How to Ship Glass Items: The Ultimate Guide

Last Updated on February 2, 2024 by Packoi Team

Whether you’re a business owner shipping glass products to your customer or you’re simply sending someone some glassware gift, you need to get the packaging right for the item to arrive at the destination safely.

Glass items are highly fragile, and shipping them requires more thought and care. To ship glass items safely, you need to choose the right packaging materials, optimize your packaging process for safety, and choose the right shipping service that can handle fragile items well.

In this article, we’ll discuss each of them one by one. Let’s begin!

Select Packing filler Materials for Glass Shipping 

Here are the materials you need to start packing and shipping glass carefully:

1. Bubble Wrap

Bubble wraps are a must-have for a protective cushion against impact while shipping. There are different types of bubble wrap, from foam-backed to anti-static, but the most common type is the standard plastic ones with tiny bubbles intended for general purposes.

2. Packing Peanuts or Foam Peanuts

Packing peanuts or foam peanuts fill the empty spaces between the glassware item and the rest of the space within the box. This offers additional cushioning when shipping fragile items.

3. Foam Sheets or Foam Rolls

On top of the layers of bubble wrap, this is another addition and cushioning material. Certain foam sheets also offer insulation, and they’re relatively cost-effective.

4. Corrugated Cardboard Inserts

You need corrugated inserts for separating components within the box, especially when shipping multiple items. They’re super rigid and durable, helping you achieve proper packaging for more secure transit.

6 Types of Materials for Glass Shipping Boxes

It’s important to check with your carrier or shipping option and confirm their shipping requirements to ensure that you’re using the right box for your item’s size and weight. The following are the general types of boxes for glass shipping:

1. Corrugated Cardboard Boxes

Unlike a cardboard box with a single sheet, a corrugated box has several layers of materials: an inside liner, a medium or flute (the wavy lines in between), and the outside liner. It’s a cheap and sturdy packing material that is also easier to recycle.

2. Double-Walled Boxes

Double-walled boxes are more heavy-duty, with two layers of corrugated cardboard. For heavier items and more fragile glass, this can add an extra layer of protection.

3. Triple-Walled Boxes

For even larger shipments or heavier types of glass, you can use triple-walled boxes. Triple-walled boxes are typically used for heavy-duty industrial items like metal parts, boilers, compressors, and pumps. However, you’re free to use one for fragile glass items as well, especially for long transits.

4. Wooden Crates

A wooden crate can carry more weight than corrugated boxes. No matter the weather conditions, using a wooden crate can secure the cargo without getting distorted. It’s another way to ensure that your item is properly packed and arrives at its destination intact.

5. Plastic Boxes

For shorter distances, you can also go for plastic boxes. While plastic can be breakable, there are rigid plastic containers made of high-density polyethylene and polypropylene. There are even corrugated plastic boxes as well, along with other specialized plastic shipping containers. 

6. Specialty Shipping Boxes

For businesses looking to customize their shipping boxes for seamless glass shipping, work with experienced custom packaging solutions like Packoi. Tailoring the design and size of your boxes according to your product and brand can not only better ensure proper packing but can also help establish consistent branding. 

How to Choose the Right Glass Shipping Box?

When choosing the right packaging for your glassware, the following are your main considerations:

• Material
• Size
• Thickness
• Strength
• Weight Capacity
• Moisture resistant
• Cost

While it’s important to keep fragile items secure throughout the shipping stages, you also don’t want your items to be overpackaged. Excessive packaging will not only lead to high shipping costs but also affect the customer experience and the environment. That’s why it’s always recommended to go for custom-fit packaging for a more efficient shipping and packing process, tailored to your product’s unique shape and size. This way, there will be minimal space, which then reduces the need for more packing material as well as extra fillers and foam inserts. Besides, overpacking may also increase the risk of the item breaking due to pressure. 

Before mass production, it’s best to test and prototype your packaging design to ensure efficiency. There’s a sweet spot between underpackaging and overpacking. Finding that balance allows you to ensure that you’re using appropriate packaging materials to ship your wrapped glass items and boxes securely.

How to Ship Glass without Breaking

Now that you know the materials you need to gather, let’s move on to the ‘hows.’. Even if you’re using the correct materials, if you’re not packing it the right way, all your efforts will be futile. Follow the steps below to make sure that your item gets to Point B undamaged. 

Step 1: Gather Packing Materials

Again, make sure that your packing materials are appropriate for the size and weight of the item. As soon as the order is placed, get your packing materials ready!

Step 2: Clean the Glass Items

A lot of customers complain about receiving dusty and grimy products. Make sure to avoid that bad impression by paying attention to detail. Clean the glass surface thoroughly with the right cleaning solution and glass care process.

Step 3: Wrap the Glass Items in Bubble Wrap

Wrap each item individually. Cover the glass itself with adequate bubble wrap and the areas around it to also ensure stability and minimize movement within the packaging. Wrap with multiple layers of 1/16’’ bubble wrap or go for thicker ones from 1/8-inch to 1/2-inch thickness, depending on the weight of the item. You can also use packing paper as a first layer of protection.

Step 4: Secure the Glass Items with Foam Wrap

Foam wrap is perfect for wrapping shiny and polished items like glass, protecting them against scratching and scraping. Plus, it adds thermal insulation for temperature sensitivity.

Step 5: Place the Glass Items in a Box

Ideally, it’s a custom box or the perfect size for the item to avoid too much excess space. Place the glass item gently, and add more cushioning materials to the remaining gaps as needed. For added protection, some businesses use two boxes: an inner box and an outer box. Secure the smaller box inside the larger box, and add air pillows or packing peanuts to the empty spaces. Or perhaps you can just use a double- or triple-layer box depending on your item’s weight, thickness, and fragility.

Step 6: Seal the Box with Packing Tape

Seal the box and add “Handle with care” or “Fragile” labels (in big and bold letters) along with the shipping address. It’s also a good idea to reinforce the edges and corners of the box with extra tape to avoid tearing and collapsing during transit.

How to Ship Glass – Shipping Options

There are many options for shipping items. Each one varies in terms of delivery speed, shipping rates, and package tracking. The following options are services with extensive experience in the proper handling and shipping of fragile and delicate items like glass. Plus, you can track your shipments in real-time with the following services:

UPS

UPS was established in 1907 in Seattle, Washington. With over a hundred years of experience in global package delivery, UPS is a trusted choice. The delivery speed and shipping rates depend on the location, but for worldwide destinations, the delivery time is usually 2–5 days. In general, UPS has been preferred for freight packages and larger shipments.

USPS

If you’re just shipping smaller items, USPS can be the cheapest. In terms of delivery speed, it depends on the shipping tier you choose. If you want faster shipping, you’d have to pay a premium. For their regular rates, the pricing varies by destination. Their popular services include USPS Retail Ground and Priority Mail.

FedEx

Established in 1971, FedEx has been popular for its express delivery services and detailed tracking. FedEx delivers packages seven days a week. Other services don’t usually offer weekend deliveries. The company also offers supply chain management and other logistics services. It’s no doubt that FedEx has earned its reputation for dependable and expedited shipping services worldwide. 

For urgent shipments, all shipping services above offer shipping insurance and overnight delivery. Just check their websites to explore options for more time-sensitive deliveries. 

Conclusion

To efficiently pack glass items, you sometimes need to think outside the box. However, as long as you do your due diligence in terms of selecting the right materials, packaging process, and package delivery services, you’ll be able to find the best and safest ways to do business, increase revenue, and improve customer satisfaction. We hope the tips above gave you valuable insights for shipping glass items and will help you further optimize and improve your shipping process.

Discover the Perfect Shipping Package Solution for Your Business with Packoi

Being in the glass business requires you to be even more meticulous. For high-quality packing solutions tailored to your needs, work with Packoi and use the best shipping boxes tailored to your needs. We even offer eco-friendly materials to support your branding efforts.

With Packoi, you can expect a fully customizable experience with a fast turnaround. We also support small businesses by setting low minimum order requirements. We’re here to meet your packing and branding needs, making your packaging journey optimized and hassle-free.

Request a free quote today. With Packoi, it’s all quick and easy!