Padded envelopes are available in a variety of sizes and styles. To determine the right size and style for you, you first have to think about what it is you are sending.
If you are shipping an item to someone, then a plain white or manila padded envelope should do the trick. If you need to dress it up at all you can put your logo on the label which will help the package stand out a little better.

For sending a cd or disc of some sort you will want to use a small padded cd envelope. These are a little more expensive than regular cd/dvd envelopes, but there is less of a chance your disc will get damaged in transit.

I’ve always wished that Netflix would start using padded envelopes when sending me dvd’s but I understand that they probably need to keep costs low and don’t want to spend the money. Still doesn’t make me feel any better when I get that dvd from them in the mail that looks like it’s been through World War 3.
When shipping something a little larger like a book or manuscript, I’d recommend using a large padded envelope. Again this will cost you a little bit more than a regular large envelope, but the contents will be most secure when they are in a padded envelope.

If your reason for sending to someone is to market to them or to get them to respond, then you may want to think about using some color. You can get 4 color padded envelopes, though these come at a much higher cost than plain white or yellow. In addition to marketers, I have seen membership organizations send their welcome packages in full color padded envelopes to help protect a lapel pin or other token of appreciation inside.

But when trying to make an impact this may be the way to go, especially if money is not much of an object. Most 4-color padded envelopes will be printed in a special printer, but I have seen some that are printed like a sheet of paper would be and then custom converted to envelope form. Then the bubble wrap material is glued to the inside. These are not quite as high quality as they could be, but they are a little less expensive and most recipients won’t know the difference.

Most Popular Padded Envelope Sizes
(Most of these sizes are available in white, yellow or full color.)
#000 4.5 x 8
#00 5 x 10
#0 6 x 10
#1 7.25 x 12
#2 8.5 x 12
#3 8.5 x 14.5
#4 9.4 x 14.5
#5 11.25 x 17

From purchasing delicate papers or computer software disks to sending irreplaceable photographs, padded envelopes provide the protection needed when mailing fragile items. These envelopes come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are constructed with a padded front and backside to provide extra protection. The protective padding can consist of recycled fibers such as newsprint, or plastic bubble wrap. The bubble wrap uses trapped air pockets to reduce friction in the mailer and prevent the item from bending.

Padded mailers, also referred to as cushioned and rigid mailers, come in several shapes and styles. While most envelopes come in white or manila, there are styles for someone looking to add some charm to their mailer. Decorative gift mailers are a great alternative to sending bulky boxes with the oh so familiar foam popcorn for a small item. They may cost a few dollars more then a traditional white envelope, but they will save you the cost of shipping a large box.

Aside from protecting your shipment from being broken or bent, quality mailers will have a durable exterior that will be resistant of water, tears and blemishes. It is like purchasing insurance for your package!

There are cushioned envelopes for any size. Starting at the size of a post card and going up to 12 inches in height. Most envelopes come with an adhesive seal to close it and are square shaped or that of a rectangle. Because they are not used for items that are not flat in nature, you will not find these in a circular or oblong shape. When shipping objects made of glass or porcelain, use a protective box rather then an envelope.

You can purchase rigid envelopes at most retailers, printing stores, the post office, and shipping stores such as the UPS or FedEx store. They vary in cost, depending on their size and the quantity you purchase. For the Internet savvy, you can also purchase envelopes and shipping supplies online for a discounted price. Ironically, they will be shipped to you more then likely in a padded or cushioned envelope.

So, whether you are mailing a gift to a loved one, or you are awaiting a shipment from your recent EBay purchase, hope that your item is sent in a protective padded envelope.

The situation described above may be one that nearly every individual has experienced at some point, but it is not one that is impossible to avoid. By being aware of packaging your to-be-mailed items in manners that both protect them during transit, and indicate to anyone handling them that they should be handled with care, your chances of sending or receiving damaged items will be significantly reduced.

Due to the wide variety of goods that are shipped everyday by regular mail, there are a great many options when it comes to selecting the most appropriate packaging for specific items. Some of the most versatile and ingenious packing materials include padded mailing envelopes, because they are effective without being overly bulky or costly to consumers.

Padded mailing envelopes offer a great many advantages to users. The advantage that is most obvious is the fact that these envelopes, available in several different sizes and materials, are lined with lightweight bubble wrap; the same kind that is used when larger, more fragile items are boxed for either mailing or moving purposes. The bubble wrap lining of the envelopes provides a barrier between the contents of the envelope and the situations that the package meets during transit.

The extra padding that is provided by lined mailing envelopes is only one way that they work to protect your mailed items; the fact that they are padded provides a clear message to the individuals processing and carrying the package that the contents may be fragile, and should therefore be handled with care. Although writing “fragile” on a package is another way of conveying the same message, the tactile reminder of the padding will be a more immediate means of getting the same message across, regardless of whether the handler notices the writing on the envelope.

Padded envelopes are easy to purchase, and are generally readily available in multiple sizes and styles, in order to accommodate all kinds of contents. Most of the time, these envelopes can even be purchased directly at the Post Office. Bear in mind however, that the most cost effective way of mailing with padded envelopes is by purchasing them in bulk. One large envelope may run upwards of $2.50 when purchased individually, but by acquiring even just five envelopes at one time, you will be benefiting from a much lower per-unit price.

Bubble envelopes come in a variety of sizes and shapes that will form to your product and offer the much needed and vital protection your product needs to get it to its destination safe and sound. Bubble envelopes consist of two things: an envelope and bubble wrap. Seems logical right? The envelope is generally made of a water resistant, durable material. This will prevent the item from water damage, tears, and scratches. Bubble wrap is a pliable clear plastic that is used to protect fragile items. It was created by technology patented by Sealer Air, which was created for keeping the air in the bubble. The trapped bubbles, offer a lightweight protection that cushions delicate items. The air pockets will vary in size, generally using a 6mm bubble in bubble mailers.

Bubble mailers are also referred to as padded, cushioned or rigid envelopes. Must of these mailers are self-sealed, using a tamper proof adhesive seal. This not only prevents your item from coming out, but someone from getting in as well. They come in different colors and designs as well as sizes. To add charm to any mailer, consider purchasing a metallic mailer, or one that is printed with shapes of balloons. You can find these at many online retailers such as http://www-paper-papers.com or www.officemax.com.

Although bubble mailers are great for protecting products such as Cd’s, DVDs, cosmetics, jewelry, video games and cell phones, they do not have any stacking capability and should not be used to ship items that can be crushed such as those that are made of porcelain or glass.

Bubble wrap mailers are recyclable and reusable. This means that if you intend on using it for numerous shipments, perhaps you received an item shipped in a bubble envelope, you can simply purchase a shipping label to cover the prior sender’s information. This is not only good for the environment but also for your pocket book.

So for a top rated EBay seller looking to keep their 100% feedback, or a daughter looking to send their mother family Christmas pictures, bubble mailers protect irreplaceable shipments at an affordable price.

In the beginning, these envelopes were padded strictly with fibrous material not dissimilar to cotton—and not dissimilar in damage potential for some items, if the inner linings of the envelopes should become cut or ruptured. The filling material seeping into the inside of the envelope could damage such items as fragile jewelry, sound recordings (whether old-fashioned vinyl records, compact discs, reel tape, cassette tape, or digital video discs), photographs, or tiny glass pieces.

Today, however, padded envelopes come most frequently with bubble liners—layers of bubble wrap of varying thicknesses secured within the lining of the envelopes. These liners are less likely to cause damage to fragile items if they should be punctured in transit, in large part because their construction stops them from breaking into fragments that can get inside the envelope and make contact with the items.

You can buy bubble-lined envelopes in standard manila with assorted black trim that depicts anything from an address box and return address box to handling instructions. You can also buy these envelopes in eye-catching styles and colours—bubble-lined envelopes have been seen in bright red, green, blue, silver, and purple. In fact, some of these have silvery foil exteriors that make them ideal for sending gifts or promotional materials, which many businesses now do. There is even a line of foil-exterior bubble mailers that comes in seven colours including black and gold and features a recessed design similar to blanket quilting throughout the shiny surfaces. They are sold by the case starting at $74 through shipping supply retailer Uline.com.

Many bubble mailers are somewhat flexible which can cause problems with some items in transit. However, an increasing number of office supply and postal supply manufacturers are producing no-bend mailers or bubble mailers made from polyolefin with eighth-inch bubble lining, mailers considered tear-resistant where standard paper-dominant mailers may not be.

These envelopes can be purchased at post offices and office supply stores, often in bulk. However, you can also buy them for as little as a dollar per package of two or three at discount stores such as Dollar Tree or the 99-cent Store. Most of the time the price of the package you buy will depend on the size of the envelopes, particularly at the post office, but if you know where to shop the price should not be excessive.

Unfortunately, though generally quite reliable, postal service is not always a delicate procedure. To get to its destination, your package will have to make several stops along the way, and be handled by multiple processors and mail carriers. To ensure that the contents of your package are well-protected throughout their journey, companies have developed convenient packaging options, such as bubble mailers.

Bubble mailers are essentially envelopes of various sizes that are lined with bubble wrap. As with any package that is mailed, bubble wrap is designed to provide a lightweight cushion for the container contents, reducing the effects of any impact or pressure that said container might be subjected to during transit. There are a great variety of bubble mailer products available on today’s market. The concept has even become so popular that the United States Postal Service has developed its own line of bubble mailers, to accommodate customers that have not pre-packaged their mail-ables before arriving at the Post Office.

Of the many items that you may wish to package with a bubble mailer, some of the more popular ones include jewelry, compact discs, books, and large manuscripts. Not only will the mailers provide extra protection for whatever items you are mailing, they are also extremely lightweight and add only a negligible amount of bulk to the overall package, which means that the cost of mailing, both in terms of size and weight, will not be greatly, if at all, affected by the packaging. The only slight additional cost that you will incur by using a bubble mailer is the cost of the envelope itself, which will generally be priced higher than regular envelopes to account for the extra material and labor involved in its manufacturing.

Of the great variety of mailers that are lined with bubble wrap, the most common are the traditional manila-style paper envelope, and the poly mailer, which is made of a plastic composite, making it resistant to moisture or water damage, and considerably less susceptible to tearing during transit. The poly mailers tend to be more costly, but are extremely durable, to the point where a resourceful individual could re-use them by simply attaching a new label and new postage. Available in a great range of sizes, including ones designed specifically to house compact discs, these mailers are an ideal way of securely sending off any item that needs special padding, but that is not large enough to justify packaging in a box.