What You Can’t Mail: USPS’s Most Surprising Prohibited Items

When I first moved to Texas, my mom sent me massive care packages packed with all my favorite snacks. Every time I opened a box, it felt like a little piece of home had arrived.

Most of the time, my chips and cookies made it just fine but it turns out there are a few everyday items that can get you (or your sweet mom) flagged by the post office. A few are obvious, but others might totally surprise you.

Before you risk your package getting seized, here are five interesting items that are actually restricted, or straight-up illegal to mail.

1. Alcohol
Even if it’s a birthday gift for your buddy, mailing alcohol is a no-go under USPS regulations. State and federal laws limit the shipment of liquor, wine, and beer through regular mail. Only licensed companies can ship alcohol, and even then, it’s through approved carriers like UPS or FedEx—not USPS.

2. Motor Vehicle Master Keys
It’s illegal to send these through the mail because of obvious security concerns. (Basically, the post office doesn’t want to be an accessory to grand theft auto.)

3. Turtles
Yep, turtles. Along with snakes and poisonous reptiles, they’re considered nonmailable. No matter how cute they are, they’re staying put.

4. Toy Caps
Those little toy caps that make a pop sound? USPS classifies them as “small explosives.” They fall into the same category as fireworks, empty primed grenades, and some small arms ammunition

5. Controlled Substances
Mailing illegal drugs, or even prescription meds without the right documentation, is a serious offense. Only authorized medical distributors can legally ship certain medications.

Before you send anything questionable, double-check the official USPS restricted items list. The last thing you want is your package disappearing into postal limbo while you wonder where your snacks went.