DDP Packaging: What It Means for Your Boxes

What does DDP mean in packaging?

DDP stands for Delivered Duty Paid. It is a shipping term, one of the Incoterms published by the International Chamber of Commerce, and it is used when goods are sold across a border. Under DDP the seller delivers the goods to the buyer's address and pays for everything on the way: transport, export and import clearance, and any duties and taxes. The buyer pays nothing more when the parcel arrives. Of all the shipping terms, it asks the most of the seller.

If you sell your products with DDP terms, the packaging is part of that promise. This page explains why, and what to think about when you order packaging for it.

Why packaging matters under DDP

Under DDP the seller carries the risk until the goods reach the buyer. A crushed carton, a split seam or a damaged product is the seller's cost, and so is a delay. The packaging is the main protection against all three.

What your packaging has to survive

• A long trip with many handoffs: trucks, warehouses, planes or ships, and a last-mile courier.
• Stacking and pressure, because your boxes may sit under other freight.
• Moisture and temperature changes, especially on long routes.
• A customs check. Officers may open a carton to inspect it, so the contents should be easy to see and the box should close again securely.

Labels, markings and paperwork

• Put a clear delivery label on the outer carton. See where to place a shipping label.
• Many countries require the country of origin (for example "Made in ...") on the product or its packaging. Check the rules for your destination.
• Carriers usually want the commercial invoice in a pouch on the outside of the shipment. Your carrier or customs broker will tell you what is needed.
• If you ship on wooden pallets, international rules usually require treated and marked wood. Ask your freight company.

Choose the right size

Carriers usually charge by the larger of actual weight and dimensional weight, so an oversized box costs more to send. Measure the product and choose a box with just enough room for protection: see how to measure a box correctly. For fragile items, add box inserts so the product cannot move.

Test before you ship in volume

Order a sample of the box, pack it the way you will pack real orders, and send it to yourself or a colleague. This shows you how the packaging behaves on a real journey before you order a large quantity.

What our quotes include

Every quote price includes shipping within the United States and Canada. Taxes, import duties and remote-area surcharges are not included, and outside the United States and Canada the shipping cost is shown in your quote. This means our quote is not a DDP price. If your packaging has to be delivered to an address outside the United States and Canada, tell us before you order, so the shipping cost is in your quote and you can plan for any duties and taxes. See the shipping policy and turn around time.

This page is general information, not legal or customs advice. Ask your carrier or customs broker about the rules for your products and destination.