How to Pack Vinyl Records for Shipping in the UK
Quick answer: How to pack vinyl records for shipping, in short: take the disc out of the jacket and put it in a clean inner sleeve behind the jacket, slide both into a plastic outer sleeve, sandwich them between two stiff card pads, and hold them centred in a rigid record mailer that is only slightly bigger than the record. A 12-inch LP is too wide for a Royal Mail Large Letter, so it goes as a parcel. Mark it fragile, keep it out of the heat, and use a tracked service for anything valuable.
What goes wrong with posted records
Three kinds of damage cause most complaints:
- Seam splits. The disc slides inside the jacket in transit and pushes through the seam.
- Bent corners and dings. The corners of the jacket take the knocks when a parcel is dropped or squeezed.
- Warping. Records soften with heat. A mailer left in a hot van or on a sunny doorstep can arrive warped.
Every step below targets one of these.
How to pack a vinyl record, step by step
- Take the disc out of the jacket. Put the record in a clean inner sleeve and place it behind the jacket, not inside it. This is the standard way to stop seam splits.
- Add a plastic outer sleeve. Slide the jacket and the sleeved record into one plastic outer sleeve, so nothing scuffs.
- Sandwich with stiffeners. Put a stiff card pad on each side, slightly larger than the jacket, so the corners do not take the first hit.
- Centre it in a record mailer. Use a rigid mailer made for records, only a few millimetres bigger than the pads, so the record cannot slide. A mailer much bigger than the record lets it move and hit the corners.
- Close and seal. Close the mailer fully, then seal it so it cannot open in transit.
- Label it. Mark it fragile and do not bend.
The record marketplace Discogs gives its sellers the same core method: disc outside the jacket, a plastic outer sleeve, cardboard pads either side and the record held still in the centre of a mailer.
Sealed new records
A sealed record cannot come out of its jacket without breaking the shrink-wrap, and buyers of new records usually want it sealed. Pack it sealed, but give it more support:
- use two stiffeners on each side instead of one
- make sure the mailer is snug, so the jacket cannot shift and press the disc into the seam
- consider an extra outer layer for rare or expensive releases
Which Royal Mail size band does a record fit?
Royal Mail prices by size first. The Large Letter band allows a maximum length of 353 mm, width of 250 mm, thickness of 25 mm and weight of 750 g. A Small Parcel allows up to 450 mm long, 350 mm wide, 160 mm deep and 2 kg.
A 12-inch record is about 305 mm across, and its jacket is a little bigger. That fits within 353 mm, but not within 250 mm, so a 12-inch LP in any mailer is too wide for a Large Letter. It goes as a Small Parcel or larger.
| Format | Record size, about | Large Letter possible? | Usual band |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-inch LP | 305 mm | No, too wide | Small Parcel |
| 10-inch | 254 mm | No, the mailer will be over 250 mm wide | Small Parcel |
| 7-inch single | 178 mm | Possibly, if the packed mailer stays within 25 mm and 750 g | Large Letter or Small Parcel |
Record sizes are measured in inches in the UK (7-inch, 10-inch and 12-inch). Always measure and weigh the packed mailer, not the record. Bigger orders may move into Medium Parcel or Parcelforce; see the size limits for every UK postal band.
Several records, or mixed formats
- Multiple LPs. Stack them flat, each in its own outer sleeve, with stiffeners on the outside of the stack. Choose a mailer deep enough for the stack, so it does not bulge, and check the packed weight against the 2 kg Small Parcel limit.
- Mixed sizes. Do not put a 7-inch loose on top of an LP. Its edge can press into the larger jacket. Pack each size separately, or fill the gap around the smaller one.
- Box sets and large orders. A strong box with the records standing on edge, packed tight, can suit bigger orders better than a stack of mailers.
Heat, storage and the time of year
Vinyl softens with heat. The Library of Congress advises storing discs upright, on edge, in a cool, dry and stable place, and keeping them away from environmental extremes and direct light.
For a seller, that means:
- store stock upright in a cool room, not in a loft or next to a radiator
- in hot weather, post early in the week and avoid services that leave parcels sitting in vans over a weekend
- never leave packed mailers in a car or in direct sun
Packing that stands up to a claim
If a record arrives broken or bent, the packing matters. Royal Mail’s compensation policy for damage does not cover breakable items unless they were packed in a strong container with enough packing to protect them from pressure and knocks, and marked “FRAGILE HANDLE WITH CARE”. A rigid record mailer with stiffeners, clearly marked, puts you in a better position. For valuable records, use a tracked or signed-for service. For more on protecting any fragile item, see how to stop parcels arriving damaged.
Check one before you send a batch
Pack a spare record exactly as you will send it, then:
- shake the mailer: nothing should move
- press each corner: the stiffeners should take the pressure, not the jacket
- drop it flat onto a hard floor from waist height and check the jacket corners
Record mailers made for your records
We make record mailers sized to your format and the number of records you send, with pads and mailer inserts cut to the record’s size so it stays centred.
Labels and shops can print their branding on the outside, the inside, or both. The full range is on our custom mailer boxes page.
- Orders start from 100 units.
- Design support is free.
- A digital 3D mock-up is free.
Vinyl shipping questions
Should I take the record out of the sleeve to ship it?
Take it out of the jacket, not out of its inner sleeve. Put the sleeved record behind the jacket in one outer sleeve. This stops the disc splitting the jacket seam. Sealed new records stay sealed, with extra stiffening.
Can I post a 12-inch record as a Large Letter?
No. A 12-inch record is about 305 mm across, and the Large Letter limit is 250 mm wide, so it has to go as a parcel.
Can I post a 7-inch single as a Large Letter?
Possibly. If the packed mailer stays within the Large Letter limits for length, width, 25 mm thickness and 750 g, it fits that band. Measure and weigh it packed.
How many stiffeners do I need?
At least one each side. Use two each side for sealed records, heavy vinyl or valuable releases.
How do I stop records warping in the post?
Keep them cool before posting, never leave packed mailers in a car or in the sun, and in hot weather choose a quicker service and post early in the week.
Is a box better than a record mailer?
For one to a few records, a record mailer holds them flat and snug. For larger orders, a strong box with the records standing on edge and packed tight can be better.
Sending records every week? Tell us the format and how many go in each order, and we will make a mailer that fits them.