How to ship vinyl records

LP mailers. Purpose-built cardboard mailers sized for 12" records. These are the gold standard. Brands like Whiplash or Sleeve City are reliable.

Poly-lined bubble mailers. A good budget option for single LPs, especially if you add a cardboard stiffener on each side.

Cardboard stiffeners. Cut slightly larger than the record. Place one on each side to prevent bending during transit.

Avoid wrapping bubble wrap directly around the vinyl or sleeve. It can leave impressions on the jacket and doesn't prevent seam splits.

LP mailers work for 1-6 records. For anything larger, you need a box. The standard choice is a 13 x 13 x 13" corrugated box, which fits 12" records upright with room for padding and holds up to 50 LPs.

Recommended boxes by order size

Filling empty space in the box

A box with 15 records in a 13x13x13" box will have several inches of empty space. Records that shift during handling damage each other: bent corners, split seams, scuffed jackets. Here's how to prevent that:

1. Stand records upright like books on a shelf, never lay them flat and stack. Flat stacking puts pressure on bottom records and causes ring wear.
2. Fill remaining width with folded cardboard. Cut cardboard to the height of the records and fold it into a Z or W shape to act as a spring. Wedge it between the last record and the box wall so everything is snug.
3. Add cardboard on top and bottom. Cut pieces to fit the full footprint of the box, one on the bottom before the records go in and one on top before closing.
4. Do NOT use packing peanuts. They shift during transit and don't prevent records from moving. Crumpled kraft paper or folded cardboard is better in every way.
5. The shake test. Before sealing, close the box and shake it. If you hear or feel anything moving, add more cardboard until it's silent.

Keep a few boxes on hand if you sell regularly. A pack of 25 boxes from Uline runs about $35-40 and will last months.

✗ Thin envelopes with no stiffener. The #1 cause of seam splits and bent corners. Always use cardboard.

✗ Leaving the record inside the jacket without a poly sleeve. The record slides during shipping and splits the jacket seams from the inside.

✗ Over-taping the record sleeve. Tape on the shrink wrap or jacket ruins the sleeve. Only tape the outer mailer.

✗ Shipping in extreme heat. Vinyl warps at around 140°F. In summer, ship early in the week so the package doesn't sit in a hot warehouse over the weekend.

✗ Loose fit inside the mailer. If the record can shift, it will. Fill gaps with folded cardboard, not packing peanuts.

These are typical costs when buying postage online (counter rates are higher). Use them as a starting point for your listing shipping prices.

Domestic (US)

Weights include the record, jacket, poly sleeves, and LP mailer. Media Mail rates are the same regardless of distance; Priority varies by zone.

International

Always buy postage online. USPS.com, PirateShip, or Stamps.com rates are 20–40% cheaper than counter prices. PirateShip is free to use.

If a buyer wants multiple records from you, offer combined shipping. Shipping 3 records in one package costs far less than shipping each separately, and buyers expect the savings to be passed on.

A fair formula: charge your normal rate for the first record, then add $1–2 per additional LP. If you charge $5 for one, charge $7 for two and $9 for three.

On dollrbin, the easiest way to handle combined shipping is to create a single bundle listing with all the records at a combined price and one shipping charge.

For records valued over $50, add shipping insurance or use a service that includes it (USPS Priority covers up to $50).

For orders over $100, we strongly recommend requiring signature confirmation — your strongest proof of delivery if a buyer claims the package never arrived. USPS Signature Confirmation costs about $3.

For rare, out-of-print, or high-value items, always insure for the full sale price. The cost is usually a few dollars and saves you from eating a total loss.

Customs forms are required. Declare the item description ("vinyl record"), quantity, value, and country of origin. USPS lets you fill these out online when you buy postage.

Transit times are longer, typically 2-6 weeks. Tracking coverage varies by country and may stop updating once the package leaves the US.

Damage risk is higher. International packages get more handling. Double up on stiffeners and consider a rigid LP mailer inside a slightly larger box.

Buyers may owe import duties or taxes depending on their country. Mention this in your listing so there are no surprises.