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How to Properly Pack Shipping Boxes

The following article provides tips you can follow to ensure that the item or items you are shipping will arrive at their destinationin the same condition as when you first packaged the box, saving you a lot of time, trouble and reshipping costs.

Author: Michiel Van Kets
Date: Feb 27, 2011 - 10:54:50 PM

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Whether getting ready for a move, shipping a gift to a friend, or sending an order to a valued customer, how you pack the box is critical. When you pack using proper shipping box packing techniques it will help ensure that no matter what you place inside the box it will arrive without damage and in one piece. To start you will need corrugated cartons of the size and weight best suited for the article you are shipping, packing materials such as paper, bubble wrap, or other flexible cushioning material, and packing tape.

First let's take a look at the actual shipping carton that you will need.

Definitely try to avoid using non-corrugated cardboard containers. These will not give you the tensile strength you will need to properly enclose and protect the item to be shipped and can tear or shred easily. What is generally available are corrugated boxes rated at 200 lb test. This would be about the average thickness of the corrugated board itself. It is possible to procure boxes rated at 150 lb test although you must be shipping a lighter weight article. Also available are boxes made from 275 lb test for a heavier article. 150, 200 and 275 lb. test is usually a stock item from a box manufacturer. If you have really heavy items to consistently ship then double wall corrugated shipping boxes are available on special order. It is very important to make sure that your shipping carton is heavy enough to handle the weight of the article being shipped.

Now, if your shipping boxes have been flattened, you will need to reassemble them and tape or staple the bottoms closed. 1 1/4 width heavy duty staples are usually used. If you do use staples it's generally a good idea to also use tape. If the items going into your boxes are heavy, use several overlapping strips of tape to ensure that the bottom will remain closed during the complete trip. If your items are fragile, wrap in paper or bubble wrap and place in the box. Bubble wrap is an inexpensive material to use, because it weighs less. If there are any gaps, fill them with crumpled paper, the Styrofoam packing material called "peanuts" or other cushioning material to ensure the items do not shift during transportation. "Peanuts" are a lightweight alternative that saves on shipping, and is available in anti-static for electronic parts and products.

Once you have filled the box, close the flaps and gently shake the box. If the movement from within seems significant, place more packing material in the box to secure the items. If the box flaps sink into the box, place some packing materials on top of the items to keep the flaps level, not sinking into the box reducing their protective factor. When the box feels and appears securely packed, tape the top shut. Generally one strip of tape is enough, but several overlapping strips can increase security.

Using general purpose, acrylic adhesive sealing tape at two or three inch widths is the acceptable practice used by professional shipping companies. It also will make your job easier and go more quickly if you use a hand-held Tape Gun. All tapes have different adhesive properties. Your application will determine which tape to choose.

Finally, address or label the shipping box. If shipping the box through the mail or another carrier, address according to preset standards.

Usually the return address is in the upper left hand corner and the receiving address is in the middle of the box or as close as you can get to the middle. If this is a box that you are using for moving, using a different color for each room allows for easy sorting, identifying the box with what is inside, once again saving time at the destination.

We hope that this short tutorial about how to pack a shipping box has given you the information you will need to correctly pack shipping boxes so that the contents arrive at their destination in their original condition.

Michiel Van Kets writes about how to get the best shipping boxes and shipping supplies at the lowest prices. You should only buy from members of the AICC where extensive corrugated bin boxes are carried out to produce high quality shipping boxes.

View all articles by Michiel Van Kets

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