Many carriers refuse bullion or cap what they pay. Learn which rules apply, which reporting thresholds matter, how to document the shipment and how full-value insurance covers its declared value.
- Which carriers accept bullion
- Reporting thresholds explained
- Chain of custody and packing
- Full-value insurance up to $150,000
Who Needs to Know How to Ship Gold Bullion?
Gold packs a great deal of value into a small, heavy parcel. These senders gain the most from a clear method.
Bullion and coin dealers
Orders move to customers and other dealers in small, heavy parcels. A documented routine keeps each transfer accountable.
Investors and private holders
Selling a holding or moving it to storage puts significant value in transit. Records and insurance protect you if a parcel goes missing.
Refiners and wholesale traders
Large lots move between businesses, where weights and custody records decide any dispute.
Estates and executors
Inherited gold and coins often travel to an appraiser or a dealer. A clear method protects value that is hard to prove after a loss.
Jewelry manufacturers and casters
Casting grain, sheet and wire move between suppliers and workshops and need the same weight records.
How to Ship Gold Bullion - Step by Step
Follow this order. The first step matters most, because several carriers refuse bullion outright.
Step 1: Confirm who will carry it
Check the carrier's terms for bullion, bars and coins before you pack. Send the details through the quote form and we will confirm how the shipment will be carried.
Step 2: Record weight, count and serial numbers
Weigh and count every item, and note serial and assay certificate numbers. Keep the dealer invoice or receipt.
Step 3: Photograph and seal
Photograph the items, seal them in tamper-evident packaging inside a plain outer box, and photograph the seals.
Step 4: Declare the value and insure it
Declare a value based on the day's price, the recorded weight and the purity, and arrange full-value insurance. Declared value alone is not insurance.
Step 5: Arrange pickup and a signature
Collection is arranged when you request a quote, and the recipient signs for the shipment.
Step 6: Track and reconcile on delivery
Track the shipment, then check the seals and compare the count and weight with your records.
Which Carriers Accept Gold Bullion?
Carrier terms differ, and some refuse bullion altogether. This table summarizes published terms, checked in October 2026. Terms change, so confirm them with the carrier.
| Carrier | What its published terms say |
|---|---|
| UPS | Does not accept articles with more than 50 percent gold or platinum by weight in raw form, including bullion, bars and scrap. Coins are also on its list of items it does not accept |
| DHL Express | Lists cash, bullion of any precious metal and loose precious or semi-precious stones as unacceptable |
| FedEx | Excludes coins and gold bars from its Declared Value Advantage program, which is for jewelry-related items. Its International Premium terms list precious metals among articles of extraordinary value and say excess value may not be declared |
| USPS | Registered Mail insures up to $50,000 domestically, at a Post Office counter. For international mail, its manual lists gold, silver and platinum as valuable articles that may be sent only with named services |
A shipment a carrier should not have accepted can be refused or excluded from any payout. For detail by carrier, see our guides to UPS restrictions, DHL Express, FedEx declared value and USPS Registered Mail, or our carrier insurance comparison.
Reporting Rules and Thresholds for Gold Bullion
No single rule governs shipping gold. Several reporting duties depend on the transaction instead. This table summarizes official sources, checked in October 2026.
| Rule | What triggers it | Who it applies to |
|---|---|---|
| IRS Form 1099-B | A sale of gold, silver, platinum or palladium in a quantity that meets the minimum for a CFTC-approved futures contract. The instructions give no dollar threshold, and sales to one customer within 24 hours are added together | The broker that effects the sale |
| IRS Form 8300 | More than $10,000 in cash received in a trade or business, filed within 15 days. Cash includes coins and currency, and some cashier's checks and money orders of $10,000 or less | Businesses that receive the payment |
| FinCEN Form 105 | Currency or monetary instruments totaling more than $10,000 transported, mailed or shipped into or out of the United States at one time | The person who ships or carries them |
| Export filing (EEI) | Exports valued at more than $2,500 under a single Schedule B number | The U.S. exporter |
The IRS says the 1099-B quantity test depends on CFTC-approved contracts, and gives as an example that approved gold coin contracts call for delivery of at least 25 coins. The FinCEN 105 instructions do not mention gold, bullion or precious metals, but they do cover coin or currency of any country. Ask CBP or a customs broker whether a legal-tender bullion coin counts.
These are reporting duties, not shipping bans, and several concern cash and not metal. Dealers may also have anti-money-laundering program duties under FinCEN rules. Confirm your own duties with an accountant or customs broker.
Chain of Custody: Document, Pack and Seal
A chain of custody is the record of who held a shipment, and in what condition, from pickup to delivery. For bullion it rests on these habits:
- Weights and counts. Record the gross weight, the number of items and the weight of each bar or lot.
- Identifiers. Note serial numbers, assay certificate numbers and mint details, and keep assay cards and original mint packaging sealed.
- Photographs. Photograph the items, the packaging and every seal before the box closes.
- Tamper evidence. Seal the items so that opening them would show, and pack the box so nothing can shift.
- A plain outer box. Leave the contents and value off the outside, and keep copies of the paperwork with your records.
Our precious metals page describes chain of custody from pickup to delivery, door-to-door monitoring and controlled pickup and delivery. Every shipment is tracked from pickup to signature.
Insurance and Declared Value for Gold Bullion
Declared value is a limit of liability, not insurance. Where a carrier accepts valuable metals at all, it caps what it pays. FedEx, for example, excludes coins and gold bars from its higher-value jewelry program, and USPS Registered Mail stops at $50,000 domestically.
Full-value insurance with Unival covers the declared value of the shipment, up to $150,000. Our quote form asks for the insurance amount. Gold prices move daily, so declare a value from the recorded weight, the purity and the day's price. If the shipment is worth more than $150,000, contact us before you ship. What supports a declared value:
- A dealer invoice or receipt. It shows what was paid and for what.
- Assay certificates and serial numbers. They tie the declared value to the items.
- Dated weights and photographs. They show what left your hands.
Our precious metals page lists armored transport as available. For shipments that need more than a parcel, see our secure transport services and tell us the value and route when you request a quote. For how cover is priced, see shipping insurance cost.
Delivery: Inspect, Weigh and Reconcile
The recipient signs for the shipment. Before signing off on the contents:
- Check the outer box and seals for signs of tampering, and photograph them.
- Consider recording the opening, or have a second person present.
- Count and weigh the items, and compare them with the shipping record.
- Check serial numbers and assay cards against the paperwork.
- Note any difference on the delivery receipt before signing, and contact us right away.
- Keep all packaging and records, because they support a claim.
Shipping Gold Bullion Internationally
Contact us before you ship gold abroad. International shipments need accurate customs paperwork, including a commercial invoice with the correct value and a clear description of the metal. An export filing is generally required when goods under a single Schedule B number are worth more than $2,500, or when a license is required.
Rules differ by country and by type of metal, and some destinations are restricted under US export and sanctions rules. Confirm the requirements with your customs broker.
Common Mistakes When Shipping Gold
Avoid these habits:
- Using a carrier that refuses bullion. A refused shipment can also lose any payout.
- Treating declared value as insurance. It only limits the carrier's liability.
- Skipping weights, counts and serial numbers. Without them, a dispute has no baseline.
- Declaring a stale value. Gold prices move every day.
- Naming the contents on the box. Keep the outer packaging plain.
- Ignoring reporting duties. Check the thresholds before you take cash or export.
Ship Gold Bullion With Unival
Unival ships gold and silver bars and coins with full-value insurance up to $150,000. Collection from your location is arranged when you request a quote. Tell us the metal, its form, the weight, the declared value and the destination through the quote form, and we will confirm the coverage and price before anything ships. More detail is on these pages:
- Overview: insured precious metals shipping and insured high-value shipping.
- Local detail: Dallas bullion shipping, Newark and Los Angeles.
- After pickup: track your shipment.
UPS, DHL Express, FedEx and USPS are trademarks of their owners. They are named here to identify the carriers and services described, as checked in October 2026. Reporting information comes from the IRS, FinCEN, CBP and the Census Bureau, checked in October 2026. This page does not imply endorsement by any of them. It is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Key takeaway
Check that your carrier accepts bullion, record weights and serial numbers, seal the shipment and declare its full value. Declared value is not insurance. Get a quote for your next gold shipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you ship gold bullion?
Yes, but not with every carrier. UPS and DHL Express terms refuse bullion, and FedEx excludes gold bars and coins from its jewelry program. Send the details through the quote form and we will confirm how it will be carried.
Does UPS ship gold bars?
UPS's terms do not accept articles with more than 50 percent gold or platinum by weight in raw form, including bullion, bars and scrap.
Do I have to report shipping gold?
The rules above depend on the transaction and not on the act of shipping. Cash over $10,000 can trigger Form 8300, exports over $2,500 per Schedule B number need an export filing, and dealers may report qualifying sales on Form 1099-B.
Does the $10,000 rule apply to gold?
The $10,000 figures concern cash payments and currency or monetary instruments crossing the border. The FinCEN 105 instructions do not mention gold or bullion. Ask a customs broker whether legal-tender coins count.
How much insurance can I get on gold bullion?
Unival insures shipments for their full declared value, up to $150,000. Gold prices move daily, so if your shipment is worth more, contact us before you ship.
Is declared value the same as insurance?
No. Declared value limits the carrier's liability. Full-value insurance covers the declared value of the shipment itself.
How should I pack gold bars and coins?
Keep mint packaging and assay cards sealed, record weights and serial numbers, photograph everything and seal the items in tamper-evident packaging inside a plain outer box.
Can I ship gold internationally?
Contact us before you ship. International shipments need customs and export paperwork that matches the declared value, and rules vary by country.
How do I get a quote to ship gold?
Send the metal, its form, the weight, the declared value, the pickup location and the destination through the quote form, and we will confirm the coverage and price before anything ships.
