Packing guide · DASH Academy
From the right cardboard box to protection, dimensions and sealing, here you will find practical instructions for properly preparing a parcel, a suitcase or your household goods before transport.
A sturdy, square or rectangular cardboard box, fully closed, with flat outer surfaces, properly secured with tape and suitable for stacking.
Packages with an irregular shape, protrusions or external elements may require different handling, may not be eligible for certain services or may affect the price. What is accepted depends on the service.
For standard parcel shipments, choose a new or genuinely excellent-condition corrugated cardboard box, with no moisture, tears, deep creases or deformed corners.
A used box may look fine but may already have lost part of its structural strength. During stacking and transport it can be crushed, deformed or burst open. Asking “would it hold another box on top?” is a simple way to judge. For fragile or heavier items, choose a double-wall cardboard box.
For standard shipments through partner carrier networks, use a clean cardboard box with no old shipping labels, barcodes, markings or wording that could give a misleading impression of the contents.
Avoid boxes whose exterior refers to cleaning products, chemicals, flammables or other restricted contents, even if they now contain only clothes or personal items.
The outside of the package must clearly match the current shipment and carry only the necessary markings and the current shipping label.
Same contents — correct outer packaging. The example concerns only the outside of the box; it does not mean that cleaning products or chemicals are accepted. This rule applies to standard parcel shipments, not to moving boxes.
Key rules
Use a strong cardboard box suitable for the contents — double-wall for heavy items.
The contents must not move freely inside the box.
Fragile items are wrapped individually and separated with suitable protective material.
Use proper packing tape and seal the box well — ideally in an H pattern.
The right size protects both your parcel and your wallet.
DASH Academy · Volumetric weight
A large but light parcel takes up more space in the vehicle or aircraft. That is why transport pricing may also take volumetric weight into account.
Same actual weight, different volume.
Length × Width × Height ÷ volumetric weight divisor
The divisor varies by carrier and service.
Illustrative example
The actual calculation and divisor depend on the service.
Smarter packing
Jackets, duvets, blankets and other soft items may weigh little but take up a lot of volume. Vacuum compression bags can significantly reduce the space they take up, where they are suitable for the contents.
Before → compression → after
Vacuum bags are inner packaging: they always go inside a suitable outer cardboard box.
Choose the smallest cardboard box that fits the item together with the necessary protection.
Step by step
Sturdy, the right size, structurally intact.
Wrap fragile and delicate items individually, with bubble wrap or paper.
Nothing should move inside the closed box.
Proper packing tape in an H pattern, top and bottom.
Length, width, height — once it is closed.
The dimensions you declare to DASH are the outer dimensions of the final, closed parcel. Do not exceed the service's weight and size limits — see the shipping rules.
Special items
Choose the item and open its guide. Permitted contents are defined in the shipping rules.
A suitcase's wheels, handles and irregular shape make automated sorting difficult. That is why most carriers treat it as a special-handling item, which often means an extra charge. In addition, if damage occurs, carriers' insurance usually does not cover unpackaged suitcases.
A regular, right-sized cardboard box protects your belongings better and is more suitable for standard transport. Depending on the route and service, it may also cost less.
Olive oil
Shipping olive oil requires particularly careful packing, because any leak during transport can damage both your own shipment and other goods.
For the shipment to be collected and travel safely, every olive oil container — metal tin or suitable plastic container — must be packed according to the steps below.
For countries, quantities and accepted packaging, see the olive oil shipping abroad page.
Make sure the lid or cap of the container is fully and securely sealed, with no sign of leakage.
Wrap the entire container very well in multiple layers of stretch film, or place it inside a sturdy, airtight bag. The aim is that, in the event of a small leak, the liquid stays inside the protective packaging as far as possible.
Wrap the container all around, as well as top and bottom, with several layers of bubble wrap, creating a protective cushion of at least 5 cm on all sides.
Place the protected container in a sturdy cardboard box of a suitable size. The container must fit firmly and must not be able to move inside the box.
If there are gaps between the container and the cardboard box, completely fill all the gaps with extra bubble wrap or suitable protective foam.
Tip: When you gently shake the box, the container must not move inside it.
Seal all the seams of the cardboard box with strong packing tape, paying particular attention to both the bottom and the top of the box.
The packaging must be able to withstand the normal handling of international transport, such as moving, vibration and stacking with other parcels.
Olive oil containers handed over without adequate protection against leaks and impact may not be accepted for transport.
Proper packaging does not mean that every liquid can be transported. Some liquids, chemicals or other regulated goods may require a specific check or documents, or may not be accepted on the service in question. Check the shipping rules first or contact DASH.
Honey
Shipping honey requires particularly careful packing, especially when glass jars are used. During transport we must protect the contents against both possible leaks and breakage of the container.
Honey can be shipped in glass or plastic jars, as well as in metal containers. Every container must be fully sealed, protected individually and placed in a sturdy cardboard box with no possibility of movement inside it.
Glass jar
Requires extra protection
Plastic jar
Protection against leaks & pressure
Metal container / tin
Protection against leaks & knocks
Make sure the lid of every jar or container is fully and securely closed, with no sign of leakage. Pay particular attention to the point where the lid meets the container.
Wrap each container individually in multiple layers of stretch film, or place it inside a sturdy, well-sealed bag. The protection must cover the whole container so that, in the event of a leak, any spread of the contents is limited as far as possible.
Wrap each jar individually in several layers of bubble wrap, creating a protective cushion of at least 5 cm all around, as well as top and bottom. Glass jars require particular care, as no glass container may come into direct contact with another container or with the walls of the cardboard box.
Place the protected containers upright inside a sturdy cardboard box of a suitable size. The jars must stay stable and must not touch each other or the walls of the box directly.
Completely fill all the gaps between the containers and the cardboard box with extra bubble wrap or suitable protective foam. The contents must form a solid unit with no possibility of movement.
Tip: Do the “movement test”: gently shake the box before closing it. You must not feel or hear the jars moving inside it.
Seal the cardboard box with strong packing tape, reinforcing all the seams and paying particular attention to both the bottom and the top of the box.
When you send more than one glass jar in the same parcel, each jar must be packed and protected individually.
Glass jars must not touch each other or come into direct contact with the sides, top or bottom of the cardboard box.
There must be enough protective material between the jars so that, even if the parcel is shaken or put under pressure, the jars do not knock against each other.
The packaging must be able to withstand the normal handling of international transport, such as moving, vibration and stacking with other parcels.
Honey jars or containers handed over without adequate protection against leaks, breakage or movement inside the cardboard box may not be accepted for transport.
For devices with batteries, first check the shipping rules.
Whether a bicycle, scooter or large item can be transported depends on its dimensions, weight, the route and the available transport solution.
Moving · Packing household goods
In a move, we don't just protect the contents of a box. We protect furniture, surfaces, corners, glass, electronics and items of different shapes that will be loaded, moved and travel together.
Not every item needs all of them. Choose the right protection according to weight, surface, fragility and how it will be transported.
Stretch film holds the protection in place. It does not replace impact protection.
For long-term storage, take care that the packaging does not trap moisture.
Tape in an X pattern on the glass does not protect it from breaking and does not replace corner protectors, protective material and rigid packaging.
The best choice is usually the original packaging with the factory foam inserts, provided it is in good condition and fits the device properly.
Do not place any weight on top of the TV box.
Practical test: close the box temporarily and shake it gently. If you can hear or feel the contents moving, it needs more stabilising.
When moving, many properly filled, manageable boxes are usually preferable to a few overly large and heavy ones.
Difference from standard parcel shipments
When moving, old commercial printing on an otherwise sturdy box is not a problem in itself. However, do not use boxes that are damp, badly torn, caved in or have lost their strength.
Planning an international move? See how international moving with DASH works.
Final check
FAQ
It can be transported, but placing it in a sturdy cardboard box is strongly recommended. Suitcases without outer packaging often incur special-handling charges and, if damaged, are usually not covered by the carriers' insurance.
For standard parcel shipments, choose a new or genuinely excellent-condition cardboard box, with no moisture, tears or deformed corners, and without old labels, barcodes or markings for other contents. For moving, a sturdy box with commercial printing is not a problem in itself.
You can, but proper packaging matters more than the marking.
Yes. If the packaging is not suitable for safe transport, the pickup may be refused.
The outer dimensions of the final, closed parcel: length, width and height, including the packaging and protection.
A weight calculated from the parcel's volume (length × width × height ÷ divisor). The divisor varies by carrier and service, and the charge may be based on whichever is greater: the actual or the volumetric weight.
Choose what you want to arrange and continue from the right place.
Enter the route, weight and final outer dimensions and see the available shipping options.
Get a shipping quoteSee also international parcel shipping and DASH 2 DOOR™.
Tell us where you are moving from, where you are going and what needs to be transported.
Request a moving quote