What you can and can't ship with UPS — battery, weapon, food, medicine, valuables and perfume rules in one place.
UPS offers some of the more specialised acceptance options for restricted goods — UPS Capital insurance for valuables, UPS Temperature True for some perishable lanes, UPS Healthcare authorisation for controlled drugs — but each comes with its own paperwork. Below is a consolidated view of UPS's rules across the item categories shippers ask about most.
Banknotes: prohibited. Jewellery: accepted with declared value. UPS Capital insurance available. Loose diamonds, precious stones: prohibited.
Commercially packaged non-perishable food: accepted. Perishables: UPS Temperature True service available for some lanes. Fresh meat, fish and dairy: restricted on most standard services.
Firearms and ammunition: prohibited. Kitchen knives and tools: accepted. Hunting knives: accepted with packaging requirements. Realistic replica weapons: destination-dependent, often prohibited.
Fragrances with alcohol: accepted on UPS ground/road services to EU. Air: restricted. Must use UPS dangerous goods service and complete SDG form.
Installed batteries: accepted. Standalone batteries: require dangerous goods declaration. Power banks over 100Wh: prohibited by most airlines.
OTC medicines: accepted. Prescription medicines: accepted for personal use with appropriate documentation. Controlled drugs: require specific UPS Healthcare authorisation.
Rules vary by route and change periodically — always confirm with UPS's current dangerous goods policy before booking a restricted item.
Installed batteries are accepted. Standalone batteries require a dangerous goods declaration, and power banks over 100Wh are prohibited by most airlines — so most international power-bank shipments by air are not possible above that threshold.
Commercially packaged non-perishable food is accepted. For genuinely perishable items, UPS Temperature True is available on some lanes, but fresh meat, fish and dairy are restricted on most standard services.
Yes, with a declared value, and UPS Capital insurance is available for added protection. Banknotes, loose diamonds and precious stones are prohibited outright.
Prescription medicines are accepted for personal use with appropriate documentation. Controlled drugs require specific UPS Healthcare authorisation — this is a more formal process than most other carriers require.
Alcohol-based fragrances are accepted on UPS ground/road services to the EU. Air routes are restricted and require using UPS's dangerous goods service with a completed SDG (Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods) form.
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