FAQ: Packing your order

Knowing how to properly pack a package is important. The goal is to protect what is inside and help it reach its destination. 

We keep about 30 different corrugated box sizes in varying strength in stock to ship different products but choosing the right one is a skill learned from our experience. Here are a few criteria we use to pick the right box - carrier, weight, size, fragility of the products, and cost. 

All three major carriers - USPS, UPS, and FedEx offer free packaging for some service levels. They can save you money not only on the supplies but also on the shipping cost. Almost all the corrugated boxes have a "box certificate" stamp to authenticate the specifications of the box. The two most common are 32 ECT (stacking strength) and 200 lb. test (bursting strength) boxes. The sturdier boxes are generally more expensive and cost more to ship due to the added weight. On the other end, consider using polymailers or bubble mailers for soft goods to keep the packaging weight to a minimum. 

All the carriers use the dimensional weight (DIM weight) for bulky packages. 

UPS & FedEx DIM weight = (length x width x height) / 139

USPS DIM weight = (length x weight x height) / 166

The greater of the actual weight or the DIM weight is used to calculate the shipping cost. It's important to choose a box that's "just right," optimizing the use of packaging materials and reducing overall shipping costs.

Do's and don'ts

• Avoid shipping "air". Use a box resizer tool to cut down the height of your box 
• Stock common size boxes - smaller is not always cheaper but common size boxes are generally cheaper than odd sizes. e.g. 12"x12"x12" is almost always cheaper than 12"x12"x11"
• Take advantage of carrier's boxes such as USPS Priority Mail boxes, UPS Express boxes, and FedEx Flat-rate boxes
• Consider using stickers instead of costly branded boxes
• Use polymailers instead of corrugated boxes if possible
• Use proper warning labels ("Fragile", "This End Up")