Packaging guidelines Packaging guidelines
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Packaging guidelines

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Safe shipping starts with the right packaging. 

Follow these guidelines to protect your items, your buyers, and your selling privileges. Failure to package items safely may result in increased seller fees or loss of selling privileges.

On this page: 

General packaging requirements

All items sold on Whatnot must be packaged to prevent damage in transit.

You must:

  • Use a sturdy box or appropriate mailer

  • Allow approximately 2 inches of space on each side of the item for protective padding

  • Wrap the item in protective material before placing it in the box or mailer

  • Ensure the item can't move or be crushed during transit

  • Avoid overfilling the package, which can cause damage under pressure

  • Never include written or printed propaganda in your shipment

When sealed, the package should not allow much movement if gently shaken. 

Category-specific packaging guidelines 

Cards 

All cards must be packaged to prevent bending, surface damage, or movement.

General card requirements

  • Penny sleeves are recommended for all cards

  • High-value cards must be placed in a penny sleeve and properly sized top loader

  • Seal top loaders with painter’s tape (not scotch tape)

  • Place protected cards inside a bubble mailer or padded packaging

  • Use cardboard inserts or additional padding as needed

  • Packages must not contain empty space that allows movement

Graded Cards (Slabs)

  • Place each slab in a graded card sleeve or team bag to prevent surface scratching

Raw Cards

  • All raw cards must be placed in a team bag to prevent movement

Thick Raw Cards

  • Trim the corner of thick penny sleeves before insertion to avoid corner damage

  • If using a magnetic case (mag), ensure it is properly sized

  • Place a penny sleeve over the front of the card before sealing the mag

First-Class Mail Letter Shipping

If using First-Class Mail Letter Shipping, you must follow the specific packaging requirements outlined in this guide. Not all packaging formats qualify.

Funko Pops (Regular Size)

  • Place the Funko Pop in a soft protector

  • Wrap the protector in bubble wrap

  • Ship in an 8 x 6 x 6 box

  • Fill empty space with protective material without over-compressing

FigPins (Regular Size)

  • Wrap in bubble wrap

  • Ship in a sturdy 7 x 2 x 4 box

  • Fill empty space with protective material

Comics

Raw Comics

  • Ship in a comic mailer or cardboard box (not a bubble mailer)

  • Single comics must be bagged and boarded

  • Comic lots must be protected in comic bags or larger plastic bags

  • Include rigid cardboard support for stabilization

Graded Comics (Slabs)

  • Wrap in bubble wrap

  • Ship in a cardboard box (not a bubble mailer or polybag)

  • Mailing Box 1095 is appropriately sized for most slabs

Sealed Wax

  • Must ship in a box (not a bubble mailer)

  • Bubble wrap is recommended

Estate Sales & Vintage Decor

  • Wrap each item individually in bubble wrap and/or paper

  • Use a sturdy, sealed box

  • Fill empty space with protective material

For more tips, watch this video: 

Retro Games

Games Under $50 (Sturdy Formats)

Examples: cartridges, Sega clamshell cases, DVD/Blu-Ray-style cases.

  • Use a third-party flexible protector or disc envelope

  • Weatherproof padded mailers are acceptable for single items

  • Add cushioning to prevent movement

  • If shipping multiple items that do not fit in a padded mailer, use a box with at least 1 inch of padding

No movement should be audible when the sealed package is gently shaken.

Games Over $50 (Fragile Formats)

Examples: Nintendo cardboard boxes, jewel cases.

  • Use a protector or disc envelope

  • Ship in a box with at least 1 inch of padding

  • No movement should be audible when gently shaken

Soft-Boxed Games (NES, SNES, N64)

  • Ensure no cartridge movement inside the box

  • NES boxes should include a styrofoam block

  • SNES and N64 boxes should include intact trays

Country-specific packaging rules 

Your shipping label type and packaging responsibilities may vary by location.

United States

Your packaging depends on the carrier and service level used: 

France

See France Shipping Guide for Sellers

Germany

See Germany Shipping Guide for Sellers. 

Australia

See Australia Shipping Guide for Sellers.

Hazardous materials (U.S. sellers)

U.S.-based sellers must comply with USPS Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, & Perishable Mail and Whatnot’s Prohibited Items Policy when shipping hazardous materials.

If you’re unsure if your items are considered hazardous, you can check out a full list of hazardous items here or contact the US DOT Hazardous Materials Information Center.

Before listing hazardous materials:

  • Review USPS Publication 52

  • Confirm quantity and packaging requirements

  • Identify required hazard markings (e.g., UN3481 for lithium-ion batteries)

Additional requirements:

  • Separate hazardous materials from other items in Seller Hub

  • Drop off hazardous materials in a separate receptacle

  • Mark all packages with the appropriate hazardous material symbol

    • Check out USPS’s recommendations on stickers for various materials here

Example: An item that contains an ion battery (inside a device) would classify as UN3481. The seller should include the below sticker on the packaging to denote this to USPS.

Used, damaged, or defective devices containing lithium batteries must be labeled:

  • “Restricted Electronic Device”

  • “Surface Transportation Only”

These markings must appear in 12.5 font size.

You can find more detail on shipping items with lithium batteries here and the latest packaging guidance from the USPS here.

New devices in original packaging and manufacturer-certified new or refurbished devices are excluded from this requirement.

Find more info on how to ship hazardous materials here. 
 

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