Selecting the correct mailer size can help in reducing waste and minimizing costs. Rightsizing your packaging not only prevents the use of unnecessary materials, aligning with zero waste principles, but also helps avoid the additional shipping costs associated with excess packaging. By choosing the right size, you make your packaging more efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you determine the best mailer dimensions for your orders, whether you’re using regular poly mailers or padded/bubble mailers.
1. Assess Your Typical Orders
- Single Item Orders: If your customers often order just one item, measure that item’s length, width, and height.
- Multiple Item Orders: For orders that include three or five items, stack the items as they would be packed. Measure the length, width, and height of the stack.
- Consider Multiple Configurations: If your products vary in size or shape, it’s a good idea to measure a few different configurations of typical orders.
2. Calculate Mailer Dimensions
Once you have the measurements, use this formula to determine the mailer dimensions:
- Length: Add the length of the items to the height.
- Width: Add the width of the items to the height.
- Additional Space: Add 2 inches for the flap and ½ inch for wiggle room.
For example:
- Regular Poly Mailer: If your item stack measures 10 inches long, 5 inches wide, and 2 inches high, your mailer should be approximately 14.5 inches long (10 + 2+2+0.5) and 7.5 inches wide (5 + 2+ 0.5).
- Padded/Bubble Mailer: These dimensions typically refer to the internal space available. If the external dimensions of a mailer are 12 x 8 inches, the internal dimensions might be slightly smaller due to the sealed edges being wider than non-padded mailers.
3. Choosing the Right Size
- Single Size Custom Mailer: If you can only create one custom size, base it on the dimensions of your larger orders. For smaller orders, you can fold over the extra material if you’re using a poly mailer.
- Multiple Sizes: If your business deals with varying order sizes, it might be best to have a couple of different mailer sizes on hand to accommodate different order configurations.
4. Request Samples
- Stock Samples: You can request samples of stock mailers or those from previous orders with similar dimensions. This can give you a good idea of what size might work best.
- Custom Samples: If you need a perfectly tailored fit, you can request completely custom samples. This process does take time and involves additional costs.
How We Can Help
If you’re unsure about which size to choose, Ecopackables can assist. Our expert team can provide guidance based on your specific needs, helping you find the most efficient and cost-effective packaging solutions. Whether it’s custom sizing or stock options, we have the resources to ensure your products are well-protected and your packaging is optimized for your business.