How To Pack and Ship a Parcel

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Save time and create shipments faster, centralise orders, manage labels and ship more efficiently with pre-set templates.

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1. Get Your Parcel Ready for Shipping

Follow these steps for a successful shipment.

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View Packaging Tips

  • Protect Your Items With Packaging Materials

Carefully wrap items separately and use cushioning material to protect your precious cargo.

  • Securely Seal Your Shipping Box

Remove any old labels or shipping markings. Then, seal your box with plastic or nylon tape at least two inches wide.

  • Follow UPS Packaging Guidelines

For additional support and confidence in your packing, review our packaging tips.

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1. Prepare Your Parcel

2. Measure and Weigh Your Parcel

Not all parcels are made the same. Let us help you get the right dimensions.

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  • Measure the length, width and height. The longest side of the parcel will be the length.
  • Round up to the nearest whole number when taking your measurements. For example, 1 to 1.49 will be considered 1, while 1.5 to 1.99 will be considered 2.
  • To calculate the weight, weigh yourself holding the parcel, then weigh yourself alone. Subtract one from the other to get the parcel weight.
  • Keep these measurements handy. You will need them to create your shipment.
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2. Measure and Weigh Your Parcel

3. Create a Shipping Label

Create multiple labels quickly from a single-screen view.

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  • Enter Parcel Origin and Destination Addresses

Be sure the addresses are correct so the parcel can be properly delivered. Check out our address tips on making sure your parcel gets where it needs to go.

  • Pick Your Delivery Speed and Services

Select the service options and shipping speed that best match your delivery needs.

  • Print Your Label

Choose your preferred payment method and print your label. If you need additional help, visit The UPS Store. If you need to reprint a shipping label, view your shipping history.

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3. Create a Shipping Label

4. Get Your Parcel to UPS

You’re almost done. Choose an option to get your parcel to UPS and we’ll do the rest.

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  • Schedule a Collection

We can come to you (for an additional fee). Schedule a collection.

  • Find a UPS Location

Drop it off at a UPS location. Be sure to bring your identification.

  • Hand Parcel to a UPS Driver

Hand the labelled parcel to your friendly neighbourhood driver.

Expand Your Business

Wherever your shipments need to go, UPS has the tools and expertise to get them there.

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International Shipping

From understanding paperwork to clearing customs, we are here to guide you through the complexities of international shipping.

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Flexible Shipping Services

Whether speed or saving is your priority, we have options that fit your needs.

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4. Get Your Shipment to UPS

FAQ

What size and weight limits are there for parcels?

  • Parcels can be up to 68 kg (150 lbs) and be up to 274 cm (108 in) long

  • If you’re using small parcel service, your parcel can be up to 165 inches in length and girth combined

    • To accurately determine length and girth, use the formula: Length + 2x Width + 2x Height

  • Learn how to avoid measurement corrections charges

How do I ship a passport or important documents?
If you're using your own packaging to ship a valuable, thin item – such as a passport or personal record – we recommend using a small box for the best protection. If you need help finding the right size, review our guidelines here.
How do I use my electronic scale for online shipments?

Already have a UPS-approved scale? Awesome! You can connect your scale to your laptop or desktop computer to help speed things up. First, start by updating your shipping preferences to active the scale. Sign in using the link here and mark the checkbox Weigh My Parcels With My USB-Connected Scale, then click Save.

Note: UPS CampusShip users will need to update their preferences on the CampusShip site. After logging in, select Shipping Preferences on the left-hand side and click on View/Edit to expand your Shipping Options. Mark the checkbox for Use My USB Scale and finish by clicking Update.

Once you’ve set your preferences to allow for your scale, return to the Create a Shipment page and authorise the installation of a downloaded component. After completion, the parcel weight will show up in the weight field. The Weigh It button will then capture the current scale reading.

Download for Windows Users* | Download for Mac or Linux Users**

*If you receive a message saying your browser doesn’t support this function, run the installer (the file above). This will place the UPS Weight Scale App in the Startup folder, running the application each time you start your computer.

** To use the file above, download the .zip file and extract the script file (make sure to note what folder you extracted it to). After extracting, find and run the script file.

Special-Care Item Shipping Guides

Shipping something that needs extra attention? See our guides for best practices.