International shipments
- 15/02/2024 -
READING TIME: 4 MIN.

Essential guide: How to choose the best box for your international air shipment

To choose the best box for your international shipment, you need to look beyond the quality and strength of the cardboard.

On the other hand, factors such as the dimensions of the box and the distribution of the items inside can have an impact, including the price of your shipment. In addition, you must take into account the requirements of the carrier and customs authorities.

Here's a guide to help you choose the perfect packaging for your next international shipment.

best box for international air shipments
Source: Freepik

Case material

At first, when choosing a box for your international shipment, remember that this package will travel a long way to reach its final destination.

Cardboard is an excellent material because, depending on the number of layers, it can create extremely strong packaging without adding too much weight to your shipment.

There are products that need special protection and should be sent in wooden boxes. Even so, the outer packaging material for an international shipment must be cardboard. 

Suitable box size for international air shipment

The size and weight of your box directly influences the final price of your shipment. That's why it's important to optimize the volume you send as much as possible to get the best price for your shipment.

To get a good result on your international shipping quote, distribute the products well in the box and fit them in such a way that there is no space between the items.

The box needs to be big enough to accommodate the items. If you run out of space, try reducing the size of the box by cutting down the sides. That way, you won't have to pay for extra volume in your shipment.

How to properly seal the box for your international shipment

Before and after placing the products in the box, make sure you seal the bottom and top of the box well with a suitable adhesive tape. Give preference to wider tapes and use many layers to ensure that the side flaps don't open in transit.

Extra tip: Protect your products!

Use suitable materials to protect your items in an international shipment, especially if they are delicate items such as jewelry or breakable items such as porcelain.

Wrap everything in several layers of bubble wrap and avoid gaps between the products in the box.

But if there is still space between the items, fill it with some kind of protection that doesn't alter the total weight of the shipment, such as Styrofoam flakes, for example. This will prevent the items from moving too much during transportation.

Now that you know how to choose the best box to ship your products, access the best platform for your next international shipment, which generates all the shipping documentation for your package and also has end-to-end tracking.

Click here and get your international shipping quote at ShipSmart!