Packaging Guidelines for International Shipping
Good packaging protects your product and your margin. Your shipment is loaded in and out of vehicles multiple times, passes over conveyor belts in sorting centres, bumps against other parcels and bears the weight of other packages on top.
Why packaging is extra important for international shipping
- More handling moments than domestic (more cross-dock in sorting centres)
- Longer transit time = more chance of damage
- Non-conforming packaging leads to surcharges or return shipment
- More damage and unhappy customers
These brands deliver a perfect delivery experience with Wuunder
Basic rules
- Stackable: carriers want to stack parcels. Non-stackable shapes (triangle, cylinder, sealbag) incur an extra handling surcharge
- Sturdy: your box must bear the weight of other parcels (up to 50kg on top)
- Protection: use filling material around the product. Minimum 5cm space on each side for fragile items
- No original packaging visible: don't ship valuable products in recognisable brand packaging. An iPhone in an Apple box attracts unwanted attention
Reduce dimensional weight with PuzzlPack
Carriers charge based on whichever is higher: actual weight or dimensional weight. An oversized box means you pay for air. Moreover, a box with too much air collapses when weight is placed on top, causing the parcel to bulge wider and potentially triggering extra handling or oversize surcharges.
PuzzlPack calculates the smallest packaging size per order based on your product dimensions. The result: lower shipping costs, lower surcharges and less packaging material.
“The transportation costs are reduced with 20 to 30 percent.”
Jan van Amerongen, Summertoys
Common mistakes
- Outer packaging too thin (tears during handling)
- No filling (product slides back and forth)
- Label stuck over the edge (not scannable)
- Product heavier than the box can handle (bottom collapses)
- Packaging not suitable for moisture (postal shipments can get wet)
- Too much air in the box (packaging collapses under weight, bulges wider, and triggers oversize surcharges)
Discover the possibilities
We'd love to show you during a demo how Wuunder can help you to reduce damages when shipping cross-border.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What happens if my parcel doesn't meet packaging requirements?
A: The carrier can charge an extra handling surcharge. In case of serious violations of maximum dimensions or weight, your shipment is returned with a penalty on top of the shipping costs.
Q: What's the difference between dimensional weight and actual weight?
A: Carriers charge whichever is higher. Dimensional weight = (L × W × H) / divisor. A large but light parcel pays for the space it occupies, not what it weighs. PuzzlPack helps you choose the smallest packaging per order.
Q: Can I ship a product in its original brand packaging?
A: Technically yes, but strongly discouraged for valuable products. Recognisable brand packaging (Apple, Samsung, etc.) attracts unwanted attention and increases the risk of theft.
Q: How do I best protect fragile products?
A: Use at least 5cm of filling material on each side. Choose shock-absorbing material (air cushions, foam). Assume your parcel will be rotated in all directions and that up to 50kg can be stacked on top.
Q: Will I get a surcharge if my parcel isn't stackable?
A: Yes. Parcels with an irregular shape (cylinder, triangle) or in a plastic sealbag that can't go over a conveyor belt receive an extra handling surcharge from most carriers.
Q: How does PuzzlPack help with packaging optimisation?
A: PuzzlPack calculates the smallest possible packaging size per order based on your product dimensions. This way you don't pay for air and save on both shipping costs and packaging material.
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