How to Use Bubble Wrap?

Bubble wrap can reduce shipping damage, but only when you combine the right bubble type with correct wrapping technique and solid box packing. This guide is written for U.S. sellers who want repeatable packing results, fewer breakage claims, and reasonable material costs without slowing fulfillment.

Bubble Wrap Basics

What it does?

Bubble wrap cushions items by trapping air in sealed cells, which helps absorb shocks and reduces surface abrasion during carrier handling. It was invented in 1957 by Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes, originally as a textured wallpaper concept, and later adapted into protective packaging as its best fit use case. You can read the origin story from the packaging brand most associated with it at Sealed Air’s background materials: Sealed Air.

In practical shipping terms, bubble wrap handles two jobs. It creates a compressible buffer between the product and impact forces, and it adds a barrier that helps protect finishes from scuffs. It does not stop damage on its own if the item can move freely inside the carton. Movement creates momentum, and momentum is what turns routine drops into cracks and chips.

Best use cases

For sellers, bubble wrap is most effective for fragile goods such as glass, ceramics, resin products, and candles in jars, and for surface sensitive products where retail boxes or coated finishes can scuff. It also helps separate items in mixed orders so they do not collide in transit.

Bubble wrap is less effective as the only protective layer for very heavy items that quickly flatten bubbles under load, sharp edges that can puncture film, and high value shipments where rigid inserts, foam, or double boxing are justified.

Pick the Right Bubble Wrap

Bubble size

Bubble size should match the item’s weight and shape. Small bubbles conform better to compact or lightweight items and help reduce scuffing because the wrap sits closer to the surface. Large bubbles generally provide better cushioning for heavier goods or higher drop risk because they contain more air volume per cell and tend to maintain protection longer under compression.

When in doubt, choose the bubble size that fits the product more cleanly, then put extra effort into immobilizing the item inside the box. Many damage claims come from shifting inside the carton rather than from insufficient wrapping.

Thickness and coverage

Thickness and coverage are about maintaining protection after compression, not simply adding more material. Aim for full surface coverage with attention to edges, corners, handles, and protrusions. Overlap seams so there are no exposed areas that can contact the carton wall, and add extra reinforcement where impacts concentrate, especially corners.

Standardizing the roll format at the packing station improves consistency across SKUs and speeds up training for new packers. JiaroPack’s bulk bubble wrap roll supports repeatable coverage, faster packing, and simpler replenishment.

Specialty types for electronics

For electronics, impact protection is only part of the risk profile. Static discharge can damage components, so use an anti static inner layer such as an anti static bag, then add bubble wrap as the external cushion. Keep tape off product surfaces and focus on preventing the item from shifting inside the carton. Even well wrapped electronics can fail when they build momentum during transit.

Wrap Items Correctly

Bubble side in

Many ask “bubble wrap inside or outside” when wrapping items for shipping. For most shipments, wrap with the bubble side facing the product and the smooth film side facing out. This orientation lets bubbles compress against the item for better shock absorption, while the smoother outside resists abrasion against the carton interior. For most shipments, bubble wrap inside or outside is simple: bubbles face the product, smooth film faces out.

For highly scratch sensitive surfaces, place a separation layer first, such as a clean poly bag or soft paper, then wrap bubble side in. This prevents film friction marks and keeps tape away from the product.

Wrap patterns for common shapes

Use wrapping patterns that place seams on flat faces and reinforce the stress points most likely to take impact.

For small retail boxes, keep the main seam on a flat panel rather than on an edge, and reinforce corners where drops often concentrate force. For flat items such as frames, protect edges first because they take the brunt of corner drops, then wrap the faces so nothing contacts the box wall. For cylinders and bottles, protect the ends aggressively, since top and bottom impacts are common; cap the ends with extra material before the final wrap so they never become thin spots.

Tape cleanly

Tape should secure the wrap without destroying its cushioning value. Place tape on seams and ends so the wrap cannot unwind, and keep tape on the bubble wrap only. Avoid taping directly to product finishes, labels, or retail boxes. Apply tape firmly enough to prevent loosening, but not so tight that you crush bubbles flat, especially on heavier items.

Pack for Shipping

Cushion the box

Treat the carton as part of the protection system. Start with a cushioning layer on the bottom, center the wrapped item, and maintain clearance from all sides. Finish with a top cushioning layer so the item does not contact the box lid. A wrapped item pressed against the carton wall still takes direct impact when the box is dropped or thrown.

Eliminate movement

Most shipping damage becomes severe after the item shifts inside the box. Fill all void space so the item cannot slide, bounce, or rotate. Before sealing, do a simple shake test. If you can feel movement, add more fill and retest.

Packing paper is a practical tool here because it fills space, reduces abrasion between items, and helps immobilize shipments without inflating carton size. JiaroPack’s packing paper is useful as both void fill and as a separation layer before bubble wrap on scratch prone products.

Protect fragile categories

For glass and ceramics, wrap each piece individually, reinforce rims, corners, and handles, and separate items so they never touch each other inside the carton. For electronics, use an anti static inner layer first, then add bubble wrap and immobilize the product so it cannot build momentum. For multi item orders, prioritize separation and immobilization, because item to item collisions are a frequent root cause of damage.

Lock the shipment together

After the carton is packed, an outer stabilization step can improve handling outcomes for bundled shipments, staged cartons, or outbound pallets. Stretch wrap adds consolidation and surface protection. It can help keep grouped cartons tight, reduce scuffing, and provide light protection against dust and minor moisture exposure during pickup and handling. It is not a cushioning material, so its value is in tightening and protecting what you already packed correctly.

JiaroPack’s bulk stretch wrap roll helps keep cartons tight and improves consistency at the packing area for bundles and staged shipments.

Moving and Storage Tips

Sellers often pre pack products, build shipping kits, or store wrapped inventory for short periods. Keep bubble wrap clean and dry, and avoid direct sunlight and high heat, which can deform film and reduce performance. Avoid long term compression under heavy loads because flattened bubbles do not rebound well, and that lost loft reduces protection later. For boxed storage, moisture control matters because damp cartons lose stacking strength and become more vulnerable to crushing.

Where to Buy Bubble Wrap?

For sellers, “cheapest” usually means the lowest cost per successfully delivered order, not the lowest price per roll. The best value comes from matching bubble size and roll format to your common carton sizes, standardizing materials so packers work faster, and buying in a quantity that prevents last minute retail restocks.

Bubble wrap for shipping is a direct starting point for selecting shipping focused rolls by bubble type and roll size, then aligning that choice with your most common order mix.

Conclusion

Bubble wrap prevents damage when you use it as part of a system. Choose the right bubble size, wrap with bubbles facing the product, tape to secure without crushing, and pack the box so nothing moves. Standardize materials and repeat a quick shake test before sealing.

FAQs

Which way does bubble wrap go?

In most cases, the bubbles should face the product and the smooth film should face outward.

Is bubble wrap a good insulator?

It provides some insulation because trapped air slows heat transfer, but it is not a substitute for purpose built thermal packaging. For temperature sensitive shipments, use insulated mailers or liners designed for your target temperature range and transit duration.

Is bubble wrap recyclable?

Bubble wrap is usually plastic film, often LDPE, and many curbside programs in the U.S. do not accept film because it can jam sorting equipment. Some areas accept clean plastic film through store drop off systems. A common reference point for this category is How2Recycle Store Drop Off.

How to dispose of bubble wrap?

Reuse clean bubble wrap when possible, especially for returns and repeat shipments. For disposal, do not place it in curbside bins unless your local program explicitly accepts plastic film. Where store drop off film recycling is available, keep it clean and dry and follow How2Recycle Store Drop Off guidance for acceptance rules.