Usps Food Shipping (Can You Ship It, Price, Steps + More)
USPS has been a major player in shipping and is well-known for offering the most flexible shipping solutions when shipping unusual or more traditional items.
What is the USPS shipping policy for 2022?
USPS’s 2022 regulations are different depending on whether perishable food is being shipped. You can ship items like potato chips and other pre-packaged foods without additional steps if you send them. You will need to label and package the perishable food items you are shipping.
Is USPS allowed to ship frozen or refrigerated food?
USPS allows for the shipment of perishable goods such as refrigerators and freezers. It is up to the shipper to ensure that they do not cause damage during shipping.
Refrigerated and frozen perishable foods are more costly to ship because they need faster delivery times and cooling tools like dry ice (which is listed as hazardous material in USPS’s handbook).
USPS cannot use fridges and coolers to ship food. You will therefore need to add the amount of additional cooling items you are shipping with your order.
What USPS Shipping Services Should You Use To Ship Food?
The USPS shipping options you choose to use for food shipping depends on whether your shipment is perishable, such as meat or produce.
For non-perishable items such as chips, beefjerky, and other snacks you can use almost every USPS shipping option.
Shipping perishable food products can have a more restrictive shipping policy depending on your shipment.
Shipping perishable foods is difficult. You need to ensure that they are kept in an airtight container.
Usually, food shipments are cooled with dry ice, as it can only be used in quantities of 5 lbs or less (hazardous substance) when using a shipping service that moves packages via plane, which is the best option for perishable items since it’s faster.
Priority Mail Express is the most efficient way to send perishable goods. It guarantees next-day delivery in urban areas, and 2-day delivery in rural areas.
Priority Mail and First Class Shipping are available, but these options only work if the package is less than 5 lbs in dry ice.
It is important to remember that your perishable food products will be more safe if you get them there as soon as possible.
How much is it to send food by USPS
USPS charges shipping fees based on the package’s dimensions, weight, and total distance.
This makes it difficult to determine the shipping cost for food, since prices can vary depending on how many items are being shipped.
You can make some calculations to determine the cost before you send the package to USPS.
For example, a package of food that weighs 5 lbs that requires an additional 5 lbs of dry ice weighs approximately 10 lbs, and packaged in a box that is 12 in x12 in x 12 in, your best options are Priority Mail Express and Priority Mail.
For Priority Mail Express, if you’re shipping this package from Texas to Florida, it would cost about $102 and deliver within 24 hours.
For Priority Mail shipping from Texas to Florida, it costs $35. The package is delivered within two to three days.
You should remember that every package is different in terms of weight, dimension, and distance. Therefore, the package prices may be slightly different.
How do you ship food to the USPS
USPS can make it difficult to ship perishable foods items, as perishable items are a restricted product and dry ice is used for cooling them is hazardous.
There are many rules and regulations that must be followed in order to send perishable foods with USPS.
To keep your belongings cold, and to prevent any odors or leaks during transit, you will need a strong container with a leak-proof seal.
It’s recommended to use a thick polystyrene box, as the material is sturdy enough to prevent bursting and leaks while also locking in smells and any moisture.
You can then place the perishable items into any container you already have.
Use lightweight packaging such as bubble wrap to fill the spaces between your perishables. Next, place dry ice over and around these perishables.
Make sure you use quality packaging tape. You must leave some space for condensate and dry ice gas to escape when sealing the package.
After sealing your parcel, label it appropriately.
Both perishable and dry food items are considered restricted. You will need to place a Declaration of Dangerous Goods on every package. Also, include a Label indicating the food being shipped as well as the Net Weight of Dry Ice being shipped.
Additionally, you’ll need a Class9DOT warning label to indicate to postal workers that dry ice is needed.
For more information regarding dry ice or the USPS shipping regulations, visit this page.
To learn more about USPS shipping of perishables, you can visit this USPS web page.
For more information about USPS shipping services you can see our posts regarding whether USPS delivers door to door or if USPS delivers Sundays and USPS booking shipping.
USPS will allow food to ship, but you can choose from different shipping options depending on whether your food is perishable.
When shipping perishable food, you typically need to use dry ice to keep it cold, however, you can only use Priority Mail and other faster shipping services if you’re using 5 lbs or less of dry ice.
.Usps Food Shipping (Can You Ship It, Price, Steps + More)