Know your exact packaging cost per order across 12+ material types and any custom box size. Use Simple for a quick number or Advanced for a full breakdown with inner fill, tape and labels.
Packaging materials, costs and best practices for Indian e-commerce sellers.
Typically ₹8–₹35 per order depending on material and size. Fashion using poly mailers: ₹3–₹8/unit. Electronics with corrugated + bubble wrap: ₹25–₹60/unit. As a rule of thumb, packaging should stay below 3–5% of the selling price to maintain healthy margins.
Zip-lock poly bags (₹1–₹4/unit) are cheapest for tiny accessories and stationery. Poly mailer bags (₹2–₹9/unit) are cheapest for standard shipments — ideal for non-fragile, flexible items like clothing and soft toys. Corrugated 3-ply boxes cost ₹7–₹35 for heavier or fragile products.
3-ply: one corrugated medium between two flat liners — suitable for products up to 2 kg. 5-ply: two mediums with three flat liners — stronger, for 2–8 kg or fragile items. 7-ply: three mediums — heavy-duty, for above 8 kg or breakables like glass. 5-ply costs ~1.5–2× more than 3-ply; 7-ply ~2–3×.
Order in bulk (MOQ 500+ units) for 20–35% savings. Right-size your boxes — oversized packaging wastes material and inflates dimensional weight courier charges. Use paper shredding or honeycomb paper instead of bubble wrap for inner fill. Switch non-fragile items to poly mailers. Always quote at least 3 vendors on IndiaMART — a 15–25% price gap between suppliers for the same spec is common.
Yes. Corrugated boxes, poly bags and packaging materials attract 12–18% GST. If you are GST-registered, you can claim Input Tax Credit (ITC) on packaging purchased for business use, effectively reducing your net cost. Verify eligibility with your CA based on your product's HSN code.