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Home > About USPS & News > Forms & Publications > Postal Periodicals and Publications > Publications > Publication 2 - Packaging for Mailing > 6 Bulk Mail Center Standards > 6-4 Soft Goods
Soft goods include textile items like clothing; sheets, blankets, pillows, and
pillow cases; draperies; and cloth and fabric. Containers for these items can
be badly damaged if they are inadequately closed or cannot withstand
puncture, friction, or compression during normal handling.
A mailing of soft goods weighing up to 5 pounds should be packed in a cloth
bag, a paper bag, paper wraps (with an exterior ply of at
least 50-pound basis weight), a plastic bag (at
least 2-mil-thick polyethylene or equivalent),
or a paperboard or fiberboard box. If a
box is used, it must be filled to capacity.
If a paper bag, plastic bag, or paper wraps are
used, the container should be vented so it will not burst if compressed quickly.
A bag should be closed with heat sealing, adhesive, sewing, tape, or
completely clinched staples. Improperly clinched staples must be removed to
prevent injury to Postal Service employees or damage to other mail or mail
processing equipment.
A box should be closed with staples, adhesive, heat sealing, nonmetallic
banding, or tape. Paper or plastic tape should be applied along all box flaps
and closure seams. Although shrinkwrap is not acceptable as the only means
of packaging, it may be used on the exterior of an otherwise properly closed
box. When a box weighs less than 5 pounds (or its density is less than 4 pounds
per cubic foot), it should be reinforced in at least two of the longest directions.
A mailing of soft goods weighing from 5 to 10 pounds should be packed in a
cloth bag, a paper bag, a filament-reinforced paper bag, a fiberboard box,
paper wraps (with an exterior ply of at least 70-pound basis weight), or a
plastic bag (at least 4-mil-thick polyethylene or equivalent).
A bag should be closed with heat sealing, adhesive, sewing, tape, or
completely clinched staples. Improperly clinched staples must be removed to
prevent injury to Postal Service employees or damage to other mail or mail
processing equipment.
A box should be closed with
staples, adhesive, heat sealing,
nonmetallic banding, or tape.
Paper or plastic tape should be
applied along all box flaps and closure
seams. Although shrink-wrap is not
acceptable as the only means of packaging,
it may be used on the exterior of an otherwise
properly closed box. Reinforced tape is adequate
both to close and reinforce the container.
A mailing of soft goods weighing from 10 to 20 pounds should be packed in a
paper bag, paper wraps (with an exterior ply of at least 70-pound basis
weight), a reinforced paper or cloth bag, or a 175-pound test fiberboard (or
stronger) box.
The mailing container should be closed with staples, adhesive, reinforced
paper tape, or equally strong plastic tape. The container should be optimally
reinforced with pressure-sensitive filament tape or tight nonmetallic banding.
Reinforced tape is adequate both to close and reinforce the container.
A mailing of soft goods weighing from 20 to 45 pounds should be packed in a
paper bag, paper wraps (with an exterior ply of at least 70-pound basis
weight), a reinforced paper or cloth bag, or a 200-pound test fiberboard (or
stronger) box.
The mailing container should be closed with staples, adhesive, reinforced
paper tape, or equally strong plastic tape. The container should be reinforced
with reinforced paper or plastic tape, pressure-sensitive filament tape, or tight
nonmetallic banding.
A mailing of soft goods weighing from 45 to 70 pounds should be packed in a
paper bag, paper wraps (with an exterior ply of at least 70-pound basis
weight), a reinforced paper or cloth bag, or a 275-pound test fiberboard (or
stronger) box.
The mailing container should be closed with staples, adhesive, reinforced
paper tape, or equally strong plastic tape. The container should be reinforced
with reinforced paper or plastic tape, pressure-sensitive filament tape, or tight
nonmetallic banding.
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