Packaging hints & tips

Packing and wrapping methods may vary according to the item you mail. For example fragile, perishable, crushable, oddly shaped, sharp, and liquid, liquefiable or powder articles require special precautions.

When you are sending your mail, it is your responsibility to ensure your item is securely wrapped with sufficient cushioning and reinforcing material to prevent damage to the item, postal equipment or other mail, and injury to persons handling the item.

As a guideline, the packaging should withstand a drop of approximately one metre in order to prevent potential damage or breakage. Read some useful tips and hints1 below to help you pack your items more securely.

Packaging fragile items

To pack fragile items, such as china:

  1. Wrap each item in tissue paper or newspaper.
  2. Put them into an inner container and put the inner container into a corrugated cardboard outer container.
  3. Surround the inner container with cushioning material such as bubble wrap on the top, bottom and all sides to limit movement and protect the item.
  4. Close the outer container with reinforced tape.
  5. Put the address, return address and the word "FRAGILE" on the top and on one side.

Packaging perishable items

To pack perishable items, such as fruit:

  1. Place items in papier mâché trays.
  2. Put the trays in a heavy cardboard outer container lined with absorbent slabs.
  3. Enclose the address and return address, and then seal the container with reinforced tape.
  4. Put the address, return address and the word "PERISHABLE" on the top and on one side.

Packaging crushable items

For pictures, including drawings, maps, charts, photos and other articles mailed in a frame:

  1. Protect the front and back of the frame with strong, rigid material larger than the frame to minimise chances of breakage.
  2. Place soft, protective material such as bubble wrap between the frame and the rigid material to reduce pressure on the glass.
  3. Put the item in a box in a heavy cardboard outer container.
  4. Enclose the address and return address, and then seal the container with reinforced tape.
  5. Mark the item as "FRAGILE" on the outer package with the address.

Packaging sharp items

To pack sharp items, such as garden shears:

  1. Tightly roll newspaper around the blades and secure with reinforced tape. The newspaper should extend about 100 millimetres beyond the tip.
  2. Put the address and return address on a slip of paper, and then tape it to the item.
  3. Place the item in a corrugated cardboard outer container and surround the item with cushioning material such as bubble wrap to limit movement and protect the item.
  4. Tape all seams and wrap the item tightly with reinforced tape.
  5. Put the address, return address and the words "HANDLE WITH CARE" on the top and one side.

Packaging liquids and powders

Place liquids and liquefiable substances, such as cooking oil in a glass bottle, in strong, leak-proof containers before mailing. Place the container in a strong outer container made of wood, metal, heavy cardboard or styrofoam. Provide enough absorbent material between the inner and outer containers to absorb all the liquid should the package break.

To package liquids and powders:

  1. Tighten the cap of the bottle and cover it in tape.
  2. Put the bottle into a metal inner container and surround with enough sawdust or absorbent material to absorb the liquid if the bottle should break.
  3. Close the metal container and tape the cover seam with reinforced tape. Wrap the container in strong, plastic sheeting.
  4. Tightly seal all seams with reinforced tape. Write the address and return address on a slip of paper and tape it to the plastic sheeting.
  5. Wrap the container in corrugated cardboard and tape all seams with reinforced tape.
  6. Put the address, return address and the words "FRAGILE" and, if appropriate, "KEEP FROM HEAT" on the top and at least one side.

1The provided hints and tips are examples only and do not guarantee safe delivery of items. Please ask our counter staff if you are unsure of what packaging materials to select.

Need help?

If you have any questions or would like more information please contact us.

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