Shoe Shipping Boxes: How to Post Shoes and Trainers Safely

The best shoe shipping boxes are plain outer cartons or large mailing bags that go around the shoe box. Keep shoes or trainers in their original box, stuff each shoe with paper, then pack that box inside something made for the post. This works the same for an eBay or Vinted seller posting one pair and for a shop sending fifty.

Pack Solution does not sell shoe boxes, branded or plain. What we stock is the packaging around them: single and double wall boxes, grey mailing bags, kraft paper and brown tape.

Quick Picks: Shoe Shipping Boxes and Bags

An outer box, a mailing bag for lighter orders and paper to stuff the shoes cover most pairs.

Best for an outer box around a shoe box

Single Wall Cardboard Boxes

Lightweight corrugated boxes in 15 sizes, supplied flat, with a minimum of 5 per size.

• 15.35 x 11.6 x 7.3" (390 x 295 x 185mm) Extra Strong
• 17.7 x 13.7 x 6" (450 x 350 x 160mm) Royal Mail Small Parcel Max
• Sizes are internal

From £0.35 ex VAT (£0.42 inc VAT)

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Best for a light shoe box going out fast

Grey Mailing Bags

Opaque grey polythene bags with a self-seal strip that hide what is inside.

• 14 x 21" (350 x 525mm) and 16 x 21" (405 x 535mm)
• Water resistant outer
• Packs of 100, 50 or 25 by size

From £2.90 ex VAT (£3.48 inc VAT)

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Best for stuffing shoes and filling gaps

Kraft Paper Rolls

Strong brown paper to keep shoes in shape and stop the shoe box moving in the outer.

• Standard roll 500mm x 200m, 90gsm
• Centre-feed 200mm x 250m and 375mm x 300m, 70gsm
• Sold by the roll

From £25.00 ex VAT (£30.00 inc VAT)

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• Single wall boxes come in 15 sizes from 5 x 5 x 5" to 24 x 18 x 18", minimum 5 per size.
• The 17.7 x 13.7 x 6" (450 x 350 x 160mm) single wall box is the Royal Mail Small Parcel maximum size.
• Double wall boxes have two layers of fluting, in sizes from 9 x 6 x 6" to 24 x 24 x 24".
• Grey mailing bags come in 16 sizes from 4 x 6" to 34 x 42", with a self-seal strip.
• Kraft paper comes as a 500mm x 200m 90gsm roll or two 70gsm centre-feed rolls.
• Brown packing tape comes in packs of 6 rolls, 48mm or 72mm wide.

Why You Should Keep the Shoe Box

The shoe box holds the pair in shape and is often part of what the buyer is paying for, so pack it inside an outer layer instead of posting it bare.

Shoe box packaging is designed for a shelf. Most cardboard shoe boxes with lids have a loose lid and thin board, and a lid can lift off if the box is dropped or squeezed in a sack. A postage label and tape stuck straight onto the shoe box also damage it when the buyer peels them off.

For trainers in particular, many buyers expect the original box in good condition, and some will mark down a pair if the box arrives dented or covered in tape. Putting the shoe box inside an outer layer keeps it clean.

If a pair has no box, you can still post it safely. Wrap the shoes, stuff them with paper and use an outer box of the right size. Plain shoe boxes from a shop or a spare box from another pair also work as an inner layer.

Which Box Size Fits a Shoe Box?

Measure the shoe box, then pick an outer box with about 20 to 30mm of space on each side for paper.

Shoe boxes vary a lot between brands and sizes, so always measure the one you have. The Single Wall Cardboard Boxes listing gives internal sizes, which is what you need here.

The "takes up to" column leaves roughly 20mm of space on each side for paper. If your shoe box is close to the limit, step up a size. A box that is too tight will bulge and press on the shoe box; a box far too big needs a lot of filling.

The Royal Mail Small Parcel Max box matters if you sell often. At 450 x 350 x 160mm it is the largest size that still counts as a Small Parcel, so a shoe box that fits inside it with paper can go at that rate. Check the weight limit with Royal Mail too.

For more on sizing, see the guide to shipping boxes and parcel boxes.

Mailing Bags for Shoe Boxes

A grey mailing bag around the shoe box is quick and light, and suits everyday shoes where a few scuffs on the box do not matter.

Grey Mailing Bags are opaque polythene with a self-seal strip and a water resistant outer. They add very little weight, which helps keep postage down, and they hide what is inside the parcel.

When choosing mailing bags for shoe boxes, remember the bag must wrap around the depth of the box. Add the depth of the shoe box to both its length and its width, then allow a little extra to seal the strip. As an example, a box of 330 x 190 x 120mm needs a bag of at least about 330 x 470mm.

A bag gives no protection against crushing. For new trainers, collectable pairs or anything where the box condition matters, use an outer carton. The guide to parcel bags and postal bags covers the full range of sizes.

How to Pack Shoes for Posting

Clean the shoes, stuff them with paper, wrap them, box them, then fill and seal the outer.

1. Clean the shoes and make sure they are dry. Damp shoes in a sealed box can smell or mark.
2. Stuff each shoe with scrunched kraft paper so the toe and heel keep their shape.
3. Wrap each shoe in a sheet of paper so they do not rub against each other.
4. Place them in the shoe box, heel to toe, and put the lid on.
5. Put a layer of paper in the bottom of the outer box and set the shoe box on it.
6. Fill the gaps on all sides and the top with scrunched paper until the shoe box cannot move.
7. Seal the outer box with tape across the centre seam and over each end.
8. Stick the label on the outer box only.

Kraft Paper Rolls do both jobs, stuffing the shoes and filling the outer. The centre-feed rolls sit in a dispenser box on the bench, which suits a seller packing every day. The 500mm x 200m 90gsm roll is the heavier paper and the widest, handy for wrapping boots.

Packing Shoes Without a Shoe Box

If the pair came without a box, wrap each shoe in kraft paper after stuffing it, then place the pair sole to sole in the outer box. Fill the space around them so they cannot slide. A smaller outer box works here, since there is no shoe box to fit, but leave enough room for paper on every side. Heavy work boots or walking boots travel better in double wall cardboard.

Give the box a gentle shake before you seal it. If you can hear or feel the shoe box move, add more paper.

Double Boxing Valuable Trainers

For expensive or collectable trainers, pack the shoe box inside a double wall carton with paper on every side.

Double Wall Cardboard Boxes have two layers of fluting, which makes them stiffer than single wall and better at resisting knocks and crushing. They suit heavier items, fragile goods and anything of high value.

Best for valuable trainers and boots

Double Wall Cardboard Boxes

Heavy duty corrugated boxes with two layers of fluting for extra protection.

• 12 x 9 x 6" (305 x 229 x 152mm) to 24 x 24 x 24"
• 18 x 12 x 11" (457 x 305 x 279mm) for boots
• Sold per box

From £0.59 ex VAT (£0.71 inc VAT)

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For most adult trainers, the 12 x 9 x 6" box is too small once you allow for paper, so look at the 18 x 12 x 11" (457 x 305 x 279mm) or 14 x 14 x 14" (356 x 356 x 356mm). Fill well, because more empty space means more chance of the shoe box shifting.

Use a plain outer with no hint of what is inside. Avoid writing a brand name or the word trainers on the box. Take a photo of the packed shoe box inside the outer before you seal it, and keep the proof of postage. Both help if a buyer reports damage.

Note that some double wall sizes, including 14 x 14 x 14", ship from us on 2-day delivery only. Most double wall sizes have a minimum order of 5 boxes.

Sealing and Labelling the Outer Box

Seal the outer box with packing tape across the centre seam and both ends, and keep tape and labels off the shoe box.

Brown Packing Tape in 48mm x 66m suits most outer boxes and matches brown cartons. For the larger double wall sizes, the Proloc 72mm x 66m roll covers more of the seam in one pass. Run tape down each side a hand's width so the ends of the strip cannot lift.

Best for sealing the outer box

Brown Packing Tape

Buff polypropylene tape that matches brown cartons.

• 48mm x 66m, 42 micron acrylic
• Proloc 72mm x 66m for bigger boxes
• Packs of 6 rolls

From £4.50 ex VAT (£5.40 inc VAT)

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Place the label flat on the largest face of the outer box, away from seams and tape edges. If you reuse a box, cover or remove every old label and barcode so the parcel is not misrouted.

Shops sending shoes in volume might also find the sibling guide on removal boxes and supplies useful for bulk box buying and storage.

Shoe Shipping Checklist

• Keep the shoes in their original shoe box where you can.
• Clean and dry the shoes before packing.
• Stuff each shoe with kraft paper.
• Measure the shoe box and choose an outer with about 20mm of space all round.
• Use a mailing bag only for everyday pairs where the box condition does not matter.
• Double box valuable or collectable trainers in double wall cardboard.
• Fill every gap so the shoe box cannot move.
• Tape and label the outer box only.

Stocking Up for Shoe Orders

Most shoe sellers need one or two outer box sizes, a mailing bag size for lighter pairs, a roll of kraft paper and brown tape. Measure a few of your usual shoe boxes, pick the outer sizes that fit them with room for paper, and keep those stocked. Every size here is in the boxes and bags collections.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best shoe shipping boxes?

A plain corrugated outer box slightly bigger than the shoe box. The single wall 15.35 x 11.6 x 7.3" (390 x 295 x 185mm) Extra Strong box and the 17.7 x 13.7 x 6" (450 x 350 x 160mm) Royal Mail Small Parcel Max box take many adult shoe boxes with room for paper. Measure your shoe box first.

Can I post shoes in just the shoe box?

It is not a good idea. Most cardboard shoe boxes with lids are made for shop shelves, and the lid can come open in transit. Labels stuck to the shoe box also mark it, which matters to buyers of collectable trainers. Put the shoe box inside an outer box or a mailing bag.

Do you sell cardboard shoe boxes?

No. We do not sell shoe boxes, branded or plain, with or without lids. We sell the packaging that goes around them: single and double wall shipping boxes, grey mailing bags, kraft paper and packing tape. Keep the original shoe box and post it inside one of these.

What size mailing bags for shoe boxes do I need?

The bag has to wrap around the depth of the box as well as its length and width. Add the box depth to both the length and the width, plus a little extra to seal. A shoe box of 330 x 190 x 120mm would need a bag of at least about 330 x 470mm, such as 14 x 21" (350 x 525mm).

How do I stop shoes getting crushed in the post?

Stuff each shoe with scrunched kraft paper so it keeps its shape, wrap the pair, and fill the gaps around the shoe box inside the outer box. For valuable trainers, use a double wall outer box such as 12 x 9 x 6" (305 x 229 x 152mm) or larger.

Should I double box expensive trainers?

Yes. Collectors often want the shoe box itself in mint condition. Packing the shoe box inside a double wall carton, with paper on all sides, keeps dents and tape off it. Seal only the outer box and put the label on the outer box.

Shop for This Job

• Cardboard Boxes
• Mailing & Polythene Bags

Related Guides

• Removal Boxes and Packing Supplies for Removal Companies
• Shipping Boxes Parcel Boxes Guide
• Parcel Bags Postal Bags Sizes Colours

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