A Guide to Packaging and Shipping Eyeglasses & Eyewear

Did you know that approximately 75% of American adults use some sort of vision correction? That percentage represents about 157 million people…and that’s a huge market for selling eyeglasses online! Lots of eCommerce entrepreneurs are sensing opportunities out there, and as a result, we often get asked by online sellers what the best way to ship eyeglasses is. This guide goes into all the nitty gritty details, so let’s take a look! See what we did there?

Table of Contents

• USPS First Class Package is the Cheapest Option for Shipping Eyeglasses
• You’ll Save Even More Money With Shipping Software
• Packaging Eyeglasses and Eyewear
• Don’t Forget the Insurance!

USPS First Class Package is the Cheapest Option for Shipping Eyeglasses

Glasses are very lightweight items. You’d be hard-pressed to find a pair of eyeglasses weighing over 16 ounces. As a result, the cheapest option for shipping eyeglasses is to ship USPS First Class Package Service.

First Class Package is the cheapest way to send packages that weigh under 16 ounces. Delivery occurs within 1-3 business days anywhere within the United States, and it comes with free door-to-door tracking. If you’re selling glasses online, shipping First Class Package will keep your shipping costs as low as possible!

You’ll Save Even More Money With Shipping Software

Speaking of keeping costs low: when you use shipping software to buy postage, USPS First Class Package Service rates will also be much cheaper. In fact, you can end up saving up to 28% more than you would when shipping your package at the Post Office. Plus, no one wants to stand in those lines, right?

If you’re on the hunt for some shipping software recommendations, check out our Reviews page.

Packaging Eyeglasses and Eyewear

While glasses are lightweight items, they are on the extremely fragile side. Therefore, you need to protect them with the right kinds of packing material. Placing the glasses inside a hard-covered case would be ideal, and it would be a good idea to insulate that case with as much bubble wrap as you can, too. We’ll keep it simple for you: if your glasses come with a hard case, ship them inside of the case. It might add a bit more weight to your shipment, but it’s well worth it for the extra protection.

Keep in mind that you can use either an envelope (poly mailer) or a rigid box with USPS First Class Package. However, we suggest using a box for sending fragile items such as glasses. It might be a bit heavier and cost slightly more to ship out as a result, but it will offer your eyeglasses way more protection than an envelope would.

Don’t Forget the Insurance!

Unlike other USPS services, USPS First Class Package service doesn’t include any built-in USPS insurance. That’s why we always recommend that you protect your packages by purchasing additional shipping insurance. You can purchase shipping insurance either directly through a third-party insurance company, or as an add-on when you buy postage with online shipping software.

In most cases, shipping insurance only costs a little more than a dollar for eyeglasses…and it’s well worth it in case anything happens to them during transit!