Why we ask what’s in your parcel
If you're sending your item at the Post Office, you'll be asked about the contents of your parcel at the counter. We promise we’re not being nosey. It's to make sure the items are safe to post. If you send prohibited or restricted goods in your parcel, the carrier may deal with it as they see fit, which might involve disposing of or destroying it
Prohibited and excluded items
Prohibited items
Here's a full list of items, or any items similar in description or content, that can’t be carried on any Evri domestic and/or international services. Those marked with a check mark are accepted on domestic services but limits and exemptions may apply.
Here at Post Office, we also reserve the right to refuse any other item banned by law or that, in our opinion, may be harmful or dangerous to our customers or employees.
| Item description | Domestic | International |
|---|---|---|
| Aerosols (all purposes) (Eg deodorants, hairsprays, shaving, products for medicinal purposes –prevention or cure – and for other purposes, such as air fresheners and spray paints, etc) |
 |
|
| Alcoholic beverages containing more than 70% alcohol by volume (ABV) |  |
|
| Alcoholic beverages containing more than 24% but not more than 70% alcohol by volume (ABV) Eg whisky, vodka, gin, rum Packaging guidelines: total volume must not exceed 1 litre per item. No more than two items in any one parcel. Package securely to prevent leakage or breakage and seal with tape. Items must be marked as ‘FRAGILE’. Sender’s name and address must be visible on the parcel. |
|
|
| Alcoholic beverages containing 24% alcohol by volume (ABV) or less Eg, beer, wine and champagne Packaging guidelines: total volume must not exceed 1 litre per item. No more than two items in any one parcel. Package securely to prevent leakage or breakage and seal with tape. Items must be marked as ‘FRAGILE’. Sender’s name and address must be visible on the parcel. |
|
|
| Ammunition Excluding lead pellets and other airgun and airsoft projectiles |
|
|
| Batteries that are classified as dangerous goods and certain used batteries Including wet spillable lead acid/lead alkaline batteries (such as car batteries), used alkaline metal, nickel metal hydride (NiMH), nickel cadmium (NiCd), zinc-air batteries, solo lithium batteries, power banks and damaged batteries of any type |
|
|
| Batteries, specifically new alkaline metal, nickel metal hydride (NiMH), nickel cadmium (NiCd), zinc-air and zinc chloride | |
|
| Batteries, specifically new and used lithium batteries, when not sent with or connected to an electronic device Including power banks |
|
|
| Batteries – new wet, non-spillable Eg sealed lead acid batteries absorbed glass mat and gel cell batteries |
|
|
| Biological substances (Category B) and patient specimens Diagnostic specimens including urine, blood, faeces and animal remains |
|
|
| Clinical and medical waste Eg contaminated bandages, dressings and needles |
|
|
| Controlled drugs and narcotics Such as cannabis, cocaine, heroin, LSD, opium and amyl nitrate |
|
|
| Corrosives Including dyes, acids, corrosive paint and rust removers, caustic soda, mercury and gallium metal |
|
|
| Environmentally hazardous substances and environmental waste Including used batteries and used engine oil |
|
|
| Explosives Including blasting caps, flares, fireworks, party poppers |
|
|
| Flammable liquids Including all nail varnish removers, petroleum, lighter fluid, certain adhesives, solvent based paints, wood varnish, enamels and acetone |
|
|
| Flammable solids Including firelighters, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium and zinc powder |
|
|
| Gases, including flammable, non-flammable, toxic and compressed gases Including new, used and empty gas cylinders, fire extinguishers and scuba tanks, life jackets, soda stream, ethane, butane, refills for lighters, nitrogen dioxide and carbon dioxide canisters including culinary foaming devices |
|
|
| Guns for sporting use Section 1 and Section 2 firearms, low-powered air weapons and their component parts |
|
|
| Hoverboards Including any type of rechargeable, battery-powered, self-balancing scooter, mono-wheel, stand-up unicycle or electric skateboard |
|
|
| Human or animal ashes | |
|
| Infectious substances and pathogens UN2814 or UN2900 as classified in the latest edition of the Technical Instructions for Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air published by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO |
|
|
| Lighters and refills containing flammable liquid or gas Including used butane, petrol cigar and cigarette lighters |
|
|
| Liquids over 1 litre (1000ml) Including used butane, petrol cigar and cigarette lighters |
|
|
| Liquids under 1 litre (1000ml) Containing liquids not classified as Prohibited liquids Packaging guidelines: items must be securely closed and placed in a leak-proof inner liner, and in then within a leak-proof outer package. When sending glass bottles, mark as “FRAGILE” |
|
|
| Live creatures, insects, invertebrates and eggs Bees, caterpillars, cockroaches, crickets, destroyers of noxious pests, earthworms, leeches and other parasites, lugworms, maggots, mealworms, pupae and chrysalides, rag worms, silkworms, spiders and stick insects. Dead insects, sent as collectables, are permitted. Fish or fish fry is not accepted |
|
|
| Magnetised material With a field strength of 0.159A/m or more at a distance of 2.1m from the outside of the package |
|
|
| Matches Including safety matches |
|
|
| Oxidising materials or organic peroxides Including disinfectants, nitrates and hair dyes or colourants containing peroxide |
|
|
|
Prohibited liquids Any paints, oils, perfumes, aftershaves, inks, enamels and varnishes including nail varnish any flammable liquids |
|
|
| Perishables Including flowers, fresh fruit, vegetables and frozen or chilled foodstuffs. Frozen water and dry ice are prohibited Packaging guidelines: should be able to withstand a journey of up to 48 hours in the UK. Must be suitably packaged and sealed to prevent leakage or tainting of other items |
|
|
| Pesticides Eg weedkiller and any chemical used to kill pests and insects including fly sprays |
|
|
| Poisons, toxic liquids, solids and gases Including substances that are liable to cause injury or death if swallowed, inhaled or by skin contact, including arsenic, cyanide, Fluorine and rat poison |
|
|
| Prescriptions, prescription certificates or prescription medicines and drugs All medicines in the form of tablets, capsules, spays and liquids including asthma inhalers, serums and vaccines |
|
|
| Radioactive materials and samples Classified as dangerous goods, eg luminous dials from aircraft |
|
|
| Sharp Instruments / Tools with blades Including knives, scissors, shears, saws and axes | |
|
| Solvent-based paints, wood varnishes and enamels | |
|
| Waste, dirt, filth or refuse Including household waste. Note that soil samples sent for analysis are permitted provided they are packaged securely |
|
|
| Weapons / Replica weapons Including Section 5 firearms, CS gas and pepper sprays, flick knives and other knives that are banned under UK laws, tasers, stun guns decorative weapons, deactivated or air powered weapons |
|
|
Compensation exclusions
There's no compensation cover if you send any of the following items, or similar, using Evri services.
- All items that have been badly packaged or strapped together
- Perishable food or goods including chilled and frozen food, plants, seeds, flowers and plant derivatives
- Liquids under 1000ml are accepted as long as they DO NOT contain prohibited contents like paints, oils, perfumes, aftershaves, inks, enamels and varnishes (including nail varnish). All liquids over 1 litre (1000ml) are prohibited
- Glass items or fragile items that contain glass parts
- Jewellery, diamonds and other precious stones, antique items or watches, with a value in excess of £999 are only coverable for compensation for up to £999
- Laptops, computers and games consoles
- TVs and monitors
- Lighting equipment such as vehicle lights and light bulbs
- Cameras, lenses, spectacles and optical equipment such as telescopes or binoculars
- Paintings, prints or canvases
- Musical instruments including their cases or suitcases when used as external packaging
- Ceramic or composite items of any description including without limitation mirrored items, crystal, ceramics, porcelain, plaster, marble, china, stone, slate, resin, granite, concrete (or any item containing these materials)
- Fossils, stones, marble, stoneware or any stone derivative
- Articles made largely or wholly of gold, silver or other precious metals
- Kitchen appliances such as white goods or electronic equipment with fragile/glass parts
- Antiques – objects over 100 years old
- Furniture – unless flat packed and safely packaged
- Cheques or dividend warrants which are uncrossed and made payable to the bearer, uncrossed postal orders which do not state to whom they are to be paid, bankers’ drafts, bearer securities including share warrants, bonds or relative coupons, un-franked postage or revenue stamps – except a revenue stamp embossed or impressed on an instrument which has been executed
- Coupons, vouchers, gift vouchers and cards, tokens, stamps, national insurance stamps, credit cards, debit cards, lottery tickets, scratch cards, SIM cards, tickets or passes such as for travel or events, currency notes or coins
- Documentation – such as passports, driving licenses, medical, employment, property or commercial records
- Memorabilia, photographs, signed items and vinyl records
- Cameras, lenses, spectacles and optical equipment such as telescopes or binoculars
- Internal damage of appliances, mechanical items or electronics is excluded from compensation
- Tobacco and tobacco products
- Real fur