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Make sure it's safe to send

At Australia Post, safety is our priority. It’s important you’re aware some substances can't be posted for delivery within Australia or overseas. Many common items contain prohibited substances that may be explosive, flammable, radioactive or otherwise dangerous. Examples include:

  • Flammable liquids like nail polish, paint or perfume
  • Flammable solids like safety matches or self-heating items such as instant meals, with packaging that contains a solid flammable substance that can self-combust
  • Aerosols such as butane cigarette lighters
  • Explosives like flares, fireworks or ammunition
  • Corrosives such as batteries 

Not sure about your item?

Download our comprehensive guide for a full list of dangerous and prohibited goods and packaging requirements, or check our prohibited and restricted items list to learn about:

  • items we won’t accept for delivery
  • items we can accept only if certain conditions and requirements are met
  • items that must meet our packaging requirements

We can deliver some dangerous items, if they meet certain conditions and are packed in a specific way.

Our dangerous goods exemptions policy does permit very small quantities of some dangerous goods (known as "exempted" dangerous goods) when carried on a contract basis and by road transport only. For more information view our dangerous goods guide (PDF 3.1MB).

There are specific requirements for how these goods are packaged and who they are delivered to.

View Section 2 of the Australia Post Terms & Conditions (PDF 1.04MB) for more information about items that cannot be sent through our network.

You'll find lithium batteries or cells in portable electronics. They're a dangerous good and present a fire and safety risk if transported incorrectly. Australia Post limits how lithium batteries can be sent, and you're required to send these items in compliance with Australian and international regulations.

What types of lithium batteries can be sent?

Regardless of what domestic or international mail service you use, Australia Post can only carry the following types of lithium batteries:

  • Lithium ion (rechargeable) - 20 watt-hour per cell or 100 watt-hour per battery
  • Lithium metal (non-rechargeable) - one gram per cell or two grams per battery

Lithium batteries can only be sent internationally (air or sea), or domestically by air if the battery or cell (maximum of two batteries or four individual cells) are installed in the device and meet all the packaging requirements.

Recalled, damaged or non-conforming cells or batteries are also prohibited from being sent by Australia Post.

How to package lithium batteries

Make sure that the electronic device you're sending can't be turned on accidentally, and you have used strong internal and external packaging. Under no circumstances should lithium batteries be packed by themselves, or alongside a device.

To find out more on how to package your batteries correctly refer to the Prohibited and Restricted Item List and packaging guide (PDF 1.1MB).

You can also read our quick reference guide for sending lithium batteries (PDF 495kB).

Sending lithium batteries overseas

Shipments of electronic items containing lithium cells and batteries are prohibited when sent using the International Courier product.

You cannot send lithium batteries to Bhutan, Germany, Italy, Laos, Macao or Thailand. If you do, your item will be refused or returned to sender.

Check our International Post Guide for any local restrictions in place before sending Lithium batteries overseas.

Additional requirements when sending overseas

Items must also be accepted by the customs department of the country you're sending to. Use our International Post Guide to search customs rules by country. If you're not sure about an item you wish to from Australia, we recommend you contact the relevant country's embassy.

More information

Australian government customs and quarantine information

Customs forms & regulations for sending items overseas

Australia Post Terms and Conditions (PDF 1.04MB)

Frequently asked questions

Because perfume is a flammable liquid, it’s classified as a ‘dangerous and prohibited’ item, which means it can only be sent by selected senders under contract conditions due to safety regulations. 

Find out more about dangerous and prohibited items.

Due to safety regulations, some items are classified as ‘dangerous and prohibited goods’, which means they either can’t be posted, or can only be posted under certain conditions.

Some common examples of dangerous and prohibited goods include:

Please check Dangerous and Prohibited items for complete details and restrictions on sending these and other items.

RTS stands for Return to Sender. This is when a parcel cannot be delivered due to various reasons, including sending an unsafe item, so it’s delivered back to the original sender. 

DG stands for Dangerous Goods. This usually means the item isn’t safe to send overseas with Australia Post.

Your parcel may contain dangerous contents or items that are prohibited in the destination country.

Before sending a parcel overseas, you should  check the relevant international post guide or our Prohibited and Restricted Items List and Packaging Guide (PDF 1.1MB)