What Breaks Glass in Transit
Glass and other fragile goods are damaged in transit by impact, vibration and stacking pressure, and the paper often used to pad them fails when it gets damp. Preventing damage comes down to cushioning that absorbs shock, pallets stacked to the right height, packing kept dry, and careful handling when the container is stuffed and unloaded.
Fragile Goods This Guide Covers
Consumer Glassware
Drinking glasses, mugs and jars
Decor & Premium Fragile Goods
Mirrors, vases and handmade decor
Industrial Glass & Bottling Products
Empty glass bottles and packaging jars
Fragile Ceramic & Porcelain Goods
Tableware and decorative ceramics
Shipping glassware and fragile goods?
Get a quoteFour Causes of Breakage and How to Prevent Each
Glass can fracture under even mild force, or from vibration repeated over a long voyage. Corners, rims and stems are the most fragile points.
- Double-box fragile SKUs
- Cushion with foam sheets, bubble wrap or honeycomb padding
- Put spacers between items
- Leave no loose gaps inside the carton
- Give corners, rims and stems the most protection
Cartons can arrive looking intact while the goods inside have micro-cracks from a long transit.
- Add cushioning layers that absorb vibration
- Don't under-fill or over-fill cartons
- Use foam inserts for premium items
- Watch ceramic dinnerware: it often chips from vibration inside the carton, not from an outside knock
Glass is heavy. Too much weight stacked on top can crush the cartons at the bottom of a pallet.
- Use sturdy cartons with reinforced bases
- Limit pallet height to what the cartons can bear
- Add corner boards for vertical strength
- Shrink-wrap and strap each pallet for stability
Glass is often packed with paper. Damp padding loses its protective strength and can grow mold and mildew.
- Add desiccant bags to pallets on long sea routes
- Make sure the warehouse and the container are dry before loading
- Shrink-wrap pallets
- Replace any padding that has gotten wet
Documents for a Fragile Shipment
| Document | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | States the product type, the HS code and any fragile-goods notes |
| Certificate of origin (COO) | Confirms where the goods were made; customs in many countries require it |
| Packing list with carton count and weights | Lets the receiving team plan a safe unload |
| Fragile-goods marking (internal requirement) | Tells the warehouse, the container stuffing team and truckers to handle with care |
Import Notes by Destination
- A certificate of origin is often needed
- Fragile marking helps prevent rough handling when cargo is transloaded
- A certificate of origin is frequently requested
- No special import restrictions on general glassware
- A certificate of origin is widely required
- Packaging quality is often checked on consumer shipments
FCL, LCL or Air for Fragile Goods
| Mode | Best When |
|---|---|
| FCL (full container) | You are shipping a large fragile consignment |
| Palletized LCL (shared container) | The order is small; safer than loose cartons in a shared container |
| Air freight | The goods are high-value or urgent |
Shipping glassware and fragile goods?
Get a quoteHS Codes for Glassware and Ceramics
| HS Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 7013 | Glass tableware and kitchenware |
| 7018 | Glass beads and decorative glass items |
| 7020 | Other glassware |
| 6911 | Porcelain tableware (ceramic) |
| 6912 | Ceramic household articles |
These codes are indicative starting points, not a classification. Find the exact 10-digit line for your product in the HTS Code Finder. Getting the classification right is the importer of record’s legal responsibility.
These are 4-digit headings; choose the full 8–10 digit code by the exact material and country. Estimate US import duties for these codes with our free tariff simulator.
Fragile Cargo FAQs
Not required, but strongly recommended: loose cartons raise the risk of breakage.
Yes, for premium products and thin-walled glass. Double boxing reduces shock damage.
Three things: shock to the corners, vibration over a long transit, and too much weight stacked on top.
It is advisable, because the risk of physical damage is higher than for most cargo. See our cargo insurance service.
Yes, but only palletized. Avoid shipping loose cartons in a shared container. See how LCL shipping works.
Shipping terms in this guide:Commercial InvoiceHarmonized System Code (HS Code)Certificate of Origin (COO)Packing ListFull Container Load (FCL)Less than Container Load (LCL)
Shipping glass or other fragile goods?
We help you plan pallets, set cushioning standards, control moisture and coordinate handling for glass and fragile shipments.
Get a quote to ship glassware and fragile goods
Tell us the product, where it ships from and to, and the container size or weight. We reply with the freight rate, the destination charges and the services included. The guide you were reading is already in the notes.