Three questions pick the right shipper: how much you ship in one box, how long it is in transit, and what you can spend per shipment. Answer them in order.
1. How big is the payload?
| What goes in one package | Start with |
|---|---|
| 1–2 vials or pens | GLP-1 Kit, Small, or Vial Capsule Small + foil mailer 7 × 10 |
| Up to 4 vials or pens | GLP-1 Kit, Medium, or Vial Capsule Standard + foil mailer 9 × 12 |
| Up to 12 vials or pens | GLP-1 Kit, Large, or foam shipper 6 × 6 × 6 + 4 6 oz gel packs |
| Boxed products, several cartons | Self-inflating mailer or box liner + carton |
| Specimens, test kits, small food items | Bubble mailer for short routes; foil mailer for longer ones |
| Frozen goods | Foam shipper with frozen gel packs |
2. How long is it in transit?
- Same day or overnight, local route: a mailer with gel packs is the usual starting point. The bubble mailer is the economy option.
- Overnight to 2 days by carrier: foil or self-inflating mailer, or the Vial Capsule inside a foil mailer.
- 2 days or more, or peak summer and winter: more insulation and more refrigerant. Move up to a foam shipper or a box liner, and plan for weekend delays.
Longer routes need more insulation, but the exact hold time of any pack-out depends on route, season and carrier. Test your choice on your own lanes. Our Packing Guide has the summer and winter steps.
3. What can you spend per shipment?
Packaging cost per shipment at our list prices (1–4 cases). Volume pricing takes 5% off at 5–9 cases and 10% off at 10+ cases.
| Pack-out | Cost per shipment | Includes indicator and card |
|---|---|---|
| Bubble mailer 6 × 6.5 + one 6 oz gel pack | $0.83 | No |
| Foil mailer 7 × 10 + two 6 oz gel packs | $3.01 | No |
| Self-inflating mailer 9 × 11 + two 6 oz gel packs | $3.46 | No |
| Box liner 6 × 6 × 6 + carton + two 6 oz gel packs | $3.81 | No |
| Foam shipper 6 × 4.5 × 3 with carton + two 6 oz gel packs | $6.71 | No |
| GLP-1 Kit, Small | $6.95 | Yes |
| GLP-1 Kit, Medium | $8.25 | Yes |
| GLP-1 Kit, Large | $8.75 | Yes |
Add a 2–8 °C indicator ($1.25) and a packing card ($0.09) to any build-your-own pack-out. The number of gel packs above is an example. Your route and season set the real number.
Kit or build your own?
Choose a kit if you ship vials or pens and want one item to reorder, with the indicator and card included. Each kit costs less than its parts bought separately. Build your own if your payload is unusual, or if you already stock some of the parts.
Still unsure? Get free samples and test two options side by side.