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One label covers the whole box, not each item inside it. Wrap every item on its own, put heavy pieces at the bottom, fill the gaps so nothing shifts in transit, and keep the packed total within your label's weight limit. Done right, a multi-item parcel arrives with everything intact and nothing rattling around loose.
One limit to know up front: a shipping label from LetterAgent is a Canada-only, flat-rate Canada Post Xpresspost label for parcels up to 5 kg. If your packed box weighs more than that, split the contents into two parcels with a label on each, or use a different carrier service. The packing advice below works for any carrier.
No. A shipping label describes one parcel going to one address, no matter how many things are inside it. What matters is that everything in the box is headed to the same recipient at the same address. If two items are going to two different people, they need two parcels and two labels, even if they would fit in one box.
The same logic applies to tracking: one label means one tracking number for the whole parcel. The carrier scans the box, not the contents, so there is no way to follow a single item separately once it is sealed inside.
Pack in layers, heaviest first. Heavy items go at the bottom of the box, lighter items on top, and each item gets its own wrapping so items cannot scuff, scratch, or knock against each other. A common mistake is tossing everything in together and filling the top with paper: the items still shift sideways and collide during handling.
Fill every gap. Parcels get tipped, stacked, and dropped, and any empty space lets items build up speed before they hit something. Crumpled paper, bubble wrap, or air pillows all work; the test is simple: close the box, shake it gently, and if you feel or hear anything move, add more fill.
| Item type | How to pack it in a shared box |
|---|---|
| Heavy items (books, tools, jars) | Bottom layer, each wrapped on its own, never stacked on fragile items. |
| Fragile items (glass, ceramics) | Wrap individually with cushioning, then place in the middle, away from the box walls. |
| Soft items (clothing, fabric) | Poly bags keep them clean and stop them snagging on other items; they also work as padding. |
| Small loose items (cables, parts) | Bag them first, then pack the bag, so nothing escapes into the box if it opens. |
| Items with sharp edges or corners | Cover edges with cardboard or wrap so they cannot cut through a neighbour's wrapping. |
That is the riskiest combination, and it deserves a box inside the box. Pack the fragile item in its own small box with cushioning, seal it, then place that inner box in the larger box with heavy items around the bottom and padding on all sides. The inner box turns a direct hit into a glancing one, because the shock has to cross two layers of packaging.
If the weight difference is extreme, say a cast-iron pan and a wine glass, consider splitting the shipment anyway. Two parcels cost more than one, but a broken item costs more than a second label.
Yes, two things. First, a packing slip or a simple list of what is inside helps the recipient check that everything arrived, and it helps you if a claim is ever needed. Second, a spare copy of the delivery address on a card inside the box: if the outside label is torn off or soaked, the carrier can still read the destination from the inside copy. This is an old postal habit and it still saves parcels.
Seal with the H method: one strip of packing tape across the centre seam, plus one strip across each end seam, forming an H on the top and bottom. A single strip down the middle is the most common sealing failure on multi-item boxes, because the weight of the contents pushes outward on the flaps.
Weigh the sealed box, not the items one by one. Bathroom scales are too coarse for small parcels; a kitchen scale works up to a few kilograms, and a luggage scale with a hook handles larger boxes. Weigh after packing, because wrapping, fill, and the box itself all count toward the label's weight limit. A box that holds several items can easily be a kilogram heavier than the items alone.
If the sealed weight is over your label's limit, take something out and ship it separately rather than hoping the carrier will not notice. Overweight parcels can be held, returned, or charged extra, and the delay usually lands on the recipient.
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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