Ship Potatoes Through the United States Postal Service

The USPS is a farm-friendly organization that allows some perishables to be mailed. And yes — you may mail a potato to grandpa.

While the USPS Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) doesn't specifically have a potato mailing section, it doesn't prohibit the practice, so American postal customers with wry senses of humor occasionally take to potato-mailing to keep things interesting. After 30 years of navigating USPS regulations at our mailing facility in New Paltz, NY, we appreciate anything that keeps the postal system entertaining.

Here's how to do it:

Packaging

To be clear, potatoes may be shipped at parcel rates either with or without packaging — but packaging is recommended to limit damage (yet, that wouldn't be a lot of fun). You may also use non-paper packing materials like plastic bubble wrap, and get creative with cardboard and newspapers, as long as the packaged potato is within conventional packaging requirements. The USPS allows items to be mailed without standard packaging as long as the item can bear an address and postage, won't damage other mail or equipment, and isn't hazardous. A potato meets all of those criteria.

Addressing

You may write the name and address (and/or country) directly onto the potato skin. As per USPS DMM Section 602.1.5.3 ("Addressing: Elements of Addressing"), your destination address should include the recipient's name, complete delivery address (street or PO Box), city/town, and ZIP Code. International shipping is, for some reason, also permitted.

Best practice: write the recipient/destination address lengthwise on the potato — parallel with the longer direction — if you don't use packaging. A standard adhesive shipping label also works and stays more legible through handling.

Postage

Self-shipping is not an option even if you think you have the correct postage. You must have the potato weighed by a postal clerk at a retail counter to determine correct postage. Don't try the self-service kiosk or drop box — an unpackaged potato going through automated sorting will likely cause problems. Hand it to a human.

A typical Idaho russet weighs between 6 and 10 ounces, putting it in the First-Class Package range for most domestic destinations. You can use the USPS Price Calculator tool to estimate domestic (but not international) postage costs before you go.

Perishability

A shipped potato is considered "perishable" if it may be subject to damage or spoilage during transit. This may sound like a cheeky determination, but common sense goes a long way here (that said, if you're still reading about potato shipping, perhaps "common sense" is not entirely applicable — it's certainly not a defined term in the USPS DMM).

For larger quantities of shipped potatoes, consider using a breathable container such as a ventilated crate or mesh bag to promote airflow. If you're not sure what the best potatoes for shipping are, try Russet potatoes — they're known for their thick skins and overall hardiness, making them excellent shipping potatoes.

Liability and Insurance

You may not insure your potato for compensation in the event of potential damage via USPS transit or spoilage. In short, you ship potatoes through the USPS at your own risk.

Transit Time

Shipping may take under a week locally or regionally, but plan up to 20 days when shipping out-of-area or around the country. The USPS does not offer a guaranteed shipping timeframe for this class of parcel services.

What This Tells Us About USPS

The fact that you can mail a potato — addressed directly on the skin, with no box — speaks to the flexibility of the USPS system. The Domestic Mail Manual is surprisingly permissive about what you can send without standard packaging, as long as it won't damage other mail, postal equipment, or postal workers. People have successfully mailed coconuts, shoes, footballs, and yes, decorated potatoes with custom messages.

At Cornerstone, we don't mail potatoes (usually), but we do help businesses navigate the same USPS regulations every day for direct mail campaigns. If you're thinking about unconventional mail formats — oversized postcards, dimensional mailers, or anything designed to stand out in the mailbox — we can tell you what USPS will accept and what it'll cost. Check our envelope and mail piece size guide for standard formats, or stop by our facility in New Paltz or call (845) 255-5722.

Want to know more? Visit the USPS's "Fun Facts" page: https://facts.usps.com/mailing-potatoes/

For more USPS history and fun facts, read about famous postmasters who worked for USPS or the story of the Point Roberts post office, where USPS trucks drive through Canada to deliver domestic mail.

Frequently Asked Questions