Shipping paint is tricky because paint is classified as a restricted item by most postal and courier services. If you plan on shipping paint internationally, you must use proper packaging and follow the shipping regulations. Check the guidelines below on how to send paint safely by post or courier.
Paint and varnish are usually restricted or prohibited for shipping. Please note that insurance may not apply.
HOW TO SHIP
HOW TO PACK
When shipping paint internationally, correct preparation and packaging are essential to prevent issues in transit:
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SHIPPING REGULATIONS
Before sending paint by post or courier, make sure that this specific type of paint is not on the transport company’s list of prohibited items for shipping. For this, you will need to check whether the paint is water-based or solvent-based on the manufacturer’s website. As a general rule, solvent-based paints, along with primers, varnishes, wood stains, thinners and lacquers, are classified as hazardous and cannot be shipped by regular courier services, while water-based paints can be sent by courier.
Before shipping paint internationally, you need to do the following:
At Eurosender, private individuals cannot send paint products using our services. Anyone that decides to ship such products anyway, does so at their own risk and are strongly advised to pack the item properly. Regardless of whether you send paint by post or courier, it is not recommended to send more than 1L when shipping to other countries.
Licensed manufacturers and resellers can send paint only under special agreements with authorised carriers. They must also comply with the safety, packaging, labelling and import regulations of the destination country. They must have all the required certificates and ship the paint in suitable leak-proof containers maintaining the optimal temperature.
NEED MORE INFORMATION?
No, each courier company has its own rules regarding shipments with restricted and prohibited items. For example, DHL, FedEx, TNT and UPS will not ship parcels that contain paint within the content.
Some postal companies such as Royal Mail and USPS may allow users to send paint within the quantity limitations if the paint is water-based and not solvent-based. Latex paint or a similar water-based paint product that is not flammable or combustible is not regulated as a hazardous material and, therefore, is not restricted.
Aerosols, including spray paint, cannot be shipped internationally as they are considered dangerous goods due to their flammability. These items are prohibited by air freight services, such as our Priority Express Service. Licensed companies shipping spray paint internationally can only transport them by road.
The cost of shipping paint internationally depends on the pick-up and delivery destinations and the size of your load. The shipping costs are usually lower when using a regular shipping service by road, while express solutions tend to come at higher prices. You can use our tool below to get an idea of how much shipping costs, but please avoid including any prohibited item on your package.
If you want to ship multiple paint cans domestically or across Europe, the Van Service is the fastest and safest option. You get an entire van dedicated exclusively to your shipment, with direct delivery from point A to point B.
There is no insurance (base or additional) covering shipments by individuals that contain restricted items, including paint. As for businesses, insurance coverage depends on multiple factors, such as: