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Published on May 2, 2025 Written By Rachel Hand
Published on May 2, 2025 Written By Rachel Hand
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You might not think that everyday products like nail polish, perfume, and batteries would be considered dangerous – but in shipping, these items are considered “hazardous materials” (HAZMAT). Why? Even simple items can be dangerous if they spill, break, or come in contact with other substances.
Because of this, shipping HAZMAT involves special handling, proper labeling, and compliance with U.S. Department of Transportation rules.
In this guide, we’ll unpack everything you need to know about shipping hazardous materials legally and safely, from classifying products and following packaging requirements to avoiding hefty fines for non-compliance.
What are hazardous materials?
Hazardous materials shipping (also known as HAZMAT shipping) is the regulated transport of dangerous goods — solids, liquids, or gases — that can harm people, property, or the environment if mishandled. It requires special packaging, labeling, and documentation to comply with safety standards and prevent accidents in transit.
Hazardous materials (HAZMAT) are among the most complicated, regulation-heavy, and expensive products to ship.
The US Department of Transportation (US DOT) requires that you be trained and certified before you ship hazardous materials. The training covers packaging and labeling of hazardous materials as well as the proper documentation. There are also fines for non-compliance and potential legal action if you are found to have willfully ignored hazardous materials shipping regulations.
What products are classified as HAZMAT?
HAZMAT products are broken into nine classes, ranging from the most extreme materials like explosives, gases, toxic materials, and radioactive materials to more seemingly minor products like hair spray, liquor, and nail polish that still pose a shipping and handling risk. Some of these classes include sub classes that categorize products in each class more specifically.
Source: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Class 1: Explosives
As the name implies, these are products likely to explode under certain conditions.
- Division 1.1: Explosives with a mass explosion hazard
- Division 1.2: Explosives with a projection hazard
- Division 1.3: Explosives with a mass fire hazard
- Division 1.4: Explosives with a minor explosion hazard
- Division 1.5: Very insensitive explosives
- Division 1.6: Extremely insensitive explosives
Examples of Class 1 HAZMAT products include fireworks, gun powder, dynamite, ammunition, and rocket propellants.
Class 2: Gases
These are products that contain gases that are dangerous when inhaled or when they make contact with a surface.
- Division 2.1: Flammable gases
- Division 2.2: Non-flammable gases
- Division 2.3: Poisonous or toxic gases
- Division 2.4: Corrosive gases
Examples of Class 2 HAZMAT products include aerosols (spray paint, household cleaners, bathroom sprays, and spray cosmetics such as hair care products, deodorants, and perfumes), propane tanks, lighters, pepper spray, scuba tanks, self-inflating rafts, and fire extinguishers.
Class 3: Flammable liquids
These are liquids that will ignite when they make contact with fire.
Examples of Class 3 HAZMAT products include perfumes, colognes, cleaners, fuels, lubricants, essential oils, nail polishes, and hand sanitizers.
Class 4: Flammable solids
These are products with solid materials that will ignite when they make contact with fire.
- Division 4.1: Flammable solids
- Division 4.2: Spontaneously combustible materials
- Division 4.3: Materials that are dangerous when wet
Examples of Class 4 HAZMAT products include matches, charcoal, certain powders, permanent markers, wet wipes, and some organic fertilizers.
Class 5: Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides
hese are chemicals that readily yield oxygen in reactions, thereby causing or enhancing combustion.
- Division 5.1: Oxidizers
- Division 5.2: Organic peroxides
Examples of Class 5 HAZMAT products include some over-the-counter medical products, hair dye, cleaning products, pool supplies, and certain fertilizers.
Class 6: Poisonous (toxic) and infectious substances
In this class are substances that can cause death, serious injury, or harm to humans if inhaled or swallowed. Infectious substances are known to carry pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.).
- Division 6.1: Poisonous and/or toxic materials
- Division 6.2: Infectious materials
Examples of Class 6 HAZMAT products include flea collars, rodenticides, tear gases, pesticides, and herbicides.
Class 7: Radioactive material
This is any material or combination of materials that spontaneously gives off ionizing radiation. It has a specific activity greater than 0.002 microcuries per gram.
Examples of Class 7 HAZMAT products include medical isotopes, radioactive medicines, isotopes used in research (Carbon-14, etc.), X-ray machines, and depleted uranium.
Class 8: Corrosives
A corrosive is a material, liquid, or solid that causes visible destruction or irreversible alteration to human skin or a liquid that has a severe corrosion rate on steel or aluminum.
Examples of Class 8 HAZMAT products include sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, wet and NiCad batteries, drain cleaner, paint and paint stripper, and mercury thermometers and barometers.
Class 9: Miscellaneous hazardous materials
Products in this class include materials that present a hazard during transport but are not included in another hazardous shipping classification.
Examples of Class 9 HAZMAT products include dry ice, lithium-ion batteries, vehicles, and first-aid kits.
How to ship hazardous materials
Shipping hazardous materials can be a complicated process, as there are serious ramifications if you get it wrong. To ship hazardous materials, you need to follow a few key steps.
Classify the material
When shipping HAZMAT, merchants are required by law to provide a safety data sheet (SDS) to whoever is handling the dangerous materials. The SDS provides guidance to help workers who handle these products become familiar with the materials and also prevent mishandling them.
Contact top carriers
The top carriers in the US (FedEx, USPS, UPS, and DHL) all provide shipping options for some hazardous materials. Each carrier has specific rules about how they work with you for handling HAZMAT (more on that below).
Select appropriate packaging
Depending on the type of product, there are specific laws for how you package HAZMAT products. For example, dangerous liquids are best suited for drums, but they can be stored in steel, aluminum, or plastic drums depending on the type of liquid.
Mark and label your package
There are specific ways to mark your hazardous materials depending on their class, ID number, weight, and more. Be sure to follow the correct regulations when it comes to marking, labeling, and placarding. Even the orientation of your arrows can prevent a product from being shipped.
Source: US Department of Transportation.
Prepare shipping papers
Some carriers require additional paperwork in order to ship HAZMAT items, depending on the material being transported (e.g., the UN identification number, proper shipping name, hazard class, and packing group, as well as the quantity, number, and type of packages, emergency contact information, and shipper’s certification). You must prepare all requested documents to ensure your shipment goes out and is not delayed or held up.
Identify additional carrier requirements
Most carriers have pretty similar rules when it comes to shipping HAZMAT. However, a few of them also have additional requirements. Depending on the carrier you work with, ask them about all of the HAZMAT shipping requirements before you start shipping dangerous goods.
Regulations for HAZMAT shipping
Here are the regulations you’ll want to know about if you’re selling a product that contains hazardous materials.
49 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49)
Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations addresses key protocols for preparing, shipping, and handling dangerous goods. It is issued by the Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security. Access it here.
IMDG Code
The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG) provides guidelines for the safe shipment of goods on water or vessel. It is accepted as an international guideline, and it is mainly used in international shipping.
ICAO / IATA
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standardizes safety procedures for shipping dangerous goods by air. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) also has its own Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) to help you prepare, handle or accept dangerous goods shipments by air.
Penalties for HAZMAT shipping noncompliance
As with all shipping regulations, noncompliance for hazardous material shipping can cost you greatly. The US DOT has specific fines for companies that break these laws. A routine shipment with even the tiniest error can lead to six-figure fines and have you banned from shipping HAZMAT products.
As federal law states, under 49 CFR Part § 107.329,
“A person who knowingly violates a requirement of the Federal hazardous material transportation law, an order issued thereunder, this subchapter, subchapter C of the chapter, or a special permit or approval issued under this subchapter applicable to the transportation of hazardous materials or the causing of them to be transported or shipped is liable for a civil penalty of not more than $77,114 for each violation, except the maximum civil penalty is $179,933 if the violation results in death, serious illness or severe injury to any person or substantial destruction of property. There is no minimum civil penalty, except for a minimum civil penalty of $463 for violations relating to training. When the violation is a continuing one, each day of the violation constitutes a separate offense.”
4 carriers that ship hazardous materials
The four major carriers in the US (FedEx, USPS, UPS, and DHL) all offer shipping for hazardous materials. Each carrier has specific rules for how they ship dangerous goods for certain classes, as well as shipping HAZMAT domestically and internationally by truck, air, and sea.
1. FedEx
FedEx provides a guide on how to ship hazardous materials, including information on battery shipments, services and restrictions, accepted and prohibited materials, marking and labeling, packaging, and more. Read the FedEx hazardous materials guide.
2. USPS
USPS ships HAZMAT products, though there are restrictions for domestic and international HAZMAT shipments. You cannot ship items like matches, fireworks, nicotine products, and much more through any USPS mail type. Contact your local post office to learn if they can help you. Read their list of mailable and prohibited products here.
3. DHL
DHL is an established carrier of dangerous goods and adheres to the IATA and ADR regulations as well as other applicable national legislation. However, DHL only ships hazardous goods classified under the Limited Quantity and Consumer Commodity guidelines that are shipped via our Domestic “Ground” service and to Canada via Parcel Direct (PLT) ground destinations only. All of these shipments must be approved prior to shipment. See DHL’s Limited Quantity policy for HAZMAT items here.
4. UPS
UPS ships hazardous materials and provides training for those new to shipping these materials. UPS lays out their Hazardous Materials Shipping service here, which includes updated regulatory information as well as UPS-specific hazardous material requirements. They also list all prohibited products on their website, and even offer a webinar featuring the most current information on safe and proper shipping and handling of hazardous materials through the UPS network.
How ShipBob helps with HAZMAT shipping
As an expert supply chain and fulfillment platform, ShipBob helps ecommerce businesses navigate the complexities of HAZMAT shipping and delight customers – all while staying fully compliant with applicable regulations.
“Touchland sells flammable goods that need to be shipped via ground, so ShipBob has been a great ally as they have fulfillment centers all over the US, facilitating a 2-3 day delivery time for any customer in the US.”
Andrea Lisbona, Founder & CEO of Touchland
Collaboration with certified carriers
ShipBob partners with major carriers to ship across the US, including carriers that will ship HAZAMT products (with certain limitations). Leveraging our carrier partnership network and our carrier selection algorithm, ecommerce brands can ship HAZMAT goods quickly and affordably anywhere in the contiguous US via ground.
Note: International orders containing HAZMAT products will not be fulfilled by ShipBob. If a HAZMAT order is attempted to be shipped this way, it will be put on hold.
“Shipping cross-border is never easy, especially when you’re shipping a product that qualifies as a dangerous good since our products contain alcohol. By storing inventory in ShipBob’s facilities within the countries or near the geographies we’re shipping to, we can bypass a lot of the complexities of international shipping. It makes our lives significantly easier.
But more importantly, shipping locally instead of internationally is better for customers. You can always navigate cross-border complexities, but you can’t undo a customer’s stressful delivery experience. Leveraging ShipBob’s global network to fulfill and ship locally reassures our customers, so that when someone in a key market like Australia or Canada buys from us, they’re not worrying about their order getting stuck in customs or wondering if they’ll ever get their items. They also know it’s not going to take two weeks or more to be delivered, and they don’t have to pay exorbitant international shipping rates.”
Sergio Tache, Founder and CEO of Dossier
Thorough understanding of Department of Transportation and IATA guidelines
At ShipBob, we pride ourselves on meeting regulatory requirements. Our fulfillment network includes fulfillment centers certified to meet local, state, and federal laws for HAZMAT products and dangerous materials, and our workers are trained on 49 CFR and know how to handle and store HAZMAT items and dangerous goods.
Visit our Help Center for more information on ShipBob’s processes, guidelines, and restrictions for shipping HAZMAT goods.
Protocols for proper labeling, packaging, and documentation
As a safety-minded fulfilment partner, ShipBob complies with all labeling and packaging requirements for HAZMAT products. For every dangerous good that ShipBob ships, the shipping label denotes that it is a HAZMAT product or dangerous good, so carriers know what’s inside.
ShipBob’s vetting and approval procedure for HAZMAT and dangerous goods also helps ensure full regulatory compliance. As part of this procedure, we require proper documentation from merchants, meaning that:
- Merchants must disclose their products’ DG/HAZMAT status.
- For products approved by ShipBob, merchants must mark each SKU as HAZMAT or a dangerous good in ShipBob’s dashboard in order to comply with all regulations.
- Merchants must provide a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each HAZMAT product they wish to ship.
These checks and balances help ensure that your HAZMAT goods are shipped safely, protecting you, your customers, and your business.
For more information on how ShipBob can help you ship your HAZMAT or dangerous goods, click the button below to get in touch with an expert.
Shipping hazardous materials FAQs
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about HAZMAT shipping.
Will UPS ship hazardous materials?
Yes, many of the major carriers have services that provide the shipping of hazardous materials, including UPS. However, it is not as simple as dropping it in the mailbox. There are procedures and processes involved and each is carrier-specific.
What is the difference between hazardous and dangerous goods?
What are some examples of hazardous materials?
There are quite a few hazardous materials, and 9 categories that hazardous materials could fall into when it comes to shipping. Explosives, gasses, flammable liquids and solids, and toxic and infectious substances are all examples of hazardous materials. Some examples of products containing these materials include motor oil, household cleaning supplies, propane, paint, and pesticides, just to name a few.
What paperwork is required to ship hazardous materials?
Shipping hazardous materials in such a way as to be compliant with governmental regulations requires some documentation. A detailed list of documentation can be found via the US Department of Transportation’s guidebook on Hazardous Materials shipping paperwork.
