How To Mail A Bubble Mailer Like A Pro: Safe Shipping Guide

When you're shipping small or semi-fragile items, finding the right packaging can be challenging. A box may be too bulky. A plain envelope? Too flimsy. So, how do you keep your various items protected without overpacking?

Between shipping boxes and envelopes, a third option emerges: bubble mailers, the perfect middle ground, offering more protection than a paper envelope and more convenience than a box.

In this guide, you will learn:

• How to mail a bubble mailer? 
• How to pack your items securely in bubble mailers?
• Tips to ensure your items arrive safely and securely

Let’s make shipping stress-free and safe, starting with the perfect packaging.

What is A Bubble Mailer?

Bubble mailers are similar to padded envelopes, lined with a sheet of bubble wrap, designed to protect small and semi-fragile items during shipping. Commonly made of Kraft paper or plastic on the exterior, bubble mailers come in various sizes to meet different packaging needs.

Note: While all bubble mailers are padded envelopes, not all padded envelopes contain bubble wrap. Some use foam or paper instead.

Bubble Mailer Sizes and Dimensions

Bubble mailers are available in various sizes from small to jumbo. Take a quick look at their dimensions below.

• Small: 4” x 8” (good for jewelry, small parts, and keys)
• Medium: 6” x 10” (perfect for phone, accessories, and cosmetics)
• Large: 8.5” x 12” (best for books, DVDs, and thin electronics)
• Extra Large: 10” x 15” (suitable for clothing and documents)
• Jumbo: 12.5” x 19” (Excellent for multiple items or larger clothing)

Check your item first before choosing a bubble mailer. Measure your item size, including length, height, and width. It will help you determine the correctly sized bubble mailer.

Choose Bubble Mailer Thickness That Fits Your Needs

The thickness of bubble mailers ranges from 3/16 to 1/4 inch. It includes bubble padding and the exterior layers of bubble mailers.

The bubble padding thickness also varies from 1/8 to 1/4 inch. It all depends on your requirements. The thicker the padding, the more protection it provides.

Bubble Mailers Vs Mailer Boxes: Which Ships Best?

Let’s explore bubble mailers and mailer boxes, and how they are playing a part in making shipments easier and safer.

Tough Mailer Boxes for Safe Shipping

Mailer boxes offering durability and protection are sturdy and strong, and are made from corrugated shipping boxes commonly used in e-commerce businesses to ship products of different sizes.

Bubble Mailers Offers Lightweight Protection for Fragile Goods

To protect small, lightweight, and fragile items during transportation, bubble mailers are ideal. For shipping flat items such as books, CDs, documents, or jewelry items, you can use bubble mailers to ship them with peace of mind, anywhere you want.

Where To Buy Standard Bubble Mailers?

You can get bubble mailers in different sizes and colors from:

• Office supply stores
• Post offices
• Online retailers (Amazon, Uline)
• Reliable packaging manufacturers

Some shipping carriers, such as USPS and FedEx, offer branded bubble mailers as part of their flat-rate services.

Read More: Best Shipping Solutions for Small Business: Save Time & Money

How To Pack Items in a Bubble Mailer?

Bubble mailers come in a protective layer or sheet of bubble wrap to offer adequate protection to your items. Having bubble wrap inside the mailer pack, you need to add anything as it is already offering protection to your items.

1. Open the mailer.
2. Take your item and place it comfortably inside, wrapping it in bubble wrap.

It is simple.

However, if you are more concerned about the safety of your delicate items and want double protection, add another bubble wrap or paper sheet. It will enhance the protection of your fragile items, but increase the weight of the package.

Note: Consider package size and weight when shipping through a carrier.

How To Mail a Bubble Mailer?

The shipping of bubble mailers depends on your courier service provider or how you label it.

Be Sure Your Bubble Mailer is Properly Sealed

Press the adhesive strip down with force to secure the closure of the bubble mailer. Ensure that it is properly sealed and has no holes that expose the item. If your bubble mailer is not sealed well, it may get torn or ripped, and your item may fall out during transit.

Affix A Label To Your Bubble Mailer

Place shipping labels on the bubble mailer, providing all the necessary information, such as the delivery address, return address, and postage, on the top.

Whether you label the package yourself or through a carrier, it is crucial. If you take your mailer to the carrier and provide essential information, they will weigh the mailer and generate a price accordingly. You get a label printed right away as you pay the shipping cost.

Ship Your Package

If you wish the carrier to pick up the mailer, schedule a pickup time by filling out the carrier’s form online. Print it out and attach it to the mailer.

At a scheduled time, the carrier guy will come to your location to collect the package. They will weigh it at their office to determine the price after checking the package weight and size.

Note: USPS, UPS, FedEx, and other carriers are available. Choose a suitable carrier to mail your package.

How Much Does it Cost to Mail A Bubble Mailer?

Questions like “How much to mail a bubble mailer” or “How much does it cost to mail a 6x9 bubble mailer” are the most common. Let’s answer.

Similar to mailer boxes, the shipping cost for bubble mailers depends on the mailer:

• Size
• Weight
• Speed
• Courier selection

Compared to the mailer box price, the bubble mailer shipping cost is less. How? Offering protection during transportation, bubble mailers save you money as they are small and lightweight compared to mailer boxes. They don’t take enough weight, which reduces shipping costs.

Top Online Tools to Compare Shipping Costs

Popular carriers are USPS, UPS, and FedEx. You can get the price idea by giving information about your bubble mailers. To help you get a shipping price comparison of different carriers, the online tools available are:

1. Easyship
2. ParcelMonkey
3. ShipBob
4. CoolParcel
5. ShipStation

Summary

Mailing a bubble mailer is a simple, cost-effective way to protect small or semi-fragile items. By choosing the right size, sealing it properly, and selecting an appropriate shipping method, you ensure your items arrive safely and affordably.By following the steps provided in this guide, you can master how to pack your delicate items securely, no matter whether you want to ship domestically or internationally.

If you need shipping boxes, have them designed to your required specifications from Custom Product Packaging. Enjoy the most reliable packaging experience by availing of our services at competitive rates with free shipping benefits. Email us at orders@customproductpackaging.com. Happy Shipping!