Shipping large parcels: the complete guide

Shipping a large parcel doesn't have to be difficult or expensive. A range of carriers offer large-parcel shipping, and with a bit of planning you can get your parcel delivered without any trouble.

To keep as many options open as possible, it's worth adopting a multi-carrier strategy, integrating as many different carriers into your shipping process as you can, so you always find the right route for your products. Let's look at what to keep in mind when shipping large parcels and exactly which options are available.

Shipping large parcels: the best tips from practice

With these practical tips you can make sure everything runs smoothly, even with larger parcels:

• Use a carrier that specializes in large parcels. DHL, UPS, and others are all good options.

• Use a rate calculator up front to work out the cost of shipping your large parcel. With a free Sendcloud account you get one straight away.

• Make sure your parcel is labeled correctly and includes all the necessary documents.

• Pack your parcel securely so it isn't damaged in transit.

• Place heavy items at the bottom of the parcel and lighter items on top.

• Distribute the weight evenly in the box. Pack your goods as compactly as possible so cushioned items don't slide around.

• Place especially sensitive or fragile products in the center of the parcel. They should never touch the side walls, or they can be damaged.

• Products that could leak, such as toiletries, should be sealed in an airtight bag for extra safety.

• Consider the nature of what you're packing. Always pack drink cartons, filled jars, or bottles upright, since they're designed for vertical transport and can better withstand pressure and impact that way.

• Use cushioning material when packing to protect your goods in transit. It holds products in place and absorbs external forces such as impacts or the pressure of stacking.

• Pack heavy goods in firmer cushioning, such as machine-crumpled kraft paper, which offers more stability. Newspaper or tissue paper is unsuitable, as it compresses heavily under pressure, creating gaps so the contents shift and can break.

• Pack goods as tightly as possible, but without crushing them.

• Avoid contact between the goods and the packaging, especially for delicate materials like glass, porcelain, plastic cups, or drink containers.

• Make sure the products don't touch each other.

• Seal the slots in the box with high-quality tape. Packing tape reinforces the box material and improves transport safety.

• For parcels up to 12 kg: cover at least the bottom and top of your parcel with a long strip of tape.

• For weights over 12 kg: also seal the box with a double L-seal, applying tape in the shape of a double "L" over the four shorter edges of your parcel.

• For 25 kg or more, we recommend also sealing the bottom and lid slots with a double-T closure, covering half of the vertical edges with tape as well.

Which carriers ship large parcels?

Let's look at which carriers are available for large parcels and the conditions to keep in mind for each.

DHL

With DHL, parcels can weigh up to 31.5 kg and measure up to 120 x 60 x 60 cm. Beyond that, your shipment counts as bulky goods, where the parcel may be at most 200 cm long or have a maximum girth of 360 cm. You calculate the girth from the length plus twice the width and twice the height. To ship larger parcels or parcels weighing up to 300 kg, you'll need DHL Express, which also covers international shipping.

DPD

With DPD you can ship parcels up to a maximum length of 175 cm and a maximum weight of 31.5 kg, with a girth of no more than 300 cm. If you drop your parcel off at a parcel shop, the limits are 20 kg, 100 cm length, and 175 cm girth; anything larger must be collected from you.

GLS

With GLS you can ship large parcels up to 200 cm long and up to 80 cm wide, with a maximum weight of 40 kg and a girth not exceeding 300 cm.

UPS

Shipping heavy parcels with UPS is possible up to 70 kg, with a length of up to 274 cm and a maximum girth of 400 cm. For parcels over 31.5 kg (25 kg within the EU), a special heavy-goods label is required. For parcels that exceed certain size and weight combinations, UPS recommends using dedicated freight services.

Using the UPS heavy-package sticker

Parcels weighing more than 25 kg must carry a special heavy-package sticker with UPS. Place it clearly visible on your parcel, to the right of the shipping document, and write the parcel's weight in the white area of the sticker. These eye-catching stickers let UPS give heavy parcels the special attention and handling they need, and signal to both UPS staff and your customers that these parcels must be handled with extra care.

Arranging pickup for large and heavy parcels

Sometimes it's very time-consuming, or simply not possible, to take a large or heavy parcel to a post office or parcel shop. In that case you can have the parcel collected directly from you.

You'll of course need to make sure you're on site for the pickup, even if an exact time can't be given (for express parcels this can be narrowed to a 2-hour window; for standard parcels it's within the carrier's normal delivery rounds). If a pickup fails, new shipping fees apply for each further attempt, so double-check that your address and contact details are correct when you book, so the carrier can reach you quickly if there's a problem.

Can I ship a parcel without a box?

Your goods don't necessarily have to be in a corrugated box to be shipped as a parcel. However, if your packaging isn't rectangular, it counts as bulky goods, and carriers usually charge expensive surcharges for these. That's because such parcels can't be sorted automatically and have to be handled by hand, which can lead to longer delivery times. We therefore recommend choosing a suitable box. If it's big enough, there are no bulges, and you can avoid unnecessary extra costs.

Shipping large parcels via a freight forwarder

Once your parcel exceeds the shipping conditions of the individual carriers, shipping via a freight forwarder becomes necessary. If you want to ship a large parcel with a forwarder, you can choose to place it on a pallet or on squared timber. There are a few good reasons to use a forwarder for large parcels:

• Forwarders bring specialized know-how for shipping large, heavy, and bulky goods.

• They specialize in large and heavy parcels, so they can handle your parcel carefully and make sure it arrives safely.

• They have the necessary equipment, such as pallets.

• They can offer special insurance for especially heavy shipments.

When does a parcel count as oversized?

Unfortunately there's no single standard, and each carrier defines it differently. But if one side of the parcel exceeds a certain maximum length, or the combined width, height, and length is too high (measured as girth), or the weight exceeds a certain limit, the parcel can no longer be shipped as a normal parcel and counts as bulky goods.

Shipping heavy parcels doesn't have to be complicated

As you can see, with a bit of planning you can ship a large parcel without any trouble. Just make sure you choose a carrier that specializes in large parcels and pack your parcel securely so it isn't damaged in transit.

Shipping large parcels is especially convenient using our Sendcloud shipping platform. With Sendcloud, the shipping services of more than 170 parcel carriers are just a few clicks away!

Create your free account now to get started shipping large parcels right away:

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