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.

I am looking for a label printer. I use my IPad to print my labels wirelessly, which limits my label printer options. I was looking at the Brothers QL-1100NWB. Any experiences or recommendations?

On 10/9/2020 at 4:21 PM, raindog said:

A little late to the game but, after selling online for almost 10 years, I now use the Brother QL-1100 for all my label printing.  I wished that I had bought it years ago.  It runs just fine on generic labels, as long as it has the black box on them to tell it to cut.  Oh, it also works with Mac.

https://www.amazon.com/Brother-QL-1100-Postage-Barcode-Professional/dp/B079G51QTB/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=brother+ql-1100&qid=1602285590&sr=8-3

I have a Zebra that I could never get to work with my Mac.  From what I've read, it seems most people can't get this to work properly or at least it was a lot of trouble.  It's a been a few years, but I couldn't get CUPS to work either.  How did you go about getting it to work with your Mac?

Just got a bunch of these

cheapest by far

free shipping over 50

i cant fathom how they make money after shipping costs

https://www.uhaul.com/MovingSupplies/1/Double-Wall-Boxes/

if anyone has other good source of double wall boxes please share 

uline is too expensive with shipping

i need some funky sizes

3 minutes ago, Bricklectic said:

Just got a bunch of these

cheapest by far

free shipping over 50

i cant fathom how they make money after shipping costs

https://www.uhaul.com/MovingSupplies/1/Double-Wall-Boxes/

if anyone has other good source of double wall boxes please share 

uline is too expensive with shipping

i need some funky sizes

I guess you should caption with "storage boxes"?

9 minutes ago, exciter1 said:

I guess you should caption with "storage boxes"?

I use these to ship. I dont like sending in single walls since they can get bashed up. i understand its only a small chance but i like the comfort. also, yes, they store and stack amazingly in these. I can fit like 7 campervans in the large one and its only 4.89$ when you factor in the savings if you do fba you come out ahead by sending more in 1 box vs 3/4 in 2 separate boxes

14 minutes ago, Bricklectic said:

I use these to ship. I dont like sending in single walls since they can get bashed up. i understand its only a small chance but i like the comfort. also, yes, they store and stack amazingly in these. I can fit like 7 campervans in the large one and its only 4.89$ when you factor in the savings if you do fba you come out ahead by sending more in 1 box vs 3/4 in 2 separate boxes

Just making sure you weren’t shipping individual sets in those.

Staples.com

$20 off $100+ order: 47512

$20 off $100 again with code 56078

Not exactly a 'deal' but for Home Depot box buyers, they introduced a new box size that's 28x16x15 for ~$3.60/box for double-wall. It fits 3 Diner-size boxes nicely.

18 minutes ago, FM said:

Not exactly a 'deal' but for Home Depot box buyers, they introduced a new box size that's 28x16x15 for ~$3.60/box for double-wall. It fits 3 Diner-size boxes nicely.

I wouldn't use these if you sell on Amazon as their max dimension limit is 25".

I wouldn't use these if you sell on Amazon as their max dimension limit is 25".

Good point!

My staff made a mistake of using these to send our Christmas supplies to Amazon FBA,  73 boxes and i have been getting hit with $25 oversize penalties all week long.

13 minutes ago, Undercover Boss said:

My staff made a mistake of using these to send our Christmas supplies to Amazon FBA,  73 boxes and i have been getting hit with $25 oversize penalties all week long.

Looks like some people should be losing the christmas bonuses.

52 minutes ago, cmartin33 said:

I wouldn't use these if you sell on Amazon as their max dimension limit is 25".

Funny, I never knew this until just last week and have been doing FBA for years.  I have always routinely used the Target 3' boxes and other large boxes that Amazon sends me and never had an issue..  I've amended my practices since, but oh well.

2 hours ago, cmartin33 said:

I wouldn't use these if you sell on Amazon as their max dimension limit is 25".

I thought that was only for non-oversized items. I thought oversized can go in >25", no?

1 hour ago, gmpirate said:

Funny, I never knew this until just last week and have been doing FBA for years.  I have always routinely used the Target 3' boxes and other large boxes that Amazon sends me and never had an issue..  I've amended my practices since, but oh well.

I do not think this is enforced 100% by all FCs.  I used to do the same thing until I got a warning for 1st offense

21 minutes ago, Phil B said:

I thought that was only for non-oversized items. I thought oversized can go in >25", no?

no even if the item is classified oversized only if the item is larger then 25 can you send it in with a box larger then 25 

has anybody found that they are  enforcing it much more stringently lately

ive heard from people that got violations that in the past have not received violations

1 hour ago, gmpirate said:

Funny, I never knew this until just last week and have been doing FBA for years.  I have always routinely used the Target 3' boxes and other large boxes that Amazon sends me and never had an issue..  I've amended my practices since, but oh well.

did you get a violation last week for it or did you find out the rules last week

What's the concensus on a double-walled box for shipping slightly larger (23") Lego boxes in to FBA?  The closest one I see on Staples.com is 24" x 16" x 12" but I'd have to lay the sets down flat. Thanks!

What do people use to ship their sets to Amazon? I believe the Home Depot box 22x22x22 is currently being discontinued and was looking for other options. I usually use a mix of Uhaul 24x18x24 but primarily use 22x22x22 from Home Depot as I prefer how everything packs.

If you are an actual business, find a local packaging company. The prices are way below retail. If you can't find that, WB mason is another business option - they offer free shipping and will price match competitors. Third option is Uline.com - They have everything you could possibly want, and their ground shipping is quick due to multiple warehouses. I like them when I need something the next day, but you pay for it for sure. 

52 minutes ago, president89 said:

If you are an actual business, find a local packaging company. The prices are way below retail. If you can't find that, WB mason is another business option - they offer free shipping and will price match competitors. Third option is Uline.com - They have everything you could possibly want, and their ground shipping is quick due to multiple warehouses. I like them when I need something the next day, but you pay for it for sure. 

My local packaging companies are charging 5-6$ per 22 cube and 24 cube. That is double what I normally pay. It would be cheaper to buy the heavy duty home depot boxes honestly.

24 minutes ago, landphieran said:

My local packaging companies are charging 5-6$ per 22 cube and 24 cube. That is double what I normally pay. It would be cheaper to buy the heavy duty home depot boxes honestly.

I can buy a 24" cube for $3.87. My comment wasn't specific to FBA. 

Here are a couple of sample sizes that I buy locally with prices. I spend $225 to get the free shipping. I stock up for months. I do merchant fullfill stuff though.

24x18x18 - $2.59

 

16 X 12 X 4  $.91

Hi Guys

Sold a bunch of Ecto1's on eBay, just shipping via ebay and getting costs of $16 to UT, AK and other states, I have  never sold much before but does this cost seem about normal?  Looking at the list of box sizes nothing really covers the size so I its chosen custom size.   Box size is about 2lb 4 x 8 x 13.  

Thank you

Just now, outatime said:

Hi Guys

Sold a bunch of Ecto1's on eBay, just shipping via ebay and getting costs of $16 to UT, AK and other states, I have  never sold much before but does this cost seem about normal?  Looking at the list of box sizes nothing really covers the size so I its chosen custom size.   Box size is about 2lb 4 x 8 x 13.  

Thank you

I usually ship these in 16x10x4 boxes (easiest to find).  Depending on where you are shipping from, this sounds about right.  If you are in California, it would probably be closer to $10.

20 minutes ago, outatime said:

Hi Guys

Sold a bunch of Ecto1's on eBay, just shipping via ebay and getting costs of $16 to UT, AK and other states, I have  never sold much before but does this cost seem about normal?  Looking at the list of box sizes nothing really covers the size so I its chosen custom size.   Box size is about 2lb 4 x 8 x 13.  

Thank you

After getting burned a couple times with "Free Shipping" to Alaska, I excluded them and Hawaii from my buyer's list. I'm Midwest and most of my stuff goes to the coasts, so my costs are fairly predictable no matter which direction it goes.