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Usually yes, by ground. Magnets become a regulated shipment only when they are strong enough to deflect an aircraft compass, which is why air carriers and postal services restrict powerful magnets as UN2807 Class 9 dangerous goods. Ordinary fridge magnets in ordinary packaging almost never cross that line; strong neodymium, speaker, or fishing magnets can.
The at-a-glance version:
Aircraft carry magnetic compasses as backup instruments, and a powerful magnet in the cargo hold can pull a compass needle off true north. That is the whole reason magnetized material has a UN number: UN2807, Class 9 (miscellaneous dangerous goods). The test is practical, not theoretical: carriers check whether the package deflects a compass at a set distance. If it does, it cannot fly as ordinary cargo. Ground vehicles have no compass problem, which is why the same magnet that is banned from air mail is perfectly legal in a truck.
| Magnet type | Ground mail | Air mail |
|---|---|---|
| Fridge magnets, magnetic cards, craft sheets | Yes | Yes |
| Hard-drive magnets, speaker magnets | Yes | Restricted: likely refused |
| Neodymium discs and blocks (hobby grade and up) | Yes | Banned as ordinary mail; dangerous-goods process required |
| Magnetic fishing kits, large salvage magnets | Yes, with shielding | No |
The dividing line is field strength, not size. A thin hard-drive magnet can out-pull a chunky ceramic fridge magnet, which is why experienced shippers treat anything salvaged from electronics as strong by default. Craft stores sell magnets that are weak by design; surplus and industrial sellers sell the ones that cause trouble.
Two rules matter: keep magnets separated from each other, and shield the outside of the package. Stack magnets with spacers between them (foam or cardboard) so they cannot snap together in transit; a loose stack can pinch fingers and crack in a hard drop. Then add shielding: a layer of steel sheet around the inner box or iron plates between stacks absorbs field and lowers the external reading. A quick field check is a phone compass app held near the sealed box: if the needle swings, add more distance or more shielding.
Marking helps too. A plain "magnets" note on the inner box keeps warehouse staff from setting the package next to magnetic-stripe cards, tapes, or hard drives. Canada Post's dangerous-goods rules treat magnetized material in air mail as prohibited, so if there is any chance the parcel could fly, choose ground service explicitly rather than hoping for the best.
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