Buying guide · 4 min read

Small package shipping supply checklist

The short list of things you need to pack and post small parcels from home, and what you can skip.

Short answer

To ship small parcels from home you need something to put the item in, something to cushion it, tape, a way to weigh it, and a way to print a label. That is five things, and two of them are optional until volume makes them worth it.

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The options

The five things

  • A mailer or box that fits the item with room for padding
  • Cushioning, which a padded mailer already includes
  • Packing tape, for boxes and for reinforcing seams
  • A scale, so postage is bought on a real number
  • A printed label, from a thermal printer or the carrier counter

What you can skip at the start

  • Branded packaging: it costs more and protects no better
  • A label printer, until queueing costs you more than the machine
  • Void fill, if a padded mailer already surrounds the item
  • Bulk label stacks, before you have confirmed they feed in your printer

A packing routine that avoids returns

  • Weigh the package sealed, not the item loose
  • Cover or remove every old label and barcode
  • Put the label flat on the largest face, not over an edge
  • Press tape down along the whole seam

Storage

Keep mailers flat and labels out of sunlight and heat. Direct-thermal stock darkens with heat, which is exactly how it prints, so a stack left on a sunny windowsill will grey over.

Common questions

Do I need a printer to start?

No. Carriers print labels at the counter, and many accept a code from your phone. Add a printer when the queue costs more than the device.

Box or mailer?

A mailer for small, non-fragile items; a box for anything rigid, glass or heavy enough to tear a seam.

What is the most common mistake?

Guessing the weight, and leaving an old barcode visible on a reused mailer.

Supplies mentioned

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