Deployment Care Package List: What to Send, What USPS Won't Take, and 2026 Holiday Dates

The checklist

Based on Military OneSource's care package ideas:

Category	Ideas	Packing tip
Toiletries	Razors, toothpaste, shampoo, lip balm, lotion	Seal anything that can leak in a zip-top bag
Shelf-stable snacks	Protein bars, nuts, cookies, beef jerky, nonmelting candy, trail mix	Pick packaging that won't crush
Drink mixes	Single-serving packets	Light and flat, easy to tuck in gaps
Homemade treats	Cookies or other baked goods	Only nonperishable, packed to keep for weeks
Basic medical items	Sunblock, a first-aid kit, contact solution, tissues, feminine hygiene products	Skip hand sanitizer for military addresses (see below)
Wearables	Socks, underwear, sunglasses, shower flip-flops	Socks make good padding
Games	Playing cards, crosswords, puzzle books, a ball
Stationery	Paper, envelopes, address labels, pens	Skip stamps; Military OneSource says they won't need them
From home	Photos, handwritten notes, children's artwork	Don't send originals you can't replace
Seasonal	Birthday or holiday decorations and treats	Mail early (dates below)
Downtime	A blank journal, a coloring book, a stress ball, a novel

Military OneSource's list also includes basic pain relievers and hand sanitizer. Check with your service member before sending any medicine, and leave the hand sanitizer out: USPS rules on mailing to military addresses override that suggestion.

What you can't send

USPS mail to APO/FPO/DPO addresses goes through the military mail system, and some items common in care packages aren't allowed:

• Hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. USPS says most contain alcohol and are flammable, so sending them by international mail, including to APO/FPO/DPO destinations, is prohibited (USPS).
• Hemp and CBD products. Allowed domestically under conditions, but USPS says they can't go to international or military destinations.
• Loose lithium batteries. USPS allows lithium batteries to APO/FPO/DPO addresses only when they're installed in the equipment they power, and only if the destination permits them (USPS). Spare batteries packed separately are prohibited.
• Alcohol and other items on USPS's international prohibited list, including alcoholic beverages, aerosols, perfumes containing alcohol, nail polish and strike-anywhere matches. USPS says you're responsible for following U.S. rules and the destination's rules, and its APO/FPO/DPO Restrictions Tool flags rules for a specific military ZIP code.

Military OneSource also advises against sending valuables or anything irreplaceable, because packages sometimes get lost.

How to pack and address it

1. Get the free boxes. USPS offers free Priority Mail APO/FPO Large Flat Rate Boxes from The Postal Store, delivered to your door. Military OneSource points to the free Military Care Kit, which comes with boxes, tape and address labels. The packaging is free; postage isn't.
2. Bag and pad. Seal items individually in zip-top bags so a leak doesn't ruin everything. Military OneSource suggests this to protect items from the elements.
3. Think about heat. USPS notes desert temperatures typically exceed 100 degrees. Skip chocolate and anything that melts.
4. Address it exactly. USPS requires the recipient's name, rank and unit, plus the APO/FPO/DPO address with the 9-digit ZIP code and a return address. Don't add a city or country name, which can send the box into a foreign mail system. Packages addressed to "Any Service Member" are no longer accepted.
5. Tuck an address inside. USPS suggests a spare slip with both addresses inside the box in case the outside label is damaged.
6. Fill out the customs form. Military OneSource says you'll need customs forms for anything shipped outside the United States, and USPS says its Click-N-Ship tool tells you which forms you need. List the contents in detail; USPS says more-detailed package descriptions are now required.
7. Pay domestic rates. Mail to APO/FPO/DPO addresses is charged domestic prices even when it's going overseas.

If you're mailing to a DPO address, USPS limits packages to 27 x 14 x 14 inches.

2026 holiday mail-by dates

USPS's recommended send-by dates for delivery before Dec. 25, 2026 (USPS):

Military ZIP codes	USPS Ground Advantage	First-Class Mail	Priority Mail	Priority Mail Express Military
APO/FPO/DPO 090-092, 094-099, 340 and 962-966	Wed., Nov. 4	Wed., Dec. 9	Wed., Dec. 9	Wed., Dec. 16
APO/FPO/DPO 093	Wed., Nov. 4	Wed., Dec. 9	Wed., Dec. 9	Not available

USPS notes Priority Mail Express Military is only available at selected military Post Offices.

These are recommendations, not guarantees. Military OneSource suggests allowing about five weeks for holiday packages, and points out that a package can reach the base and still wait while your service member is out on a mission.

Timing outside the holidays

Military OneSource says delivery typically takes about two weeks. Two more timing tips from its guide:

• Boot camp is different. Most branches discourage care packages during basic training, because recruits are issued what they need and extra items get stored until graduation. Send plain letters instead.
• Check for service suspensions. USPS posts alerts when mail service is suspended at specific Military Post Offices. Check its military mail page before you ship.