Shipping Vinyl Records Without Warping or Cracking

Last year I bought a sealed original pressing of Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" from a Discogs seller for $85. It arrived in a thin cardboard mailer with zero padding. The record had a visible warp you could see from across the room. I could actually use it as a bowl. The seller's response? "It was fine when I shipped it."

Yeah. That's not how this works.

Vinyl records are experiencing a massive resurgence. Sales topped $1.2 billion in the US alone in 2024. But vinyl is also one of the most unforgiving items to ship. Records are made of PVC — a material that warps with heat, cracks on impact, and scratches if you look at it wrong. The margins on record sales are tight, and a single damaged shipment can wipe out the profit from your last five sales.

Good news: shipping records safely isn't complicated. It just requires the right materials and a tiny bit of care.

Why Records Get Damaged in Transit

Understanding the failure modes helps you prevent them:

The biggest enemy? Heat. A vinyl record left in a delivery truck in July can warp in under an hour. The interior of a mail truck parked in the sun regularly exceeds 140°F. PVC starts to deform around 140-160°F. You're right on the edge, and any pressure on a hot record guarantees a warp.

The Proper Way to Pack a Vinyl Record

This is the method used by every reputable record seller, and it works.

For a Single LP

Step 1: Remove the record from the jacket

• Take the record out of the album jacket and put it in a plastic outer sleeve (the clear poly sleeve that goes over the jacket)
• Place the record OUTSIDE the jacket but inside the outer sleeve, right behind the jacket
• This prevents ring wear and protects both the record and the jacket from each other

Why? If you leave the record inside the jacket, any impact or pressure will transfer through the jacket directly to the vinyl. With the record outside the jacket (but contained in the outer sleeve), there's a buffer.

Step 2: Add stiffeners

• Place a cardboard stiffener (cut to LP size, about 12.5 x 12.5 inches) on each side of the record+jacket combo
• Corrugated cardboard works. Even better: the cardboard pads sold specifically for record shipping

Step 3: Into the mailer

• Slide the whole assembly into a record mailer
• The fit should be snug — the record shouldn't slide around
• If there's extra space, add a small piece of cardboard or foam to fill the gap

Record Mailer Types

Not all mailers are equal. Here's what's available:

The cruciform mailer (also called a book-fold or cross-fold) is the gold standard. It wraps around the record like a book, with flaps that fold over and interlock. Impact on any corner has to go through multiple layers of cardboard before reaching the record.

A bubble mailer is never acceptable for vinyl records. It provides zero rigidity. The record can flex, and flex means warp or crack.

For Multiple LPs

Shipping 2-3 records together actually provides better protection than shipping one, because the records act as stiffeners for each other. But there's a limit.

For 4 or more records, switch from a mailer to a box. Line the bottom with foam or bubble wrap, stand the records upright (like books on a shelf — NEVER flat), place cardboard dividers between each record, and fill any remaining space so nothing shifts.

Records must be stored and shipped vertically. Stacking records flat puts all the weight on the bottom records, which will warp. This applies to storage and shipping alike.

For 45s (7-inch Singles)

45s are smaller and lighter but just as fragile. Use a 7-inch record mailer (they exist, and they're cheap) or improvise with cardboard cut to size. The same principles apply: record outside sleeve, stiffeners on both sides, snug fit.

Box Sets and Heavy Releases

Box sets with multiple LPs, booklets, and inserts need a box, not a mailer. These are often heavy (some box sets weigh 5-8 lbs) and expensive ($50-$200+).

• Use a box 1-2 inches larger than the box set on each side
• Wrap the box set in bubble wrap
• Cushion all sides
• Ship with insurance appropriate to the value

Carrier Selection for Vinyl

Records are flat, square, and moderately heavy — characteristics that actually work in your favor for shipping costs.

Rate Comparison (Single LP, ~1 lb, Record Mailer)

The Media Mail Question

USPS Media Mail is the cheapest option and records qualify as "sound recordings." But there are drawbacks:

Pros:

• Dirt cheap: ~$3.50 for a single LP anywhere in the US
• Records are explicitly eligible

Cons:

• Slow: 2-8 business days (often closer to 8)
• No guaranteed delivery date
• Subject to inspection (USPS can open Media Mail to verify contents)
• No free tracking updates (basic scan only)
• Longer transit = more time in hot trucks

My recommendation: Use Media Mail for records under $20 in value, during cooler months (October-April). For anything valuable or during summer, upgrade to Ground Advantage or Priority Mail. The extra $3-5 is cheap insurance against heat damage.

Summer Shipping Strategy

Between June and September, treat record shipping differently:

Some high-volume sellers actually pause Media Mail entirely from June through September. The claim rate goes up enough to offset the savings.

Grading and Disclosure

In the vinyl world, condition grading is standardized (Mint, Near Mint, VG+, VG, G+, G, Fair, Poor). How you ship affects the grade the buyer receives.

If you list a record as NM (Near Mint) and it arrives with a seam split from poor packaging, that's now VG at best. The buyer will rightfully be upset, and you'll eat the return shipping.

Pre-Shipping Inspection

Before packaging, always:

Inspect the jacket for existing seam splits, ring wear, or corner damage — note these in your listing

Check the record surface under a light for scratches

Ensure the record is in a proper inner sleeve (upgrade to a MoFi-style anti-static sleeve if the original paper sleeve is worn)

Remove any price stickers from the outer sleeve (leave stickers on the jacket — removing them can cause more damage)

Building a Record Shipping Station

If you sell more than a few records a month, set up a dedicated packing area:

Your cost per LP shipped (materials only): roughly $2.50-$3.50. Factor this into your pricing.

International Vinyl Shipping

Records ship internationally surprisingly well because they're flat and standardized in size. The main concerns are customs and transit time.

Customs declaration tip: Declare as "vinyl record" or "phonograph record" — not "disc" or "media," which can trigger additional scrutiny. Include the HS code 8524.99 for recorded media.

For international shipments, consider doubling up on the outer sleeve protection. International packages get handled more and spend more time in transit.

Common Mistakes Ranked by How Much They Hurt

Shipping flat instead of vertical — guaranteed warp on heavy shipments

Leaving record inside jacket without stiffeners — seam split and ring wear

Bubble mailer instead of rigid mailer — zero protection, records can flex and crack

Summer Media Mail — your record is going to spend 5 days in a 150°F truck

Oversized mailer — record slides around, corners take impact

Tape on the jacket — residue damage, customer complaint

No outer sleeve — jacket gets scuffed, looks handled

Forgetting insurance on valuable records — $200 original pressing, $0 insurance

Newspaper as padding — ink transfer, looks amateur

Shipping a warped record without disclosure — guaranteed return and negative review

Ship your vinyl the way you'd want to receive it. Snug mailer, stiffeners, record outside the jacket, and faster service in summer. Your buyers — and your feedback score — will reflect the effort.