Best Way to Ship a Cell Phone (USPS, UPS, FedEx)

Shipping a cell phone with USPS comes down to one question: is the phone new or used? A new phone in its sealed retail box, or one that is manufacturer-certified new or refurbished, is allowed in air transportation, so the air services Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express stay open to it alongside Ground Advantage. A pre-owned, damaged, or defective phone is ground-only, which in practice means USPS Ground Advantage, with "Restricted Electronic Device" and "Surface Transportation Only" marked on the box. That answer narrows your service options and your price before weight, destination, speed, and insurance come into it. If you're selling a phone you've been using, you are in the ground-only group.

Can You Mail a Cell Phone Through USPS?

Yes. You can send a cell phone with its lithium-ion battery installed through USPS domestically, and internationally under tighter limits. USPS treats new phones and used phones differently, and that difference decides whether the phone can travel by air when you mail it, which is what rules Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express in or out.

New or used decides whether USPS can fly your phone

USPS's shipping restrictions page states the rule plainly: if you're mailing pre-owned, damaged, or defective electronic devices containing lithium batteries, you must send them by ground transportation, because they are prohibited in air transportation. The outer packaging must be marked "Restricted Electronic Device" and "Surface Transportation Only." USPS's packages page gives the other half: phones with installed lithium batteries are usually fine to send if the item is new or a manufacturer-certified repair, but used items can only go by ground.

New phone in its original packaging, or manufacturer-certified new or refurbished: allowed in air transportation, so Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express are open to it alongside Ground Advantage. Which one fits still depends on the package's weight, size, destination, and how fast it needs to arrive. Media Mail is limited to books and other eligible media, so it is never an option for a phone.
Pre-owned, damaged, or defective phone: ground only. In practice that means USPS Ground Advantage, with the two markings above on the address side of the box.

USPS Publication 52, section 349.21, defines a used device as one that is not new in its original packaging, is not manufacturer-certified new or refurbished, or has some form of damage or defect. The iPhone you've carried for two years counts as used even if it works perfectly, so a seller mailing a cell phone to a buyer on eBay or Swappa is almost always in the ground-only group. If you're not sure what ground service involves, our explainer on what ground shipping is covers how it differs from air.

Do you need anything labeled on the box?

For a used, damaged, or defective phone, yes. Pub 52 section 349.221 requires the text "Restricted Electronic Device" and "Surface Transportation Only" on the address side of the mailpiece, plus complete delivery and return addresses. The DOT lithium battery mark (UN3481) is usually not required for a single phone: section 349.221 excepts mailpieces with no more than four lithium cells or two lithium batteries installed in the equipment they operate. Pub 52 sets that threshold but says nothing about how many batteries a phone contains, so confirm the installed battery and cell count in your model's specifications before you rely on the exception.

For a new phone in sealed retail packaging, the two used-device phrases don't apply, and the same section 349.221 exception covers the DOT mark for domestic mail: no lithium battery marking is needed as long as the mailpiece holds no more than four lithium cells or two lithium batteries installed in the equipment they operate. Above that count, the exception no longer applies. Consignments are the other qualification. If the package is one of more than two items going from one mailer to one recipient at one address in a single mailing or transaction, section 349.221 requires the DOT-approved lithium battery marking, new phones included. You still need the box packed to the standards in the packaging section below.

Sending a broken phone through the mail

A cracked screen, a dead charging port, or a phone that won't power on makes the device "damaged or defective," so a broken phone ships by ground with the two markings. The battery is a separate question. Pub 52 section 349.6 prohibits damaged, defective, or recalled batteries from the mail unless approved by USPS's director of Product Classification. A phone whose battery is swollen, punctured, leaking, or under a manufacturer recall cannot go through USPS without that approval. The same section also keeps used, damaged, or defective devices out of international mail entirely.

USPS Shipping Cost for Cell Phones

How much it costs to ship a phone through USPS depends on the service, the packed weight, and the distance. The table gives the retail Post Office starting prices from USPS's service pages for Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express. Postage bought online through Click-N-Ship costs less.

Service	Retail price starts at	Delivery window	Insurance included	Used phones allowed?
USPS Ground Advantage	$8.40	2 to 5 days	Up to $100	Yes
Priority Mail	$11.50	2 to 3 days	Up to $100	No, new or certified only
Priority Mail Express	$37.05	1 to 3 days by 6 PM	Up to $100	No, new or certified only

USPS Ground Advantage (formerly First-Class Package Service)

USPS Ground Advantage replaced First-Class Package Service and has the lowest starting retail price of the three services in the table above. It is also the USPS retail service for a used phone, and USPS describes it as its primary option for hazardous materials that can't go by air.

Cost: starts at $8.40 at a Post Office. Packages up to 15.999 ounces are priced by weight tier (up to 4, 8, 12, or 15.999 ounces) and zone. Heavier packages are charged by the pound up to 70 pounds.
Delivery window: 2 to 5 days.
Tracking: included.
Insurance: up to $100 included, with additional coverage available up to $5,000.
Pickup: free Package Pickup from your home or office.

Because Ground Advantage prices by zone, the distance between ZIP codes changes the rate. Our USPS zone map tool shows which zone a destination falls in.

Priority Mail

Priority Mail is the faster choice for a new or manufacturer-certified phone. Because it travels by air, it is not an option for a used phone.

Cost: starts at $11.50 at a Post Office.
Delivery window: 2 to 3 days. USPS notes the expected delivery date does not come with a money-back guarantee.
Tracking: included.
Insurance: up to $100 included with most shipments, restrictions apply.
Surcharges: none for fuel, residential or rural delivery, or Saturday delivery.

Priority Mail Flat Rate Options

Flat Rate pricing charges one price for anything up to 70 pounds to any state, which makes it useful for shipping several new phones or a phone with accessories. USPS supplies the boxes and envelopes free. Retail Post Office prices:

Padded Flat Rate Envelope: $15.00
Small Flat Rate Box: $14.65
Medium Flat Rate Box: $25.80
Large Flat Rate Box: $36.10

Commercial prices are lower when you buy the label online. The same air-only restriction applies: Flat Rate is a Priority Mail product, so it is for new or manufacturer-certified phones only.

Priority Mail Express (formerly Express Mail)

Priority Mail Express is the current name for what USPS used to call Express Mail. It is the fastest USPS option, and again it is limited to new or manufacturer-certified phones because it moves by air.

Cost: starts at $37.05 at a Post Office. The Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelope is $38.25.
Delivery window: 1 to 3 days by 6 PM, with a money-back guarantee. Sunday and holiday delivery is available in many major markets for an additional fee.
Tracking: included, and the price includes a proof-of-delivery signature record if requested.
Insurance: up to $100 included with most shipments.

For a closer look at when the guarantee applies, see what Priority Mail Express is.

Cell Phone Shipping Packaging Requirements

Packaging does two jobs when you're mailing a cell phone: it protects the device, and it satisfies the lithium battery rules in USPS Publication 52. The rules below come from sections 349.221 and 349.242 of Pub 52.

Basic Packaging Requirements

Use a rigid outer box. Pub 52 section 349.221 requires rigid outer packaging for mailpieces containing lithium batteries, so use a box rather than a bare padded envelope.
Power the phone off and make sure it can't switch itself on in transit. Pub 52 requires an effective means of preventing inadvertent activation.
Wrap the phone in bubble wrap or foam so it is individually cushioned and can't move.
Fill empty space so nothing shifts, then seal every seam with packing tape.
Put complete delivery and return addresses on the outside of the box.

USPS Cell Phone Shipping Packaging Guidelines for Lithium Batteries

The USPS cell phone shipping policy for lithium batteries adds limits on top of the basic packaging rules:

The battery must be protected from damage and short circuit. Pub 52 states the requirement without prescribing a method for a phone, so leave the battery inside the device, power it off, and cushion the phone so nothing presses on it.
Each lithium-ion cell must not exceed 20 watt-hours, and each battery must not exceed 100 watt-hours. Most smartphone batteries are rated well under 20 watt-hours, but check the Wh figure in the phone's specifications if you're shipping a large-battery model.
For batteries installed in equipment, each mailpiece may contain no more than eight cells or two batteries. For phones with one battery each, that caps a single box at two phones unless each battery is rated under 2.7 watt-hours, and smartphone batteries are typically far above that figure.
Damaged, defective, or recalled batteries are prohibited unless USPS's director of Product Classification approves the shipment.
Used, damaged, or defective devices are ground-only and must carry the "Restricted Electronic Device" and "Surface Transportation Only" markings described above.
Internationally, the battery must be installed in the phone, loose or spare batteries are prohibited, and used devices are prohibited entirely. See the international FAQ below.

Best Packaging for Mailing a Phone

Put the phone in an anti-static bag or a soft sleeve before wrapping it, so the screen and ports aren't scuffed.
Wrap it in two or three layers of bubble wrap and tape the wrap closed.
For a phone worth more than the included $100 of coverage, double-box it: wrapped phone in a small box, small box inside a larger box with cushioning on all sides.
Photograph the phone's condition before sealing the box, note the IMEI, and keep the receipt or the sold listing. The insurance section below explains what USPS asks for on a claim.
Pack accessories separately from the phone inside the box so a charger or cable can't scratch the screen. Our guide to safely shipping electronics walks through the same approach for larger devices.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Ship a Cell Phone with USPS

Preparation

Decide whether the phone counts as new or used under Pub 52 section 349.21. If it's not sealed in original packaging or manufacturer-certified, it's used.
Back up and factory-reset the phone if it's changing hands.
Remove the SIM card and any SD card unless the recipient needs them.
Power the phone off completely.
Record the IMEI and take photos of the phone's condition.

Packaging

Wrap the phone in two or three layers of bubble wrap or foam.
Place it in a rigid box, fill the empty space, and seal the seams.
For a used, damaged, or defective phone, write "Restricted Electronic Device" and "Surface Transportation Only" on the address side of the box.

Shipping Process

Weigh the packed box. Ground Advantage prices by weight tier up to 15.999 ounces and by the pound above that.
Choose the service. Used phone: USPS Ground Advantage. New or manufacturer-certified phone: Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, or Priority Mail Express, depending on how fast it needs to arrive.
Buy the label online through Click-N-Ship for commercial pricing, or at a Post Office counter or kiosk for the retail price.
Add insurance above the included $100 if the phone is worth more. Coverage is available up to $5,000.
Attach the label flat on the largest face of the box, with the markings visible on the same side.
Drop the box at a Post Office or schedule a free Package Pickup, and keep the tracking number and postmarked receipt until delivery is confirmed.

When shipping multiple phones, cushion each one separately before placing them in the outer box, and check the per-box battery limit in the FAQ on how many phones you can mail.

USPS vs. Other Carriers for Shipping Cell Phones

USPS is not the only way to ship a cell phone, and the ground-only rule above is a USPS rule. FedEx and UPS publish their own lithium battery policies, and each carrier's rules apply to its own network.

USPS vs. FedEx for Cell Phone Shipping

Coverage: USPS includes up to $100 of insurance on Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express. FedEx includes the first $100 of value in its shipping rate as a standard $100 limit of liability, and FedEx states on its declared value page that declared value is not shipping insurance. If you need more than $100 of protection with FedEx, you declare a higher value and pay a fee on the amount above $100.
Speed: FedEx offers three next-business-day services, FedEx First Overnight, Priority Overnight, and Standard Overnight, per its overnight shipping page. USPS's fastest option, Priority Mail Express, is 1 to 3 days by 6 PM with a money-back guarantee.
Cost: USPS retail prices are listed above. FedEx rates vary by service, weight, and zone, so get a FedEx quote for the same box and compare it against the USPS price rather than assuming either is cheaper.
Residential delivery: Priority Mail carries no surcharge for residential or rural delivery. Check FedEx's residential surcharge on a FedEx quote before comparing totals.

USPS vs. UPS for Cell Phone Shipping

UPS has its own lithium battery rules and its own residential delivery fees, so read its current lithium battery page and price your box on a UPS quote before you decide. On the USPS side, Priority Mail Express delivers to most U.S. addresses and PO Boxes, Priority Mail has no residential or rural surcharge, and Ground Advantage accepts the used and damaged phones that can't fly.

USPS Cell Phone Shipping Insurance Options

Given what a smartphone costs, check what coverage you already have before adding more. Per USPS's insurance and extra services page:

Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express: up to $100 of insurance included in the price.
Additional coverage: available up to $5,000 in indemnity, in person at a Post Office or online. The price is based on declared value and starts at $2.80.

Insurance covers the actual value of the contents, so keep proof of what the phone is worth. USPS asks for proof of value on any claim, such as a sales receipt or a printout of the online transaction, and for photos of the damage on a damaged-item claim, so hold on to your receipt, listing, condition photos, and the postmarked mailing receipt until the phone arrives. If the package is lost, USPS asks you to file a claim no later than 60 days from the date of mailing. If your phone doesn't show up, our guide to what to do when USPS loses a package covers the search request and claim steps.

FAQs About Shipping Cell Phones with USPS

Is USPS safe for shipping electronics?

USPS accepts cell phones, and how the shipment goes depends on how you pack and send it. Pub 52 sets the packaging rules: a rigid outer box, individual cushioning, the phone powered off, and the battery protected from damage and short circuit. Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express include tracking and up to $100 of insurance, and you can add coverage up to $5,000 for a phone worth more. Two things break USPS's rules for a phone: sending a used, damaged, or defective phone by an air service, and mailing a phone with a damaged, defective, or recalled battery, which is prohibited without USPS approval. Follow the ground-only rule and the two markings for a used phone, and buy insurance that matches the phone's value.

How many phones can I mail with USPS?

Pub 52 section 349.242 caps each mailpiece at eight lithium-ion cells or two batteries installed in equipment, which for phones with one battery each means no more than two phones per box. Confirm the battery count in your model's specifications. Each box is its own mailpiece, so three phones need at least two boxes. Section 349.221 adds that packages in consignments of more than two items require the DOT-approved lithium battery mark, and Pub 52 defines a consignment as mailpieces sent by one mailer to a single recipient at a single address in one transaction, so a bulk shipment to one buyer can need the mark that a single phone does not. Weight limits also apply: Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express all take packages up to 70 pounds.

Does USPS provide tracking for cell phone shipments?

Yes. USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express all include USPS Tracking at no extra charge. You'll get a tracking number you can follow on USPS.com or in the USPS mobile app.

Can I ship internationally with USPS?

Yes, with limits. Pub 52 section 622.5 allows a lithium battery internationally only when it is installed in the equipment it operates, caps each shipment at four cells or two batteries, and prohibits used, damaged, or defective devices from international mail under any circumstances. So you can send a new or manufacturer-certified phone abroad, but not a used one, and never a loose battery. Section 622.5 also states that international mailpieces must not display markings or labels identifying the contents as lithium batteries, which is the opposite of the domestic used-device rule. Destination countries add their own prohibitions, so check the country's listing in USPS's International Mail Manual before you ship. Current services are Priority Mail Express International (3 to 5 business days), Priority Mail International (6 to 10 business days), and First-Class Package International Service (transit varies by destination), per USPS's international shipping page. Our guide to how long international shipping takes explains what drives those windows.

What's the cheapest way to ship a phone?

Among USPS services, Ground Advantage has the lowest starting retail price for a phone: it starts at $8.40 at a Post Office, with the actual price set by the packed weight tier and the zone, and it's the USPS retail service for shipping a phone that's used. For two new phones or a phone with accessories that pushes the box past a pound, a Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box at $14.65 or Padded Flat Rate Envelope at $15.00 can beat a weight-based rate. Buying the label online lowers the price on both services. Our article on the cheapest way to ship with USPS compares the options for other package sizes.

If you ship phones every week

A seller shipping phones on every order repeats the same checks each time: decide new or used under section 349.21, mark every used-phone box with both phrases, stay under the per-box battery limit, weigh the packed box before buying the label, and watch for the consignment marking rule when several boxes go to one buyer. If you would rather hand that order flow to a 3PL, Simpl's ecommerce fulfillment service includes picking, packing, packaging, and postage in a flat per-order rate with no hidden fees; carrier surcharges, when they apply, are billed per our terms. Orders ship by UPS, USPS, or FedEx, and our pricing is published.

Best Way to Ship a Cell Phone: USPS, UPS, and FedEx Compared