How to Ship a Poster
Whether you want to send a poster as a gift to a friend or sell posters online, you should know how to properly package posters for shipping so that they arrive at their destination undamaged. Here are some poster shipping tips that may come in handy.
You can ship posters rolled up or flat. In most cases, rolled posters are cheaper to ship because shipping costs are generally based on the size and/or weight of the package, and rolled posters take up less space than flat posters. You can also ship framed posters, but you will need to take extra precautions to ensure that they arrive intact.
How to Ship a Rolled Poster
If your poster is unframed, the easiest way to ship it is rolled. Most carriers have shipping tubes, also known as mailing tubes or tube mailers, specifically designed for shipping long items such as rolled artwork and posters, rolls of paper, curtain rods, etc. In addition to a shipping tube of the correct length, which should match the length of your rolled poster, you will need a sheet of white, acid-free tissue paper that matches the size of your poster, bubble wrap or other cushioning material, and packing tape.
Lay out your poster (printed side up), cover it with the tissue paper, and roll it up along with the paper. Next, prepare the shipping tube: if it is longer than your rolled poster, place some cushioning material at the bottom to keep the poster from shifting inside. Place the rolled poster in the tube and close it with the cap that came with the tube. Wrap both ends of the tube with bubble wrap for extra protection and secure it with packing tape.
Now you need to properly affix the shipping label to the tube. As packages are scanned automatically, it is important to make sure that the barcode on the shipping label remains scannable. In other words, do not wrap the barcode around the tube; it must run lengthwise on the tube. We also recommend adding a “Handle with Care” label for extra protection.
How to Ship a Flat Poster
Mailing a flat poster is also an option. In this case, you will need several sheets of strong cardboard that are at least an inch or two larger on each side than your poster, a clean plastic bag or envelope that matches the size of your poster, and packing tape.
Place the poster in the bag or envelope and tape it closed. Then place the bag or envelope with the poster on a sheet of cardboard and tape each side to the cardboard. Cover with another sheet of cardboard, then sandwich between the remaining pieces of cardboard and tape everything together. Be sure to protect the entire outer edge with tape. Affix the shipping label and add the “Fragile Do Not Bend” warning label.
How to Ship a Framed Poster
Mailing framed posters is especially tricky, especially if they are covered with glass that cannot be packed separately. To properly pack a framed poster, you will need surface protection tape, bubble wrap, packing tape, foam corners, packing peanuts, and two boxes – one for the poster (inner box) and one for shipping (outer box).
Start by covering the glass with surface protection tape; if the glass ends up breaking in transit, the tape will protect the poster from the shards. Cover the entire frame with bubble wrap and seal with packing tape. Make sure the bubbles face inward, the tape lies flat against the glass, and all corners and edges are covered. Protect the corners with foam corner pieces.
Fill the bottom of the smaller box with 2 inches of packing peanuts. Carefully place the poster inside the box and fill any remaining space with more packing peanuts. Seal the box with packing tape and place it in the outer box. If there is any empty space in the outer box, fill it with more packing peanuts. Seal the box, making sure all seams, edges, and corners are covered. Attach the shipping label and the “Fragile” / “Handle with Care” sticker.