Can You Ship Neodymium Magnets in Canada? Holiday Shipping Rules for Strong Magnets
Yes. Small neodymium magnets ship across Canada by ground every day with no special paperwork. The rules only apply when a parcel flies: a package whose magnetic field is too strong at 2.1 m becomes regulated air cargo (UN2807), and one that is still too strong at 4.6 m cannot fly without government approval.
- Air rules come from IATA Packing Instruction 953. The field limit is 0.418 A/m (0.00525 gauss), about 2 degrees of compass deflection.
- Under 0.418 A/m at 2.1 m from the package: ships as ordinary cargo.
- Over that at 2.1 m but under it at 4.6 m: ships as UN2807 with a Magnetized Material label and prior arrangement with the airline.
- Over 0.418 A/m at 4.6 m: forbidden on aircraft without approval from the state of origin and the operator's state.
- By our estimate, about 180 g of aligned, unshielded N42 magnet reaches the 2.1 m line, and about 1.9 kg reaches the 4.6 m line.
- Canada Post's 2026 holiday cut-offs start as early as December 10 for Regular Parcel across the country.
- Magfine tests air shipments for magnetic leakage and can supply test certificates. Magnets over 1.5 kg go by surface transport.
Are neodymium magnets dangerous goods?
Only in the air, and only above a field threshold. Strong permanent magnets are listed as UN2807, "Magnetized material", in Class 9 (miscellaneous dangerous goods). The hazard is not fire or toxicity. It is interference with an aircraft's magnetic compass and navigation units.
That is why road and sea rules mostly ignore magnets. In Europe, for example, the ADR road agreement lists UN2807 as not subject to its rules. A parcel that moves by truck from Markham to Montréal does not need a magnetic test.
The catch is that you do not always choose the mode. Express and long-distance parcels often fly for part of the trip. Northern and remote destinations frequently move by air. If a strong magnet could end up on a plane, treat it as an air shipment.
The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) traces the rule to FAA testing in 1987. That work found strongly magnetized packages could throw compass readings off by as much as 125 degrees.
What are the IATA limits for magnets on aircraft?
IATA Packing Instruction 953 sorts every magnetic package into three bands. Each is measured at a set distance from any point on the outside of the packed box, not from the magnet itself.
| Band | Field at 2.1 m (7 ft) | Field at 4.6 m (15 ft) | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not restricted | Below 0.418 A/m (under 2° deflection) | — | Ships as general cargo |
| Regulated, UN2807 | Above 0.418 A/m | Below 0.418 A/m | Magnetized Material label, "magnetized material" on the air waybill, prior arrangement with the airline |
| Forbidden without approval | — | Above 0.418 A/m (0.00525 gauss) | Needs approval from the state of origin and the airline's state; in practice, shield it or ship by ground |
Bands under IATA Packing Instruction 953 and the ICAO Technical Instructions. Measured from any point on the surface of the assembled package.
Two details save shippers money. First, a UN2807 package under PI 953 does not need a full Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods. Written or electronic documents that say "magnetized material" are enough. Second, the Magnetized Material label replaces the Class 9 label.
Some older guides still quote 0.159 A/m (0.002 gauss) at 2.1 m as the floor. That figure comes from the rules in force before 2011. Using it is conservative, not wrong, but it can push small shipments into paperwork they do not need.
How much magnet is too much to fly?
Roughly 160–200 g of aligned, unshielded neodymium crosses the 2.1 m line, and roughly 1.7–2.1 kg crosses the 4.6 m line. We estimated this with the far-field dipole formula B = Br × V / (2π × r³), using the lower Br bound for each grade from Magfine's neodymium property specifications and a density of about 7.5 g/cm³. We then solved for the mass that produces 0.418 A/m.
| Grade (Br, min) | Reaches 0.418 A/m at 2.1 m (UN2807 starts) | Reaches 0.418 A/m at 4.6 m (forbidden by air) | Old 0.159 A/m floor at 2.1 m |
|---|---|---|---|
| N35 (1.17 T) | about 196 g | about 2.06 kg | about 75 g |
| N42 (1.28 T) | about 179 g | about 1.88 kg | about 68 g |
| N52 (1.43 T) | about 160 g | about 1.69 kg | about 61 g |
Magfine estimate. Worst case: all magnets aligned, no steel, no spacing from the box wall. On-axis dipole field, total magnet mass.
These are worst-case screening numbers. They assume every magnet in the box points the same way. Alternating poles, keepers and steel shielding cut the field sharply. Only a gaussmeter reading on the packed box decides the band.
To get a feel for the strength of an individual magnet, try the free Magfine Magnet Calculator. For why rated numbers and real-world numbers differ, see why pull force is lower in real applications.
Can you send magnets through Canada Post?
Yes, as long as the parcel is not dangerous goods. Canada Post treats anything defined as dangerous goods under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations as non-mailable. It also refuses packages that show dangerous-goods symbols.
A box of craft magnets or a few cap magnets is fine. A multi-kilogram magnet assembly that measures in the UN2807 band is not a mail item; send it with a freight carrier that accepts it.
Cover old hazard labels completely. Canada Post says crossing out a label is not enough, and it will not deliver a parcel where old markings show through.
2026 holiday cut-offs for parcels within Canada
These are Canada Post's recommended send-by dates between major urban centres, as published in October 2026.
| Zone | Regular Parcel | Expedited Parcel | Xpresspost | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local | Dec 21 | Dec 22 | Dec 23 | Dec 23 |
| Regional | Dec 16 | Dec 18 | Dec 22 | Dec 23 |
| National | Dec 10 | Dec 14 | Dec 22 | Dec 23 |
Source: Canada Post, Plan your holiday sending (October 2026). Dates depend on origin and destination.
For the United States, send Tracked Packet by December 11, Expedited Parcel USA by December 14 and Xpresspost USA by December 17. Faster services are more likely to fly, so the IATA bands above matter most for Xpresspost and Priority parcels.
Most orders placed before 2:00 p.m. ET ship the next business day. Shipping is free over $100 within Ontario and over $200 elsewhere in Canada. See Magfine shipping for details.
How should you pack neodymium magnets for shipping?
Pack so the field stays inside the box and the magnets cannot chip each other. Follow these steps in order.
- Weigh the magnet content. Under about 50 g total is very unlikely to approach any air limit. Over about 150 g, plan to measure.
- Separate and alternate. Use cardboard or plastic spacers between magnets, and stack them with poles opposing so their fields cancel. PI 953 asks for keeper bars on permanent magnets where possible.
- Hold them still. Brittle sintered NdFeB chips when two magnets snap together in transit. Coatings such as Hi-DEN epoxy can also scratch.
- Add distance. Put at least 5 cm of void fill between the magnets and every box wall. Field strength falls with the cube of distance.
- Shield large loads with steel. Line the inner box with mild steel plate on all sides. In Magfine's simulation, SS400 plates 10–20 mm thick, placed 50 mm from a Ø100 × 70 mm magnet, kept the field lines inside.
- Measure the packed box. Use a gaussmeter at 2.1 m (and 4.6 m if needed) from each face. Record the readings.
- Choose the mode. Not restricted: any service. UN2807 band: label it and tell the carrier, or ship by ground only. Over the 4.6 m line: ground or sea only.
- Label honestly. Never mark a regulated box as general cargo, and never leave old hazard labels showing.
For very large magnets, read Magfine's guide to handling large magnets and our air transport of magnets page before you pack. For small parts at home, our DIY magnet safety guide covers safe handling.
Frequently asked questions
Can I mail neodymium magnets with Canada Post?
Yes, for normal quantities. Canada Post refuses dangerous goods, so a parcel strong enough to fall under UN2807 should not go in the mail. Small magnets packed with spacers ship as ordinary parcels.
Are neodymium magnets considered hazardous materials?
Only for air transport and only above a field threshold. A packed box measuring over 0.418 A/m at 2.1 m is UN2807, Class 9. Below that, magnets are general cargo.
How many magnets can I put in one package before it is regulated?
It depends on total volume, grade and packing, not on count. As a worst-case estimate, about 180 g of aligned N42 reaches the 2.1 m limit. Opposing poles and steel shielding raise that amount considerably.
Do I need a Shipper's Declaration to fly magnets?
Not under IATA Packing Instruction 953. A UN2807 package needs the Magnetized Material label, prior arrangement with the airline and documents that say "magnetized material".
Can I take neodymium magnets in my luggage on a holiday flight?
Small magnets in normal personal quantities are usually fine. Large or loose high-strength magnets may be refused at screening. Check with your airline before you fly.
Why are big magnets not allowed on planes?
A strong field can deflect the aircraft's magnetic compass and navigation units. FAA testing found deviations of up to 125 degrees from strongly magnetized cargo.
Does Magfine ship magnets by air?
Magfine tests air shipments for magnetic leakage and can provide test certificates. Magnets heavier than 1.5 kg are shipped by surface transport instead of air.
Sources
- PHMSA Interpretation 09-0084: magnetized material and ICAO Packing Instruction 953 (U.S. Department of Transportation)
- ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel WG17: UN2807 magnetized material bands
- ICAO DGP/22: requirements for magnetized materials
- Canada Post: Plan your holiday sending (October 2026)
- Canada Post: Dangerous goods overview
- ADR entry for UN2807, Magnetized material
- Magfine: Air transport of magnets
- Magfine: Neodymium magnet property specifications
