Long, round or flexible: packaging items that don't fit in a standard box
- , by Verpakkingdeals.nl
- 5 min reading time
A poster, a photo frame or a soft jumper rarely fit neatly into a standard box. Here's how to pack long, round and flexible items without paying for air or risking damage.
A rolled-up poster. A 70 by 50 photo frame. A knitted sweater you just sold. A set of candles five centimeters too long for every box in your cupboard. As soon as something doesn't fit neatly into a rectangle, the hassle begins: you grab an oversized box, stuff it with whatever's lying around, and then pay for air. Or worse: the package arrives bent.
Packaging isn't about the box you happen to have, but about the shape you need to protect. Below, we'll go through the three tricky shapes – long, round, and flexible – and what works for each shape.
Why an odd shape turns out to be more expensive than you think
There are three ways an unusual shape costs you money. First, the size: carriers charge not only by weight but also by dimensions, so a long, half-empty box quickly falls into a more expensive class. Always check your carrier's website for exact rates – these change regularly.
Second, damage. A long, narrow package experiences a lever effect during transit: pressure in the middle hits hard if the ends are supported. Third, time. Something that doesn't fit costs you five to ten minutes of improvisation per package. For two orders a week, that's nothing. For twenty, it's half a workday per month.
Long and narrow: build a beam, not a tube
For long, thin items, the reflex is often a tube. Fine in itself, but a round tube rolls off the conveyor belt, is difficult to label, and has weak ends. A sturdier solution is a beam: roll the item in bubble wrap until you have a thicker, stiffer cylinder, and secure it in an elongated box with padding at both ends.
The Bubble Wrap Roll 500 mm x 500 m (€12.95) is a logical basis for this: 50 centimeters wide is enough to wrap most elongated items in one go. If you only send something occasionally, the Green Bubble Wrap 50 x 500 cm (€5.00) will suffice.
Two things to remember with long packages:
- Fill the ends most securely. That's where the impact will be when it's put down.
- Don't let anything rattle lengthwise. An item that can slide five centimeters will build up momentum.
Round, spherical, or irregular: make it a rectangle
Vases, mugs, spheres, anything with a protruding handle or a thin neck: the problem is that the box only makes contact at a few points. With a round shape, the weight rests on a small surface, and that's precisely where it breaks.
The approach is always the same: build a block around the item with padding, so it floats in the center of the box and remains clear of the cardboard on all six sides. Rule of thumb: at least three centimeters between the product and the wall. For small, compact items, a cube box works well for this, such as the Cardboard Shipping Box 15x15x15 cm (€1.99). For larger or multiple items at once, the 50-liter Action Moving Box 480x430x330 mm (€3.50) is a cheap workhorse box.
Is the box too big? Cut it down. Measure the height you need, cut the four corners to that point, fold the walls inwards, and tape it shut. You retain the strength of the cardboard and lose the air.