If you are shipping cremated remains in a decorative vessel or urn, use proper padding to keep the container stable and prevent breakage due to processing and transportation. For example, wrap or cushion the container with:
- Foam peanuts, or
- Air bubble wrap.
To make sure the Postal Service can identify your loved one’s cremated remains during processing and transportation:
Mark the identity of the contents on the address side next to the shipping label.
Use the Postal Service Cremated Remains label (Label 139), which is available at your local Post Office™.
Verify Address, Legibly Write or Type It, and Recheck It
To help ensure delivery to the correct address make sure you have the correct address and telephone number on the following:
Domestic Items
- Service =Priority Mail Service
- Label or Form = Label 11-B Priority
- Title = Priority Mail Express
International Items
- Service = Priority Mail Express International
- Lable or Form = PS Form 2976-B
- Title = Priority Mail Express International Shipping Label and Customs Form
- 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 Code™. You can Look Up a ZIP Code™ on usps.com.
Ship Using the Postal Service’s Required Shipping ServiceThe 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.