What is the Best Material for Shipping?

Finding it challenging to ship your products? 

Sending a package shouldn’t feel like a game. Whether you’re an e-commerce brand or just mailing a birthday gift, the best material isn’t just one thing—it’s a calculated combination of the box, cushioning, and sealing.

So, what is the best material for shipping? 

In this guide, we’re breaking down the popular, widely used options in the shipping world to ensure your products arrive in one piece, not one hundred.

The Exterior

The exterior of your package is the first line of defense for your product. It shields your product so it survives conveyor belts, delivery trucks, and the occasional rainy porch. Choosing the right exterior shell for your shipment can be the difference between a five-star review and a customer service nightmare.

Let’s have a look at the best outer shell for shipping your products. 

Corrugated Boxes

Corrugated cardboard is engineered with a wavy (flute) layer sandwiched between two flat liners. This heavy-duty structure provides incredible structural integrity and shock absorption, making it the perfect solution for shipping boxes. 

And speaking of shipment, here are the main types of corrugated material to choose from, each suited for different needs:

• Single-Wall: The standard “Amazon-style” box, perfect for items under 20 lbs. 
• Double-wall: Adds an extra layer of fluting, making it the go-to for heavier kitchen appliances or fragile electronics.
• Triple-Wall: The heavyweight class material of the shipping world; the best option for shipping industrial parts or heavy machinery.

Why use corrugated boxes for shipping?

Corrugated boxes are recyclable, stackable, and offer the best “strength-to-weight” ratio in the shipping industry. A corrugated box is the champion for shipping everything from books and shoes to glass and fragile items.

An important note when choosing a shipping box is to select between 200# and 32 ECT boxes. What’s the difference? In brief, 200# boxes shine in durability and product protection. Meanwhile, 32 ECT boxes are more affordable and efficient for lightweight products. 

Kraft Boxes

Choosing kraft paper for your shipping boxes means saving the planet. Yes, this material is made from wood pulp using the “Kraft process,” which retains the fibers’ natural brown color and strength.

Why choose kraft for shipping? 

It is 100% biodegradable and screams “eco-friendly” to your customers. Plus, its smooth surface is perfect for custom branding or stamps. A kraft box is ideal for shipping handmade candles, delicate soaps, organic skincare, and lightweight gifts.

Mailer Boxes

Mailer boxes are durable, corrugated, and self-locking, making them ideal for securely shipping small, lightweight items like apparel, books, and gifts. These boxes are a favorite for e-commerce, offering a sleek unboxing experience while protecting fragile items in transit.

Poly Mailers

Poly mailers are thin, moisture-resistant bags with a self-adhesive seal. They are incredibly lightweight, which cuts down your shipping costs. Plus, these mailers take up zero storage space in your warehouse.

Choose poly mailers if you need to ship delicate items like t-shirts, hoodies, or other soft goods that can’t be crushed.

Padded Mailers

As the name suggests, padded mailers are lined with either bubble wrap or shredded paper padding. They offer “box-lite” protection without the box price. These mailers perform well in preventing scratches while staying flat enough to fit through most mail slots. They are the go-to choice for shipping small jewelry pieces, DVDs, small electronics, and cosmetics.

The Cushioning Materials

Safe shipping means protecting your product from the outside and inside. Once you’ve chosen the exterior, you still need to stop the “shake, rattle, and roll” product from happening inside. This is where internal cushioning comes into play. The right cushioning absorbs road vibrations and prevents your products from crashing into the box walls.

What are the options? 

Bubble Wrap

Bubble wrap comes in tiny air-filled hemispheres trapped between layers of plastic film.

It is the best material for “wrapping” individual items. 

Need to ship breakable ceramics? Bubble wrap provides a literal air cushion that absorbs high-velocity impacts. But don’t forget to read our blog post, “How to ship glass items,” to learn the proper ways to ship them. 

Foam Packaging 

Foam packaging is available in sheets, rolls, or “foam-in-place” sprays. The foam works well in cradling your product and keeping it still.

The best part? Foam is non-abrasive (it won’t scratch shiny surfaces) and is excellent for blocking and bracing heavy products like electronics or medical instruments, so they don’t move an inch.

Packing Peanuts

Packing peanuts come in S-shaped or bean-shaped pieces made of expanded polystyrene (plastic) or cornstarch (eco-friendly). They flow into every corner of a box, making them perfect for uniquely shaped items that a flat sheet can’t cover. 

And here’s the good news: they are available in biodegradable options. Use packing peanuts to ship flower vases and sculptures, and to fill the “void” in large boxes.

Insulated Liners and Pads

If you’re shipping food items, insulated liners and pads provide extra temperature control and protection; very useful for long-distance shipments or hot weather. 

Air Pillows

Air pillows are large, transparent plastic pillows filled with air. They add almost zero weight to your package while keeping your products centered. This type of cushioning is the cleanest and fastest way to fill large gaps. Therefore, air pillows are commonly used for shipping lightweight items in oversized boxes.

Wrapping & Securing Materials

A shipping box is only as good as the seal that holds it together. If your outer shell is not locked down, the cushioning doesn’t matter.

What wrapping and securing materials should you use? Stretch Wrap

Stretch Wrap

Highly elastic plastic film that returns to its original size after being stretched. Stretch wrap binds are the go-to choice for binding multiple products together or securing a box to a pallet. You can also use it to provide a layer of protection against dust and moisture.

Cardboard Inserts

Custom-cut cardboard pieces that fit inside your box to create compartments. These inserts provide extra vertical strength to the box and ensure your products never touch each other.

Why Choosing the Best Material for Shipping Matters? 

The shipping material you choose can directly impact your bottom line, brand reputation, and customer loyalty. Beyond simply holding a product, it also determines whether a customer receives a perfect product or a broken one, and at what cost to you.

Here are more reasons for you to choose the best material for shipping. 

Financial and Operational Impact

Replacing a damaged product can cost up to 17 times the original shipping cost. Proper materials, such as double-wall corrugated boxes, help you avoid these risks.

Moreover, as we know, carriers use “dimensional weight” (size vs. actual weight) to set prices. Lightweight, “right-sized” packaging helps you avoid paying for “shipping air”. So, make sure you know the accurate shipping box dimensions to choose from. 

Brand Image and Customer Experience

In e-commerce, your custom packaging boxes are the physical touchpoint between your brand and customers. By choosing the right shipping material, you tell customers that your business cares about your product’s quality and their unboxing experience.

Product’s Perceived Value

There is a direct link between packaging quality and product quality in customers’ minds. Expensive products delivered in flimsy, cheap materials will only trigger negative reviews before they are even used.

How to Choose the Best Shipping Material for Your Product?

Alright, now the main point: how to choose the best shipping material for your product? 

To make an informed decision, consider the essential factors below. 

• Product’s fragility: Delicate items require higher-quality cushioning, such as bubble wrap.
• Product’s weight & size: Choose a material that matches your product’s weight, and don’t forget to use the right box size to ensure your product is well-protected.
• Distance: Long-distance shipments require stronger, more durable packaging to handle more handling points.
• Budget: Balance material costs against the risk of damage; buying in bulk can reduce costs.
• Sustainability: Choose eco-friendly materials, such as kraft paper and biodegradable packing peanuts, to support your business’s sustainability efforts. 

Wrapping Up

No doubt, shipping a product safely is a calculated combination of the box, cushioning, and seal. For the best material for shipping, you should first choose the exterior shield (corrugated boxes, kraft boxes, mailer boxes, poly mailers, or padded mailers). To ensure your product arrives safely and in perfect condition, consider the right cushioning and seal, too. 

So, ready to ship your product? 

FAQs

What is the best material for shipping? 

For the best shipping material, you should first choose the exterior shield (corrugated boxes, kraft boxes, mailer boxes, poly mailers, or padded mailers). And to ensure your product arrives safely and in perfect condition, consider the right cushioning and seal, too. 

How to ship glass items safely? 

To ship glass items safely, choose corrugated boxes and add bubble wrap for cushioning. 

What cushioning should I use to ship food items? 

To ship food items, insulated liners and pads are ideal as they provide extra temperature control and protection; very useful for long-distance shipments or hot weather. 

How to choose the best shipping material?

To choose the best shipping material, consider your product’s fragility, product’s weight & size, distance, budget, and sustainability.