Can I Ship Matches with USPS? Rules and Requirements

Yes, you can ship matches with USPS, but only safety matches (book, card or strike-on-box matches), only within the United States, and only by surface transportation such as USPS Ground Advantage. Strike-anywhere matches are nonmailable, and no USPS air or international service accepts matches of any kind.

USPS treats matches as a Class 4 flammable solid under Publication 52, its hazardous materials manual. The rules below come from Packaging Instruction 4B, the section written specifically for safety matches, and cover the match types, packaging, markings and how to hand the package over. Our USPS frequently asked questions guide covers USPS mailing rules more broadly.

Which Matches Can You Ship with USPS?

Only safety matches are mailable. Publication 52 defines them as matches that won’t ignite spontaneously during transport or when held at 200°F (93°C) for eight hours, and that can’t be readily lit by friction unless struck on their own box, card or book, or a similar one.

If a product is sold as “strike anywhere,” or the packaging lists UN1331, UN2254 or UN1945, it can’t go through USPS at all. The same goes for loose match heads or homemade matches, which don’t meet the safety match definition. Matches aren’t the only household item with these limits: batteries follow their own Publication 52 rules, as our guide to shipping AA batteries with USPS explains.

Which USPS Services Can Carry Matches?

Safety matches must travel by surface transportation, and Publication 52 prohibits all flammable solids in domestic air transportation. In practice that means USPS Ground Advantage for most retail and online shippers, or Parcel Select for commercial mailers. Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express travel by air, so they can’t carry matches, including in Flat Rate boxes.

Before mailing to Alaska, Hawaii or a U.S. territory, ask at the Post Office whether surface transportation is available to that address, because much of the mail to those destinations moves by air.

How Do You Package Matches for USPS?

Packaging Instruction 4B sets two layers. The matches must be tightly packed in a securely sealed primary receptacle, such as their own closed boxes or books, so they can’t shift and rub against each other. Those receptacles then go into a strong outer package that holds them firmly, with cushioning so they stay snug.

• Primary receptacle: keep matches in sealed boxes or books, packed tight so nothing moves. More than one primary receptacle per package is fine.
• Outer packaging: a strong corrugated box rather than a padded envelope or poly mailer, so the matches can’t be crushed.
• Cushioning: fill empty space with paper or other packing material so the inner boxes can’t slide.
• Weight limit: each mailpiece can weigh no more than 25 pounds.

Pack matches on their own rather than mixed in with a gift or other merchandise, so the markings match what’s inside and the clerk can accept it cleanly. The general box-strength and sealing advice in our USPS packaging guidelines applies here too.

What Markings Does a Package of Matches Need?

The address side of the package must say “Surface Only” or “Surface Mail Only,” along with the type of matches inside: “Book Matches,” “Card Matches” or “Strike-on-Box Matches.” Publication 52 lists the proper shipping name as “Matches, Safety” with the identification number UN1944, and it requires a complete return address and delivery address.

• “Surface Only” or “Surface Mail Only”
• “Book Matches,” “Card Matches” or “Strike-on-Box Matches,” as applicable
• Full return address and full delivery address

Section 344 of Publication 52 also says mailable Class 4 pieces should carry the DOT Limited Quantity ground marking, so ask the clerk whether it’s needed for your package when you mail it. The old ORM-D marking was phased out by the Department of Transportation at the end of 2020 and shouldn’t be used. A shipping paper isn’t required for safety matches sent by surface.

Can you change the label after a package of matches is mailed?

Not easily. USPS lists items marked surface-only or carrying hazardous materials markings as ineligible for Package Intercept, so a box of matches can’t be redirected once it’s in the mail. Double-check the address before you hand it over; our guide on whether you can change the address on a USPS shipping label explains the options that do exist.

Can You Ship Matches Internationally with USPS?

No. Publication 52 prohibits all flammable solids in international mail, and Packaging Instruction 4B states that safety matches are prohibited internationally. That applies to every international service, including Priority Mail International, Priority Mail Express International and First-Class Package International Service.

If you need to send matches abroad, you’d have to use a carrier that offers dangerous goods service to that country, usually under a business shipping agreement. Our overview of USPS shipping services and tracking covers which USPS services go where.

What Happens If You Mail Matches the Wrong Way?

A package that doesn’t meet Publication 52, such as strike-anywhere matches, matches sent by Priority Mail, or a box with no surface-only marking, can be refused at the counter, pulled from the mail and returned, or disposed of if it’s a hazard. Federal hazardous materials law also carries civil and criminal penalties for knowingly mailing nonmailable hazardous materials.

USPS insurance and claims also depend on the item being mailable in the first place, so an improperly mailed box of matches is unlikely to be covered if it’s lost. Our guide on what happens if USPS loses your package covers searches and claims for packages that were mailed correctly, and our breakdown of USPS insurance rates and coverage explains how coverage works.

How Do You Mail Matches at the Post Office?

The simplest way is to take the package to a Post Office counter and tell the clerk it contains safety matches. They can confirm the markings, check the weight and send it by USPS Ground Advantage, which avoids a package being dropped in a collection box and routed onto an air service by mistake.

1. Confirm the matches are safety matches (book, card or strike-on-box), not strike-anywhere.
2. Pack them tightly in sealed inner boxes inside a strong outer box, under 25 pounds.
3. Mark the address side “Surface Mail Only” plus the match type, with full addresses.
4. Hand it to a clerk and choose USPS Ground Advantage.

For the postage itself, you can compare USPS Ground Advantage rates for your box size and weight in the ParcelPath rate calculator. ParcelPath is free to use and offers up to 89% off USPS and up to 85% off UPS. Similar ground-only rules apply to other regulated items, as our guide to shipping power tools with USPS shows, and our list of the best shipping services and solutions compares carriers for other shipments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I ship matches with USPS Priority Mail?

No. Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express move by air, and USPS Publication 52 prohibits all flammable solids, including safety matches, in domestic air transportation. Safety matches can only travel by surface transportation, which for most people means USPS Ground Advantage. That also rules out Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes, even though they’re convenient for small items.

Can I mail strike-anywhere matches through USPS?

No. Strike-anywhere matches are assigned UN1331 and are nonmailable in any USPS service, domestic or international. USPS also bans matches assigned UN2254 or UN1945, such as wax vesta matches. Only safety matches, meaning book, card or strike-on-box matches that light only on a prepared surface, can be mailed, and only by domestic surface transportation.

How much can a USPS package of safety matches weigh?

Under USPS Packaging Instruction 4B, each mailpiece containing safety matches can weigh no more than 25 pounds in total. That’s lower than USPS Ground Advantage’s usual 70-pound maximum. If you need to send more, split the matches across several properly packed and marked packages instead of one heavy box.

What do I write on a package of matches for USPS?

Mark the address side “Surface Only” or “Surface Mail Only,” plus “Book Matches,” “Card Matches” or “Strike-on-Box Matches” to describe the contents, as USPS Packaging Instruction 4B requires. Include a complete return address and delivery address. The outdated ORM-D marking shouldn’t be used; ask the clerk whether the DOT Limited Quantity marking is also needed.

Can I ship matches with USPS to another country?

No. USPS Publication 52 prohibits all flammable solids, including safety matches, in international mail, and that applies to every international service. Safety matches can only be mailed within the United States by surface transportation. To send matches abroad, you’d need a carrier offering dangerous goods service, which usually requires a business account.

Sources

• USPS Publication 52, Appendix C: Packaging Instruction 4B, Safety Matches
• USPS Publication 52, Section 344: Flammable Solids (Hazard Class 4)
• USPS: Package Intercept (eligibility)

Part of our USPS Packaging Guidelines guide. Related: Shipping Resources, Shipping Supplies and Packaging, USPS Flat Rate Boxes.