--- title: "Mailing matches and lighters by USPS: what's allowed" description: "Safety matches go by ground only, marked Surface Only; strike-anywhere matches can't be mailed; a lighter with fuel needs DOT and USPS approval." canonical: https://resellerindex.com/usps/rules/matches-and-lighters/ last_updated: 2026-10-19 publisher: "The Reseller Index" --- # Can you mail matches or a lighter by USPS? **Safety matches (book, card or strike-on-box) can go by ground only, marked "Surface Only" or "Surface Mail Only" with the type of match; strike-anywhere matches can't be mailed at all.** A lighter that holds fuel and has an ignition system is nonmailable unless its design carries a DOT approval number and USPS's Pricing and Classification Service Center (PCSC) approves the mailing in writing first (Publication 52, 342.51, 343.24). Rates verified on Oct 19, 2026 ## The rule, in USPS's words > “Safety matches: Book, card, or strike-on-box safety matches are permitted only in domestic mail via surface transportation.” [Publication 52, 344.21](https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c3_023.htm), read Oct 19, 2026 > “Mailpieces must be plainly and durably marked on the address side with "Surface Only" or "Surface Mail Only"” [Publication 52, 344.3](https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c3_023.htm), read Oct 19, 2026 > “Strike-anywhere matches may not be mailed domestically.” [USPS, Domestic Shipping Prohibitions, Restrictions & HAZMAT](https://www.usps.com/ship/shipping-restrictions.htm), read Oct 19, 2026 > “lighters charged with fuel and having an ignition system (or similar heating, lighting, or ignition device) are nonmailable.” [Publication 52, 342.51](https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c3_021.htm), read Oct 19, 2026 > “Mailers must submit a written request to mail lighters, to the PCSC director, accompanied by a legible copy of the official DOT approval notice” [Publication 52, 343.24](https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c3_022.htm), read Oct 19, 2026 ## What you can mail, item by item *Matches and lighters by USPS, Publication 52, 342-344; fee from Notice 123 effective Oct 4, 2026.* | Item | Mailable? | How | | --- | --- | --- | | Vintage matchbooks (book safety matches) | yes, ground only | Ground Advantage; mark "Surface Mail Only" and "Book Matches"; HAZMAT Handling Fee $0.00 | | Boxes of strike-on-box matches | yes, ground only | Ground Advantage; mark "Surface Only" | | Strike-anywhere matches | no | nonmailable | | Refillable lighter with fuel in it | no, unless approved | needs a DOT approval number (LAA) and a PCSC approval letter | | Lighter fluid (Publication 52: typically a flashpoint of 20°F to 55°F) | ground only, as a Limited Quantity material (343.23) | Packaging Instruction 3A: 1 pint in nonmetal (plastic or glass) or 1 quart in metal per package in the 20°F-73°F band | | Butane refill can | ground only, as a Limited Quantity material (342.22) | metal can of 1 liter (33.8 fl oz) at most per package (342.3), Packaging Instruction 2A | | Matches to another country | no | flammable solids are prohibited in international mail | ## Edge cases - **Fuel-free collectible lighters:** Publication 52's lighter rules are written for lighters charged with fuel or containing liquid fuel or flammable gas. For an empty one, ask USPS for a mailability ruling before you list it: when mailability is uncertain, Publication 52, 215 lets you send the Safety Data Sheet and product details to USPS Product Classification or the PCSC ([Publication 52, 215](https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c2_005.htm)). - **Approved lighters:** the box must show the shipping name ("Lighter(s)"), the LAA approval number and "Surface Only" (Publication 52, 343.24). - **No Priority Mail:** flammable solids are always prohibited on air transport ([Publication 52, 327.12](https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c3_008.htm); [344.2](https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c3_023.htm)), so matches can't go Priority Mail. - **Declare it** as hazmat at the label (Publication 52, 323.1); undeclared hazmat on an online label can draw the $50.00 fee. ## What to do - Ship matchbooks by Ground Advantage with the surface and match-type markings, declared as hazmat. - Don't mail a lighter that has fuel in it. - For anything unclear, ask USPS for a mailability ruling before listing. ## Questions ### Can I mail a book of matches? Yes, by ground only within the US, marked "Surface Only" or "Surface Mail Only" and "Book Matches" ([Publication 52, 344](https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c3_023.htm)). ### Can you ship a refillable lighter through USPS? Not with fuel in it: lighters charged with fuel and having an ignition system are nonmailable without DOT approval and a USPS approval letter ([Publication 52, 342.51](https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c3_021.htm); [343.24](https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c3_022.htm)). ## Related rules - [Can you ship perfume, nail polish or aerosol cans by USPS?](https://resellerindex.com/usps/rules/perfume-nail-polish-aerosols/) Inside the US by ground: Ground Advantage, not Priority Mail, with the DOT Limited Quantity mark and size limits. - [What does USPS charge to ship hazmat?](https://resellerindex.com/usps/rules/hazmat-fees/) $7.50 handling by Priority Mail, $0.00 by Ground Advantage; $50.00 for hazmat not properly declared on online labels. - [Can you ship a used phone, laptop or camera with a lithium battery by USPS?](https://resellerindex.com/usps/rules/used-electronics-lithium-batteries/) Ground Advantage only, marked 'Restricted Electronic Device' and 'Surface Transportation Only', declared as hazmat at the label. [All 25 USPS package rules](https://resellerindex.com/usps/rules/) ## Sources Rates verified on Oct 19, 2026 from each official page below. - [USPS Notice 123, Price List (effective Oct 4, 2026)](https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm) - [USPS Publication 52, 215: requests for mailability rulings](https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c2_005.htm) - [USPS Publication 52, 323: mailer responsibility for hazardous materials](https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c3_004.htm) - [USPS Publication 52, 327: transportation requirements (air and surface)](https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c3_008.htm) - [USPS Publication 52, 342: gases and aerosols (Hazard Class 2)](https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c3_021.htm) - [USPS Publication 52, 343: flammable and combustible liquids (Hazard Class 3)](https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c3_022.htm) - [USPS Publication 52, 344: flammable solids, including matches (Hazard Class 4)](https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c3_023.htm) - [USPS Publication 52, Packaging Instruction 2A: flammable gases](https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52apxc_004.htm) - [USPS Publication 52, Packaging Instruction 3A: flammable liquids](https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52apxc_010.htm) - [USPS: Domestic Shipping Prohibitions, Restrictions & HAZMAT](https://www.usps.com/ship/shipping-restrictions.htm) Subscribe: https://resellerindex.com/subscribe/ Pricing postage into every listing? 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