Short answer: To start selling online you need five packaging items: courier bags for soft products, mailer or corrugated boxes for anything that can break or bend, cushioning (bubble wrap or shredded paper), packing tape, and shipping labels. A new seller can start with one small pack of each. Prices on SecureShip start from about ₹130 to ₹300 + GST per pack, or about ₹800 to ₹1,200 + GST for a ready-made seller starter kit.
This checklist is for first-time sellers on Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Instagram or your own website. It tells you what to buy first, what to skip, and how to avoid the two costly mistakes new sellers make: boxes that are too big and parcels that get damaged.
The starter packaging checklist
| # | Item | Why you need it | Start with |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tamper-proof courier bags | Cheapest and lightest packing for clothes, sarees, soft toys and other items that do not break | One pack each of a small and a medium size (for example 6 × 8 and 10 × 14 inch), from ₹189 + GST per pack |
| 2 | Mailer boxes | For jewellery, cosmetics, accessories and gifts; protects better and looks neat | One small size that fits your best-selling product, from ₹149 + GST per pack |
| 3 | Corrugated boxes | For heavier, fragile or bigger items | 3 ply for most products; 5 ply only for heavy or fragile items; from ₹149 + GST per pack |
| 4 | Bubble wrap or shredded paper | Stops products moving and breaking inside the box | A 5 metre roll of 40 or 50 GSM bubble wrap (from ₹199 + GST), or crinkle paper for gift orders (from ₹179 + GST) |
| 5 | Packing tape | Seals boxes; printed tape adds a tamper check | 2 inch BOPP tape (from ₹179 + GST) or marketplace printed tape (from ₹129 + GST) |
| 6 | Shipping labels | Courier labels must be clear and scannable | 4 × 6 inch thermal label roll (from ₹299 + GST) if you use a thermal printer |
Or start with a ready-made seller kit
If you do not want to work out sizes yet, a starter kit gives you everything for your first orders in one parcel. Each kit has 200 courier bags in two sizes, a label roll and two rolls of printed tape:
- Amazon seller starter kit: ₹809 + GST
- Meesho seller starter kit: ₹939 + GST
- Flipkart seller starter kit: ₹969 + GST
“Plus” versions of each kit also include 25 white mailer boxes.
Step by step: setting up packaging for your first 50 orders
- Measure your top 3 products (length, width, height) with any extra packing around them.
- Pick one bag or box size per product that leaves 1 to 2 cm of space for cushioning. Use the courier bag size chart and the box size chart.
- Check volumetric weight before you fix a box size. Couriers charge on the higher of actual weight and size weight (L × W × H in cm ÷ 5000). See the volumetric weight guide.
- Do a test pack: pack one order, shake it, and drop it from waist height. If anything moves or breaks, add cushioning or move to a stronger box.
- Read your marketplace rules: see the Amazon and Flipkart packaging requirements or the Meesho seller packaging guide.
- Buy small, then scale: start with the smallest packs, and move to bigger packs once you know which sizes sell. Bigger packs cost less per piece.
Packaging by type of business
| Business | Main packaging | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing and sarees | Courier bags | Courier bag vs box for clothes |
| Jewellery and cosmetics | White mailer box inside a courier bag, with bubble wrap | Jewellery and cosmetics packaging |
| Home bakers, gifts, handmade | Mailer boxes with shredded paper | Packaging for Instagram and home businesses |
| Glass, ceramics, electronics | 3 or 5 ply box with bubble wrap | How to pack fragile items |
Mistakes to avoid
- Boxes that are too big: you pay courier charges on empty space every order.
- Reusing old marketplace boxes: old barcodes confuse courier scanners.
- Thin bags: use tamper-proof bags of about 50 microns or more so they do not tear in transit.
- Buying huge quantities on day one: start small until you know your sizes.
FAQ
What packaging do I need to start an online business?
Courier bags, a few mailer or corrugated boxes, bubble wrap, packing tape and shipping labels. A seller starter kit covers bags, labels and tape in one order.
How much does packaging cost for a new online seller?
Small packs on SecureShip start from about ₹130 to ₹300 + GST each, and seller starter kits cost ₹809 to ₹969 + GST.
Can I buy packaging in small quantity?
Yes. SecureShip sells small packs of bags, boxes, bubble wrap and tape, with free delivery across India and a GST invoice.
Courier bag or box: which should I use?
Courier bags for anything that cannot break (clothes, soft goods); boxes for fragile, heavy or shape-sensitive items.
