Packing your records carefully is one of the most important parts of selling on Dead Format. When buyers receive records in the condition they were listed, everyone wins - orders stay smooth, disputes stay rare, and your feedback stays positive.
This guide walks through what you'll need, how to prepare the record, and how to pack it so it arrives safely.
Recommended supplies
We highly recommend that you use purpose-built record mailers instead of generic boxes or envelopes. Good mailers are rigid, flat, and sized specifically for 7", 10", or 12" vinyl.
A few reliable sources:
You'll also want:
-
Stiff cardboard filler pads (or cut from spare boxes)
-
Inner paper sleeve and outer poly sleeve
-
Packing tape
-
Optional bubble wrap (for box sets or to fill space — not for protection)
Packing/shipping supplies:
If you ship regularly, it might be worth buying mailers and fillers in bulk - but if you're just getting started, we recommend saving and reusing clean boxes, filler pads, and other packaging from past shipments. As long as they're sturdy and in good condition, reusing materials helps keep costs down and reduces waste.
Packing instructions
1. Use the right mailer
Choose a sturdy LP mailer that fits your record size. Avoid oversized boxes, envelopes, pizza boxes (yeah, it's happened plenty of times...), or bags. The right mailer keeps the record flat, rigid, and well-contained.
2. Remove the vinyl from its jacket
Take the record out of the jacket before packing. If it stays inside, the vinyl can move around and split the seams during transit. Keep the record in a plain inner sleeve, and place the empty jacket and inserts behind it in the outer sleeve or bag to prevent scuffing or seam damage. Make sure the inner sleeve is rotated in a way that the record won't slip out.
3. Add reinforcement and prevent movement
Use stiff cardboard pads on both sides of the record to keep it from bending or getting corner dings. The goal is to make the mailer feel completely rigid when sealed. If you can feel or hear anything shifting inside, add more filler or padding until everything sits firmly in place. A well-packed record shouldn't move at all - that's what keeps jackets crisp and corners sharp.
4. Label, weigh, and ship
Once your package is sealed, place it on a scale to get the exact shipping weight. Use that weight when creating your label through Dead Format's built-in shipping tools to get heavily discounted postage rates.
If you prefer to use your own label, you can also enter the tracking number manually. For a full walkthrough of both options, see our help article on Shipping your orders.