If you are a wreath maker that sells wreaths then you need this step-by-step video tutorial for How to Pack and Ship a Wreath.

Properly packaging and shipping your wreath in good condition is essential to keeping customers happy and preserving all of your hard work. The main goal when shipping your wreaths is to provide your customers with a ready-to-hang wreath, right out of the box!

How to Pack a Wreath

First, I want to share with you the required tools and materials I keep on hand in my workshop for shipping. Then, I will give you step-by-step instructions on how to pack and ship a wreath in a way that is both professional and cost efficient.

TOOLS AND MATERIALS NEEDED

(This tutorial contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience.)

Shipping boxes

When it comes to choosing a box for shipping, there are a couple of things you should keep in mind, such as weight and durability.

Boxes often get tossed around and beat up quite a bit in transit, so you want to make sure that you’re using a box that is sturdy and well-constructed. Corrugated boxes are great for shipping wreaths because they are durable and lightweight!

A little later, I will share the exact dimensions of the boxes that I use for shipping wreaths.

Shipping tape & Tape gun dispenser

A tape gun dispenser is not essential, but using a tape gun to seal up boxes for shipping is much easier than fumbling with a bulky roll of shipping tape.

If you plan to ship items frequently, investing in a tape dispenser would be wise.

Pipe cleaners or Zip Ties

You will need either pipe cleaners or zip ties to secure your wreaths and other items to the inside of your box.

Awl

An awl is a small pointed tool that you will use to poke holes in the bottom of your shipping box.

If you don’t have an awl, a screwdriver will also work.

Thermal Label Maker Printer & Thermal Labels

Using a label maker for shipping wreaths is incredibly easy and efficient. With just a few simple steps, you can print out clear and legible labels that will make your shipping process smooth and organized.

All you need to do is load the label maker with the appropriate label size, type in the recipient’s address and any other relevant information, such as a return address, and then print the label. The adhesive backing on the label ensures that it will stay securely in place during transit, and the clear, concise text will make it easy for postal workers and couriers to quickly identify the destination and contents of the package.

With a label maker, you can save time and eliminate the hassle of hand-writing labels, making the shipping process for your wreaths much more streamlined and stress-free.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SIZE BOX FOR PACKING A WREATH

Everyone always wants to know What size box do you use to ship wreaths? And the truth is . . . choosing a box that is the appropriate size for your wreath is crucial! Not only will it prevent your wreath from shifting and becoming damaged during transit, but choosing the right size box will also help to reduce the cost of shipping.

It’s very important that you make sure your wreath is snug in your box. This will best be achieved by choosing the smallest size of box that will comfortably fit your item.

These are the box sizes I use when packaging my wreaths:

24″ x 24″ x 6”– I use this size box for shipping extra large wreaths or swags that need to be placed diagonally.

22″ x 22″ x 6” – This size box is perfect for wreaths that have been constructed on an 18” grapevine wreath base.

20″ x 20″ x 6” – My most popular size! This size box can be used for smaller wreaths and bows.

14″ x 14″ x” 6” – I use this size box to ship urn fillers or really large arrangements.

I store all of these boxes underneath a folding table that has extensions on the bottom to elevate it, allowing me to store flattened boxes upright for easy access.

Here’s a lot more about how I set up a Shipping Station for Wreaths.

HOW TO PACK A WREATH FOR SHIPPING

Boxing a wreath is very similar to packaging a wreath bow.

Once you have collected the necessary tools and you have chosen the appropriate size box, follow these steps to package your wreath securely.

Step 1 – Tape the bottom of your box along the seams, including the corners.

Step 2 – Place your wreath inside the box. It should be snug, but it should NOT crush the wreath.

Step 3 – Use an awl (or a screwdriver) to poke holes on either side of the wreath base on two different areas of the wreath. These holes will serve as the places where you are attaching your wreath to the box.

For heavier wreaths, you may want to secure the wreath in three places instead of two.

Step 4 – Run the ends of your pipe cleaners (or your zip ties) up through each set of holes on the bottom of your box, bringing the ends up and around the wreath base, and then twist the ends (or secure your zip tie) together snuggly.

After you have secured your wreath base to the box, take a moment to fluff your wreath. You want the wreath to resemble its photo as much as possible as soon as your customer opens their box!

If you would like to include a ‘Thank you’ note to your customer, now would be the time to place it in the box with your wreath.

Step 5 – Close the box, once again taping the seams, including the corners of the box.

Step 6 – Tape over the pipe cleaners on the bottom of the box. You want to make sure that these are covered securely so that they don’t get caught in the conveyor belts during shipping.

At this point, I like to run the end of my tape gun over all of the tape seams to make sure that the tape is secure.

You can put your packing skills to the test by gently shaking the box, even turning it upside down to make sure that your wreath is firmly in place and that it doesn’t shift.

Here’s a video tutorial showing how I pack a wreath into the boxes for shipping to my customers.

How to Pack and Ship a Wreath

THE COST OF SHIPPING WREATHS

There are a variety of factors that will determine how much it will cost to ship a wreath – the distance of travel, the weight of the package, and the dimensions of the box.

One of the main ways that you can help to minimize the cost of shipping is to keep the weight of your packages as low as possible.

While you may be tempted to take extra steps such as adding a filler to the gaps around your wreath or adding extra tape to secure the box, keep in mind that these steps are going to add extra unnecessary weight that you will be paying for.

I recommend using a shipping service like ShipStation to save money on shipping! It’s super simple to set up, syncs with my Etsy Shop, and has saved me a lot of money over the years.

For more information on ShipStation go HERE.

If you carefully follow the steps I have outlined for you, these extra steps are needless. Trust me, I’ve shipped a lot of bows over the years!

YOU CAN DO IT!

Properly packaging and shipping your wreath will wow your customers and keep them coming back for more. Great packaging is one of the things that customers truly appreciate, and it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Do you have any useful tips for how to pack wreath? Let me know in the comments!