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.

Okay thanks everyone. I’ll go with the padded envelope with cardboard.

Staples.com:

$15 off your online order of $60 or more.^† 

Coupon code: 45242.

Online only, not applicable in retail stores. Ends 4/8/20.

Excludes technology/PCs.

7 minutes ago, Phil B said:

Staples.com:

$15 off your online order of $60 or more.^† 

Coupon code: 45242.

Online only, not applicable in retail stores. Ends 4/8/20.

Excludes technology/PCs.

I just bought boxes this morning.

3 hours ago, Phil B said:

Staples.com:

$15 off your online order of $60 or more.^† 

Coupon code: 45242.

Online only, not applicable in retail stores. Ends 4/8/20.

Excludes technology/PCs.

Thanks Phil just made a purchase for boxes...

21 hours ago, Phil B said:

Staples.com:

$15 off your online order of $60 or more.^† 

Coupon code: 45242.

Online only, not applicable in retail stores. Ends 4/8/20.

Excludes technology/PCs.

And if you're a big spender, there is now also this:

$25 off your online order of $100 or more.^†  

Coupon code: 81126.

Online only, not applicable in retail stores. Ends 4/10/20.

Excludes technology/PCs.

Next Staples coupon:

$25 off your online order of $100 or more.^†

Coupon code: 66122.
Online only, not applicable in retail stores. Ends 4/17/20.
Excludes technology/PCs.

1 hour ago, Phil B said:

Next Staples coupon:

$25 off your online order of $100 or more.^†

Coupon code: 66122.
Online only, not applicable in retail stores. Ends 4/17/20.
Excludes technology/PCs.

Phil, do you know where is a cheap place to get 11x8x3 boxes?

This size doesn't seem popular, but I think it fits the standard lego set fairly well.

4 minutes ago, thelovemachine said:

Phil, do you know where is a cheap place to get 11x8x3 boxes?

This size doesn't seem popular, but I think it fits the standard lego set fairly well.

Get 12x10x4 from Staples for .64/box before shipping and taxes. Buy enough and you can bring down the price to ~.66/box shipped

12x9x3's are one of my most popular sizes that I use...close to what you are looking for. With Phil's Staples code, you can get them below .50/ea.....

Thx for the recs!!~

Which brand for the 12x9x3?

Edited April 13, 20205 yr by thelovemachine

At Staples...the brand is Coastwide Professional...

Thx.  Will try to get it around $.50

Can anyone in the UK recommend a supplier for boxes in the following approximate sizes:

550x280x80mm – For X-Wing Starfighter (75218) and similar sized sets
355x190x90mm – For Trafalgar Square (21045) and similar sized sets

I’ll be ordering less than 100 of each so getting them custom made isn’t economical.

This is the best I’ve found so far for the first size. I’d prefer something with flaps rather than an overlapping box as it would be easier to seal.

Thanks for any responses.
 

Edited April 27, 20205 yr by CsabaLazlo

any reccos on what labels to use for USPS shipments through PayPal? The look to print out as half 8.5x11's. any insight would be sweeeeeet!

I use Universal 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 labels 80206. There are two labels on each sheet. They work well on a regular printer.

Edited April 27, 20205 yr by iahawks550

I print on letter paper, then cut to the correct size and tape it to my boxes, using packing tape to fully cover the label except for the big barcode.

1 hour ago, iahawks550 said:

I use Universal 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 labels 80206. There are two labels on each sheet. They work well on a regular printer.

thanks i'll keep an eye out for them

58 minutes ago, Phil B said:

I print on letter paper, then cut to the correct size and tape it to my boxes, using packing tape to fully cover the label except for the big barcode.

this is what i did today, but thought the labels would be super nice to just slap on there.

1 hour ago, iahawks550 said:

I use Universal 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 labels 80206. There are two labels on each sheet. They work well on a regular printer.

i use these as well, they can be found on eBay for fairly cheap

59 minutes ago, Phil B said:

I print on letter paper, then cut to the correct size and tape it to my boxes, using packing tape to fully cover the label except for the big barcode.

I have to do this for the FedEx labels on ebay because they wont print right, however i just tape over the barcode too.

2 minutes ago, zaphoid said:

i use these as well, they can be found on eBay for fairly cheap

I have to do this for the FedEx labels on ebay because they wont print right, however i just tape over the barcode too.

i taped over barcodes in the past, and the only reason i was reluctant using the PayPal ones is it says "do not tape over barcodes" on the print menu. first time i've ever seen that. i also asked the USPS person when i dropped off and she said they recommend you don't as sometimes the readers can't pick up the barcode with the tape over it.

who knows what to believe. 

I get free "pocket" stickers from FedEx to house my paper I print out. It ends up being easier than taping the labels to boxes. 

2 hours ago, iahawks550 said:

I get free "pocket" stickers from FedEx to house my paper I print out. It ends up being easier than taping the labels to boxes. 

Can anyone get those? 

11 minutes ago, Gonkalin said:

Can anyone get those? 

yeap, I got a lot of this pouches from FedEx, put your label in, then peel and paste to the package, voila

Create a free FedEx account. Get the items shipped to your home for no charge. 

I bought some on eBay that are 7" x 4.5" two to a letter sized sheet so they aren't such huge stickers. Really beats taping paper on a box, lighter too. I use a laser printer and found I had to really dial up the paper type to thickest to get good toner adherence.

8 hours ago, iahawks550 said:

I get free "pocket" stickers from FedEx to house my paper I print out. It ends up being easier than taping the labels to boxes. 

I can't tell from the image on their website -- do these envelopes show "FedEx" on them after inserting your own label? I usually ship by USPS or UPS... but free is free...