How to pack a box securely for shipping

Choose a corrugated shipping carton strong enough for the contents, with room for cushioning on every side. Consider a suitable double-wall box for heavier belongings and check the manufacturer's weight rating where provided.

Inspect the bottom, corners and seams. Reject damp, torn, crushed or weakened boxes; extra tape cannot restore their strength. Remove old shipping labels and unrelated delivery markings from reused packaging.

Place a protective layer across the bottom, then wrap items individually where they need cushioning. Keep hard objects from pressing against one another or directly against the outside walls. Protect corners and edges, and use internal dividers when they help keep separate items in position.

Arrange the load so it is stable rather than concentrated against one wall. Check BagBird's prohibited-items and no-compensation lists before adding anything uncertain. Careful wrapping does not make a prohibited item acceptable or extend protection to an excluded item.

Add suitable cushioning around the sides and between the contents so that items do not shift freely. Finish with protection above the contents. Choose packing material that stays useful under the load; a small amount of loose paper will not reliably restrain a heavy object.

Bring the flaps together before sealing. They should meet normally, without a bulging lid or bowed side panels. If you have to sit on the box or pull the flaps together under strain, repack it or choose a different size. Do not solve overfilling by simply adding more tape.

Use strong packing tape intended for shipping cartons. On the closed bottom, tape across the central join and along both edge seams, forming an H. Repeat across the top after packing. Press the tape firmly onto clean, dry cardboard and secure its ends.

Do not rely on string, household adhesive tape or a single short strip across the middle. Check that all seams remain closed when the finished package is moved carefully. If a flap opens or the bottom begins to sag, stop and correct the packaging before collection.

Attach the label supplied for the booking to a flat outside face where the whole barcode can be read. Avoid folding it around a corner or placing it across a seam that may open. Keep old barcodes from competing with the new label.

Follow the document instructions supplied with your shipment and place a backup label inside as required by BagBird's terms. For several boxes, match each label to its own piece. Photograph the finished label and packaging before handing it over.

Weigh the sealed package and measure its outside length, width and height, including any bulging points. Use those finished measurements for the booking. If you change the contents or add another protective layer afterwards, check the figures again.

Before collection, inspect the corners, bottom and seams and confirm the contents list is final. Keep the box dry with the other labelled pieces. Arrange someone to meet the courier during the confirmed window.