Ink, Pens, and Markers: What Can Ship and How to Declare It

Ink is one of the most frequently misdeclared categories we see, and it is the category most affected by our October 10, 2026 change to Safety Data Sheet (SDS) handling. This guide explains which ink products can be shipped, by which carrier, and how to declare them to avoid your shipping request being canceled.

Many inks contain alcohol or oil-based solvents that are classified as flammable liquids for air transport. Carriers decide whether an item is acceptable based on the ink type and, for some couriers, on how it is declared.

✅ Shippable ❌ Not shippable 📄 Only with an SDS and carrier approval (details)

Japan Post is currently not available for the United States for ink, even with an SDS.

The customs category you select tells our team and the carrier what is in your package. Declaring a pen simply as “ink” is the most common cause of canceled/delayed requests, because the carrier cannot tell whether it is a shippable ballpoint pen or a prohibited bottle of ink.

Select ballpoint pen, water-based pen, marker, or fountain pen rather than a generic “ink” or “stationery” category.

DHL requires the statement “NOT RESTRICTED” on the shipping label for ballpoint pens and water-based pens. If your declaration does not carry it, the package may be flagged.

A package containing ballpoint pens and alcohol-based markers needs two separate lines, since the two types have different carrier availability.

Yes. A fountain pen with no ink installed is treated as regular stationery and can be shipped by any carrier. We can sometimes remove this if requested in the shipping notes, although this is not guaranteed.

No. What matters is the ink type and whether it is in the pen or in a separate bottle or cartridge.