Sending Care Packages To Iraq

The best way to send care packages to Iraq is by United States mail. You will use an APO or FPO to get your package to its Iraq location. The APO or FPO is used to send mail and packages to all military people wherever they are stationed.

In sending care packages to Iraq, the APO or FPO is inserted in place of the name of the city or base your loved one is stationed at.

Click here to shop at my online store!

These addresses apply to both civilians and military personnel stationed in Iraq.

Before we learn more about the best way to send care packages to Iraq, you need to know that you must fill out customs form 2976-A which you can get at the post office. Keep some at home so you can list each item on the form as you fill your box. This is a requirement.

Christmas is coming soon!!!

Yes, once again Christmas is almost here and you need to mail your gifts early if you want them to arrive on Christmas day. Remember, the volume of mail the post office processes each day increases dramatically in November and especially in December so it will take a little longer for your gifts to get to the Middle East!

If your soldier or civilian loves to read, consider sending him/her a great book in your Christmas package.

Click here to find out how, what and when to send those Christmas Packages.

Customs Forms

It is very important that you list every item in your care package on the customs form. Each package could possibly be x-rayed. If something in the box resembles an explosive device and is not listed on the form, the box could be blown up, destroyed, all your hard work gone in an instant! Don't chance it--fill out the form listing everything.

In the value space on the customs form, make sure that you do not put the full value of items, especially expensive ones. Always undervalue items to prevent would-be thieves from stealing the contents of your package.

Your box must weigh under 70 pounds and the total length and width around the box has to be under 130 inches. Yes, the postal workers really do check this. I took a box in to mail about 3 years ago and it was big and heavy. While I was still in line, a postal worker came over to me and took the box from me to the back and measured and weighed it. He told me my box just made the cut. I had no idea there was a limit prior to this.

Fortunately for me, it was just a few inches under the maximum so they took it. That was the first time I heard of this. It was so big and heavy that it cost me more than $50 to mail.

If you are using a box that was previously used to ship alcohol or another forbidden product in Iraq, take a black marker and mark out all references to the forbidden product. Better yet, get a different box.

Flat Rate Boxes

The best way to send care packages to Iraq is by using flat rate boxes provided by the post office.

That way, you won't have to worry about weight, measurements, or a ridiculous cost.

The flat rate boxes are small, but cost only $8.95 a piece to mail to Iraq, no matter how much they weigh. This is the current cost as of February of 2008. This is a great deal. The post office offers this option to truly make it the best way to send care packages to Iraq. If you can't fit it all into one box, send two or three at a time. That is what I do and it is still cheaper than sending by weight.

The flat rate boxes come in two sizes. One is 11" x 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and is approximately the size of a shoe box. You can easily fit a lot of little things into it--lots of small, individually wrapped snacks, candy bars, gum, toiletries, and DVD's.

The other flat rate box is 11 7/8" x 3 3/8" x 13 5/8" which is about the size of a box used for shirts in a department store. I have crammed a lot of books, magazines, and even tennis shoes for my husband into this sized box.

You can pick these boxes up at the post office by asking the workers there for some the next time you mail a package or buy stamps.

You can also call 1-800-610-8734 and select option 1. When the agent comes on the line, ask for the military kit which is also called Care Kit 4.

There is one more way to get the flat rate boxes which are best for sending care packages to Iraq. You can order them online for FREE at shop.usps.com!

If you have not used this site before, you will have to register and then you can order both sizes of the flat rate box and the customs forms. They will be delivered to your door in about 10 days for FREE! This is such a cool service provided by the US Postal Service to help make life a little easier for us.

The best way to send care packages to Iraq is to make sure the contents will not be moving inside the box during shipping.

I use "fillers" in between items and in little empty spaces. No, I don't use those annoying packing peanuts. For fillers, I use washcloths, socks, towels, t-shirts, anything useful for the recipient that will fit into little spaces. Get creative.

Tape the box shut with postal approved tape and use several layers to make sure your box will stay shut. I went to Wal-Mart and got clear postal tape and a dispenser for it.

Remember that you cannot use scotch tape or masking tape as it will not hold your package shut during the long trip. The post office will not accept your package like this.

Address your label and put it on the front of the box. Put a return address on there as well. Take the box with the corresponding customs form to the post office. If you are mailing more than one box at a time, make sure that you fill out a separate customs form for each box.

In anywhere from as little as 8 days to 21 days, your recipient should receive his care packages to Iraq from you. The shortest shipping time for mine was 8 days and the longest was 18 days.

Using flat rate boxes when you can is the best way to send care packages to Iraq because you are paying for postage from your city to either the east coast or the west coast in the USA, not all the way to Iraq. This is a tremendous cost savings.

Learn what happened when someone tried shipping Silly String to our military!

Learn more about sending packages to Iraq.

Military Care Package Kit

Since Priority Mail service supplies are the packaging of choice for families preparing care packages for service members overseas, the USPS has created a "Mili-kit" based on the items most frequently requested by the military.

The kit contains:

Three (3) each of flat rate boxes O-FRB1 and O-FRB2

Two (2) each of Cube boxes OBOX7

Address labels - Label # 228 8 each

Address labels - Label # 106-A 1 each

Customs FORM 2976-A 8 EACH

Customs FORM 2976-E 8 EACH

The kit may be requested by calling 1-800-610-8734 (Packing Supply) and:

Choose your language (1 is English, 2 is Spanish).

Choose option 1 (it states it is for Express Mail service, Priority Mail or Global Express Guaranteed).

When you reach a live agent, request CAREKIT04.

Please allow 7-10 days for delivery.

Note: These are free supplies, postage must be affixed.

Additionally, you can find guidelines for packing, addressing, and shipping items to U.S. troops at

the USPS web site.

Return from Care Packages to Iraq to News From Iraq