Introduction

There’s a lot of ways to package fragile items—but there are also many ways that can make you a lot of money in the long run. Keep reading to learn the dos and don’ts of shipping packaging foam so that you can become more efficient and protect your items from damage.

Don’t wait until the last minute

It’s only natural to want to save money and avoid paying extra shipping fees, but if you wait until the last minute to ship, there’s a chance that your package won’t arrive on time. Packaging foam is available at many online retailers like Amazon and Staples. But these stores often have limited hours and are only open during business hours Monday through Friday. If you’re in need of packaging foam for Saturday delivery, you’ll have to go somewhere else (like Walmart).

For this reason, it’s best not to wait until the last minute when you need new packaging foam. Be sure to order your shipping materials well ahead of their delivery date so that they’re ready when needed!

Do know your dimensions

To start, measure the item you’re shipping and make sure to get its dimensions right. Estimate the length of the item plus any padding you want to add around it. Next, use those measurements to determine how big a box you need: If your object is shorter than 18 inches, go ahead and use a small box; if it’s longer than 18 inches or weighs more than 15 pounds, you’ll probably need a medium one; for anything over 24 inches or weighing 20 pounds or more, get yourself a large box.

Once you know what size box will fit all your stuff (and room for packaging foam), measure that too! Remember that once your item is packaged in foam peanuts or air pillows—which we’ll cover later—it will expand slightly as air gets pushed out from between them during transit. If there’s space left after filling with packaging material and adding all those pesky little details like tape and labels (more on those later), then great! You’ve got plenty of room for some extra protection without worrying about whether everything will fit inside without crushing anything important into oblivion.

Knowing how much space is available within each type of shipping container helps ensure safe delivery of fragile items across distances ranging from local delivery services like UPS Ground that require packages placed inside their trucks during pickup days through international carriers such as FedEx Express International which only accept products packed inside their cardboard boxes prior arrival at destination locations overseas

Do consider your needs

Before you decide on the type of packaging foam to use, it’s important to consider your needs. You’ll want to think about:

• The type of item being shipped
• The size and weight of the item
• How long you have to ship it
• How far away it will be shipped

Do know what supplies you need

When preparing for your move, it’s important to be aware of the supplies you’ll need. Once you know what supplies are needed, you can plan ahead and purchase them before moving day. This will save time on moving day and prevent any last-minute scrambling or stress.

The most common types of packing material used in shipping are:

• Foam peanuts – Used as a buffer between items being shipped, foam peanuts provide cushioning against damage during shipping or transit. They’re also great at reducing shock absorbency when two items are stacked together inside a box.
• Bubble wrap – Bubble wrap is another form of cushioning which provides protection from scratches and dents on fragile items during shipment or transit. It’s available in rolls that range from 2″ wide x 10′ long (6mm thick) to 4″ wide x 50′ long (12mm thick). You can also buy sheets that are 6″x6″, 12″x12″, 18″x18″, 24″x24″, 36″x36″, 48″x48″. The smaller sizes tend to be more expensive per square foot than larger ones due to higher material costs per square inch; however they offer more flexibility if only small amounts need protecting (such as jewelry).

Don’t ship using paper-based materials

It’s important to keep in mind that paper-based materials are not effective for shipping fragile items. While many people use paper as a temporary fix for damaged boxes and other non-fragile objects, this material is not durable enough to be used with fragile items. Furthermore, paper-based materials are not reusable, environmentally friendly or cost effective.

Don’t use packaging peanuts

The first thing to avoid is using packing peanuts. If you’re unfamiliar with how this packaging material works, it’s basically just a plastic bag filled with Styrofoam pellets. The idea behind packing peanuts is that they absorb the shock of an item being dropped or bumped during shipping and protect it from damage. However, there are several reasons why you should never use them:

• They’re not biodegradable or recyclable.
• They’re not reusable.
• And finally, they can’t be recycled because they have no value once opened (unless you have access to a facility that can crush them down into tiny pieces).

Don’t use packing tape to seal foam cushions and void fillers together.

One of the most common problems associated with foam cushions and void fillers is that they aren’t held together firmly enough. While some people opt to use packing tape to seal their foam, this is not a good idea.

Packing tape is not strong enough to hold the cushions together, so they can come apart while in transit. The tape also leaves behind a sticky residue on the foam if it isn’t removed carefully before reuse, which can make it difficult or impossible to reuse your cushions or void fillers for shipping purposes.

Expanding foam and flexi-foam are the most efficient ways to package and ship fragile items.

• Expanding foam: This type of packaging foam is made from polyurethane and expands when exposed to air. It’s a great option for packing fragile items, because it’s lightweight, but offers a lot of cushion.
• Flexi-foam: Flexible polystyrene is also good for packing and shipping fragile items because it offers excellent protection without adding unnecessary weight to your package.
• Packing peanuts: Don’t use these—they’re not recyclable or biodegradable, so they’re bad for the environment.

Conclusion

The most important thing to remember when shipping fragile items is that you don’t want to be stressing out right before the package leaves your hands.

The good news is ____ has everything you need to ship your fragile items without any worries. From bubble wrap, to packing paper and tape, let us take care of your shipping needs! Also if you’re wondering how much packaging foam costs, we have a wide variety of products at affordable prices ranging from $2 – $2,000 depending on what you need.