When you are preparing for a move, start by making sure you have the right moving boxes, moving supplies and moving kits for larger moves. To secure your boxes, have packing tape or duct tape with you so they don’t open while in transit. To protect your items inside the box, use stretch wrap, shrink wrap, packing peanuts, packing paper, or foam rolls. Lastly, having markers, labels, scissors or box cutters will help keep your boxes organized and will make unpacking easier.

A mailer is a lightweight, flexible envelope that’s used to ship small, non-fragile items like clothing or books. It can help save on shipping costs and storage space. Mailers can include mailing tubes, poly mailers, padded mailers, corrugated mailers and flat mailers. A shipping box is a more heavy-duty, corrugated container that’s designed to protect fragile or bulky items during transit.

When you’re looking for the right shipping box, start by measuring the dimensions of the item(s) you want to ship and add 2 inches (5.08 cm) on all sides for protective cushioning. Choose a sturdy and rigid box that closely matches the size of your item(s) to limit shifting inside. Make sure the box you choose can handle the weight of what you’re shipping. If you’re not sure what type of box you need, use our box finder tool. If you need help shipping your boxes, use one of our shipping services from carriers like Canada Post, FedEx, Purolator, DHL and UPS.

To protect fragile items when you’re moving, start by wrapping each item in bubble wrap or packing paper. For hollow spaces, like in glasses, add crumpled paper or tissue paper for added protection. When packing your boxes, pack it with three main zones in mind: a cushioned bottom, heavy and firm items at the base and lightweight items on top. Fill out any extra gaps with extra packing paper or bubble wrap before sealing the box.