Packrift · Shipping Guide

How to Ship Posters: Tube Sizing vs Flat Routes

Most paper posters ship rolled in a rigid mailing tube, not a box: a 3.25" × 24–44" kraft adjustable tube set about 2 inches longer than the rolled edge covers standard sizes. Go flat between rigid stiffeners only for heavy stock and mounted prints that cannot be rolled.

Standard paper posters 3.25" × 24–44" kraft tube
Banners & oversize prints 3.25" × 60–120" two-piece tube
Small prints under 6" 2" × 6" capped spiral tube
Mounted or heavy stock Flat, between rigid stiffeners
Part of: What size box do I need? →
FIG. — FLAT-ROUTE SHIPPER

A 3.25 in diameter kraft tube gives a standard poster room to roll loosely, and an adjustable 24-44 in length covers common poster sizes once you set the tube about 2 in longer than the rolled edge. Ship flat only when rolling would damage the piece: heavy or brittle stock, mounted or foam-backed prints, or artwork the recipient needs to hang without flattening time.

Tube or Flat: Pick the Route First

A poster shipping tube is just a mailing tube matched to the rolled edge of the print. The decision between a tube and a flat artwork mailer comes down to what the print can tolerate, not preference.

What you are shipping Route Why
Standard paper posters Adjustable kraft tube A rolled poster resists crushing and bending. One 3.25 in x 24-44 in adjustable tube spans common poster lengths instead of stocking several fixed sizes.
Small prints, decals, or promo pieces under 6 in Small capped spiral tube A 2 in x 6 in spiral wound tube with caps protects small rolled pieces without oversizing the package.
Banners, backdrops, oversize prints Two-piece telescoping tube A 3.25 in x 60-120 in two-piece tube adjusts to the exact rolled length, so you are not shipping empty tube.
Thick stock, mounted, or foam-backed pieces Flat, sandwiched between rigid stiffeners Rolling kinks heavy stock and cracks mounted prints. A flat sandwich keeps the face flat end to end.
Several posters to one address One tube, interleaved Interleave the prints with paper sheets and roll them together. One tube spreads packaging and freight across the whole set.

What You Need

Every item below links to its product page. Confirm current details there before ordering.

How to Pack a Poster in a Mailing Tube

  1. Match the tube to the rolled edge. Roll the poster so its shorter dimension runs the length of the tube, then set the adjustable tube about 2 in longer than that edge. The mailing tube size chart maps common print sizes to tube settings.
  2. Sleeve it against moisture. Slide prints up to 24 in x 36 in into a 1 mil poly bag before rolling, or plan to wrap the finished roll in butcher paper instead.
  3. Roll loosely. Keep the rolled diameter comfortably smaller than the 3.25 in opening so the poster slides in without forcing. A tight roll presses the print against the tube wall and sets a hard curl.
  4. Wrap the roll. Wrap it in a butcher paper sheet and tape the paper seam. Tape touches paper only, never the print itself.
  5. Plug both ends. Crumple bogus kraft paper into soft plugs at each end so the roll cannot slide and hammer the tube ends in transit.
  6. Cap and seal. Seat the caps or telescoping section, then run packing tape around each end so nothing works loose.
  7. Label it flat and mark it. Apply the shipping label along the barrel where it scans flat, and add a Do Not Crush label. Check your carrier's length limits before choosing the longest tube setting.

Flat Routes and Artwork Mailers

Ship flat when the print cannot be rolled. The method that survives sorting equipment is a rigid sandwich, not a padded envelope on its own.

  1. Sleeve the print in a poly bag sized to the piece.
  2. Sandwich it between two rigid stiffeners, such as chipboard, hardboard, or double-wall corrugated, cut larger than the print on every side.
  3. Tape the stiffener edges together so the print cannot shift, then place the sandwich in a snug mailer or box.
  4. Mark the package Do Not Crush and Do Not Bend.

The trade-off is honest: the flat route uses more material per piece and fails fast if the stiffeners are skipped. For mounted or framed pieces, follow how to pack and ship artwork. To compare materials for unmounted prints, see best packaging for art prints.

Poster Shipping Supply Specs

Specs come from the product listings; confirm current details on each product page.

Product Dimensions Construction Case pack
Kraft adjustable tubes 3.25 in dia x 24-44 in Heavy-duty kraft, adjustable length 25
Kraft two-piece tubes 3.25 in dia x 60-120 in Heavy-duty kraft, two-piece telescoping 15
Black spiral wound tubes 2 in dia x 6 in Spiral wound, with caps 50
Red spiral wound tubes 2 in dia x 6 in Spiral wound, with caps 50
Clear flat poly bags 24 in x 36 in 1 mil clear poly 500
White butcher paper sheets 24 in x 30 in 40 lb basis weight 750
Bogus kraft paper roll 12 in x 720 ft 50 lb bogus kraft 1 roll
Clear packing tape 2 in x 110 yd Clear carton sealing tape 6 rolls
Do Not Crush labels 2 in x 3 in Fluorescent yellow semi-gloss 500 per roll

Freight Is the Hidden Line Item

Packaging freight is the cost almost no supplier states plainly: on a small order, the freight can rival what the supplies themselves cost, because tubes and paper are bulky relative to their value. That is why these products come in case packs of 25 tubes, 750 sheets, or 500 bags; ordering by the case spreads the freight across every unit instead of paying it again on each small reorder. Before you commit to a packaging route, check the numbers in the packaging cost and cube index.

Common Mistakes

  • Rolling the poster tight to fit a narrow tube. The print fights the tube wall the whole trip and arrives with a hard curl.
  • Skipping the end plugs. The roll slides freely and its edges take every impact the tube ends absorb.
  • Taping directly on the print. Adhesive belongs on the butcher paper wrap or the tube, never the artwork.
  • Mailing a flat poster in an unstiffened envelope. Without rigid stiffeners on both sides it gets folded somewhere between you and the buyer.
  • Skipping the moisture sleeve. A 1 mil poly bag is the easiest protection to add in the whole workflow.
  • Reordering a handful of tubes at a time and paying full freight on every small shipment instead of buying the case once.

Related Packrift Paths

FAQ

What size tube do I need to ship a poster?

Roll the poster so its shorter edge runs the length of the tube, then use a tube about 2 in longer than that edge. A 3.25 in diameter with a 24-44 in adjustable length covers standard posters; pieces over that need a 60-120 in two-piece tube.

Is it better to ship a poster rolled or flat?

Rolled in a rigid tube for most paper posters, because a tube resists crushing and bending far better than a flat mailer. Ship flat only for heavy stock, mounted or foam-backed prints, or pieces that cannot tolerate curl.

Can I ship a poster in a regular envelope or padded mailer?

Not on its own. Flat posters need rigid stiffeners on both sides, cut larger than the print, taped into a sandwich, and marked Do Not Bend. An unstiffened envelope offers no protection against folding.

How do I keep a poster from sliding around inside the tube?

Crumple kraft paper into soft plugs at both ends of the tube so the roll cannot travel, then tape the caps or telescoping section shut. A roll that slides hits the tube ends with every handling event.

Do mailing tubes cost more to ship than flat mailers?

It depends on your carrier and the package dimensions, so compare both routes at your actual sizes. Keep the tube as short as the poster allows, since an adjustable tube set to the rolled edge avoids paying to ship empty length.