If you are planning to send an oddly shaped gift to a friend or family member, then you will need to follow the U.S. Postal Service's specific guidelines for packing such objects. You can ship almost any unusually shaped object--such as a basketball or a spiky piece of art--but it must be packaged properly.
Instructions
1. Select a shipping box that is large enough for both the object you want to send and "for cushioning material around the contents," the U.S. Postal Service advises. You can recycle an old box, but remove old labels or use a permanent black marker to cross out the information on them.
2. Fill the space around the object you wish to ship with packing materials such as newspaper, packing peanuts, air-filled plastic pillows or bubble wrap. Wrap the item in bubble wrap before placing it in the box if it is fragile. Pack enough material in the box so the item you are shipping does not move or only moves slightly.
3. Seal the box by taping it closed and taping all the seams of the box with packing tape that is two inches wide. "Use clear or brown packaging tape, reinforced packing tape or paper tape. Do not use cord, string or twine because they get caught in mail processing equipment," the U.S. Postal Service advises.
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