Your Best Guide to Packing and Preparing a Parcel for Delivery

Most of us may already have a good idea of how to prepare and pack a parcel – we need the proper boxes or containers, and we would need packaging materials such as tape, packing peanuts or bubble wrap etc. But sending a parcel can be a bit tricky depending on the kind of material you have inside, and you also have to be careful about the tools you choose to pack your parcel. The size of your container as opposed to what's inside matters, too, as does the quality of your container, the so-called finishing touches such as how you seal the parcel and how your courier will handle the parcel etc. If you want to make sure your parcel reaches its destination safely and in one piece, here's your best guide to packing and preparing a parcel for delivery.

Choose the proper shape

First and foremost, if you want to send a parcel now, elect the right kind of packaging. The type of packaging you choose will definitely depend on what you are sending in the first place. For instance, if you are sending fine grains and powders, make sure to place them in sturdy plastic bags and seal them as securely as possible. Then place the bag in a strong cardboard box. If you are sending blueprints, plans or maps, make use of triangle-shaped tubes rather than cylinders. For other items, a strong and sturdy cardboard box is essential.

The size of your container makes a difference as well; if your box or container is under-filled, it may collapse, so make sure the contents fit well inside the container with padding of at least 5 centimetres. When choosing your containers or boxes, think about quality. Corrugated cardboard is always a good choice. Choose outer liners that are of high quality, too. If you have fragile contents, choose double-layered, heavy-duty containers or boxes.

Wrap it well

How can you wrap your parcel correctly so you can send a parcel without any worries? Your priority is to make sure that the contents of your parcel aren’t damaged during transit, so if you have more than one item, wrap each item separately using bubble wrap. If you have a fragile item, ensure that it is right at the centre of the container and prevent it from moving around by deploying lots of padding. It’s also best to pad the container’s bottom, then follow this with a layer of corrugated cardboard prior to placing your item inside. Make sure that each side has the appropriate 5 centimetres (or more) of padding. Place more corrugated cardboard on the top of the padded item to ensure that it stays in place. If you can, leave a few extra centimetres for additional cushioning on top of the corrugated cardboard.

Properly seal your parcel

Once you are done with wrapping the item and placing the padding inside the container, it’s time to seal the parcel. Close the box or container’s flaps carefully so no padding can escape. Seal the parcel with parcel tape (use tape with a width of at least 5 centimetres). If you have a parcel that’s heavier than usual or above 25 kilograms, mark it as ‘heavy’ on the outside to inform the courier. Never use cords or strings, as they can get tangled in machinery. Simply place the address, customs information and shipping labels on the box’s top surface. avoid placing this on the parcel tape as the tape may move whilst in transit.

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