Packaging Types & Materials
Right packing keeps your parcel safe.
In short
- 1Every parcel has 3 parts: inside pack, outside pack, and filling with tape.
- 2Pick the outside pack and box strength to match your product.
- 3Fill every gap, seal with an "H" of tape, and shake the box before you send.
Good packing protects your order, your rating and your payout.
Know the 3 parts of a parcel
Part 1Inside pack
Touches your product.
Jar, pouch, bottle, small carton.
Part 2Outside pack
What the courier carries.
Brown box, mailer box, courier bag.
Part 3Filling and tape
Stops movement. Keeps it closed.
Paper, bubble wrap, packing tape.
You may also hear these called "primary pack" (inside) and "secondary pack" (outside).
Choose your inside pack
This is the first thing that touches your product.
Sealed pouch, leak-proof bottle or jar
The first layer for food, liquids and creams.
Paper carton
Good inside the parcel for small food, beauty and body-care items. Not strong enough alone.
Soft packs bend to fit the product, like pouches and bags. Hard packs keep their shape, like bottles and jars. Both need a tight seal.
- For food, use clean, food-safe packs
- Keep liquids upright and tightly closed
- Wrap each item on its own so they do not touch
Choose your outside pack
Pick one. Match it to your product.
Brown box (corrugated)
The best choice for most orders. Strong, light and easy to find. Folds flat. Close it with tape.
- Most orders
- Jars and bottles
- Decor and fragile items
Mailer box
Closes with a tuck-in top. Folds flat. Add a little tape.
- Candles and soaps
- Handmade crafts and gifts
- Body care
For fragile items, add extra cushion.
Plastic courier bag
Soft bag. Very light. Water cannot get in. No cushion.
- Cloth and fabric items
- Soft things that cannot break
- Fragile items
Bubble mailer (padded bag)
Gives a little cushion.
- Small, light items
- Glass and jars
- Hard or heavy items
Brown paper bag (kraft mailer)
Has a natural look.
- Light, soft items
- Rainy days
- Wet or moist products
Cardboard divider
Goes inside the box.
- Keeps bottles and jars apart
- Use a clean, dry box with no dents or tears
- Cover old labels if you reuse a box
Compare at a glance
| Type | Protection | Easy to recycle | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown box, 3-ply | Good | Yes | Low |
| Brown box, 5-ply | Excellent | Yes | Low to medium |
| Plastic courier bag | None | No | Very low |
| Brown paper bag | Low | Yes | Low |
| Paper carton | Medium | Yes | Medium |
| Bubble wrap | High | No | Low per use |
| Air pillows | High | Partly | Low per use |
| Foam pieces | Excellent | No | Medium |
Cheaper often means weaker. Spend a little more on strength for fragile or heavy orders. Save on soft items that cannot break.
Check your box strength
Boxes are sold as 3-ply or 5-ply. "Ply" means layers of paper in the box wall. More layers means a stronger box.
3 layers of paper3-ply
Thinner wall.
Light orders and short trips.
5 layers of paper5-ply
Thicker wall.
Heavy, fragile or far-away orders.
Add filling
Use it to fill empty space so nothing moves. Keep about 2 inches of cushion around fragile items.
Crumpled brown paper
Cheap and clean.
Paper. Easy to recycle.
Shredded paper
Fills small gaps. Nice for gift orders.
Paper. Easy to recycle.
Bubble wrap
Best for glass, pottery and decor.
Honeycomb paper
Strong cushion for fragile items.
Paper. Easy to recycle.
Cardboard roll
Wrap it around jars and bottles.
Paper. Easy to recycle.
Air pillows
Light. Fill empty gaps.
Foam or corner pieces
For hard items.
- Loose thermocol pieces: messy and hard to recycle
- Put heavy items at the bottom, light items on top
Seal with tape
H-tape
Packing tapeUse
- Strong packing tape, about 2 inch wide
- An "H": tape the middle seam, then both ends
- Optional: "Fragile" tape or sticker for glass and decor
Do not use
- Masking tape
- Cellophane tape
Good packing inside matters most. The sticker only helps.
For labels and the full packing steps, see How to Pack an Order.
What to use for your product
| Product | What to use |
|---|---|
| 🍲 Food and sauces | Sealed inside pack + box + leak-proof layer |
| 🎨 Crafts and decor (fragile) | 5-ply box with cushion on all sides, or a box inside a box |
| 🍰 Cakes and baked items | Food-safe box that fits snugly. Keep it flat. |
| 🕯️ Candles, frames, kitchen items | Box + paper filling |
| 🧴 Home and body care | Bag inside + box + filling. Close lids tightly. Use dividers to hold bottles still. |
| 👕 Soft items | Plastic courier bag or brown paper bag |
Never use a courier bag for fragile items.
Test your parcel before you send
Do this once when you try a new packing style.
- Shake it. Nothing should move or rattle.
- Press it. The box should not bend or dent easily.
- Drop it. Drop the packed box from waist height. Open it and check.
Test one box before you order many.
Save money and waste
📏 Smallest box that fits
Lower cost and less waste.
Tip: Add the cushion first, then measure, then pick the box.
🔢 Keep 2 or 3 box sizes
No need for many sizes.
🌿 Choose paper
Paper and cardboard are easy to recycle and still protect well. Plastic bags and bubble wrap are harder to recycle.
See Volumetric Weight: Measure Right, Pay Less.
Avoid these common mistakes
✖ Box is too big
✔ Use the smallest box that fits
✖ Weak box for a heavy item
✔ Use 5-ply for heavy or fragile items
✖ No filling
✔ Fill the gaps. Nothing should move.
✖ Weak tape
✔ Strong tape in an "H"
✖ Choosing only by price
✔ Check strength first
✖ Courier bag for a fragile item
✔ Use a brown box
✖ Box is too small
✔ Leave room for cushion
✖ Skipping the test
✔ Shake and drop test first
Safe parcels mean fewer returns. See Refunds and Seller Fault.
Final checklist
- Right outside pack for my product
- Inside pack is sealed
- Filling covers every gap
- Box does not move when shaken
- Sealed with an "H" of tape
- Label stuck flat on the biggest side