Holiday Shipping Supplies Checklist for Small Sellers

For small online sellers, the holiday season is when a year's worth of planning pays off or falls apart. Orders spike from late November through December, and running out of tape or labels in the middle of a rush can stall a whole day of shipping. A clear holiday shipping supplies checklist lets you stock up early, set up your packing area once and keep orders moving when it counts.

This guide walks through what to stock, how to estimate quantities from your own order history, and how to prepare your packing station before peak season arrives.

Why Stock Holiday Shipping Supplies Early

Waiting until December to reorder supplies creates three problems. First, your own orders compete with every other seller restocking at the same time. Second, a supply shortage during a rush means packages sit unshipped while you wait. Third, last-minute buying usually means paying for fast shipping on your own supplies. Ordering in October or early November gives you time to receive, count and organize everything before volume climbs.

The Holiday Shipping Supplies Checklist

Use this list as a starting point and adjust it to the products you sell.

1. Packing tape

Tape is the supply sellers run out of most often because every box uses more than you think. Stock both a standard width for everyday cartons and a wider tape for large or heavy boxes.

• The 36 Rolls Carton Sealing Packing Tape is 2 inches wide, available in clear or brown, in 110 yard or 65 yard roll lengths. It is a good everyday carton sealing tape for a busy packing table.
• The 24 Rolls 3 Inch Extra-Wide Packing Tape is 3 inches wide, 110 yards (330 feet) per roll and 2.4 mil thick, in clear or brown. Wider tape covers box seams in fewer passes, which helps on larger cartons.

Clear tape keeps printed markings visible, while brown tape blends with kraft boxes. If you want a deeper look at sealing methods, read our packing tape guide.

2. Shipping labels

If you print postage on a standard office printer, half-sheet labels are a simple, efficient choice. The Premium 8.5 x 5.5 Round Corner Shipping Labels are self-adhesive half-sheet labels with rounded corners, offered in quantities from 100 sheets (200 labels) up to 2,000 sheets (4,000 labels). Check the product page to confirm the label format matches your shipping software settings before you order in bulk.

3. Boxes and mailers

Count your most common box sizes and order extra of the two or three you use most. Gift orders often include bundles, so keep a few larger sizes on hand too.

4. Void fill and cushioning

Holiday packages pass through crowded sorting facilities. Fill empty space in every box so items cannot shift, and wrap fragile items individually.

5. Packing station basics

Tape dispensers, box cutters, a scale, markers, extra printer ink or toner, and spare blades. Small items like these stop a packing line cold when they run out.

6. Gift touches

If you offer gift notes or packing slips without prices, stock the paper and inserts now so you are not improvising during the rush.

How to Estimate How Much to Order

Do not guess. Use your own numbers:

1. Pull last year's holiday order count. Look at orders from mid-November to late December. If you are new, use your current weekly average and plan for growth.
2. Measure tape per box. Seal a few typical boxes and note roughly how much tape each uses. Multiply by your expected order count.
3. Count labels one-to-one. Each package needs one shipping label. Add extra for reprints and misprints.
4. Add a buffer. Plan for more than your estimate so a strong sales week does not leave you short. Unused supplies carry over to the new year.
5. Set a reorder point. Decide in advance the stock level that triggers your next order, and mark it on the shelf.

Prep Your Packing Station Before Peak Season

• Do a dry run. Pack ten orders start to finish and time it. Any step that slows you down will slow you down more in December.
• Keep supplies within reach. Tape, labels and your most-used boxes should be reachable without leaving the station.
• Test your printer. Print a full batch of labels to confirm alignment, and keep spare ink or toner nearby.
• Separate outgoing packages. Use a clear staging area for sealed, labeled boxes waiting for pickup so nothing gets mixed up.
• Know your carrier cutoffs. Check each carrier's published holiday shipping deadlines and post them where your team can see them.
• Lift safely. Heavy boxes add up over a long shift. Bend at the knees, keep loads close and use a cart for stacks of cartons.

For layout ideas, see our packing station examples.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I order holiday shipping supplies

October or early November is ideal. That leaves time to receive and organize supplies before order volume climbs in late November.

Should I use 2 inch or 3 inch packing tape

Two-inch tape handles most everyday cartons. Three-inch tape covers wider seams in fewer passes, which is helpful for large or heavy boxes. Many sellers keep both.

Can I print shipping labels on a regular printer

Yes. Half-sheet self-adhesive labels like our 8.5 x 5.5 labels are designed for standard printers. Set your shipping software to the matching label format.

How many shipping labels do I need for the holidays

Plan on one label per expected order, plus extra for reprints. Base the order count on last year's holiday sales or your current weekly volume.

Get Ready Before the Rush

Stocking up now means fewer surprises when holiday orders pour in. Shop the 36 roll packing tape, the 3 inch extra-wide tape and the half-sheet shipping labels, or browse all shipping supplies to round out your checklist.