What Is Dunnage and Why Is It Important?

Dunnage is one of those words most people outside logistics have never heard. But if you’ve ever opened a box and found bubble wrap, air pillows, or crumpled kraft paper around your product, you’ve seen dunnage. It’s the material that keeps things from breaking in transit.

Here’s what dunnage actually is, the main types, and why the right choice matters more than most brands think.

What dunnage is

Dunnage is any material used to cushion, brace, or separate products inside a shipping container or box. Its job is to absorb shock, prevent movement, and protect the product from damage during transit and handling.

The term covers everything from bubble wrap in a parcel to lumber bracing inside a shipping container. In e-commerce fulfillment, it usually means the void fill and cushioning inside each outbound box.

Common types of dunnage

Air pillows are lightweight and cheap. They fill void space and absorb light impact. Bubble wrap adds more cushioning for fragile items. Kraft paper is versatile and recyclable. Foam inserts are custom-cut for high-value or fragile products. Corrugated inserts add structure. Molded pulp works for retail packaging.

Each type has a different cost, weight, and protection level. The right choice depends on the product, the box size, and the transit conditions.

Why dunnage matters for damage rates

Wrong dunnage or not enough of it is the most common cause of transit damage. And transit damage is expensive twice: you pay return freight, and you lose the sale. For fragile or high-value products, the cost of better dunnage is a fraction of the cost of one damaged unit.

For oversized and heavy products, the stakes are even higher. See our oversized shipping guide for how packing and dunnage choices affect cost.

How we handle dunnage at 3PL Center

Every SKU has documented pack rules. The system tells the packer which box size, which dunnage type, and how much. That means the team packing on a Saturday during peak packs every order the same way as Tuesday.

We provide standard packing materials at no additional cost. For custom inserts or branded packaging, we store your materials and use them per your specs.

Is 3PL Center a fit for your brand

We work best with brands shipping a few hundred to tens of thousands of orders a month across DTC and wholesale. If damage rates or packing quality are a concern, get a quote and we’ll walk through your pack specs.