Guitar Maintenance & Repair

How To Ship A Guitar Safely (With and Without a Case)

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How To Ship A Guitar Safely (With and Without a Case)

Shipping a guitar isn’t the best choice, but in some cases, it’s the most efficient option, especially if you’re moving or traveling far from home. However, some might wonder whether you can ship your electric guitar with and without a case. The good news is that you can do both as long as you follow a few steps.

You can ship your guitar by removing the strings, securing loose pieces, and padding the instrument in a secure box or a hardshell case. Better packaging reduces damage from poor handling. Packing the instrument in a gig bag or two boxes can also provide some extra protection.

This article will outline the mandatory steps to packing and shipping your electric guitar, with and without a case, to avoid worst-case scenarios. I’ll also suggest various inexpensive materials to use in the filling process, including ones you can find lying around the house! 

Related: should an acoustic guitar be kept in its case, how to test an electric guitar without an amp, and how to get low action without fret buzz. For the full overview, see our complete guitar maintenance and cleaning guide.

How to Ship a Guitar Safely

Shipping a guitar can be a stressful and nerve-wracking process, but with proper packing and handling, it can arrive at its destination safely.

Here are some steps to follow to ensure your guitar is packaged and shipped securely:

  1. Loosen the Strings: Loosen the guitar strings to relieve tension on the neck and help prevent damage during transport.
  2. Protect the Headstock: The headstock is the most fragile part of a guitar and should be protected with bubble wrap or foam. Make sure the wrap is thick enough to provide adequate cushioning, and secure it in place with tape.
  4. Wrap the Body: Wrap the guitar body with bubble wrap or foam, ensuring that all parts of the guitar are covered. Tape the wrap securely in place to prevent it from shifting during transport.
  5. Place the Guitar in a Case: Place the wrapped guitar in a hardshell case and secure it in place with packing materials such as foam or bubble wrap. Make sure the guitar is snugly fit in the case, with no space for it to move around.
  6. Seal the Case: Seal the case with strong packing tape and label it “Fragile” to ensure it is handled with care during shipping.
  8. Place the Case in a Box: Place the guitar case in a sturdy shipping box with at least 2 inches of cushioning on all sides. Use packing peanuts, bubble wrap, or foam to fill any empty space in the box.
  9. Seal the Box: Seal the box with strong packing tape and label it “Fragile” and “Handle with Care” on all sides of the box.
  11. Choose a Reliable Shipping Carrier: Choose a reputable shipping carrier with a track record of safely transporting fragile items. Insure the guitar for its full value and request signature confirmation on delivery.
  12. Double Check the Package: Double-check the package to make sure it is securely sealed and labeled with the correct address and return address.

If you want to find out what my recommended guitar gear is, then here is what I recommend on Amazon:

ship an electric guitar

How To Ship a Guitar Without a Case

Shipping your guitar without a case is doable but should be a last resort. Hardshell cases add durability to the package, especially so it can withstand the bumps and bangs accompanied by transportation. 

However, in situations where that isn’t possible, the steps below outline just what to do to keep your instrument safe for shipment when it doesn’t have a case.

1. Get a Box and Packing Materials

Since your guitar won’t have an added layer of protection by way of a case, you’ll need to gather lots of packing materials to ship your instrument, including:

  • A large box, big enough to hold your instrument (but not so big that the instrument will shift or move around during transport– especially when it is packed with filler)
  • Packing paper, bubble wrap, foam sheets
  • Furniture moving pads (you should purchase three or four, at least)
  • Box tape
  • A gig or padded bag

Most hardware and shipping services have these items in stock. However, you can also purchase complete guitar packing kits at your closest UHaul or USPS location.

2. Prepare Your Guitar

To prepare your guitar for packing, remember that the ultimate goal is to secure your instrument in place and prevent as much movement as possible. Since it will be packed tightly, remove or loosen the strings on the guitar, as well as any other part of the instrument that sticks out or could be knocked off. 

This includes loosening knobs (tuning or volume dials) and removing any other protruding components like the whammy bar or clip-on tuners.

If you’re removing things from your guitar, you can pack them in a separate, smaller box and secure them with tape. That box can sit inside the shipment box safely.

Finally, use a few sheets of packing paper to slip beneath and over top of your strings (if you’ve left them on) to prevent them from rubbing against the fretboard. You should also wrap the headstock with a few layers of bubble wrap and secure it with tape. You can also use craft paper or corrugated wrap to shield the headstock. Once this is done, you’re ready to move on to step three.