■ Print the address in block-style letters or print your 

Priority Mail Express label from your computer.

■ Double check the mailing address, especially the ZIP 

CodeTM. You can Look Up a ZIP CodeTM on usps.com.

Shipping

Ship Using the Postal Service’s Required 

Shipping Service

The U.S. Postal Service is the only shipper that allows 

the shipment of cremated remains. Here are the 

guidelines for domestic and international shipping of 

cremated remains:

If you’re shipping to a domestic address

You must ship cremated remains using Priority Mail 

Express service. The Postal Service offers 1-Day or 

2-Day guaranteed service with delivery by 10:30 a.m. 

(for an additional fee), 12 noon, or 3 p.m., depending on 

the origin and destination ZIP Codes location. Sunday 

or a.m. delivery is available to select destinations for an 

additional fee.

If you’re shipping to an international address

Cremated remains are permitted to be mailed to an 

international address, under the following conditions:

■ Cremated remains are not otherwise prohibited 

by the destination country. You can verify this by 

checking the Individual Country Listing in the Mailing 

Standards of the United States Postal Service,

International Mail Manual (IMM®). 

■ The package is sent by Priority Mail Express 

International service (with this method being available 

for the destination country).

■ Package the cremated remains as described in the 

Packaging section of this brochure.

■ Complete the required, applicable customs 

declaration form and indicate on the form that the 

package contains cremated remains. To determine 

the applicable, required customs form, see 

IMM 123.61.

■ The Universal Postal Union requires cremated 

remains to be packaged and mailed in a funeral urn 

per the IMM.
How to Package and Ship 

Cremated Remains

The United States Postal Service offers the only legal 

method of shipping cremated remains domestically 

or internationally. When a family member assumes 

the responsibility of shipping a loved one’s cremated 

remains, they can trust the USPS Priority Mail Express® 

Service.

You may be reading this brochure because:

■ A relative, someone you know, or a pet has died and 

been cremated, and you need to ship the remains to 

someone at another location within the United States 

or another country.

■ You and your family have opted to distribute the 

cremated remains of a loved one between family 

members at other locations within the United States 

or another country.

■ You are sending cremated remains to an artisan or 

craftsperson to incorporate the remains into blown 

glass, jewelry, or other works of art.

There are specific requirements for preparing, 

packaging, and shipping human or animal cremated 

remains. The Postal Service is here to help you 

understand how to meet these requirements and take 

the necessary steps to protect this special mailing. By 

following these requirements, you can be confident that 

you have done everything you can so that your loved 

one’s remains can arrive at the intended destination 

safely.

Packaging

Choose A Container

There are many options available to store cremated 

remains — from simple wooden boxes to decorative 

urns. However, if you plan to ship the cremated 

remains, you will need to have padding and two 

containers — an inner container and an outer container:

Your Inner Container

■ We recommend that you consult with a licensed 

funeral director to help you select the best container. 

This will be helpful especially if you have plans to 

divide the remains among family members.

■ The inner container must be strong and durable and 

be constructed in such a manner as to protect and 

securely contain the contents inside and it must 

be properly sealed so that it is siftproof. A siftproof 
How to Package and Ship 

Cremated Remains

The United States Postal Service offers the only legal 

method of shipping cremated remains domestically 

or internationally. When a family member assumes 

the responsibility of shipping a loved one’s cremated 

remains, they can trust the USPS Priority Mail Express® 

Service.

You may be reading this brochure because:

■ A relative, someone you know, or a pet has died and 

been cremated, and you need to ship the remains to 

someone at another location within the United States 

or another country.

■ You and your family have opted to distribute the 

cremated remains of a loved one between family 

members at other locations within the United States 

or another country.

■ You are sending cremated remains to an artisan or 

craftsperson to incorporate the remains into blown 

glass, jewelry, or other works of art.

There are specific requirements for preparing, 

packaging, and shipping human or animal cremated 

remains. The Postal Service is here to help you 

understand how to meet these requirements and take 

the necessary steps to protect this special mailing. By 

following these requirements, you can be confident that 

you have done everything you can so that your loved 

one’s remains can arrive at the intended destination 

safely.

Packaging

Choose A Container

There are many options available to store cremated 

remains — from simple wooden boxes to decorative 

urns. However, if you plan to ship the cremated 

remains, you will need to have padding and two 

containers — an inner container and an outer container:

Your Inner Container

■ We recommend that you consult with a licensed 

funeral director to help you select the best container. 

This will be helpful especially if you have plans to 

divide the remains among family members.

■ The inner container must be strong and durable and 

be constructed in such a manner as to protect and 

securely contain the contents inside and it must 

be properly sealed so that it is siftproof. A siftproof 
How to Package and Ship 

Cremated Remains

The United States Postal Service offers the only legal 

method of shipping cremated remains domestically 

or internationally. When a family member assumes 

the responsibility of shipping a loved one’s cremated 

remains, they can trust the USPS Priority Mail Express® 

Service.

You may be reading this brochure because:

■ A relative, someone you know, or a pet has died and 

been cremated, and you need to ship the remains to 

someone at another location within the United States 

or another country.

■ You and your family have opted to distribute the 

cremated remains of a loved one between family 

members at other locations within the United States 

or another country.

■ You are sending cremated remains to an artisan or 

craftsperson to incorporate the remains into blown 

glass, jewelry, or other works of art.

There are specific requirements for preparing, 

packaging, and shipping human or animal cremated 

remains. The Postal Service is here to help you 

understand how to meet these requirements and take 

the necessary steps to protect this special mailing. By 

following these requirements, you can be confident that 

you have done everything you can so that your loved 

one’s remains can arrive at the intended destination 

safely.

Packaging

Choose A Container

There are many options available to store cremated 

remains — from simple wooden boxes to decorative 

urns. However, if you plan to ship the cremated 

remains, you will need to have padding and two 

containers — an inner container and an outer container:

Your Inner Container

■ We recommend that you consult with a licensed 

funeral director to help you select the best container. 

This will be helpful especially if you have plans to 

divide the remains among family members.

■ The inner container must be strong and durable and 

be constructed in such a manner as to protect and 

securely contain the contents inside and it must 

be properly sealed so that it is siftproof. A siftproof 
■ Print the address in block-style letters or print your 

Priority Mail Express label from your computer.

■ Double check the mailing address, especially the ZIP 

CodeTM. You can Look Up a ZIP CodeTM on usps.com.

Shipping

Ship Using the Postal Service’s Required 

Shipping Service

The U.S. Postal Service is the only shipper that allows 

the shipment of cremated remains. Here are the 

guidelines for domestic and international shipping of 

cremated remains:

If you’re shipping to a domestic address

You must ship cremated remains using Priority Mail 

Express service. The Postal Service offers 1-Day or 

2-Day guaranteed service with delivery by 10:30 a.m. 

(for an additional fee), 12 noon, or 3 p.m., depending on 

the origin and destination ZIP Codes location. Sunday 

or a.m. delivery is available to select destinations for an 

additional fee.

If you’re shipping to an international address

Cremated remains are permitted to be mailed to an 

international address, under the following conditions:

■ Cremated remains are not otherwise prohibited 

by the destination country. You can verify this by 

checking the Individual Country Listing in the Mailing 

Standards of the United States Postal Service,

International Mail Manual (IMM®). 

■ The package is sent by Priority Mail Express 

International service (with this method being available 

for the destination country).

■ Package the cremated remains as described in the 

Packaging section of this brochure.

■ Complete the required, applicable customs 

declaration form and indicate on the form that the 

package contains cremated remains. To determine 

the applicable, required customs form, see 

IMM 123.61.

■ The Universal Postal Union requires cremated 

remains to be packaged and mailed in a funeral urn 

per the IMM.
■ Print the address in block-style letters or print your 

Priority Mail Express label from your computer.

■ Double check the mailing address, especially the ZIP 

CodeTM. You can Look Up a ZIP CodeTM on usps.com.

Shipping

Ship Using the Postal Service’s Required 

Shipping Service

The U.S. Postal Service is the only shipper that allows 

the shipment of cremated remains. Here are the 

guidelines for domestic and international shipping of 

cremated remains:

If you’re shipping to a domestic address

You must ship cremated remains using Priority Mail 

Express service. The Postal Service offers 1-Day or 

2-Day guaranteed service with delivery by 10:30 a.m. 

(for an additional fee), 12 noon, or 3 p.m., depending on 

the origin and destination ZIP Codes location. Sunday 

or a.m. delivery is available to select destinations for an 

additional fee.

If you’re shipping to an international address

Cremated remains are permitted to be mailed to an 

international address, under the following conditions:

■ Cremated remains are not otherwise prohibited 

by the destination country. You can verify this by 

checking the Individual Country Listing in the Mailing 

Standards of the United States Postal Service,

International Mail Manual (IMM®). 

■ The package is sent by Priority Mail Express 

International service (with this method being available 

for the destination country).

■ Package the cremated remains as described in the 

Packaging section of this brochure.

■ Complete the required, applicable customs 

declaration form and indicate on the form that the 

package contains cremated remains. To determine 

the applicable, required customs form, see 

IMM 123.61.

■ The Universal Postal Union requires cremated 

remains to be packaged and mailed in a funeral urn 

per the IMM.