packaging tips for delivery service
Proper packaging helps ensure that your shipment arrives safely, even in Last-Mile Delivery Service. Here are some general guidelines.
Outer Packaging
There are multiple choices to pack your products, but the most commonly used are:
- Corrugated (Cardboard Boxes)
- Corrugated and bubble mailers
- Padded and Tyvek envelopes
- StayFlat Mailers
- Mailing Tubes
Which one is better?
It depends. Ninety-five percent (95%) of delivered merchandise goes out in corrugated cardboard boxes since they are versatile and economical. But there are cases when packing in a box does not make sense.
Examples:
- A printed poster will go best in a mailing tube
- A small item will go best in a bubble mailer
Prohibited Items
Before preparing your package, make sure to follow the guidelines for prohibited items established by the USPS and other major carriers.
WHAT YOU NEED
BOXES
When choosing a box, make sure it is sturdy, undamaged, and with all its flaps intact. Verify that the box size leaves enough room for adding cushioning material around the merchandise. Use double-wall boxes for heavier items.
CUSHIONING
Place cushioning material around each item and place it on center between cartons - items should not touch the outside box or each other. Close and gently shake the box to see whether there is enough padding. Add more newspapers, loosefill peanuts, packing foam, or plastic cushioning material if you hear things moving around.
SEALING
Tape your box shut and reinforce the seams (using the H taping method), with 2" wide tape. Use clear or brown packaging tape, reinforced packing tape, pressure-sensitive plastic tape, or water-activated paper or reinforced tape. Do not use cord, string, or twine because it gets caught in mail processing equipment. Make sure that you use a 2” wide tape - a smaller width is not acceptable. Also, do not use duct tape, masking tape, or cellophane tape.
ADDRESSES KNOW HOW
ADDRESS LABELS
CORRECT ADDRESS
CORRECT ADDRESS
If you are reusing a box, take out, cover up or black out any old labels or address markings to avoid any addressing confusion. Include delivery information inside and outside the package.
Place label on the package surface that is on top when the package’s position follows the “This end up” indication. If your package needs more than one label, applied them all facing the same direction for easy reading and handling of your package.
CORRECT ADDRESS
CORRECT ADDRESS
CORRECT ADDRESS
It is critical that you use a complete and correct address for efficient delivery service. See the Addressing Tips section for more information.