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How to pack and dispatch a keyboard or synthesiser

Quick answer

Safely packing a keyboard comes down to three steps: prepare, pack, and test. Remove the pedals, stand, and music rack and wrap them separately, then cushion the keyboard so nothing can shift and nothing presses on the keys or knobs. Give the sealed box a "shake test" to make sure nothing is rattling. Take photos of the packaging before you dispatch in case it’s damaged in transit, and enter your package's actual weight and dimensions when using a Reverb label to avoid extra delivery charges. We always recommend adding protection to your label, whether it’s Reverb Safe Delivery or through the carrier directly.

Jump to a section:

Keys and synths
  • Synthesisers
  • MIDI and keyboard controllers
  • Digital and stage pianos
  • Workstations and arrangers
  • Electric pianos (Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Clavinet)
  • Organs
  • Samplers and drum machines
  • Modular and Eurorack

What you'll need

It’s a good idea to get packaging materials ahead of time so your listing has accurate weight and measurements. Plus, this helps ensure you dispatch within Reverb’s 3-business-day timeline.

  • Shipping box: Leave 2 inches for padding on all sides of the keyboard. If you're reusing a box, make sure it's still sturdy and remove all old stickers and labels. Carriers sometimes charge extra if old labels are left on the box.
    • 61 keys and under: Keep it under 48" long to avoid oversize charges.
    • 76 keys: Keep it as short as you can — these usually land just over 48".
    • 88 keys: A boxed 88-key board almost always passes 48" and will pick up an additional handling charge. Price it into your delivery estimate rather than trying to use an undersized box.

Box a few inches too short? You can extend it. Fold the top flaps up instead of closing them, then build a lid out of extra cardboard and tape it securely over the flaps. Use plenty of tape so the seams hold. Measure the box again once it’s finished, since the extra length changes your delivery dimensions.

  • Harmless packing material: Kraft paper is best, but rigid cardboard inserts, foam corner blocks, or packing peanuts work too.
  • A rigid insert or panel to shield the control surface and keybed.
  • Packing tape.

Don't use:

  • A gig bag or road case as the shipping box. Every case needs a padded shipping box around it. Cases with no outer box are also more likely to receive overage charges.
  • Tape directly on the chassis, end cheeks, or tolex. It can pull the finish or covering off when removed.
  • Newspaper or anything with ink, which can cosmetically damage the item.
  • Any tape other than packing tape.
  • Clothing as padding.

Packing steps

Step 1: Prepare the keyboard

  • Back up your patches and remove the batteries. Save user presets to a card or over MIDI if the instrument supports it, and pull any AA or 9V batteries so they can't leak.
  • Remove every detachable component and wrap it separately. Sustain and expression pedals, power supplies and wall warts, music racks, dust covers, stands, legs, and modulation or ribbon controller add-ons should all come off. Legs and racks left attached can punch through the box.
  • Secure the parts you can't remove. Pull any knobs that lift off and bag them. Pitch and mod wheels, joysticks, ribbon controllers, and tall faders sit above the chassis line and snap first, so they need a rigid shield rather than soft padding. On modular and Eurorack cases, remove patch cables and check that every module is screwed down. Watch our video on packing modular gear.

Step 2: Pack the keyboard

Wrap and secure any loose components separately, then pad the keyboard based on your case:

  • Gig bag or no case: Lay a rigid insert over the keybed and control surface so nothing can press into the keys, wheels, or knobs, then surround the instrument with enough padding that it never touches the box. For high-value keyboards, use a padded gig bag at minimum.
  • Hardshell or road case: Shake the case before packing it — nothing should be loose or moving inside. Fill around the case so it can't move in the box, and don't overpack to the point the case won't close.
  • Either way: Pack the keyboard flat on its bottom or back, never face-down on the keys or controls. Put the heaviest padding at the ends, since a long instrument pivots around its middle when the box is dropped.

Once everything's snug and nothing shifts, seal the box with packing tape and keep the postage label visible.

Avoid postage overages: Make sure your weight & dimensions are accurate

Gather your packaging materials in advance and measure all three sides of your box from the outside (printed dimensions are often the inner size). Weigh it on a scale, photograph the measurements and scale reading as proof, and round up when in doubt. If you use calculated postage, update your listing if any of the numbers change before you dispatch. If your package doesn't match what you entered, carriers re-measure and bill the difference as a postage charge correction.

Step 3: Do the "shake test"

Shake the box to make sure nothing is rattling or moving. Carriers typically follow a "3-foot drop rule," meaning your package should survive a flat drop from 3 feet. ("Fragile" labels usually don't change how a package is handled, so pack for the drop.)

Protect your package

  • Add protection to your postage label. You can add Safe Delivery when purchasing a label through Reverb, and if your item gets damaged in delivery, you’ll work with our compensation partners at XCover to quickly resolve the issue rather than going through the carrier. You can also use carrier compensation if you’re buying a label from them directly.
  • Photograph the package from all sides before drop-off. This helps if the item gets damaged in transit.
  • Keep your drop-off receipt as a record of when the item was handed off to the carrier.
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