Can I use USPS to ship insect repellent?
It’s that time of year again. Summer is just around the corner, bringing lots of sun, beach days, lounging by the lake…and lots of pesky insects like mosquitoes (oops!). Consumers are already looking for repellants, which means shippers are getting ready to send sprays, liquids, creams and all other kinds of repellents across the country. If you find yourself in that boat, USPS is a perfect choice. You can use USPS to ship a variety of repellents with no problem, but if the repellent is in a pressurized aerosol container, you may be charged for ground service.
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If the repellent spray is in an aerosol can, you must ship it through USPS Ground
Many types of repellents come in aerosol cans, and the USPS considers aerosol containers to be hazardous. This is because most aerosols explode when they reach a certain temperature. On top of that, the main active ingredient in almost all insect repellent sprays is DEET…it’s highly flammable. So, if you’re sending repellant in a pressurized aerosol can, USPS will limit you to ground service only.
In addition to paying for ground service, you will also need to properly mark your package. It’s easy, though; just stick a limited number of labels on your package and you’re ready to go!
USPS Ground is much cheaper than before
For those of you who are now muttering “damn” to yourself, there is no reason to do so! In recent months, USPS Ground has become increasingly popular with shippers large and small. In fact, USPS slashed prices for retail and Parcel Select Ground services in 2022, giving shippers the opportunity to save money by placing packages in Postal Service’s ground network. Of course, USPS ground can be a few days slower than Priority Mail, which is not ideal.However, if you are saving Ton Money for these shipments, that’s probably something to consider…especially since aerosol cans don’t expire and don’t require urgent delivery.
For wipes, non-aerosol liquids or candles, you can use any USPS service
In addition to aerosol cans, many repellents come in the form of wipes, candles, creams, and other solid items. If you’re sending one of these (basically anything that isn’t in an aerosol can), you can use any USPS service you want! This includes air freight services such as First Class Package, Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express. Insect repellants in the form of those materials we mentioned earlier are not pressurized or flammable – and therefore not dangerous – so the USPS does not restrict them to ground service only.
