Materials guide for LEGO selling & shipping

Many members have asked for a centralized place where they can go for shipping box information. I'm going to pin this post and update it as new information is provided. I just want to take a few minutes and thank those who wrote the following articles. They are still very good reference materials for the LEGO storage and shipping process. I may develop this into a blog article eventually.

Fcbarcelona101's : Selling LEGO : Basic Materials Guide
Mos Eisley 's : LEGO Storage Wars

Incompetech's Catalog of Amazon.com Box Sizes - (thanks No More Monkeys)

Amazon Boxes Sorted list by length - courtesy of pstebbing

I've scoured the forums and here is a list of box sizes with basic set information:

Boxes:
24x20x8 : Super Star Destroyer; Death Star, Roller Coaster, UCS Sandcrawler, Assembly Square
24x20x6 : Thicker sets like Town Hall, Tower Bridge
24x16x6 - 60052 Cargo Train, R2-D2, Maersk Line Triple-E, 7939 Cargo Train
24x16x4 - Helm's Deep, Vampyre Castle, Black Pearl, Friends Riding Camp, Parisian Restaurant, High Speed Passenger Train, Jabba's Palace, Downtown Diner
24x20x4 : Grand Emporium, Pet Shop, Imperial Shuttle, Haunted House, Palace Cinema, Fire Brigade
24x14x4 : Dolphin Cruiser, Coast Guard Patrol
24x4x12 - Dolphin Cruiser, Coast Guard Patrol
20x16x4 - Volkswagen Camper Van, Olivia's House, Sonic Raider, Sopwith, Creator Bike Shop, Batcave, Quinjet, Moria & Ambush
20x16x6 : Thicker sets like the Republic Gunship; City Cargo Plane
20x14x4 : Attack on Weathertop, Hulk 's Helicarrier Breakout, X-Wing 9493, Black Gate
16x16x4 : Gungan Sub, Pre Viszla, Tie Fighter
16x10x4 : Council of Elrond, Desert Skiff, City Grand Prix Truck
16x10x6 : Thicker sets like Creator Family House, Hillside House
15x12x4 : Funhouse, Orc Forge, Tumbler Chase, Daily Bugle Showdown, Hulk Lab Smash
12x12x4 : Uruk Hai Army, City Cargo Truck, Creator Treehouse, City Fire Emergency
11-3/4x8-3/4x4-3/4 : Wolverine Chopper, Arctic Batman, Power Armor Lex, Droid Escape, Cloud Cuckoo Palace
12x8x3 - Battle Packs, CA Avenging Cycle, Catwoman, Gandalf Arrives, Holiday sets
10x8x4 : Battle Packs, CA Avenging Cycle, Catwoman, Gandalf Arrives, Holiday sets

Envelopes:
4x8 : Minifigs & small polybags
6x9 : Polybags small & larger
10.5 x 16 : Larger shipments of 3 x polybags or more

Packing Tape : buy in bulk or on sale : you can throw some in during a Staples coupon promotion to get up to free shipping
Walmart.com Duck Brand Packaging Tape
http://www.staples.com/Staples-Standard-Grade-Packaging-Tape-Clear-189-x-110-yds-6-Rolls/product_380107

Retailers:
Uline.com : holiday sale starts first part of November (usually 30% off)
Staples.com : use coupon promotions - $10 off $30, $20 off $75, free shipping over $60
Walmart.com
USPS Priority Mail (free boxes at USPS.com)

 

Michigan Box Company:

Flat Boxes 18"-23" L  (thanks pstebbing)

GBE Packaging (thanks pstebbing)
 

PackingSupplies.com

http://www.packaging...ated_boxes.html     (thanks pstebbing)

 

Bubble Wrap:
3/16" thick x 350' ft x 12" wide - eBay

 

Sams Club

3/16" - 12"x240' $12.98 (In store) ($.05/LF) (thanks pstebbing)

I like to use large and small retailer plastic bags to wrap items in, even after I bubble wrap it.

For battle packs and even small sets, I sometimes use Wal-Mart, Target, or plastic bags from any store. Additional packing isn 't really needed. Usually like 2 bags on bottom, one to wrap the item, and two bags on top. Make sure to cover the corners of the item real nice to provide extra padding.

Rule of thumb : ship & pack all of your items the same way you 'd like to receive items you've purchased.

Shipping Paper:
Collect it when you receive shipments.
http://www.amazon.com/Pratt-Multipurpose-Packaging-KPR30241200R-Length/dp/B00AI652CM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408061459&sr=8-1&keywords=pratt+kraft+paper+1200?

Shipping Labels & Printers:
Dymo 450 & Dymo 400
Brother QL-700

DoNotInsertIntoMouth's : How to setup your label printer for shipping on eBay


Feel free to post a follow-up or point out anything I missed. I 'll update it with what everyone wants added. I hope this is helpful.

Got this one for xmas. Good up to almost 10lbs. I really like the angled screen.

I use this one and have pushed it over 35lbs before and it's still accurate.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZJQ5RU?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

 

I use this one. So far, so good.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005BTWMPQ/ref=pe_385040_121528360_TE_dp_2

47 minutes ago, BrickLegacy said:

I use this one. So far, so good.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005BTWMPQ/ref=pe_385040_121528360_TE_dp_2

It figures you'd need the extra large display.

I really love this scale:

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KYA0RC2

 

Cheap, accurate, and the best part is the extension cord on the readout is awesome when you send in those huge boxes to FBA.

Thanks for all the help and advice!  I bought a funhouse escape from TRU a while back and the figs were taken out. The thief was nice enough to seal the bag up again though so the rest of the pieces didn't spill everywhere. 

Hmmm .. I clearly should have done more research before deciding to plonk down $34 for a scale @ Sears the other day. Did get $6 in surprise points and free shipping (with adding a small item)

Where do you guys get the best deal on tapes? 

Any thoughts on this deal?

http://smile.amazon.com/Scotch-Shipping-Packaging-Dispenser-142-6/dp/B000J07BRQ/ref=sr_1_1?tag=slickdeals&ascsubtag=2d224c0ada5711e599950eb8110bee850INT&s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1456246236&sr=1-1&keywords=shipping+tape

Anyone have the right ship box size for 4842 Hogwarts Castle and also where to the box itself, Staple, Uline, USPS box etc...?

Also is there a list of sets with all the ship box size in one location like a spreadsheet?

Thanks in Advance the help.

 

20 minutes ago, BrickSamurai said:

Anyone have the right ship box size for 4842 Hogwarts Castle and also where to the box itself, Staple, Uline, USPS box etc...?

Also is there a list of sets with all the ship box size in one location like a spreadsheet?

Thanks in Advance the help.

 

Have you looked in the first post in this thread?

2 minutes ago, exciter1 said:

Have you looked in the first post in this thread?

Yes but I didn't see a ship box size for 4842 Hogwarts Castle on the list.

3 minutes ago, BrickSamurai said:

Yes but I didn't see a ship box size for 4842 Hogwarts Castle on the list.

You can lookup the dimensions of the set and compare to other sets of similar size.

24x16x4 - Helm's Deep, Vampyre Castle, Black Pearl, Friends Riding Camp, Parisian Restaurant, High Speed Passenger Train, Jabba's Palace

http://www.staples.com/24-x16-x4-Partners-Brand-Flat-Corrugated-Boxes-25-Bundle-24164-/product_481628.

 

4842 box size is (22.9 x 14.9 x 3.4 in) Which would be 24x16x4

Edited March 4, 20169 yr by pstebbing

Just now, exciter1 said:

You can lookup the dimensions of the set and compare to other sets of similar size.

24x16x4 - Helm's Deep, Vampyre Castle, Black Pearl, Friends Riding Camp, Parisian Restaurant, High Speed Passenger Train, Jabba's Palace

Ahh OK - thanks for the tip and help...

4 minutes ago, pstebbing said:

4842 box size is (22.9 x 14.9 x 3.4 in) Which would be 24x16x4

@pstebbing  Thanks

On 2/17/2016 at 10:55 AM, Kenxxx said:

Does anyone here ever buy air pillows... and from where?  I've never thrown one away. Always saved and reused them. I used to have so many, I thought I would never run out... but I have.

Anyone remember this question?  First, thanks @pstebbing for solving my problem for the near term

... and second... I just had a "eureka moment":  If you really like packing with air pillows, and are afraid you might run out... next time you're at the dollar store or Walmart, buy a package of kids' party balloons! That would totally work, wouldn't it? I mean, I haven't tried it... I'm sure they weigh a few grams more than a genuine air pillow, but seems like it would do the trick? And would take up a lot less space until you are ready to use them.

1 minute ago, Kenxxx said:

Anyone remember this question?  First, thanks @pstebbing for solving my problem for the near term

... and second... I just had a "eureka moment":  If you really like packing with air pillows, and are afraid you might run out... next time you're at the dollar store or Walmart, buy a package of kids' party balloons! That would totally work, wouldn't it? I mean, I haven't tried it... I'm sure they weigh a few grams more than a genuine air pillow, but seems like it would do the trick? And would take up a lot less space until you are ready to use them.

You'd have to change your store name to: "The Party's in the Box"

On 2/21/2016 at 4:03 PM, Redtree said:

I'm looking to buy a scale to check the weight of my sets before selling them to make sure all the pieces are there. Does anybody have a good scale that they can recommend. I'd like to use the scale for checking the weight of my sets and also to use for when I ship my sets too. Thanks for any advice!  

I use this one (currently $18), says it works up to 55 lbs.  When I've checked the weight prior to shipping, then taken the item to the post office, the weight they get there has always been dead-on the same, so I've been happy with it. But it is tricky to read the display when weighing a large box. 

There is a coupon code for $15 off $50 worth of shipping supplies at Staples. Code is  25163. I was able to use it twice. I know it isn't much but combined with the 30% off gift cards I got from ebay last week (15% off sale plus 15% off coupon code) I was able to place a couple orders that were effectively almost 43% off total. So actually better than the normal 40% off code with no gc for me anyway. I still have yet to have a staples gc at the same time the 40% off sale rolls around. I would have waited but I was down to zero packing paper, 10 labels and one 24x16 box.

Edited March 28, 20169 yr by MarxMarvelous

I love knowing all the box sizes! Especially knowing I have a 60052 Cargo Train chugging down the line from amazon. Paid 142.99 free 2 day shipping. I love knowing the box from the top of that list is coming finally... woot!

Tell me if you think I overpaid but I've been looking for days/weeks for better...

Edited March 29, 20169 yr by GonzoBrick
Pricing

I love knowing all the box sizes! Especially knowing I have a 60052 Cargo Train chugging down the line from amazon. Paid 142.99 free 2 day shipping. I love knowing the box from the top of that list is coming finally... woot!

Tell me if you think I overpaid but I've been looking for days/weeks for better...

It's a great starter train set. I got one one at the same deal for Christmas for the kiddos. Myself included. We love it. Don't worry about the price of this set. Worry about all the other train sets you are about to acquire.

1 hour ago, Rodeogeorge said:

It's a great starter train set. I got one one at the same deal for Christmas for the kiddos. Myself included. We love it. Don't worry about the price of this set. Worry about all the other train sets you are about to acquire.

And worry about how much you will plunk down for cool train sets LEGO no longer makes. Maersk train, 2x Horizon express, perhaps an Emerald Night.

Yeah as soon as I saw it all I knew I wanted a second train... I heard straight track is the most expensive and that lego only sells it in large train sets. That true?

Also, the 60052 car go train has been a hit from the whole family which is my 16 month old boy and wife. I've been collecting lots of city sets basically anything in production currently. Lots of 20 dollar sets. Our collection  has over 20 sets and a big lot of classic stuff now. The train is the biggest purchase so far. I plan to stick with trains that are in production and add them as lego releases new ones. There are 2 in production currently maybe 3 right?

Thanks for reading!

On 4/1/2016 at 11:47 PM, GonzoBrick said:

Yeah as soon as I saw it all I knew I wanted a second train... I heard straight track is the most expensive and that lego only sells it in large train sets. That true?

Bricklink is always your friend for questions like this...

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=53401&in=S

What you heard was false, 8 pieces of straight track are available in two "sets" - 7499 and 7896... however, the chances of finding the better 7896 set in a store are low. Finding 7499 is possible and it's available for a good price on Bricklink.

http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?S=7499-1#T=S&O={%22reg%22:%223%22}

I have also found eBay sellers who will accept decent offers on buying multiples and get them to toss the boxes to lower shipping costs if for personal use. You'll never sell the track anyways.

2 hours ago, gregpj said:

Bricklink is always your friend for questions like this...

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=53401&in=S

What you heard was false, 8 pieces of straight track are available in two "sets" - 7499 and 7896... however, the chances of finding the better 7896 set in a store are low. Finding 7499 is possible and it's available for a good price on Bricklink.

http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?S=7499-1#T=S&O={%22reg%22:%223%22}

I have also found eBay sellers who will accept decent offers on buying multiples and get them to toss the boxes to lower shipping costs if for personal use. You'll never sell the track anyways.

... and it is also possible to just buy loose straight track on ebay or BrickLink, which might (depending on the situation) be cheaper than buying the sets. IIRC 7499 costs $20, and I've been able to get a piece of straight track for ~$2.20 in the past.... yes, I missed out on the fantastic flex track pieces (sarcasm, though they make nice track for a road-embedded track like a streetcar track in a city layout if you cover their inside studs with tile). I did buy 40 or so in one purchase, so shipping wasn't a big factor.