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.

1 hour ago, exciter1 said:

The dumpster behind Quizno’s

Are they still around?

1 minute ago, gmpirate said:

Are they still around?

 

6 hours ago, gmpirate said:

I'm switching to LTL this year so I'm looking to stock up on like sized boxes.  What is the consensus for where to get boxes for large sets right now?  The 18x18x24 seem to be popular from HD/Walmart/etc but they obviously don't fit the large sets.  I can pick up locally from Uline but was wondering what my options are.  Uhaul?

How much do you save by LTL compared with individual boxes?

6 hours ago, gmpirate said:

I'm switching to LTL this year so I'm looking to stock up on like sized boxes.  What is the consensus for where to get boxes for large sets right now?  The 18x18x24 seem to be popular from HD/Walmart/etc but they obviously don't fit the large sets.  I can pick up locally from Uline but was wondering what my options are.  Uhaul?

HD does not carry the 18x18x24 any more. They replaced it with 22x16(w)x15(h) for the last couple of months, and now it was replaced again with 21x15(w)x16(h). 

5 minutes ago, joesnow2005 said:

How much do you save by LTL compared with individual boxes?

I think weight wise its about half.  At least that's what I gather from a little reading . . .

Edited May 24, 20214 yr by gmpirate

I've looked through this thread for some ideas, but wondering if anyone has any new recommendations!

For the past few years I have been primarily buying for my personal collection, and turning any excess clearance finds into more Lego funds via Marketplace/Offerup and the like. I've accumulated a decent amount of duplicates that I am not having any more luck selling locally, and am looking into listing them on eBay. 

I'm having some difficulty finding box sizes for a lot of the larger/longer sets (like Defense of Crait, D-O, etc). Does anyone have any box/shipping recommendations for someone like me, who won't necessarily be selling frequently or in large quantities? More of a small part-time thing.

Thanks!

46 minutes ago, thegraverobber said:

I've looked through this thread for some ideas, but wondering if anyone has any new recommendations!

For the past few years I have been primarily buying for my personal collection, and turning any excess clearance finds into more Lego funds via Marketplace/Offerup and the like. I've accumulated a decent amount of duplicates that I am not having any more luck selling locally, and am looking into listing them on eBay. 

I'm having some difficulty finding box sizes for a lot of the larger/longer sets (like Defense of Crait, D-O, etc). Does anyone have any box/shipping recommendations for someone like me, who won't necessarily be selling frequently or in large quantities? More of a small part-time thing.

Thanks!

go dumpster diving

Probably a stupid question, but do I have to use USPS flat rate pricing if I am using their Priority Flat Rate boxes, or can I use standard Priority rates?  I was pulling out some boxes I picked up from USPS and they said flat rate on them.  I'd like to avoid getting a package bounced back to me.

if u use USPS flat rate boxes, u will need to use USPS flat rate postage.  If they see it at buyer's post office, they will charge the buyer

8 hours ago, fuzzy_bricks said:

Probably a stupid question, but do I have to use USPS flat rate pricing if I am using their Priority Flat Rate boxes, or can I use standard Priority rates?  I was pulling out some boxes I picked up from USPS and they said flat rate on them.  I'd like to avoid getting a package bounced back to me.

What I have seen some places I order from will turn them inside out or cover them with shipping paper so you can still save on the cost of a box. A lot of coin dealers do this with USPS Priority Mail Small flat rate boxes since a single coin is an ounce.  

11 minutes ago, Pseudoty said:

What I have seen some places I order from will turn them inside out or cover them with shipping paper so you can still save on the cost of a box. A lot of coin dealers do this with USPS Priority Mail Small flat rate boxes since a single coin is an ounce.  

At least 13 years ago the USPS started printing on the inside of the boxes so that you can no longer turn them wrong-side out.  I know because I worked for the USPS then.

2 hours ago, Pseudoty said:

What I have seen some places I order from will turn them inside out or cover them with shipping paper so you can still save on the cost of a box. A lot of coin dealers do this with USPS Priority Mail Small flat rate boxes since a single coin is an ounce.  

I've heard this too from here, but someone else said that if the dimensions match one of their boxes their machines may catch it.

3 hours ago, Pseudoty said:

What I have seen some places I order from will turn them inside out or cover them with shipping paper so you can still save on the cost of a box. A lot of coin dealers do this with USPS Priority Mail Small flat rate boxes since a single coin is an ounce.  

I know people still do this but I would not recommend it.  All it takes is a USPS employee noticing he misuse and charge the receiver upon delivery.  All the sudden you are in the situation where the package is late AND the customer needs to pay extra for delivery.

If you get boxes walking into USPS they are all flat rate.

You can order them from USPS in packs of 10 or 25 in all kinds of sizes and they are free. I’d recommend getting 10 of each in your first order and then you’ll soon enough figure out what sizes work best in your application.

12 minutes ago, scrapen said:

If you get boxes walking into USPS they are all flat rate.

You can order them from USPS in packs of 10 or 25 in all kinds of sizes and they are free. I’d recommend getting 10 of each in your first order and then you’ll soon enough figure out what sizes work best in your application.

I only use them to line and support sets inside of corrugated boxes. USPS boxes are too thin to ship sealed LEGO sets.

15 minutes ago, scrapen said:

If you get boxes walking into USPS they are all flat rate.

You can order them from USPS in packs of 10 or 25 in all kinds of sizes and they are free. I’d recommend getting 10 of each in your first order and then you’ll soon enough figure out what sizes work best in your application.

They have Priority boxes that are not Flat Rate.

2 minutes ago, exciter1 said:

I only use them to line and support sets inside of corrugated boxes. USPS boxes are too thin to ship sealed LEGO sets.

I use them.  If that makes me a bad person, I'll add that reason to the list of others.  Depending on the set, depends whether I use them or not.  Sold a Duel on Bespin set, I used a new corrugated box for that one, but lots of City sets that go for $30-40 will get the free USPS box treatment.

Those flat-ish, rectangular free USPS boxes often get crushed in transit, which means the LEGO box gets crushed too.

recently I rec'd a few sets (from Ebay sellers) that use the USPS "free" boxes as an internal box.  I can appreciate the extra care (I guess); if not for the fact they literally covered the entire outer box w/ packing tape...it's really annoying to have to carefully use a blade to extract a set from someone who got a brand new roll of tape (for free obviously) and felt the need to use it all on a medium size box.

I know this is better for the complaint thread, but it's currently undergoing a social experiment 

4 hours ago, fuzzy_bricks said:

I've heard this too from here, but someone else said that if the dimensions match one of their boxes their machines may catch it.

I remember that same “fear mongering” post back in the good old days when all we had to worry about was the size of our boxes  

I use the free boxes all the time.  I order them online and have them delivered to my house in bundles. As others have stated they are great for adding extra protection. 

Anyone know the length of the empire state building box? Is it same as Trafalgar or longer?

4 hours ago, Bricklectic said:

Anyone know the length of the empire state building box? Is it same as Trafalgar or longer?

Same as trafalgar in length and width but about 1 cm deeper (fatter)

Edited August 28, 20214 yr by severalads

23 hours ago, severalads said:

Same as trafalgar in length and width but about 1 cm deeper (fatter)

thanks. perfect for home depot medium double walls then.

How are you guys getting pallets?  I've been calling around locally in Socal and people seem to be out of stock.  I see them at Uline for $25 a piece but that's high.

Best place to buy boxes in Ireland? EU please? Thanks

So I've scanned Amazon and can't find cardboard box to post Winter Village Cottage (19" x 15" x 3"). Anyone here from EU that can advise please? Thanks. Really need to send this tomorrow am for eBay sale. 

Also looking for a good link to buy boxes to send Lego in general as I offload my collection