How to Ship Heavy Items

For packages that weigh over 70 lbs. (31.5 kgs), it is important to evaluate your packaging materials to ensure that they are adequate for heavier package contents. Use these guidelines to pack your heavy package safely and securely:

• Boxes must be strongly constructed, preferably with seams that are stitched or stapled, not merely glued. Weight limits printed on the Box Maker's Certificate (found on the bottom flaps of most boxes) are intended for palletized freight shipments, not for shipments through small parcel carrier environments. Following the UPS Box Strength Guidelines will help ensure your package is of adequate strength to provide sufficient protection.
• Use new boxes that are at their full strength and that have not been compromised by humidity or the wear and tear of previous use.
• Seal your box with heavy-duty tape (preferably reinforced), by applying three strips to both the top and bottom of the box, so that the middle seam and the two edge seams are sealed.
• Use only dense cushioning material to protect your heavy package contents. Expanded Polystyrene Peanuts and crumpled paper won't protect your shipment effectively because both materials crush and shift under heavy loads. Customized corrugated board or engineered foam enclosures are more effective and reinforce the rigidity of the outer box.

UPS requires that you attach a heavy package sticker to all your packages that weigh more than 70 lbs. (31.5 kgs).

Apply the bright yellow UPS heavy package sticker to your package at the right of the address label for maximum visibility and write the weight of your package in the white area on the label.

When you use these highly visible heavy package stickers, it allows UPS to give your heavy packages the special attention and handling that they need and deserve. The stickers alert our employees, as well as your customers, that special care should be taken to safely handle these packages.