HOW TO WRAP A PARCEL FOR UK DELIVERY
The way you package your parcel before sending is always important. Our drivers will always go that extra mile to handle your parcel with total care. At DHL eCommerce UK, our parcels travel through a fully automated national delivery network designed for speed, safety, and efficiency.
However, when travelling through our network and across the UK, natural bumps and scrapes can occur - so, it's always better to prepare. To ensure your shipment arrives in the condition you handed it over in, we've put together a step-by-step guide on how to wrap a parcel for UK delivery.
In short, to safely wrap your parcel for UK delivery, you should:
- Use a rigid, undamaged cardboard box
- Fully encase items with internal cushioning
- Seal all joins securely with parcel tape
- Place the label flat on the top surface
Want to discover how to package your parcel for international delivery? Give our How To Package Parcels For International Delivery guide a read.
1. CHOOSE YOUR OUTER PACKAGING
Your box is the first line of defence - particularly when you've got something valuable or fragile packed away inside. Quality materials help to ensure your parcel remains stable on our sorters and in the back of our delivery vans.
- Quality Boxes: Use good-quality boxes as they provide better protection and offer flat surfaces for labels
- Avoid Weakness: Do not use damaged or weakened boxes, as they lack the structural integrity needed to adequately protect your contents.
- The 'Display' Rule: Retail or 'display' packaging should always be placed inside a stronger outer box for transit.
- Unique Shapes: Use triangular boxes for tube-shaped objects (posters, prints, etc.) to provide a stable base for our automated sorters.
- Remove Old Labels: If you are reusing a box, make sure you remove all old labels to prevent confusion within our automated network.
2. INTERNAL PROTECTION: THE FULLY 'ENCASED' STANDARD
Internal packaging isn't just for padding. It gives your parcel the rigidity needed for the journey, preventing it from moving or tipping. The ‘Fully Encased’ standard means that items must be completely surrounded by cushioning material so they cannot move and do not touch any external surface of the box.
- Full Encasement: All contents must be 'fully encased' by cushioning material - i.e. bubble wrap, scrunched brown paper or crumpled newspaper, packing peanuts, etc.
- Surface Separation: Make sure there's no direct contact between the item and any external surface of the box.
- Multiple Items: Use dividers when shipping multiple items in one box to reduce the risk of internal damage.
3. SEALING AND LABELLING FOR AUTOMATED SORTATION
Making sure your package is sealed and labelled correctly reduces delays and ensures it reaches its correct destination. Our state-of-the-art sorting machines reduce manual handling to optimise speed and efficiency. However, for this process to work seamlessly, it's key that your package is secured and our scanners can read the label clearly.
- Secure the Joins: Use strong parcel tape to seal all joins of the box so it can withstand abrasion during transit.
- The Flat Surface Rule: Place your address label on a flat area on the top surface of the parcel.
- Avoid the Edges: Labels must be placed flat, without creases, and should not be positioned over the joins of a box or around corners.
- No 'Shiny' Obstructions: Do not place labels under shrink wrap, Sellotape, or cellophane, as these create reflections that scanners cannot always see through.
- Space Requirements: Ensure your parcel has a flat space of at least 155 x 105mm for the label.
IS YOUR PARCEL READY FOR OUR TRANSIT NETWORK?
To travel through our automated network without manual intervention, your shipment should meet these specific dimensions and weights:
| Metric | Minimum | Maximum |
| Length | 155mm | 1,200mm |
| Width | 105mm | 700mm |
| Height | 10mm | 700mm |
| Weight | 100g | 30kg |
*Please note: Items with two sides greater than 800mm are deemed "non-machinable".
Head to our parcel sizes page to learn more.
IMPORTANT DOS AND DON'TS WHEN WRAPPING YOUR PARCEL
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Don't Use Black Wrap: We do not generally permit parcels to be wrapped in black outer wrapping. The shiny surface reflects light and can confuse our automated sorting machines.We do not generally permit parcels to be wrapped in black outer wrapping. The shiny surface reflects light and can confuse our automated sorting machines. |
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Don't Send Items Weighing Over 30kg: The maximum weight for a machinable parcel is 30kg. Items requiring more than one person to lift (greater than 30kg) are deemed out of gauge. |
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Do Include Orientation Arrows on Liquid Shipments: All liquids must be suitably boxed, display orientation arrows, and be clearly marked as containing liquid. Packaging must be sufficient to contain spillages. |
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Don't Obscure Labels With Strapping: If you use 'Strapex' or strapping, ensure the barcode is not obscured so it can be tracked through our network. |
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Don’t Try To Send Opened or Unboxed Items: Everything should be suitably wrapped or packaged before you hand it over. |
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Do Take Extra Care When Wrapping Fragile Goods: Fragile labels are no substitute for correct packaging. |
READY TO BOOK PARCEL DELIVERY WITH DHL ECOMMERCE UK?
Book your parcel delivery slot with DHL eCommerce UK today. You can send parcels measuring up to 120 x 70 x 70cm, weighing up to 30kg, to any UK address - with next working day delivery as standard. We offer complete convenience too - arrange collection straight from your front door, or drop off at your local DHL eCommerce UK depot or ServicePoint.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. We recommend avoiding brown paper or outer gift wrap for UK delivery. In a high-speed automated network, paper can easily tear or snag in the machinery. If the paper tears away, your shipping label may be lost, leading to delivery delays. It is always best to use a sturdy, unwrapped corrugated cardboard box.
While 'Fragile' or 'Handle with Care' tape can be used as a visual guide for our drivers, it is not a substitute for correct packaging. Your parcel must be able to withstand the natural bumps of a fully automated network through robust internal cushioning and a strong outer box.
Yes, provided the box is still rigid and in good condition. You must ensure that all old barcodes and address labels are completely removed or blacked out. If old labels are left visible, they can be scanned by our automated sorters, causing the parcel to be routed to the wrong destination.
Black or very dark outer wrapping can also interfere with the infrared sensors on our automated sorting machines. This may prevent the machine from 'seeing' the parcel or reading the barcode, requiring the parcel to be pulled for manual handling, which can slow down your delivery time.