The Best Way to Ship Books

noissue Recycled Padded Mailer, Custom Eco-Friendly Tissue Paper, and Recycled Card by @luminosity_crystals

Despite the undeniable rise in eBook and audiobook formats, there’s still a huge demand for print books. Data shows that print book sales increased in 2024 compared to 2023, sitting at 782.2 million units sold in the United States alone.

In the business of selling books? Before you make your inventory available online, it’s important to know how to pack and ship your books safely. A straightforward shipping process helps you save time and leads to greater customer satisfaction. If you’re sending some new reading material to a friend or family member, it’s also worth knowing how to ensure reliable delivery.

Let’s cover how to pack books for shipping and the most cost-effective options for shipping books internationally and domestically.

Selecting a box size for book shipment

Ship smarter with our guide on choosing the right box to pack books:

If you’re looking for packaging that goes beyond standard box or bubble mailer dimensions, noissue offers custom sizing on bulk orders for most of our products—ideal for sellers that regularly ship coffee books and albums.

How to package books for shipping

While books tend to be quite sturdy, they still require durable packaging and proper handling to prevent bending or moisture damage during transit.

Here’s how to pack and ship books safely:

Step 1: Secure your packaging supplies

You’ll need the following items before you start packing books for shipment:

• Shipping box or mailer
• Cardboard
• Strong packing tape
• Bubble wrap or tissue paper

Step 2: Wrap the book in protective packaging

• Wrap the book in a few sheets of tissue paper or bubble wrap, covering the front, back, and sides, overlapping at the edges and paying special attention to the corners and spine.
• Secure the wrapping with packing tape or a branded sticker to protect the book from knocks and moisture during transit. Be careful not to tape the actual book!
• If you’re packing multiple books into the same box, wrap and secure each book individually, and separate them with a layer of cardboard padding.

Tissue paper is a more eco-friendly option than bubble wrap, and you can even personalize your wrapping paper with noissue’s customizable tissue paper.

Step 3: Sandwich the book between cardboards

• To prevent bending, cut two pieces of corrugated cardboard slightly larger than the book.
• Place the wrapped book between each piece of board and tape the edges together to secure the sandwich.
• For added protection and a neat presentation, wrap the bundle in paper and tape it closed. You can skip this step if you’re using a padded mailer, as its snug fit naturally provides some cushioning.

Step 4: Place the books in a padded envelope or shipping boxes securely

• If you’re sending one lightweight book, place the wrapped book inside a snug-fitting padded mailer. If you’re sending multiple, thick, or hardcover books, place them in an appropriately sized assembled shipping box.
• Lay your books on their sides rather than vertically.
• Fill any spaces in the corrugated box with tissue paper or eco-friendly bubble wrap for padding.

Avoid oversized boxes; boxes that offer a more snug fit are generally more cost-effective for shipping while keeping your books secure.

Step 5: Tape and label the box

• Close the box's lid by sealing it with two strips of strong packing tape along the opening.
• Clearly place a shipping label on the top of the box. Ensure the address and tracking number on the label are clearly visible and saved for your records.

If you’re sending valuable or multiple books, consider adding insurance and signature confirmation. Insurance provides you, the sender, with compensation if the parcel is lost or damaged in transit for extra peace of mind.

The best carriers for shipping books

You have multiple carriers to choose from, with most major options offering both flat-rate and variable pricing. Below are the best services for shipping books:

USPS

USPS offers both flat-rate and weight-based shipping options, making it a versatile and affordable choice for domestic and international shipping. You can use your own packaging or opt for USPS Flat Rate boxes, which include free packaging materials available at most post offices or online.

You can mail books through USPS using the following services:

• USPS Priority Mail: Best for time-sensitive shipments over 12 ounces. Offers flat-rate and variable pricing options based on box size, distance, and weight.
• USPS Media Mail: Designed for books and educational media, Media Mail is the most cost-effective option. To qualify for Media Mail rates, the book must have at least eight pages and not include advertisements or loose photos.
• USPS Ground Advantage: Slower truck shipping ideal for single-piece items weighing up to 70 pounds. Best for heavier books, such as educational materials and hardcover books for coffee tables.

FedEx

FedEx offers flat-rate shipping and variable pricing for overnight or fast delivery, with shipping costs based on box size, speed, and travel distance.

The following services are available for shipping books through FedEx:

• FedEx Express Saver: Delivers within three business days, ideal for standard, non-urgent book shipments that still require a guaranteed delivery date.
• FedEx 2Day: Best for mid-priority shipments that need to arrive within two business days.
• FedEx Standard Overnight: Delivers by the end of the next business day, suitable for urgent shipments.
• FedEx Priority Overnight: Delivers by late morning the next business day for more time-sensitive shipments.
• FedEx First Overnight: The fastest FedEx option, with next-business-day delivery by early morning.

If you opt for FedEx’s flat-rate shipping service, FedEx One Rate, you must use the company’s packaging materials, which are available for free and can be ordered online.

UPS

Just like FedEx, UPS offers both flat-rate and variable pricing options. With UPS Simple Rate, you can use your own packaging and pay a flat fee based on the box’s size category rather than its weight or distance.

We recommend these shipping services:

• UPS Ground: Cost-effective for less urgent shipments, typically arriving within 1–5 business days, depending on distance.
• UPS 3 Day Select: A good mid-range option for shipments that need to arrive within three business days.
• UPS 2nd Day Air: Best for faster deliveries that need to arrive within two business days.

For other UPS services, such as Ground, 3 Day Select, and 2nd Day Air, shipping costs depend on package weight, dimensions, travel distance, and delivery speed.

Amazon Book Fulfillment

Amazon is a great option for selling and shipping books to customers. The eCommerce juggernaut offers affordable and reliable ground and air shipping options.

As a merchant on Amazon, you can use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) to store and ship books to customers from Amazon’s own warehouse, taking advantage of the company’s ever-growing fleet of transport options.

What is the cheapest way to ship books?

Shipping books can get pricey, especially if you’re selling items on the heavier side or if you’re doing international shipments. To help you lower your costs, here are a few tips on how to ship books cheaply:

Choose USPS Media Mail for the cheapest book shipping costs

Designed specifically for shipping media items, USPS Media Mail is typically the cheapest way to ship books. Media Mail pricing is based solely on weight; the shipping rate remains the same regardless of the transportation distance. To qualify for USPS Media Mail, your package must not exceed 70 lbs.

However, Media Mail is a slower service that can take anywhere from 2-10 days between mainland states and up to 2-3 weeks to or from Hawaii and Alaska. If fast delivery times are a crucial part of your business’s service, opt for other USPS services like Priority Mail.

Purchase shipping materials in bulk for cost efficiency

If you ship books on a regular basis, you can save money by stocking up on packaging materials. Packaging vendors typically offer lower rates for larger order quantities, so buying in bulk could make sense depending on your sales.

It helps to partner with a company that offers low minimum order quantities (MOQs) to start with. At noissue, we strive to help businesses of all sizes access sustainable and custom packaging solutions.

Buy labels with commercial shipping rates

If you handle bulk book shipments for business, take advantage of USPS or UPS’s commercial shipping prices. These discounted rates apply to business accounts that qualify based on package volume.

If you don’t ship enough to qualify for bulk shipment discounts directly, use a third-party platform that negotiates with carriers for cheaper commercial rates. Pirate Ship’s Simple Export Rate is one of the cheapest ways to ship books internationally, helping you expand your audience to shipping zones beyond the US.

That's a Wrap!

With a little insight, a proven process, and a reliable packaging supplier, shipping books can be both simple and affordable. Now it’s up to you to kick off your eCommerce bookstore. Happy shipping!

Looking for sustainable materials for shipping books? Check out noissue’s catalog of sustainable packaging supplies. From customizable tissue paper and tape to compostable mailers and kraft boxes, noissue has your book-shipping needs covered.