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Can you post Christmas crackers? The UK rules for retailers

BY THE FLIPSHIP TEAM · UPDATED NOVEMBER 2026 · 4 MIN READ

SHORT ANSWER By post, yes.

Finished crackers in their original retail packaging can go by Royal Mail within the UK. They can't go abroad, couriers won't carry them because the snap counts as an explosive, and loose snaps and cracker-making kits can't be posted at all.

Crackers are on almost every Christmas table in the UK, and in plenty of gift ranges too. They're also one of the most confusing things to send. The post will take them, with conditions. Couriers won't. And a cracker-making kit, which looks far more harmless, can't be posted at all.

Why crackers are restricted

It's the snap: a thin strip of card with a tiny amount of explosive compound in the middle, which bangs when it's pulled apart. However small, that makes a cracker an explosive for transport, in the same family as fireworks. The rest of the cracker, the hat, the joke and the gift, isn't the problem.

The Royal Mail rules

  • Made-up crackersAllowed within the UK, but only as finished crackers in their original retail packaging.
  • Snaps on their ownProhibited. Royal Mail lists cracker snaps with fireworks and other explosives.
  • Cracker-making kitsProhibited if they include snaps, because the snaps are loose rather than inside a finished cracker.
  • Homemade crackersNot in original retail packaging, so they don't meet the rules if they contain snaps.
  • AbroadNot allowed. Crackers can't be posted overseas.

What about couriers?

This is where crackers are different from perfume, aerosols and matches. Couriers that carry everyday dangerous goods do so in small quantities, on an approved account. Explosives don't get a small-quantity allowance, so couriers turn crackers away, whatever the account. The same goes for snaps and cracker kits.

That includes FlipShip: we can't ship Christmas crackers. If crackers are part of your range, the post is the route for them.

Crackers in gift sets

Crackers often end up in Christmas hampers and gift boxes, next to candles, matches or fragrance. That's where it gets tricky, because every item in the parcel has to meet the rules for the route it takes:

  • Crackers and matchesNo single route works. Matches can't be posted, and crackers can't go by courier. They have to travel separately.
  • Crackers and fragranceBy post, the fragrance limits still apply: no more than 150ml a bottle, with a limit on bottles per parcel.
  • Crackers and candlesBy post, usually fine. Candles aren't dangerous goods.
OPTION 01Use snap-free crackersNo snap, no explosive. They're ordinary items, so they can go in a courier gift set with your other products.
OPTION 02Send crackers separatelyPost the crackers in their retail box, and ship the rest of the set by approved courier.
OPTION 03Leave them outSimplest for hampers that include matches. Offer crackers as a separate product instead.

Posting crackers: packing tips

  1. 01Keep crackers in their original retail box. Never post them loose or rewrapped.
  2. 02Put the retail box inside a strong outer box, so it can't be crushed or opened in transit.
  3. 03Fill the gaps so the crackers don't slide around and tear.
  4. 04Don't add loose snaps, spare snaps or kits to the parcel.

What happens if you get it wrong?

  • It can be held, returned or destroyed. Parcels with prohibited items can be dealt with as the carrier sees fit, including disposal. At Christmas, that's a lost order.
  • You may not be covered. Carriers don't accept liability for items that contain prohibited goods.
  • It can be a criminal offence. Posting anything likely to injure postal workers or damage other mail is an offence under section 85 of the Postal Services Act 2000.
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Questions

Can I post Christmas crackers?

Within the UK, yes, as long as they’re finished crackers in their original retail packaging. Loose snaps and cracker-making kits can’t be posted.

Can I send crackers abroad?

Not by post. Crackers can only be posted to UK addresses.

Will a courier take my crackers?

Almost certainly not. Couriers don’t carry explosives, and the snap counts as one. FlipShip can’t ship crackers either.

Are snap-free crackers allowed?

Yes. Without the snap there’s nothing explosive, so they’re ordinary items and can travel with the rest of a gift set.

Can I sell cracker-making kits online?

You can sell them, but you can’t post kits that include snaps, and some marketplaces remove kit listings because of them. A kit without snaps avoids the problem.

Sources

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and carrier policies change, so always check the latest versions. Christmas shipping for candle and fragrance brands →