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Bag all loose pieces separately, tape the game box shut so the lid cannot shift, and pack it in a larger box with padding on all sides so nothing moves when you shake it. Corner damage is the most common board game complaint, so protect the corners first.
A board game box is made to sit on a shelf, not to survive a sorting belt. Its lid slides, its corners crush, and its printed surface scuffs against anything rough. Shipping the game box alone, even wrapped in paper, leaves the corners exposed to every impact. A larger outer box with padding takes those impacts instead, and the game box inside stays square. This box-in-box method is the standard for collectors and game stores, and it matters most for out-of-print games that cannot be replaced.
Open the game and bag every loose component: tokens, cards, dice, miniatures, and tiles each in their own small zip bag. Cards in a bag can still bend, so slip card decks into a snug inner box or wrap them in a sheet of cardboard. Put the bagged pieces back inside the game box, with a layer of tissue or bubble wrap on top so nothing rattles against the lid. If the game has a folded board, lay it flat on top of the insert rather than standing it on edge, where it can warp. Close the lid and tape it shut on two sides with painter tape or low-tack tape, which holds without tearing the artwork when removed.
| Part | How to pack it | What goes wrong otherwise |
|---|---|---|
| Loose tokens and dice | Separate zip bags | Pieces mix, scratch, or fall out |
| Cards | Bag plus cardboard stiffener | Bent or creased cards |
| Folded board | Flat on top of the insert | Warped or split folds |
| Miniatures | Individual bags, padded layer above | Paint chips and broken parts |
| Rulebook | Flat inside the box, not loose outside | Dog-eared pages |
Corner protectors made of foam or cardboard slip over each game-box corner and absorb the hits that would otherwise dent them. If you do not have protectors, wrap the whole game box in a layer of bubble wrap, with extra folds at the corners, before it goes into the outer box. Fill the outer box so the wrapped game sits centered, with padding on all six sides, and do the shake test: close the box, shake it gently, and listen. Any sliding or thudding means you need more filling. A game that cannot move cannot dent itself against the box wall.
Big-box games with lots of components can weigh several kilograms, so use a sturdy double-walled outer box and reinforce the bottom with extra tape in an H pattern. Weigh the packed parcel before buying a label: for shipments within Canada, a Canada Post Xpresspost label through LetterAgent covers parcels up to 5 kg at a flat rate, and you get the label as a PDF after asking your AI assistant for a quote, approving the exact price, and paying once through Stripe. If a game plus its outer box passes that weight, split expansions or accessories into a second parcel rather than cramming them in.
Put the address label on the largest flat face, away from seams and tape edges, so scanners read it cleanly. Avoid writing on the game box itself: any note for the recipient belongs inside the outer box or on the outer box. Take a quick photo of the packed game and the finished parcel before drop-off. For a used game, that photo also records the condition you sent, which settles most "it arrived damaged" disputes before they start.
Ready to ship it? Get a shipping label with LetterAgent: describe it to your AI assistant, approve the exact quoted price, and get your label.
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