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How to pack and ship drums & cymbals

Quick answer

Safely packing drums and cymbals comes down to three steps: prepare, pack, and test. Take off stands, pedals, and other removable hardware and wrap them separately. Wrap every drum shell, even when nested with one another. Pad cymbals on all sides so their edges can’t cut through the box. Give the sealed box a "shake test" to ensure nothing is rattling. Photograph the packaging before you ship in case it’s damaged in transit, and enter your package's actual weight and dimensions when using a Reverb label to avoid extra shipping charges. We always recommend adding protection to your label, whether it’s Reverb Safe Shipping or insurance through the carrier directly.

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What you'll need

It’s a good idea to get shipping materials ahead of time so your listing has accurate weight and measurements. Plus, this helps ensure you ship 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.
    • Drums: Leave 2 inches of padding on all sides of the drum, or of the nested stack if you’re shipping a kit. 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.
    • Cymbals: Use a flat, square box a few inches wider than your largest cymbal. A 24" x 24" x 5" box works for most cymbals.
  • 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.

Shipping a full kit in multiple boxes: A full drum kit usually needs more than one box. Nest the shells to save space, but watch the weight: standard carriers cap parcels at 150 lbs and 165" in length plus girth. Splitting the shells, cymbals, and hardware into separate boxes also makes each box lighter and less likely to be dropped hard. Measure and weigh each box separately.

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 drum wraps, lacquer, or cymbal surfaces. It can pull the finish or leave residue when you remove it.
  • Newspaper or anything with ink, which can damage the finish.
  • Any tape other than packing tape.
  • Clothing as padding.

Packing steps

Step 1: Prepare the item

  • Remove hardware that isn’t attached to the shell. This includes tom arms/legs, cymbal stands, and kick pedals. Bag the small parts so they stay together.
  • Leave the shell hardware on. Don’t remove the lugs, tension rods’ lug casings, or other hardware mounted to the shell. Removing them can strip threads or damage the shell, and putting them back is a lot of work for the buyer.
  • Remove the heads if you’re nesting drums. Taking the heads off lets smaller drums fit inside larger ones. Pack the heads flat between layers of kraft paper so they don’t crease.

Step 2: Pack the item

Wrap and secure loose hardware separately, then pack based on what you’re shipping:

  • Drum kits (nested): Nest the drums from largest to smallest. Wrap every shell first, since shells should never ship bare. Put kraft paper between each drum so lugs, screws, and other hardware don’t rub against the next shell. If a drum fits too tightly for paper to go between the layers, wrap and pack it on its own instead of nesting it.
  • Individual drums or snares: Wrap the drum in kraft paper and surround it with enough padding that it never touches the sides of the box. If it’s in a case, shake the case first to make sure nothing is loose inside, then fill around the case so it can’t move in the box.
  • Cymbals: Sandwich each cymbal between cardboard inserts cut to size, with kraft paper on both sides. If you’re shipping several cymbals, stack them with paper and cardboard between each one. Pad all the way around the edges. In a wide box with no padding, a cymbal’s edge can slice through cardboard.
  • Legs and hardware: Pack long hardware, such as floor tom legs, upright in the corners of the box so it doesn’t shift into the shells.

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

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

Gather your packing 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 shipping, update your listing if any of the numbers change before you ship. If your package doesn't match what you entered, carriers re-measure and bill the difference as a shipping 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 shipment

  • Add protection to your shipping label. You can add Reverb Safe Shipping when purchasing a label through Reverb, and if your item gets damaged in shipping, you’ll work with our team directly rather than going through the carrier. You can also use carrier insurance 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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