How to pack & wrap up a parcel.

How should you package up a parcel which is to be sent by courier or parcel company? Correct packaging will make the difference between a safe delivery and damage in transit. It is your responsibility to make sure that your parcel is correctly packaged so that it survives the journey and the goods aren’t damaged.

How to Pack Up a Parcel

Here are a few quick tips to help you decide how to package the goods.

1. Bubble wrap is a fantastic material for protecting your items from bumps and scrapes. It should be your first choice of material as the insulating bubbles provide protection from bumps and scrapes. Wrap your item in one layer of bubble wrap if it is reasonably sturdy and multiple layers if it is more delicate. Incidentally bubble wrap is so popular that it has its own appreciation day – the last day in January.
2. Wrap each individual item in its own packaging. If you have more than one item to wrap, then to prevent them bumping into each other and causing damage, make sure each one has its own individual layer of bubble wrap or other protective material. If the item you are wrapping is hollow, add wrapping material to the inside as well as the outside of the item, for example cups should always have layers of bubble wrap, newspaper or similar material packed inside.
3. Pack inside a sturdy cardboard box. The item you are sending will need a box for safe carriage even though it is surrounded by protective material. You can use an existing cardboard box or undo a complete one and rebuild it round your item. Any space in the box must then be filled with packing so that your item doesn’t move around. You can use any suitable material such as shredded newspaper, polystyrene or foam, but take care not to leave any space.
4. Make sure that the box is sealed correctly. Use strong duct tape or gaffer tape as this is stronger than normal sticky tape. Go round the edges of the box with tape so that they are secure and strengthened.
5. Make sure that the address to where your parcel is being sent is clear. If you are reusing a box, there should be no sign of a previous address. You should put your clearly readable label on more than one side of the box. Also check carefully that you have the correct address and post code.
6. If your item is particularly fragile, you should consider a specialist courier service. For example, if turning your parcel upside down might cause damage, then it is probably too delicate to be sent by normal services and will need more careful handling. It should also be labelled as fragile.
7. Specialist items will also require specialist packing. For example anything containing liquids, machine parts, perishables or potentially dangerous items need to be labelled as such and packed according to their unique needs. Check that your courier is aware and can deal with them.

Secure packing and labelling will ensure that your items reach their destination intact. A little extra care will mean the difference between success and failure for your delivery.