This article covers general packaging best practices that apply across most carriers, followed by links to the official packaging guidelines for all carriers available on the Swotzy platform. Following these guidelines helps ensure your shipments are accepted and delivered without issues.
How to Package Your Shipment Correctly
This guide covers general packaging best practices that apply across most carriers. It is not a substitute for carrier-specific requirements — carrier packaging guidelines are linked in the table below, so check the specific requirements of the carrier you're shipping with before sending your parcel.
Good packaging protects your shipment through multiple stages of handling: sorting, loading, transport, and delivery. Parcels are handled by automated systems and people, and are exposed to pressure, impact, and vibration along the way. Following these principles reduces the risk of damage, delay, and additional charges.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
These are the most common mistakes that lead to damaged, delayed, or surcharged shipments:
- Don't wrap your parcel in film. Whether it's an item wrapped in film instead of a box, or a box wrapped in film, both cause problems. Film is reflective and prevents scanning lines from reading the label, and it catches in sorting machinery. A film-wrapped shipment is almost always pulled aside for manual handling and charged an additional handling fee
- Don't use cellophane tape (scotch tape). Like film, it is reflective and can prevent scanners from reading the label
- Don't reuse damaged boxes. Worn boxes lose their strength and may fail under load
- Don't skip internal protection. Cushioning and filling are what actually protect your items from damage — wrap your contents and fill empty space so nothing moves inside the box. Requirements differ between carriers, so check the specific packaging guidelines in the table below
- Don't leave empty space in the box. If the contents move, they can be damaged in transit
- Don't ship liquids in unprotected glass containers. Seal and cushion them, and use leak-proof protection
- Don't leave old labels or barcodes on reused boxes.
Choosing the Right Box
Use a new or as-good-as-new corrugated cardboard box. Reused boxes lose rigidity over time and may not offer the same protection.
- Choose double-walled cardboard for most shipments, and triple-walled cardboard for heavier or bulkier items
- Pick a box that fits your contents closely — a box that's too small can burst under pressure, while a box that's too large allows contents to shift and become damaged
- Use a rectangular or square box. Round or irregular packaging can roll during sorting and transport
- Make sure the box can hold the weight of its contents without collapsing or bulging
Corrugated cardboard boxes are the safest choice for shipping. Never wrap a shipment in plastic film — including wrapping film around a box — see Common Mistakes to Avoid above.
A general minimum parcel size across most carriers is around 9 cm × 14 cm. Minimum and maximum size and weight limits vary by carrier — see the table below for each carrier's specific limits.
Cushioning and Filling
Cushioning protects your items from shocks and vibration, and filling stops them from moving inside the box.
- Leave a gap of at least 5 cm between your item and every inner wall of the box, and fill this space with cushioning material
- Use soft padding for lighter items and firmer padding for heavier items
- Common filling materials include bubble wrap, foam, packing paper, air cushions, and corrugated cardboard inserts
- If you're shipping more than one item in a box, wrap each item separately and use dividers to keep them from touching
- Shake the closed box gently before sealing — if you can hear or feel movement, add more filling
Packaging Fragile Items
Fragile items such as glass, electronics, and ceramics need extra protection.
- Wrap each fragile item individually before placing it in the box
- Consider the box-in-box method: pack the item in an inner box with cushioning, then place that inner box into a larger outer box with at least 5 cm of cushioning on all sides
- Protect any protruding parts (handles, corners, edges) separately
- Corner and edge protectors add extra reinforcement for delicate items
Packaging Liquids and Powders
Liquids, powders, and fine-grain substances need leak-proof and spill-proof packaging.
- Seal liquid containers well and place them upright in the box, with the lid protected against opening
- Use a sealed plastic bag as an extra layer around any liquid container
- Separate multiple bottles or containers with dividers or cardboard sleeves so they don't touch each other
- Pack powders and fine-grain materials in a sealed plastic bag first, then place this inside a sturdy outer box
Sealing Your Parcel
A well-sealed parcel won't open during handling and transport.
- Use strong, pressure-resistant packing tape at least 48–50 mm wide
- Avoid paper tape, masking tape, and string — these don't hold up under pressure or moisture
- Avoid cellophane tape (scotch tape). Like film, it is reflective and can prevent automatic scanning lines from reading the shipping label. If cellophane tape or film is used, the shipment is likely to be pulled aside for manual handling and may be subject to an additional handling surcharge
- Seal all seams and edges, not just the top. The H-taping method (one strip along the center seam, plus strips across both edge seams, on both the top and bottom of the box) is widely recommended
- For heavier parcels, reinforce with additional tape or strapping if the carrier allows it
Weight and Size Considerations
Weight and size limits, and the packaging strength required, vary by carrier and service. As general points to keep in mind:
- Heavier parcels generally require thicker, more durable cardboard (for example, double-wall or triple-wall construction)
- Most carriers set a maximum parcel weight for standard courier or parcel locker delivery, often in the 30 kg range, with heavier shipments needing pallet or freight handling instead
- Oversized or overweight parcels may require pallets, wooden crates, or other reinforced packaging
- A parcel should be able to withstand a drop from a height of around 80–110 cm and hold up if other parcels are placed on top of it during sorting and transport
Before You Ship
A few final checks can prevent avoidable issues:
- Remove or cross out old shipping labels and barcodes from reused boxes
- Make sure nothing protrudes from the box and there are no sharp edges or open flaps
- Confirm the box has no holes, tears, or crushed corners
- Check that your packaging matches the specific requirements of the carrier you're using — the table below links directly to each carrier's own packaging guidelines, including any restrictions on materials, dimensions, or special handling labels
Packaging Guidelines by Carrier
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