How to pack & wrap a parcel for delivery

How to wrap a package for shipping

1. Choose the right box

Select a sturdy box that's slightly larger than your item, allowing ample space for cushioning. If you're reusing a box, ensure it's in good condition with no holes, tears, or punctures. 

For fragile items, consider double-boxing by placing the item in a smaller box before placing it inside a larger one. This provides an extra layer of protection against bumps and drops.

2. Use dividers

If you're shipping multiple items in one box, use dividers to separate them and prevent them from shifting or colliding during transit. Dividers can be made of cardboard, foam, or other sturdy materials. 

Dividers are particularly important for fragile items, as they minimise the risk of them bumping against each other and getting damaged.

3. Wrap your items individually

Use bubble wrap or other cushioning materials to wrap each item separately—this prevents them from shifting and colliding during transit, which can cause damage. 

For irregularly shaped items, consider using custom-fit foam inserts for optimal protection. Individual wrapping is a crucial step in how you can pack your parcel effectively.

4. Secure heavy items in place

Position heavier items in the center of the box and secure them in place using packing tape, packing straps, or other suitable methods. This will prevent them from moving around during shipping, which can cause damage. 

Additionally, consider using extra reinforcement, such as cardboard inserts or wooden braces, to minimize damage to the box or other items when they are out for delivery.

5. Fill empty spaces

Use strong packing tape to seal all seams and flaps of the box. Ensure the tape is applied evenly and securely to prevent the box from opening during transit. Reinforce the edges and corners of the box with additional tape for extra protection against wear and tear.

6. Seal the box securely

Use strong packing tape to seal all seams and flaps of the box. Ensure the tape is applied evenly and securely to prevent the box from opening during transit. Reinforce the edges and corners of the box with additional tape for extra protection against wear and tear.

7. Label your parcel correctly

Clearly write or print the recipient's complete address and your return address on the parcel. Use a waterproof pen or marker to prevent smudging. Place the labels on the largest flat surface of the package and consider enclosing a duplicate address label inside the box in case the external one gets damaged. This parcel packing tip is crucial for ensuring a successful delivery.

8. Attach any necessary documentation

If you're shipping internationally, securely attach any required customs forms or commercial invoices to the outside of the parcel. Ensure these shipping documents are placed in a clear plastic pouch or envelope to protect them from moisture and damage. 

Correct documentation is essential when packing parcels for international delivery from Belgium.

Parcel packing tips

When it comes to parcel packing, careful preparation is key to ensuring your items arrive safely. This section provides essential parcel packing tips to guide you through the process.

Assessing your product

Before you start packing your parcels, it’s essential to thoroughly assess your product. 

• How much does your product weigh? 

• How fragile is it? 

• How valuable is it? 

• Does it need controlled conditions, like regulated humidity? 

• Are there any special packaging regulations around it, as with foodstuffs? 

How much have you factored into the cost of your product for wrapping and packaging? This will influence your packaging budget.

Did you know that quite innocuous products like perfume or electronics, for example, can be classified as Dangerous Goods and need to be packaged accordingly? 

These are all things to consider when deciding how to pack a parcel.

For heavier or more fragile items, not all cardboard boxes are the same. You need to choose the right type for your external packaging. Double or triple-wall boxes are more appropriate for these challenging packages. 

There should be a manufacturer’s stamp that provides more information about the strength and durability of the box, or, failing that, consult your box supplier. This assessment is the first step in ensuring secure parcel packing for shipping and delivery.

Choosing appropriate packaging materials

There are essentially two types of packaging: external and internal. Unless your product requires specialised packaging, like liquids or powders, the external packaging is usually some form of cardboard box. Always choose a high-quality corrugated cardboard box and avoid reusing old boxes, as they lose their rigidity. 

Internal packaging is used to cushion your product and fill gaps inside the box, to stop the goods from moving around. Styrofoam used to be a favorite, but this has now been banned in many countries, including often within Belgium, as it’s so damaging to the environment. 

Knowing how to pack a parcel involves selecting the right internal materials. There are many different types of internal packaging, which have different levels of suitability for cushioning, filling gaps or voids, protection, or as dividers when you’re shipping multiple products in the same box.

Here is a simple chart showing some of your packaging options and what they are best used for:

For internal protection, biodegradable air peanuts are a greener alternative to styrofoam. Bubble wrap also does a good job of cushioning and protecting your product, but again, this is a traditional plastic-based packaging material, and corrugated bubble wrap is a lot greener. 

Foam wrap, air pillows, crumpled paper, corrugated inserts, and shredded cardboard are all other alternatives for protecting your goods – you just need to decide which is most suitable for packing your parcels securely.

Marketing and personalised packaging

While the primary purpose of packaging is to protect your goods while they are in transit, it can do so much more. Your parcel packing can become a powerful marketing tool, allowing you to communicate with your customer when they’re feeling most positive towards your brand.

At its most basic, packaging can bolster your brand image with consistent colours, logos, messaging, typography, and other design elements. While your outer packaging may be a cardboard box, it needn’t just be plain brown! Consider using packing tape in your brand colours and custom-designed labels.

You can also align your packaging with your advertising. For example, if you’re running a social media campaign using a particular headline, why not look into adding it to your packaging? You can also cross-promote your social media campaign by adding a hashtag or social handle.

Other opportunities include: 

• Tying in your packaging with particular events and holidays (e.g., Valentine’s Day or Christmas)

• Adding a personalised, handwritten thank-you card (perhaps with a personal discount code)

• Dropping in free samples of related products. 

Creative wrapping, packaging, personalisation, free samples, and discounts are all powerful ways of encouraging customer loyalty and repeat purchases.

Make sure it's returns-friendly

​​Returns are a fact of life in the age of e-commerce. While offering free returns has cost implications for your business, many customers will only shop from retailers that operate with a free returns policy. It’s a dilemma you have to weigh up and make a decision about when considering your overall parcel packing and shipping processes.

Whatever you decide, a return is still an opportunity for your business to grow. By making it as hassle-free and simple as possible, you will encourage the customer to buy from you again, even though this particular purchase hasn’t worked out. So always include clear instructions and a returns label. 

And in terms of the packaging itself, choose a box that is easy to open – perforated, for example – and easy to reuse and re-seal, maybe including an adhesive strip.

By putting some thought into it, you can make the returns process a positive customer experience and a way of differentiating yourself from your competitors. This consideration applies whether you are packing parcels for delivery within Belgium or internationally.

Sustainable packaging

Make no mistake: across most modern parcel packing tips, sustainability is a huge issue among consumers now, and using sustainable packaging could be crucial to the popularity of your brand. 

Sustainable, green, or eco-friendly packaging are terms that mean the same thing: packaging that has the lowest possible impact on the environment. This low impact is achieved in three basic ways: 

1. By limiting packaging waste

2. By using materials that are recyclable or biodegradable

3. By the use of renewable energy in the production of the packaging.

So, how to pack a parcel with sustainability in mind? Most obviously, cut back on waste by using packaging that’s the right size for whatever product you’re sending. Shipping a small product in a big box annoys recipients so much that, in the past, they’ve taken to social media to shame companies who do so.

As for packaging materials, new sustainable packaging alternatives are being developed all the time:

• Biodegradable packaging peanuts can be used instead of styrofoam, and corrugated cardboard bubble wrap instead of traditional plastic-based bubble wrap. 

• Air pillows that are made from recycled or biodegradable materials.

• Corn starch as a substitute for plastic. 

• Biodegradable and recycled plastics. 

Organic ecological textiles are also becoming more popular, including organic cotton wool for cushioning, linen and poplin anti-scratch covers, and tape made from hemp.

And finally, try to source cardboard boxes and paper that have been recycled or certified to support sustainably managed forests when wrapping a package for shipping or wrapping a parcel for delivery.

Why proper packaging and wrapping are essential for safe delivery

Effective parcel packing and careful wrapping are essential for ensuring safe delivery, whether within Belgium or abroad. Items face diverse stresses during transit, from vibrations and impacts to environmental changes. Without adequate internal and external packaging, goods can shift, collide, or be crushed, leading to damage. 

For instance, when shipping musical instruments, precise cushioning and careful wrapping can prevent irreparable harm from transit shocks or temperature fluctuations.

Proper packing ensures your parcel arrives intact and on time, safeguarding product quality and customer satisfaction. These parcel packing tips are key to every successful shipment.

Other considerations when shipping overseas

While mastering parcel packing tips ensures your items are well-protected, other factors can impact customer satisfaction. Even with perfect packaging, delays or surprise additional costs can disappoint customers in Belgium and beyond.

If you need extra help ensuring your packages are securely wrapped and packed for delivery, DHL offers specialised packing services and expert guidance. This means you don't have to figure out how to pack a parcel perfectly on your own, ensuring your items are ready for safe transit.

DHL Express can also help you navigate international trade by enabling you to calculate your customs duty, tax, and other fees, so you can pay them upfront. Additionally, you can obtain the correct HS (Harmonised System) codes and verify your shipment’s compliance with the import and export regulations of any country.

You can do it all, using our free Global Trade Services toolkit.

So, your packages will ensure your shipment arrives at its destination in one piece. But will it arrive on time? That’s where DHL has you covered. With a DHL Express Business Account, you’ll have access to a range of expedited shipping solutions to help you meet your customers’ expectations.