If you are a small business owner or regularly send parcels to your friends or loved ones, you’ll know that the cost of packaging can quickly add up especially if you are constantly buying new materials. In this guide, we show you how you can keep your packaging costs down without compromising on quality.
Take a look at our top tips to save money on the cost of your packaging and ensure your items are safe in transit.
TIP 1 – ONE SIZE DOESN’T FIT ALL
Always make sure the box fits the item you are sending. If the box is too small then you risk it splitting and the item getting damaged in transit. On the other hand, if the box is too big then you can end up paying to send empty space. As a rule of thumb, the item should sit comfortably in the box and there should be a 6cm gap between the item and the box’s outer walls.
When sending a parcel within the UK, you'll need to tell us how big it is and how much it weighs. Keep this in mind when shopping for packaging as the bigger the parcel size, the more it will cost to send. For international parcels, you will need to provide an accurate weight (in kilograms) and size (in centimetres). You will be charged by the weight of the parcel or the volumetric weight (depending on which one is bigger). Using a smaller parcel will keep the volumetric weight down so you won’t be charged as much to send.
UK parcel sizes (Inc. VAT)
| Size |
Price |
Dimension |
|
Small Up to 5kg |
Small- Next Day parcel delivery From only £2.79 |
Maximum dimensions (cm): 35 (l) x 35 (w) x 35 (h) |
|
Medium Up to 10kg |
Large - Next Day parcel delivery From only £2.79 |
Maximum dimensions (cm): 60 (l) x 60 (w) x 60 (h) |
|
Large Up to 20kg |
Large - Next Day parcel delivery From only £4.90 |
Maximum dimensions (cm): 60 (l) x 60 (w) x 60 (h) |
|
Extra Large Up to 30kg |
Extra Large - Next Day parcel delivery From ony £8.80 |
Maximum dimensions (cm): 120 (l) x 70 (w) x 70 (h) |
TIP 2 – BUY IN BULK
Buying in bulk can be an effective way of reducing the price of packaging. However, it’s important to make sure you are happy with your choices before investing in large quantities. We recommend trialling a few different solutions first to make sure you are happy with the quality and the protection it offers. If you regularly ship items which are different shapes and sizes, it can be a good idea to invest in a few different sizes to avoid using parcels which are too big or too small for the item.
TIP 3 – SAVE ON PRINTING COSTS
Printing
There's every chance your printer has been gathering dust next to your PC since everything went digital. Fear not though, it could help in your packaging efforts if you invest in the right paper and labels to affix on the outside of your box. You can now print various sized labels when you have completed your booking with us. Whether you opt to print on sticky labels or pop your labels in a waterproof docket - we've got lots of options to print the right sized labels for your delivery.
Go label-less
The cost of a printer, ink and paper can add up so why not switch to label-less sending? When you drop-off your parcel at any of our 3,500 DHL eCommerce UK ServicePoint, there’s no need to print a label. Simply book your parcel delivery online and we’ll send a barcode to your phone. Show this to the shopkeeper at your local ServicePoint, who will scan the phone and apply a sticker to the parcel ready for sending.
TIP 4: USE QUALITY PACKAGING PRODUCTS
When shopping for packaging, it can be tempting to go for the cheapest option – but this isn’t always the best option, especially if you are a small business owner. While there is an initial cost saving associated with using cheaper materials, you may end up spending more in the long run.
If the box or mailing bag doesn’t offer sufficient protection, your item may get damaged in transit. For a business, this will mean you have to fork out for returns, replacements and written off stock. Not to mention your reputation will be damaged by the incident.
Always use packaging which is appropriate for the items you are sending. A mailing bag works well for clothes which won’t easily get damaged in transit. Whereas, if you are sending something heavy or breakable then we recommend investing in a study, double walled box which will offer more protection.
TIP 5: MORE THAN JUST A BOX
If you regularly send parcels, it can be helpful to keep a spreadsheet of all the packing materials you use. Remember, it’s not just a box which you use – you should also make a record or tape, internal packaging and labels used. Keeping a spreadsheet of all of these costs will help you identify where you can make savings.
TIP 6: YOUR TIME IS VALUABLE
You can make savings by constructing the box yourself or sealing the parcel with tape, but remember to factor in your time which may be better spent on other tasks. If you are a small business and are fulfilling multiple orders every day, you can save time and energy by investing in hassle-free packaging.
There’s lots of clever solutions on the market – from mailing bags with built-in padding to self-sealing parcels. By reducing the time spent packaging parcels, you can invest it elsewhere in your business whether that’s being creative, implementing new marketing campaigns or buying new merchandise.
TIP 7: RECYCLE PACKAGING
With the rise of online shopping, the average household will receive several parcels every week. Why not save some of these boxes or the internal packaging for the next parcel you have to send? Not only will this save you money, but is a greener option to buying new.
When recycling packaging materials, it’s important to make sure the box isn’t damaged, crushed or creased. Remove all old labels – or make sure they’re fully covered with new ones - to eliminate any confusion of where the parcel is going and where it’s coming from.
Being savvy when shopping for packaging isn’t the only way you can save money when sending parcels. It’s also a good idea to shop around to find the best price. DHL eCommerce UK offers a cost-effective and reliable parcel delivery service. But don’t just take our word for it – you can see how our prices measure up against other popular carriers on our price comparison page.