How to Pack for International Shipping

The golden rule is: if you drop the closed box from waist height onto a hard floor, nothing inside should break. Carriers handle hundreds of thousands of parcels daily and drops, tilts and compression are inevitable. Use a sturdy double-wall cardboard box, fill all empty space with packing material, and shake the sealed box — if you hear movement, add more void fill.

Choose a box that is no more than 5 cm larger on each side than the item inside. Too much empty space means the item shifts during transit. Too small a box means insufficient padding around the item. Most couriers have maximum dimension limits (typically 120×80×80 cm for parcels) so always check before boxing oversized items.

For cushioning: bubble wrap (large bubbles for heavy items, small bubbles for delicate surfaces), foam sheets, and air pillows. For void fill: crumpled kraft paper, packing peanuts, or inflatable air cushions. For structure: double-wall corrugated cardboard boxes. Avoid newspaper as it transfers ink and provides poor cushioning.

At least 5–7 cm of cushioning on all six sides of the item. Wrap the item in at least two layers of bubble wrap (bubbles facing inward for delicate items, outward for heavier goods). Then pack inside a box with void fill so the wrapped item cannot move.

No — customs declarations describe the goods, not the packaging. However, if your goods require special packaging (e.g., dangerous goods with specific markings, temperature-controlled, or lithium batteries), there are carrier labelling requirements that must appear on the outside of the parcel.