How to Ship a Bean Bag Without Spending a Fortune on Shipping

How to ship a bean bag is not difficult if you opt for heavy-duty wrapping materials, a bag, and a box. Packing peanuts will help with the extra protection, and despite the size, there are ways to get a good deal on shipping.

Bean bags are large and voluminous.

Shipping them can be an issue for most people, whether you run a business, sell bean bags, or want to send yours to a friend.

This article will give you all the details you need on how to ship a bean bag, but you will also learn how to save a bit of money on shipping such a large item.

Table of Contents

What You Need to Prepare

How to Pack Bean Bags

In this guide, you will learn how to ship bean bags safely and efficiently, like a pro. By following these steps, you can minimize the risk of damage during shipping.

1. Prepare the Bean Bag Before Packing it

Make sure the bean bag is in good condition.

It should not go with other items – if the shipment is larger.

Clean it a bit and remove all the dust – if it has not been used for a long time.

2. Fit the Bean Bag in the Heavy-Duty Plastic Bag

Bean bags are voluminous, so you need a plastic bag that can easily accommodate them.

The good news is they are also flexible, so you can play around and find the perfect fit.
 
While a regular plastic bag may work if you transport the bean bag yourself, a heavy-duty one is mandatory if you ship it – most courier employees will not care about what it is inside.

Instead, they will chuck and throw things around, so you need to protect the bean bag.

3. Get the Bean Bag Inside a Heavy-Duty Box

This is the most complicated part because you need a box that perfectly accommodates the bean bag.

If you can see bumps on the sides of the box, it is too small.

The box is too big if you need packing materials to fill the gaps.
 
Now, a bit bigger is not necessarily a bad idea because packing materials will add to the protection of your bean bag – however, they will add to the costs.
 
To determine the right size, it pays off to measure the bean bag once it is fitted inside the plastic bag.

4. Get the Packing Materials in

Fill all the gaps in the box with packing peanuts or perhaps the newspaper.

Close the box, and shake it off a little for things to settle down.

Open it and fill all the gaps again.

Do it until there are no gaps left after shaking it.

5. Seal the Box

Use tape to seal the box – more is better.

A single roll may not be enough.

A little accident could cause the tape to snap, so you must go over it repeatedly.

You can also consider wrapping it for extra protection, but this is not mandatory.
 
You should wrap the box if it goes a long distance or abroad.

It adds to your peace of mind and can protect the bean bag – keep in mind that even a light puncture could damage it.

6. Get the Shipping Labels and Go

Find a courier willing to take large boxes.

It depends on how big the bean bag is.

Some bags are small and suitable for kids.

Some others are made for adults.

Then, there are also bean bags that can take couples.
 
To ensure there are no misunderstandings, measure the box and find a courier with the possibility of moving such sizes.

How Much Does it Cost to Ship Bean Bags?

Most couriers charge based on the weight, but with some limits.

You cannot send a box the size of a car filled with packing peanuts.

After a certain limit, sizing fees will add up too.

Of course, it depends on the distance.

You could pay as little as $75 or over $100 to ship your bean bag.

The bean bag is not necessarily heavy, but its voluminous size will most likely exceed the required limits, so that you will be charged for the size too.

Normally, a large shipment will not be too cheap.

Get ready to pay around $100 for such a shipment.

The Cheapest Way to Ship Bean Bags

More couriers can take your bean bag, but you want value for money too – a decent company with low prices.

USPS seems to dominate the segment from this point of view.

Like any other courier, USPS will charge on the size of the package too and not just the weight because it is too big.

Costs are still better compared to other couriers.

Another factor to consider is the shipping method – standard or premium.

USPS requires shipping labels and adds to the price, but there is a way to get them for free.

Pirate Ship allows weighing your parcel and printing shipping labels for free – based on that weight, of course.

Pirate Ship will require you to register, not to mention having your scale.

If you run a bean bag business, having a scale is worth it – otherwise, borrow one from someone else.

Final Thoughts

Bottom line, bean bags represent a challenge when it comes to transportation.

If you do it yourself, you can always find solutions – chuck it in a bag and throw it in the car, without any boxes.

Look after it, and it will be fine.

Real problems occur when using a courier because they usually require boxes, and you have no guarantee regarding the handling procedures.

You want to add some extra protection because even if you put a fragile sticker on the box, it will still be thrown around like a bag of potatoes.

Feel free to share this helpful guide with others in the same situation.

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