Bubble wrap packaging materials are one of the most commonly used methods of protecting a shipment. Bubble wrap bags, bubble wrap mailers, and bubble wrap rolls allow you to tailor your packing to whatever shape, size and protection you need.

Although bubble packing may seem easy, there are some things you can do to improve your company's time and cost efficiency when packing your product. These methods can also better protect your product during shipping. Choosing the correct bubble packaging and accessories will aid you in making the most of bubble wrap packaging materials. Before getting started on your next packaging project, consider the following:

1. Smaller, thinner sheets of bubble packing are generally cheaper, so if your product isn't particularly delicate and you're looking for a good deal, try using a thin type of bubble wrap.

2. Bubble wrap that comes in its own dispenser or dispenser box usually costs more than the unperforated, regularly boxed kind.

3. If you need extra cushioning for your product, three-ply and other extra-strength bubble wraps can help cushion against catastrophe.

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Check the quality on anti-static bubble wrap for shipping electronics

Anti-static bubble packaging is made of a special type of material that minimizes and dissipates electrical static. Bubble wrap supplies labeled as anti-static can have varying amounts of static resistance and dissipation, so it's important to check the wrap's specs. Depending on where it's used and manufactured, anti-static bubble packaging must meet state and local regulations. Ideally, you want air bubble packaging that exceeds these and anti-static standards. Look for static decay and surface resistivity rates on any anti-static bubble wrap you buy.

I recommend: Check out the quality options available from Sealed Air, or buy anti-static bubble wrap bags from Staples Industrial.

Buy bubble mailers and bags for quick, efficient sending

Bubble mailers and bubble wrap bags require less time and equipment to ship products than other bubble wrap supplies. These items are pre-measured bubble wrap envelopes, usually with adhesive on the open end. This allows you to pop your product into the bag, seal it by removing the adhesive backing, and mail or box it. Bubble mailers are usually specifically made to speed up the shipping process; since they have an opaque outer layer, you can ship them without a box.

I recommend: Purchase mailers and bags from bubble wrap suppliers such as StarBoxes.com, or choose from a wide selection of bubble bags at Bubble and Foam Packaging.

Try laminated bubble wrap for moisture-sensitive items, or items you'd like to keep private

Laminated bubble wrap is often sold in rolls. The bubble wrap is coated with kraft paper on one side, so it can absorb moisture and prevent trapped condensation. It's primarily used to protect delicate items, like wood furniture, from moisture and rough handling. The paper also conceals the item, allowing sensitive items, like prototypes and research models, to be hidden from shippers and others.

I recommend: Buy laminated bubble wrap in various sizes from Hilas, or check out Beck Packaging's selection of bubble wraps.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If static dispersion and resistance rates aren't listed on your bubble wrap supplier's website, try emailing or calling support. Providers are often able to give you these statistics so you can make an informed purchase.

To the recipient, bubble packaging is like the cardboard box a child's Christmas toy comes in: something to play with when bored with the item that it once wrapped. To the shipper, however, bubble packing is often a cost-cutting, more resilient and more flexible alternative to foam or tissue packaging.

Bubble Wrap packaging consists of top and bottom layers of thin, low-density polyethylene with pockets of air sandwiched between them. These air pockets protect items wrapped in the packaging from shock, vibration and abrasion. It is strong, lightweight and can be wrapped around the item it protects and used to fill in the space between the item and its container. Often, less bubble packing is required than comparable materials, thus offering money savings.

Bubble packaging comes in three basic types:

1. Rolls of bubble packing. Available in thicknesses from 1/16-inch to ½-inch, rolls may be either pre-perforated for easy separation into smaller pieces or without perforations to be cut as needed.
   
2. Bubble Wrap envelopes and mailers; conventional mailers lined with Bubble Wrap.
3. Bubble bags, into which shipped items may be inserted and which often feature closures similar to those found on reclosable sandwich bags.

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Use the right Bubble Wrap for the job

Bubble packing comes in a range of thicknesses and strengths. Specialty wraps, such as anti-static wrap designed to protect electronic equipment and wraps designed to stick to themselves only or to the items they protect without leaving a residue, also are available.

I recommend: Paper Mart, one of several Bubble Wrap suppliers, offers Bubble Wrap in thicknesses from 1/16-inch to ½-inch. Global offers extra-strength as well as anti-static wraps. PackagingPrice.com offers a selection of Bubble Wrap envelopes and mailers, both self-sealing and heat-sealable, as well as anti-static and self-adhesive wraps. For the most comprehensive section of bubble packing, though, visit ULine, which offers industrial strength and anti-static wraps, as well as self-adhesive wraps (Bubble Mask), bubble tubing and custom-sized rolls.

Keep your Bubble Wrap packaging organized and manageable

On the recipient's end, loose Bubble Wrap gets underfoot, wadded up and popped, then thrown away. On the shipper's end, unruly bubble packing can lead to slowed production and costly shipping delays.

I recommend: Check out ULine's portable roll stand, with its heavy-duty steel frame, locking casters, built-in cutting surface and a tensioner to prevent unraveling. Best of all, it assembles with only four screws. ULine also offers tabletop cutters in four widths (24, 36, 48 and 60 inches) with replaceable steel blades. If you don't need to work with large rolls of Bubble Wrap, Global and ULine each offer their most popular wraps in self-dispensing cartons.

When in doubt, consult an expert

With all of the bubble packing choices available, choosing the right wrap for the right package can still be a sticking point.

I recommend: The UPS Store is the place to go for packing advice. Their Web site offers a quick list of dos and don'ts, as well as a display of what makes for a well-packed box.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Look at the items you ship the most and buy the wrap best suited to that item. Consider specialty wraps, but only if your budget allows for it, and if the shipping needs of your products dictate the use of it.
• •  Keep your packaging area as organized as possible. If you ship several kinds of items, create a separate staging area for each item and its corresponding wrapping.

To make your packaging operations successful, you'll need some additional supplies to use your bubble wrap packaging materials and bubble wrap to the utmost. After manufacturing products are shipped out, they require careful packing to ensure they arrive undamaged. Bubble wrap envelopes, bubble wrap rolls and bubble wrap bags help protect your products from accidental damage during shipping.

Bubble wrap suppliers can often provide you with the extra accessories needed to make sure your packaging materials do their job. These include rolling racks, various types of tape, cutting aids and more. Items like cutters streamline the packing process and make sure each item is packed correctly, securely and quickly.

1. Depending on what type of bubble wrap you're planning to use, the supplies needed may vary. Certain types of bubble wrap may need special equipment, like custom dispensers and sealers.

2. Often, custom-sized rolls of bubble wrap are available. These can be made the length, width and perforation mark that you desire, but may not fit traditional bubble roll racks.

3. Perforated bubble wrap sheeting doesn't require a cutter, but is generally more expensive than uncut stock.

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Purchase packing tape for sealing bubble wrap packing materials and boxes

Some shipping services require you to use specific types of packing tape, such as clear tape, or tape of a certain diameter, so make sure to check. You'll also want to make sure the tape is strong enough to keep your boxes and bubble wrapped packaging safely sealed, but not strong enough to damage delicate items. Tape dispensers can help make sealing bubble wrapped packages quick and painless.

I recommend: Check out different types of packing tape, including colored packing tape, at PackagingSupplies.com, or browse tape and tape dispensers at the eSupplyStore.

Get bubble packing roll stands for packing large amounts of product

Roll stands are large bars on which bubble wrap and other packing supplies can be stored, similar to a paper towel dispenser. These stands are often made of metal to support huge bubble rolls. Some roll stands are fitted with wheels, enabling you to position them wherever they're needed throughout the day. Roll stands are most often used with rolls of perforated bubble wrap, so you save money by not buying a cutter.

I recommend: Buy a roll stand from Uline, or check out Paper Mart's supply.

Get a tabletop cutter for cutting large sheets of bubble wrap and air bubble packaging

Most tabletop cutters attach to packing tables and allow you to cut pieces from industrial bubble wrap rolls. Some deluxe model cutters come on their own roll stands to decrease the amount of equipment necessary. Unlike cutting with scissors, tabletop cutters make the the cutting process quick and straight. Tabletop cutters come in different sizes, so it's important to know what length your bubble wrap packaging materials are and order accordingly.

I recommend: Check out these cutter models from MrBoxOnline.com and Dehnco. They hold and cut bubble wrap and other paper packing supplies.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  For smaller jobs, wrapping paper racks can hold different kinds of bubble wrap and often feature a built-in cutter, saving you money and space. This only works for small rolls of bubble wrap without large bubbles.

Bubble wrap packaging features air-filled plastic cushioning that can be placed in boxes and envelopes, allowing for safe packing of consumer, industrial, medical and other types of fragile products. Materials used for bubble wrap packaging protect valuable products like glass, ceramics and electronics from breaking and scratching during the shipment and delivery process. Choose from bubble wrap packaging materials that are available as bags, rolls, sheets and mailers, depending on the products you want to ship. Different bubble and packaging sizes are also available for protecting the smallest and the largest products. Bubble wrap packaging materials key terms provide some information about product insulation and protection features.

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Anti-static

Anti-static bubble wrap packaging is usually made from heavy duty plastic or nylon that is designed to prevent static discharge. Electronics and electronic components like switches and circuit boards require anti-static bubble wrap packaging.

I recommend: The Nefab Group features information about the benefits and properties of bubble wrap packaging materials, including shock resistance. Find additional features of anti-static bubble wrap packaging at the Sealed Air Corporation website.

Bubble adhesive

Bubble adhesive is another form of packaging that protects items like painted surfaces, automotive parts and major appliances from damage.The material sticks to these surfaces without damaging them.

I recommend: Visit Bubble and Foam Packaging for brief descriptions of bubble wrap packaging materials, such as adhesive bubble wrap. Learn about the advantages and benefits of adhesive bubble wrap at XL Supply.

Dispenser box

Used for low-volume applications, portable dispenser boxes contain perforated bubble wrap of different lengths, thicknesses and widths. Bubble wrap dispenser boxes are easier to handle than bulk rolls because they feature perforations that you can tear off at the desired size rather than cutting.

I recommend: Get an overview of bubble wrap dispensers at LPS Industries. To learn more about different dispenser types, go to the Bubble Dispensers page at the Bubble and Foam Packaging site.

Bubble air fill systems

Bubble air fill systems include air pillow and air bag packaging machines, and void-fill systems. These machines are all designed to inflate bubble packaging materials before they are wrapped around products and then placed in boxes.

I recommend: Identify types and specifications of bubble wrap air filling systems at Delaware Valley Packaging Group.

Bubble mailers

Bubble mailers are simply manila or other types of large envelopes that contain bubble wrap as an inside lining. These packaging types are ideal for shipping DVDs or small replacement parts.

I recommend: Fast-Pack has general information about bubble mailer applications, specifications and sizes. Shipping Supply also displays different bubble mailer sizes.

Laminated bubble wrap

Made from wood pulp-based paper, puncture-resistant laminated bubble wrap protects wooden objects and furniture from tears and other surface damage.

I recommend: IPS Industrial Packaging Supplies gives a brief description of laminated bubble wraps.