Shipping a horn safely comes down to three things: the right box, plenty of padding, and making sure nothing can move. Here's how we pack horns at our shop.
Live near Keller, TX and would rather skip the hassle? Our Pack and Ship service will do it for you.
What You'll Need
- A new double-walled corrugated box, rated at least 250 lb. test (new boxes are stronger than used ones)
- Bubble wrap with large bubbles, at least 5/16" (8 mm)
- Packing peanuts
- Strong packing tape
- "Fragile" stickers
- A packing slip (more on that below)
Choosing a Box
| Instrument | Typical box size |
|---|---|
| Fixed bell horn | 28 x 18 x 18" (72 x 46 x 46 cm) |
| Detachable bell horn | 20 x 20 x 20" (51 x 51 x 51 cm) |
These sizes fit most horns, but always measure. You need at least 3" (8 cm) of space between the horn (or its case) and every wall of the box for padding. If the box doesn't allow for that, the carrier may deny a damage claim.
A "dishpack" box works well for fixed bell horns. You can find them at most truck rental locations, self-storage centers, and home improvement stores.
We also recommend packing the horn yourself rather than using the packing service at a shipping store.
Should It Ship in Its Case?
If the case was made by the horn's manufacturer for that exact model, like a Yamaha horn in its factory Yamaha case, shipping it in the case is usually safe. Aftermarket cases like Marcus Bonna or Protec aren't built to fit one specific horn, so the horn can shift inside. For those, we recommend packing the horn and the case in separate boxes. If you do ship in an aftermarket case, pad any piece that has room to move with bubble wrap.
Either way, put some bubble wrap between the parts of the instrument so they can't collide, and some down the bell. Pay extra attention to the bell flare and leadpipe. We also see damage near the ring or where the curve of the bell meets the bell tail, from hitting the case, so it doesn't hurt to put a little bubble wrap right there.
Never ship accessories inside the case with the horn. Mouthpieces fall out of their slots, bounce around inside the case, and dent the instrument. Lubricants leak all over the case, mutes get crushed, and anything loose can scratch the finish.
If you must include accessories, put them in an outside pocket of the case, or in a separate bag or pouch buried in the packing peanuts outside the case. Bubble wrap anything heavy or with sharp edges.
Packing a Detachable Bell Horn Without a Case
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Tape the bottom of the box and add about 4" of packing peanuts.
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Wrap the body of the horn in about 6 layers of bubble wrap, until it's barely visible, taping each layer.
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Set the wrapped body on the peanuts and wedge rolls of bubble wrap between the horn and all four sides of the box. It shouldn't be able to move at all.
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Wrap the bell flare in 4 to 5 layers of the same bubble wrap, taping each layer.
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Set the bell on top of the body, leaving at least 1" between the two and about 3" between the bell and the top of the box.
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Fill with peanuts all the way to the top, pressing them into the corners. The box should close without force but be full enough that nothing shifts inside when you shake it.
Packing a Fixed Bell Horn
- Tape the bottom of the box and lay down 2 to 3" of peanuts or bubble wrap.
- If the horn isn't in a case, wrap it in several layers of bubble wrap, taping each layer.
- Stand the horn (or case) upright with the bell toward the top, centered so there's room on every side.
- If you have expanding foam bags, put one on the bell side and one on the leadpipe side.
- Fill the rest of the box with peanuts, including around the case handle. Press them into the corners so there are no empty pockets. The box should close without force but be full enough that nothing shifts inside when you shake it.
Make sure no part of the horn touches the walls of the box without several inches of padding in between. Most of the shipping damage we see comes from a leadpipe or other part of the horn taking a direct hit through the side of the box. Never rest the body of an instrument on top of the bell flare.
The photos in the detachable bell section above show the same wrapping and padding technique, and it works the same way for a fixed bell horn.
Before You Seal the Box
- Put a packing slip inside listing every item, its value, and both your and the recipient's address, email, and phone number.
- Put the shipping label on the side of the box closest to the bell. Handlers tend to set boxes label side up, which keeps the heavier part of the horn on the bottom and the bell out of harm's way.
- Put a "Fragile" sticker on every side.
Insurance and Carriers
Always insure the package for at least what you paid for the horn.
Each carrier caps how much it will cover (UPS and FedEx call this "declared value"), so pick one that can cover your horn's full value.
| Carrier | Most it will cover | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| UPS | $50,000 per package | Coverage drops to $1,000 if you drop off a prelabeled box at a UPS store or other drop-off location, and to $500 in a UPS drop box. For a horn worth more than $1,000, hand it to a UPS driver or take it to a UPS Customer Center. |
| FedEx | Varies by service | Coverage is limited to $1,000 for instruments more than 20 years old and for customized instruments, on every service. |
| USPS | $5,000 | Too low for many professional horns. |
These limits are current as of October 2026. Please confirm with the carrier before you ship.
We use UPS Ground for most of our domestic instrument shipments. From our location it's the best mix of speed and cost, and we've had fewer damage problems with them.
If you use USPS, choose Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express. Economy services like USPS Ground Advantage spend much longer in transit, which raises the risk of damage.
This information is provided as a public resource. Houghton Horns LLC assumes no liability for damage during shipping or for damage claims denied by your carrier.