Whether you sell collectible or hand-painted plates online or want to ship a treasured piece of china to a close friend, proper packing ensures safe arrival at the destination. While major shipping companies, such as UPS and FedEx, offer packaging services for a fee, preparing plates for shipment yourself gives you control over shipping costs and the quality of packing materials. If you ship extremely valuable items, purchasing adequate shipping insurance provides further protection against loss during shipping.

Things You Will Need

  • Styrofoam peanuts

  • Old newspaper

  • Blank newsprint paper or tissue paper

  • Bubble wrap

  • 2" packing tape

  • Black marker

Wrap the plate in a layer of tissue paper or blank newsprint paper to protect the surface.

Place a layer of styrofoam peanuts or crumpled newspaper in the bottom of the shipping carton.

Wrap the plate in one to two layers of bubble wrap and tape the sides to prevent the plate from sliding out.

Put the plate in the shipping carton and fill completely with peanuts or crumpled newspaper.

Close the box and gently shake to make sure the plate is adequately cushioned. If the plate is shifting, add more packing material to hold it in place.

Tape the carton lid and seams with packing tape. The United States Postal Service advises against using cord, string or twine to secure a carton because it gets caught in mail processing equipment.

Write "Fragile-Glass" in bold letters on the top and sides of the shipping carton.

Tip

If the item is irreplaceable, USPS recommends sending it via registered mail.

Warning

When shipping multiple plates, wrap each plate individually and then wrap three to four plates together in a bundle.