Knowing how to wrap a parcel for delivery is a skill that is becoming increasingly valuable.

Whether you are an e-commerce professional managing an online store or sending a birthday present to a family member, knowing how to post a parcel properly can help your package look its best when it arrives at the doorstep.

Ensuring that parcels are properly wrapped also helps prevent the contents from becoming damaged in transit, as well as ensuring that your packaging complies with Royal Mail’s sizing guidelines.

Throughout this article, we will provide you with a simple step-by-step guide that explains some of the best practices you can use when wrapping a parcel for delivery, including:

• What You Need To Wrap A Parcel
• A Step-By-Step Guide to Wrapping Parcels
• Common Mistakes To Look Out For When Wrapping A Parcel

A Step-By-Step Guide To Parcel Wrapping

What You Need To Wrap A Parcel

To wrap a parcel successfully, you will need several pieces of packaging material. These include:

Exterior Packaging: This is the piece of postal packaging that will be most important, as it will keep your items together and protect your parcel from external factors such as rain or damp.

Exterior packaging can take many forms, depending on the size of your parcel. You could choose a cardboard box (a postal box is ideal for sending parcels via Royal Mail), a mailing bag, a postal envelope, or even a postal tube for large prints or art.

If you are sending anything particularly large or fragile, a box may be the best idea as they are available in a variety of sizes and can provide additional space for protective packaging material.

Protective Packaging Material: Depending on the object being sent, adding protective packaging material can be a critical step in wrapping a parcel.

If you are sending objects made of glass or porcelain, for example, you will likely want to protect them with high-quality bubble wrap to absorb shock and prevent breakage. When sending electronics with a screen or a material that may scratch, such as crystal, securing the surface with a piece of foam roll can help protect it from surface abrasions.

Void Fill: Void fill is a type of packaging material used to secure packages in transit. If there is extra room in your box or mailing bag, items can be damaged as they move and shift during transit.

By filling the extra space with foam void fill, paper void fill, or air pillows, you can secure your package and reduce the risk of breakage. 

Packaging Tape: A wide range of packaging tapes is available, depending on your specific needs.

Brown parcel tape is a classic, all-around choice that performs well in a range of circumstances, but may not be the best option for parcels that require secure packaging.

Instead, consider a water-activated gummed paper tape or reinforced crossweave tape, as the nature of the adhesive and the paper backing means that some varieties of gummed paper tape adhere to the outside of cardboard boxes, making it exceptionally difficult to remove without leaving a trace. 

Scissors or a Safety Knife: When sending packages, it’s essential to have a quality pair of scissors or a safety knife to cut tape and labels to the correct size.

 Although leaving tape or labels with a ragged edge may not impact your ability to send a parcel, cutting your tape properly is a simple way to make your wrapping and dispatching process seem more professional.

Packaging Labels or Document Wallets: A parcel isn’t much use if there is no destination. Although you can write directly on the exterior of paper packaging, such as envelopes and boxes, if you are using mailing bags, you will likely want to add either a paper label or a document wallet to store this information.

Even if you are using paper packaging, adding a label is still a good idea as it stands out clearly and makes the intended address obvious.

How To Wrap A Parcel

Step 1 – Find The Perfect Packaging

Depending on the dimensions of the items you are sending, various postal packaging options are available.

For small, sturdy items like keyrings, stickers, or small toys, a mailing bag or envelope could be the perfect choice, especially if you plan to send a high volume of parcels and are trying to keep costs down.

If you have a larger item or something particularly fragile, it is worth taking the time to find the perfect postal box. The time you invest at the beginning will help ensure your delivery looks great when it arrives.

If you are posting a print, a piece of art, or any other large piece of paper that cannot be creased, a postal tube will provide the space to roll your paper into a tube, preserving its shape.

Step 2 – Secure Your Package

When wrapping your package, you want to protect it as much as possible. Accidental knocks, trips, and slips are all simple ways that a fragile parcel could get damaged.

An effective way to protect your packages in transit is to use protective packaging materials. Bubble wrap is the most well-known and effective method for protecting packages against shocks and drops, but foam roll, kraft paper and air void fill are all fantastic options.

Ensure that any voids in your package are filled with a shock-absorbing material to provide the maximum protection possible, and that particularly fragile items are protected by bubble wrap.

Step 3 – Seal Your Package

Sealing your package is an important step when putting your package together. When sealing a package, ensure you use high-quality packaging tape and seal all openings.

If you are using a cardboard box, this may require sealing around the lid to prevent it from coming loose. If you are sealing an envelope with a traditional lick-and-stick adhesive, adding a piece of tape over the seal will give you further confidence that it won’t be opened accidentally in transit.

Step 4 – Write a Clear Label

To ensure that your package arrives at the correct destination, it’s essential to create a clear and unambiguous label. Printing a label may be preferable, as printed labels are easier to read, but any label written in clear handwriting should suffice.

Additionally, your parcel should include a clearly labelled return address on the reverse side in case it gets lost in transit.

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Wrapping A Parcel

In this section, we will cover four simple mistakes to avoid when packaging a parcel.

Using Weak Or Insufficient Tape

When taping a parcel for delivery, use strong tape at every opening to ensure a good seal. You can then reinforce this seal by taping the same area twice, or crosshatching by taping in two different directions.

If the outside of your parcel is card or paper-based, gummed tape may provide a superior seal, as well as being more tamper-proof.

Using Too Much Or Too Little Void Fill

If you don’t use enough void fill when packaging your parcel, the items inside may shift around during transit. However, if you overfill your package to an extreme degree, this could cause the tape sealing your parcel to burst, potentially causing the loss of your parcel altogether.

Unclear Labels

Clear labels ensure that they will arrive at their correct destination. If your labels are smudged or messy, they may become undeliverable. You should always include a return address to ensure that any parcel that does get lost can be returned. 

Adding a piece of clear packaging over the label will also help prevent damage if the package is exposed to rainy or wet conditions.

Build A Perfect Parcel By Choosing Premium Packaging Materials

Sending a great, professional-looking parcel effectively starts with choosing the best packaging materials.

If you want to ensure that your packages arrive safely, damage-free, and looking their absolute best, you need to identify the best boxes, filler, and tape to match your specific needs.

If you have any questions about how to pack parcels safely and effectively, or if you are considering placing a bulk order, please contact us at info@schottpackaging.co.uk. Any of our staff members will be happy to help you find the perfect solution for your packaging needs.