Packing and Shipping Tips from FEDEX

Shipping – The BasicsNo matter what you’re shipping, the same basic rules apply to get gifts to their final destination safely, securely and in time for holidays!

Ship early and avoid the lines– December 14th will be FedEx's busiest day in history! Beat the rush and skip the lines by shipping early.– Last day to ship FedEx Ground – the most cost-effective shipping option: on or before December 17.– Last day to ship FedEx Express for overnight delivery: on or before December 23.

Choose the right supplies and pack it right– Get your gift ready to be packaged by determining if it's sturdy or fragile. Does it having moving parts, protruding angles or small pieces? Wrap the item securely and square off any odd angles (like mug handles) to make them less fragile during shipment.– Select your shipping box using only those with flaps intact. Do not reuse boxes if at all possible. If reusing a box, make sure there are no holes, tears or corner dents, and remove any old labels. Consider placing the box within another box for additional protection when shipping fragile items like vases or glass ornaments. Make sure your box is large enough to put adequate padding around the gift inside.-Cushion the gift or inner box using just the right amount of padding material – like bubble wrap, foam "peanuts," densely packed shredded paper or foam pads. Avoid newspaper, as it is heavy and adds extra weight to the shipment. You’ll know you have the right amount of cushioning protecting your gift by closing up the box and giving it a light shake. Hear anything move around? If you do – add more cushioning! -Seal the seams of the box on all sides using tape designed for packing, not duct or masking tape. Do not wrap the outer box with paper or string, which can get caught in automated processing equipment.-Label the box inside and out. Position the address label squarely on the largest surface, and provide complete sender and recipient addresses, including a 24-hour phone number and ZIP code. Put both the sender and recipient's address and 24-hour phone numbers inside the box as well.

Shippers can find out all about the various shipping services and deadlines by visiting fedex.com or calling 1-800-Go-FedEx.

Shipping Homemade Holiday GoodiesJust because you can't make the holiday party this year, doesn't mean Aunt Betty shouldn't get to savor your legendary gingerbread cookies! Knowing how to properly pack and ship baked and perishable goods will keep all your favorite holiday treats fresh and delicious!

Baked Goods-Baked goods are one of the simplest homemade treats to pack and ship during the holiday season. They stand up well to the rigors of shipping, and stay fresh for days – or weeks! – if packaged properly.-First, opt to send a sturdy cookie. Firm cookies like gingerbread, biscotti or shortbread travel better than softer choices such as lemon bars or cheesecake squares.-Place baked goods in a sturdy container – like a metal or plastic tin – and layer wax paper between the baked goods, using crumpled wax paper to fill in any empty spaces.-Secure the lid of the container to the body with tape to keep it from accidentally popping off during shipping. -Place the container in a sturdy corrugated cardboard box and use a lot of cushioning to keep it tightly in place at the center of the box.-Seal the box and shake it up – if you can feel or hear any movement, add more cushioning!

Perishable Goods -Freeze perishable food completely and make sure to keep it sealed in a durable plastic container. If the food contains any liquids place the container into a zip-top bag in case it begins to thaw. -Ship everything inside an insulated cooler lined with a sturdy trash bag and several layers of paper towels to absorb any condensation or leaking liquids. -Place the frozen goods in the prepared insulated cooler. Add dry ice to keep the items frozen during shipping. If the food items are less susceptible to spoiling, you can also use Blue Ice(R) type refrigerants that have been frozen solid to keep your gift cold in transit. – Use bubble wrap to fill any empty spaces and keep the food from moving around. Remove as much air as possible from the trash bag and then twist the open end closed and tie it in a knot or fold it back against itself and secure it closed with a rubber band. -Pack the insulated cooler inside a cardboard box to protect it while in transit. Ship the package Overnight, Priority or Standard, Monday – Thursday. If possible, send it to the recipient's daytime work address, or let them know when the package will arrive so that the food can be frozen or refrigerated upon arrival.

IMPORTANT NOTES ON COOLANTS: – Dry ice is considered a dangerous good for air transport and there are special marking and labeling requirements. Shipments containing dry ice can only be dropped off at a FedEx Express location. FedEx Office locations cannot accept these packages. For more detail on how to properly package a shipment containing dry ice, contact FedEx customer service at 1-800-Go-FedEx (800-463-3339) and say "Dangerous Goods" or dial 81.– Regular ice is not a good choice of coolant for shipping, and FedEx does not accept packages containing wet ice without preauthorization. This approval can be obtained from FedEx Packaging Services (800-633-7019) as needed.

Shipping the Eco-Friendly Way

Once you find the perfect eco-gift, why would you ship it any other way? Use these tips, and your gift-getters will be green with envy!

– Package your shipment properly. Minimize the weight and the cost of shipping. Use the smallest box possible – the less your package weighs, the fewer resources will be used to transport it and you’ll save money.– Reuse your packing materials. Shredded paper, recycled packing peanuts, used wrapping paper and old clothes all make great cushioning when packing up gifts.– Purchase boxes made from recycled materials. Most FedEx envelopes are made from 100% recycled content. All FedEx boxes are recyclable. If you are recycling a box, make sure there are no holes, tears or corner dents and remove any old labels.– Save a truck stop. While you’re running other errands, drop off your FedEx Express shipments at one of more than 53,000 FedEx drop off locations. FedEx Ground packages can be dropped at more than 1,800 FedEx Office locations nationwide.

Specialized Shipping – Packing Odd-Shaped Items and other Gifts

Every so often you come across an item that needs to be shipped safely and just scratch your head. Here are some tips to help in those moments!

– Large items: For irregular shaped items such as bikes or unboxed toys, at a minimum you should wrap and tape all sharp edges, moving pieces or protrusions.– Laptops: Consider buying special packaging when shipping extremely fragile electronic equipment such as a laptop. When in doubt, check in with your local FedEx Office Print and Ship Centers as they have great packaging tips and offer special packaging for more precious items like lap tops.– Items that may leak: Place goods that might be affected by water or wet conditions inside a plastic bag.– Photographs and posters: When shipping photographs or posters, place the photographs between rigid materials like plastic or layers of fiberboard and then tape both pads together at all seams.– Reuse original packaging: If you purchase a gift online and plan to re-ship it once it arrives at your home, keep in mind that original packaging is usually designed to ship the product once, not multiple times. Keep the original packaging components but double box the gift as to provide extra cushioning in case the package has been weakened during its original shipment.

Sign up for email newsletters