shipping calculator guide to price orders.

What goes wrong when shipping food?

• Slow service. The cold chain fails over time. Ship overnight or 2-day, early in the week.
• Too little coolant. Food warms in transit. Add more for longer trips and summer heat.
• Leaks. Meltwater ruins the box and can get it pulled from the network. Use leak-proof bags and pads.
• Dry ice sealed airtight or unmarked. It builds pressure and breaks carrier rules. Vent it and mark it.
• Shipping abroad without checking. USPS bans dry ice internationally, and many countries restrict food imports.

How can you ship perishables and food for less?

Overnight and 2-day labels are the biggest cost in food shipping, so the discount on the label matters most. ParcelPath is free to use, with no subscription, per-label fee or minimum, and gives you up to 89% off USPS and up to 85% off UPS. You can schedule free USPS pickups, and ship without a printer through USPS Label Broker at the Post Office or a UPS Mobile Barcode at The UPS Store.

Choosing gel packs over dry ice when the food only needs refrigeration also saves weight and skips the hazardous-materials marking. Reserve dry ice for food that genuinely must stay frozen.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you ship perishable food?

Pre-chill or freeze the food, seal it in leak-proof bags, and pack it in a pre-cooled foam cooler inside a corrugated box, with gel packs for refrigerated food or dry ice for frozen food. Ship overnight or 2-day on a Monday to Wednesday, and mark the box “Perishable” plus any required dry-ice markings.

Can you mail food through USPS?

Yes. USPS accepts shelf-stable food like any package and accepts perishable food at the mailer’s risk if it is packaged as required and can arrive before it spoils. Publication 52 makes food that decomposes easily or can’t reach its destination without spoiling nonmailable, and USPS adds a perishable handling fee to perishable items.

Should I use gel packs or dry ice?

Use gel packs for food that only needs refrigeration, such as cheese or produce; they need no hazmat marking. Use dry ice for food that must stay frozen. USPS allows up to 5 pounds of dry ice per package by air, requires venting and prohibits dry ice in international mail.

Can you ship perishable food internationally?

Rarely, and never with dry ice by USPS, since Publication 52 prohibits dry ice in international mail. Many countries also restrict or ban imports of meat, dairy and fresh produce. Check the destination country’s import rules and the carrier’s country guidance before shipping any food abroad, and stick to shelf-stable items.

What is the best day to ship perishable food?

Monday or Tuesday, with overnight or 2-day service. A perishable box mailed late in the week can sit in a sorting facility over the weekend with no refrigeration, which is when most food shipments fail. Wednesday works for overnight service if the box will arrive by Thursday.

Sources

• USPS Publication 52, Chapter 5: Perishable Matter
• USPS Publication 52, 53: Fresh Foods and Other Perishables
• USPS Publication 52, 513: Live and Perishable Handling Fee
• USPS Publication 52, 349: Class 9 Hazardous Materials (dry ice)
• USPS Publication 52, Packaging Instruction 9A: Dry Ice
• USPS: Mail and Shipping Services
• UPS: How To Ship Food
• UPS: Shipping With Dry Ice