Shipping Cremated Remains via USPS: Rules, Packaging, and Step-by-Step

If you need to send cremated remains to a family member in another state, there's one carrier you can use: the United States Postal Service. FedEx and UPS do not ship cremated remains. This isn't a preference—it's their published corporate policy, and handing ashes to a FedEx counter agent will get the package refused.

USPS ships cremated remains under Publication 139, and the rules are specific enough that getting any detail wrong can result in the package being returned or held.

Required Shipping Method

You must use Priority Mail Express for domestic shipments or Priority Mail Express International for international ones. Standard Priority Mail, First Class, and Parcel Select are not permitted. Priority Mail Express provides tracking; check current USPS service standards and coverage for the package you send.

The Express requirement gives the shipment the tracking and service level USPS specifies for cremated remains. Follow current Publication 139 instructions for any signature or delivery options.

Packaging Requirements

USPS requires a three-layer packaging system:

Inner container: The ashes must be in a sift-proof container—a sealed plastic bag or a screw-top urn that won't open during transit. If using an urn, wrap the lid junction with strong tape. If the ashes are in a plastic bag (the standard temporary container from most crematories), tie the bag securely and place it inside a second sealed bag.

Protective cushioning: The inner container goes inside a sturdy box with cushioning material on all sides—bubble wrap, foam peanuts, or crumpled kraft paper. The ashes should not shift during handling.

Outer shipping box: Use a rigid outer box. USPS offers a specific "BOX-CRE" designed for this purpose at no charge, available at post offices. You can also use any sturdy corrugated box that fits.

Required Labels and Markings

Apply Label 139 ("Cremated Remains") prominently on all sides of the outer box. You can get Label 139 at any post office or print it from usps.com. This label tells every handler in the chain what the package contains and triggers careful-handling protocols.

Mark the package "CREMATED REMAINS" in clear, large text on at least two sides in addition to the label. Include your return address and the recipient's full address, and follow USPS's current addressing instructions.

At the Post Office

Bring the package to the counter—don't drop it in a collection box. You'll need to fill out the standard Priority Mail Express label and declare that the contents are cremated remains. The clerk will verify that the label and markings are correct.

Use the tracking and delivery options specified by USPS; ask about return receipt if you want an additional delivery record. Cremated remains themselves have no insurable monetary value, so ask USPS how coverage applies to the urn or container.

What to Include Inside

Place a copy of the cremation certificate or certificate of cremation inside the box, between the outer wall and the cushioning. If the package is opened for any reason—damage, customs inspection on international shipments—this document establishes what the contents are and prevents the remains from being treated as unknown material.

Cost

Shipping cremated remains via USPS typically costs $125–$360 depending on the service, distance, box size, and weight. The ashes themselves weigh three to seven pounds. With packaging, most shipments fall in the small flat-rate box to medium flat-rate box range.

What Can Go Wrong

The most common problem is inadequate inner sealing. If ashes leak during transit, the package may be quarantined and the contents could be lost. Use a sealed, sift-proof container and err on the side of over-packaging.

The second most common problem is using the wrong service tier. Ashes sent via a non-permitted service may be returned to sender if identified in the mail stream.

Our Direct Cremation Guide includes a full shipping checklist and packing diagram, plus the rules for carrying ashes through TSA if you're flying instead of mailing.