Shipping precious metals is one of the most overlooked parts of owning physical gold and silver. Whether you are selling to a dealer, completing a sale on eBay, sending coins to a grading service, or mailing a gift, the moment your metals leave your hands you are exposed to theft, loss, damage, and insurance gaps that most people only discover after something goes wrong.
This guide covers every shipping method available to bullion owners in the United States, the insurance options that actually cover precious metals, how dealer buyback shipping works, what the peer-to-peer platforms offer, packaging best practices, and real cases of what happens when shipments go missing.
Why Shipping Precious Metals Is Different
Gold and silver are not treated like ordinary packages by any major carrier. Each one has specific restrictions and exclusions for precious metals, and those policies are not always obvious until you try to file a claim.
UPS and FedEx both explicitly prohibit precious metals in standard shipments and will not honor insurance claims on bullion. Their terms of service list gold, silver, coins, and bullion as restricted or prohibited items. You can physically drop a box of silver bars at a FedEx counter and they will accept it, but if that package disappears, your claim will be denied. The carrier accepted your money for shipping; it did not accept liability for the contents.
USPS is different. The Postal Service will insure precious metals, but only through its Registered Mail service. Standard Priority Mail insurance does not cover bullion above minimal amounts.
This distinction between what a carrier will ship and what a carrier will insure is the most important thing to understand before mailing metals.
Shipping Methods Compared
USPS Registered Mail
Registered Mail is the most secure shipping service available in the United States and the only carrier-native option that provides real insurance for precious metals.
How it works: Every Registered Mail parcel moves through a separate handling system from regular mail. At each transfer point, a postal employee signs for custody. Parcels travel in locked containers between facilities. This creates an unbroken chain-of-custody record from sender to recipient.
Insurance: Up to $50,000 per parcel for domestic shipments. You declare the full value at the counter and pay a fee scaled to the declared amount.
Cost: $17.50 base fee plus First-Class or Priority Mail postage, plus the insurance fee based on declared value.
Delivery time: 10 to 14 business days domestically is typical, but USPS does not guarantee a delivery window for Registered Mail. Depending on distance and routing, transit can stretch to three weeks or longer. This is the biggest drawback.
How to send: Bring your sealed, packaged parcel to a USPS counter and fill out PS Form 3806 (Receipt for Registered Mail). The form asks for sender and recipient addresses, declared value, and your signature. The clerk will weigh the parcel and calculate total postage plus fees.
Packaging requirements: All seams must be sealed with reinforced paper tape, not plastic packing tape. Paper tape shows tampering immediately because any attempt to peel it tears the surface. Maximum weight is 70 pounds and maximum combined length and girth is 130 inches.
Why dealers recommend it: USPS employees who commit mail fraud involving Registered Mail face federal criminal charges and lose their pension. Every postal worker’s retirement is directly tied to the integrity of the Registered Mail system. No private carrier has an equivalent accountability structure.
USPS Priority Mail (with added insurance)
For shipments valued under $5,000, Priority Mail with purchased insurance is faster but less secure than Registered Mail.
Insurance: Priority Mail includes $100 of coverage by default. Additional insurance up to $5,000 can be purchased at the counter or online. However, USPS has historically paid only minimal amounts on items classified as “bullion” when sent through non-Registered services. Read the USPS coverage terms carefully before relying on Priority Mail insurance for metals.
Delivery time: 1 to 3 business days.
Security: No chain-of-custody tracking. Your parcel moves through the standard mail stream alongside every other Priority package. Signature confirmation is available as an add-on.
Best for: Lower-value shipments (a few silver rounds, a fractional gold coin) where speed outweighs the security gap, and where the total value falls comfortably within the $5,000 insurance ceiling.
UPS and FedEx (Standard)
Both UPS and FedEx classify precious metals, including gold, silver, coins, and bullion, as prohibited or restricted items in their standard terms of service. You can ship a box containing gold through either carrier, but if the package is lost, stolen, or damaged, your declared-value claim will be denied because the contents were prohibited under the agreement you accepted.
Insurance: Neither carrier offers insurance for precious metals through their standard services.
When dealers use them anyway: Large bullion dealers like APMEX, JM Bullion, and SD Bullion ship through UPS and FedEx regularly because they carry private third-party insurance policies (typically through Parcel Pro or Cabrella) that cover shipments regardless of carrier. Individual sellers without a commercial insurance policy do not have this option through standard channels.
Delivery time: 1 to 5 business days depending on service level.
Private Armored Carriers
For shipments valued above $50,000, specialty courier services handle precious metals transport with armed escorts and dedicated vehicles. Services like Brink’s, Loomis, and Malca-Amit are used by refiners, mints, and institutional holders. They are not practical for individual bullion owners, but worth knowing about if you are ever moving a large collection.
Insurance Options That Actually Cover Precious Metals
Standard carrier insurance does not cover bullion for individuals. Three realistic options exist.
USPS Registered Mail Insurance (Built-In)
The only carrier-native insurance that covers precious metals. Up to $50,000 per parcel. Included with Registered Mail service with no separate policy needed. The insurance fee scales with declared value and is paid at the counter along with postage. Claims are filed through USPS.
Parcel Pro
Parcel Pro is a subsidiary of UPS and one of the most widely used third-party shipping insurance providers in the precious metals industry. Coverage extends up to $150,000 per package for items including coins, bullion, sponge, and grain forms of precious metal. Shipments move via UPS with enhanced tracking and secure handling protocols.
Parcel Pro is primarily designed for businesses: bullion dealers, jewelry stores, and high-volume shippers. Individual sellers may find the onboarding process geared toward commercial accounts, but the service is worth exploring if you ship metals regularly.
Cabrella (eCabrella)
Cabrella offers specialized shipping insurance for precious metals, bullion, and numismatics with coverage up to $150,000 per package. Unlike Parcel Pro, Cabrella works with multiple carriers including USPS Priority Mail and Priority Express, not just UPS. Their platform includes automated claims processing, shipment tracking, and risk management reporting.
Cabrella’s coverage is based on replacement value rather than declared value, which is an advantage for numismatic coins that carry premiums well above melt.
What Homeowners and Renters Insurance Won’t Do
Standard homeowners and renters policies cap coverage for valuables like jewelry and precious metals at small amounts, often $1,000 to $2,500, and transit is typically excluded unless you have a specific endorsement (rider or floater) that explicitly covers items in shipment.
Even with a scheduled personal property rider, coverage limits for bullion in transit are usually inadequate for anything beyond a single fractional coin. A standalone valuable-articles policy can provide broader protection, but transit coverage is not automatic. Read the policy terms and confirm with your insurer before relying on it.
How Dealer Buyback Shipping Works
When you sell gold or silver to a specialty dealer, most reputable dealers have a structured process designed to remove shipping risk from the seller.
The typical process:
- You request a quote or appraisal from the dealer, usually through their website or by phone
- The dealer locks in a price, often good for a limited window of 24 to 72 hours
- The dealer sends you a prepaid, insured shipping label and packing instructions
- You package your metals according to their specifications and drop the package at the designated carrier
- The dealer receives, inspects, and verifies your shipment
- Payment is issued by check, wire transfer, or ACH
Which dealers provide prepaid shipping:
Several major dealers offer prepaid insured shipping as part of their buyback programs. APMEX provides an appraisal kit with a prepaid logistics label and full insurance coverage. Kitco sends a prepaid shipping label with full insurance by email. Accurate Precious Metals offers a free insured mail-in kit with everything needed to ship. These dealers carry their own commercial shipping insurance, so your metals are covered from the moment the carrier picks up the package.
Not all dealers offer prepaid shipping. Some smaller or regional dealers may ask you to ship at your own expense and risk, with reimbursement after receipt. If a dealer does not provide insurance, use USPS Registered Mail and insure the package yourself. You can compare dealer payment methods and shipping policies to see what each dealer offers before committing.
The locked price window matters. Registered Mail can take two weeks or longer. Some dealers lock their buyback price for only 24 to 72 hours. If your shipment arrives after the lock window expires, the dealer may re-quote at the current spot price. Ask about the price-lock duration before shipping, and factor in realistic transit times.
Shipping on Peer-to-Peer Platforms
Peer-to-peer precious metals marketplaces have created shipping scenarios where neither party is a professional dealer. Each platform handles this differently.
eBay
eBay is the largest marketplace for individual precious metals sales. Signature confirmation is required on orders over $750, which is critical for seller protection against “item not received” claims. eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee program covers certain bullion categories, where eligible items ship to an authentication center before being forwarded to the buyer.
As a seller on eBay, you bear the shipping risk until the buyer confirms receipt or signature confirmation proves delivery. USPS Registered Mail or Priority Mail with insurance and signature confirmation are the standard approaches. Without tracking and signature confirmation, a buyer can claim non-delivery and you have no evidence to counter the claim.
CollectPure
CollectPure focuses on rare coins and precious metals and provides prepaid express FedEx labels for transactions on their platform.
PeerMetals
PeerMetals is a marketplace built specifically for precious metals and numismatic coins. The platform holds payment in escrow until the order is delivered and verified by the buyer, provides shipping labels with tracking on every order, and charges a 2.75% platform fee on completed sales. The escrow model reduces risk for both parties, but the seller still needs to package and ship securely.
General P2P Shipping Advice
When selling peer-to-peer, whether on a dedicated platform, a forum like Reddit’s r/Pmsforsale, or through a local collector group, the seller is usually responsible for shipping. Always use a method with tracking and insurance. Photograph your items before packing, photograph the sealed package, and keep all receipts. For sales over a few hundred dollars, USPS Registered Mail is the safest choice. For lower-value sales where speed matters, Priority Mail with insurance and signature confirmation is reasonable.
Packaging Best Practices
How you package precious metals matters as much as which carrier you choose. Poor packaging invites damage, theft, and claim denials.
The Double-Box Method
Use two boxes: an inner box containing your metals and an outer shipping box. The inner box should be sturdy enough to hold the weight without flexing. Wrap individual coins or bars in soft material (bubble wrap, foam, or cloth) to prevent scratching and contact between pieces. Fill all empty space in the inner box so nothing shifts. Place the sealed inner box inside the outer box with cushioning material on all sides.
The Shake Test
Before sealing the outer box, pick it up and shake it. If you can hear anything rattling, moving, or clinking, repack. Audible movement signals two problems: your items can be damaged in transit, and the sound advertises that the package contains metal objects.
Tape and Sealing
For USPS Registered Mail, you must use reinforced paper tape (sometimes called kraft tape or gummed paper tape) on all seams. Plastic packing tape is not permitted. The paper tape shows any tampering attempt because it tears rather than peeling cleanly.
For non-Registered shipments, use high-quality packing tape on all seams and edges. Tape every seam, every flap, and every potential opening point.
Labeling: What Not to Write
Never indicate the contents on the outside of the package. Do not write “gold,” “silver,” “coins,” “bullion,” or any variation on the shipping label, return address, or any external surface. If your business name or return address includes words like “Gold,” “Silver,” or “Coins,” abbreviate it. “Gold Coins of Austin” becomes “GCA.” A plain, nondescript package attracts no attention. A package labeled “SILVER BARS” from “Precious Metals LLC” is a target.
For customs declarations on international shipments, you are legally required to describe the contents. Use the most neutral accurate language available, such as “metal collectibles” or “numismatic items” rather than “gold bullion.”
Weight Considerations
Precious metals are heavy. A 100 oz silver bar weighs about 6.9 pounds by itself, and a tube of 20 Silver Eagles weighs over a pound. Factor in the packaging weight and make sure your boxes are rated for the total weight. A box that fails in transit because the weight exceeded its rating will not result in a successful insurance claim.
What Can Go Wrong: Documented Cases
UPS driver theft ($200,000+): Kevin Peel, a UPS driver in Anderson, California, was arrested after multiple packages containing silver coins and gold and silver bars went missing from his route over a period of months. Authorities recovered cases of gold bars and silver coins matching the stolen quantities from his home. The shipments were from dealers who carried third-party insurance. Individual senders using standard UPS declared value would have had no coverage.
FedEx Memphis hub disappearance ($20,000): A North Carolina woman shipped $20,000 in gold and silver coins via FedEx, expecting delivery within days. Four weeks later, the package was stuck at the FedEx World Hub in Memphis with no movement and no resolution. FedEx’s standard coverage does not apply to precious metals.
USPS internal theft: The Collectors Universe forums document cases of precious metals stolen within the USPS system, though these are significantly less common with Registered Mail than with standard Priority or First-Class packages. The chain-of-custody system means that when theft does occur with Registered Mail, investigators can narrow down exactly which facility and which employee had custody when the parcel went missing.
The pattern across all of these cases is consistent. Most documented precious metals shipping losses involve private carriers or non-Registered USPS services. Registered Mail theft is rare because the accountability chain makes it difficult to steal without getting caught. When carriers deny claims, it is almost always because the contents were classified as prohibited under the terms of service.
Domestic vs. International Shipping
Domestic (Within the United States)
There are no legal restrictions on shipping gold, silver, or other precious metals domestically. No declaration is required regardless of value, and there is no limit on the amount of metals you can send through USPS, UPS, or FedEx within the U.S. The only restrictions come from the carriers’ own terms of service.
International
International shipments are significantly more complex. You must declare the monetary value of any shipment exceeding $10,000 USD. Customs documentation is required, including a commercial invoice detailing value and contents, accurate customs declarations, and sometimes certificates of origin.
Different countries have different import rules for precious metals. Some impose duties or taxes on imported bullion, others restrict certain forms (jewelry vs. bullion vs. numismatic coins), and some require import licenses. Research the destination country’s regulations before shipping.
USPS international options for precious metals are limited. EMS (Express Mail International) does not allow gold or precious metals. Registered First-Class International and Insured Priority Mail International are available, but neither provides tracking through the destination country’s postal system in many cases.
For high-value international shipments, specialty couriers or dealer-arranged shipping are typically more reliable than postal services.
Quick-Reference Comparison
| Method | Insurance Limit | Covers Bullion? | Delivery Time | Security Level | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USPS Registered Mail | $50,000 | Yes | 10-14+ business days | Highest (chain of custody) | High-value individual shipments |
| USPS Priority Mail + Insurance | $5,000 | Limited | 1-3 business days | Standard | Lower-value, time-sensitive |
| UPS (standard) | N/A for bullion | No | 1-5 business days | Standard | Only with third-party insurance |
| FedEx (standard) | N/A for bullion | No | 1-5 business days | Standard | Only with third-party insurance |
| Parcel Pro (via UPS) | $150,000 | Yes | 1-5 business days | Enhanced | Dealers and regular shippers |
| Cabrella (multi-carrier) | $150,000 | Yes | Varies by carrier | Enhanced | Dealers and high-volume sellers |
| Dealer prepaid label | Dealer’s policy | Yes (dealer insured) | Varies | Dealer dependent | Selling to a dealer |
Checklist Before You Ship
- Photograph everything. Photograph each item individually, then photograph them packed in the inner box, then photograph the sealed outer package with the shipping label visible. These photos are your evidence if a claim arises.
- Choose the right method. For values above $5,000, use USPS Registered Mail. For values under $5,000 where speed matters, use Priority Mail with purchased insurance and signature confirmation. When selling to a dealer, use their prepaid label if offered.
- Package properly. Double-box. Shake test. Paper tape for Registered Mail. No content descriptions on the exterior.
- Keep all receipts. The PS Form 3806 receipt, the insurance receipt, the tracking number, and any correspondence with the buyer or dealer.
- Understand your insurance. Know what your coverage includes, what the exclusions are, and how to file a claim before you need to. Do not assume your homeowners policy, the carrier’s default coverage, or the platform’s buyer protection will cover your situation.
- Time it right. If you have a locked buyback price from a dealer, confirm the transit time for your chosen method falls within the price-lock window.
Know Your Numbers Before You Ship
Before shipping metals for sale, make sure you know what they are worth. Use our gold melt value calculator or silver melt value calculator to establish a baseline, then compare dealer buyback offers to find the best price. Knowing the melt value helps you set appropriate insurance amounts and evaluate whether a dealer’s offer is competitive.
You can also browse our dealer directory to research dealers before choosing where to sell, and review dealer payment methods and shipping policies to understand what each dealer provides.
This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Carrier policies, insurance terms, and postal regulations may change. Verify current policies with your chosen carrier and insurance provider before shipping. For the latest precious metals prices, visit FindBullionPrices.com.
