The Ultimate Guide: How to Ship Glass Across the Country
You just found the perfect present for your sister. You bought it, brought it home, and are getting ready to ship it in time for her birthday next weekend.
But it’s made of glass. How do you ship it without breaking it?
We’ll show you.
Keep reading below for the ultimate guide that’ll teach you how to ship glass across the country.
Find Two Boxes
To start off, you’re going to want to find two different sized boxes.
One should be big enough to fit your glass item with extra space for padding. The second should be about six inches wider, longer, and deeper than your first box.
Packaging your glassware in two boxes will give it extra padding and security during its journey in the mail.
Seal the Bottoms
Use packing tape to seal the bottoms of the two boxes.
Stretch a single, long piece of tape over the seam in the bottom of the box. Then use two more pieces of tape to seal the edges of the box. You can go over these areas with a few more pieces of tape to give it more strength.
Depending on the type of glass you’re shipping, the package might have to carry a lot of weight. Because of this, you might want to tape the same seams from the inside of the box as well.
Doing so will give the box extra security and keep it from falling apart.
Line the Inside of the Bigger Box with Packing Material
Once you’ve sealed both boxes, fill the bottom of the bigger box with a layer of packing material. To do this, you can use bubble wrap or, even better, packing peanuts. If you don’t have enough of either one, use a mixture of both.
Don’t line the box with packing paper.
This type of paper can’t absorb as much shock as bubble wrap or packing peanuts. Should someone drop or shake your package, the paper won’t be able to protect the glass as well as other packing material.
Make sure the layer of packing materials in the bottom of the box is three inches thick. This will give you enough space to pack more packing peanuts on top of the smaller box as well.
Pack the Smaller Box Inside the Bigger Box
Set the smaller box inside the bigger box on top of the layer of packing material. Adjust the smaller box so it sits in the middle, with about three inches of space between it and the bigger box on each side.
Stuff more bubble wrap or packing peanuts in the empty space around the smaller box. The packaging should be tight enough that the smaller box doesn’t move when you shake the package.
Save some extra packing material. When you close the smaller box, you’ll use this make a layer of padding over the top.
Wrap the Glass in Bubble Wrap
Wrap your glass item in a layer of packing paper or newspaper and secure it in place with a piece of tape. Then wrap the glass in several layers of bubble wrap and tape it in place. Your glass should be covered in three to four layers of bubble wrap when you’re done.
If you’re shipping more than one glass item, make sure you buy a box with partitions. This will keep your glass from hitting each other and damaging themselves during the shipping process.
You can buy a partitioned box at a shipping supply store, or you can make one yourself by adding pieces of cardboard inside the box. If you’re using a partitioned box, you don’t have to wrap your glass with as many layers of bubble wrap.
One layer of paper and one to two layers of bubble wrap should do the trick.
Seal in a Plastic Bag if It Contains Liquid
If you’re shipping a glass bottle that contains liquid, like a bottle of wine, you should seal the bottle in a plastic bag. This will keep it from leaking in the mail and damaging the structural integrity of your box.
You can also use electrical tape to secure the lid in place.
Carbonated drinks, like beer or soda, are more likely to blow their caps during shipment. If you’re shipping these types of items, make sure you take the time to seal them properly.
Pack the Glass Inside the Smaller Box
Once you’ve packaged your glass items, set them inside the smaller box. Make sure any bottles contain liquids are standing upright so they are less likely to spill.
Position the glass in the middle of the box with about three inches of space around it on each side.
Fill this empty space with bubble wrap or packing peanuts. Add enough packing materials to keep the glass items from moving when you shake the box.
But don’t add too much. You don’t want the glass to withstand too much pressure.
Seal and Lable the Smaller Box
Seal the smaller box shut with packing tape.
Even though you’re packing the smaller box inside the bigger box, you should still add an address and label the small box. This will prevent your glass from getting lost if something happens to the outer packaging.
Write the shipping address on the top of the box. This will include both the recipient and return address. You may also want to write fragile on the box as an extra caution.
After this, add another layer of bubble wrap or packing peanuts on top of the smaller box.
Seal and Label the Larger Box
Close the bigger box and secure it with packing tape.
Then write the recipient and return address on the top. You can also print the shipping address on a shipping label and tape it to the box.
Write the word fragile in big, bold letters on every side of the box. This includes both the top and bottom. You can also ask the employee at the post office to stamp it with the fragile stamp for you.
Add arrows with the label “this side up” if your glass items contain any liquid.
How to Ship Glass Across the Country
If you know how to ship glass safely, it doesn’t have to be a stressful experience.
As long as you have the right boxes, packing material, and labels, your glass can make it to its destination in one piece. You can also choose rush or on demand shipping if you want your glass to spend as little time in the mail as possible.
Still looking for the best shipping option for your glassware?
Take a look at some of our services to find what works for you.
