UPS® Packaging Guidelines

When you ship a package through a courier network it will be traveling with thousands of others, goitng through depots, sometimes airports and loaded on and off trucks. With this in mind, it's essential that your item is suitably packed and protected for travel.

Always use a heavy-duty corrugated cardboard box. It's ok to reuse an old box, but reinforce corners and joins with tape and make sure you remove any old shipping labels. Double boxing is another good option for adding extra protection.

Items inside the box should be wrapped individually and all gaps should be filled to minimize movement during transit. You can find more packaging advice in our full guide on how to wrap a package for shipping.

You can help to ensure that your package arrives safely and on time with these packaging guidelines and procedures listed specifically by UPS for good packaging techniques to follow:

• Use a rigid box with flaps intact.
•  Remove any labels, hazardous materials indicators, and other previous shipment markings on the box that are no longer applicable.
• Wrap all items separately.
• Use adequate cushioning material.
• Use strong tape designed for shipping.
• Do not use string or paper over wrap.
• Use a single address label that has clear, complete delivery and return information.
• Place a duplicate address label inside the package.
• Packaging your Shipment Properly - Insurance Claims

It is important to follow the UPS packaging guidelines to ensure that your insurance does not get hindered. Should you have to claim, UPS will determine if your shipment was packaged in accordance with their guidelines and if guidelines haven’t been followed then they may deny the insurance claim based on “insufficient packaging”.