How Do I Ship a Trumpet?

Shipping a trumpet safely comes down to three things: the right box, plenty of padding, and making sure nothing can move. Here's how we pack trumpets 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 small bubbles
• Packing peanuts
• Strong packing tape
• "Fragile" stickers
• A packing slip (more on that below)

Choosing a Box

Trumpets vary in size, especially cases, so always measure. To determine the right box, take the case dimensions and add at least the required 3" (8 cm) of space between the trumpet (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.

Single trumpet cases are typically around 22 inches long, and either the height or width is 12 inches, so a suitable box may be 28x16x16". We take it one step further, shipping in a 28x18x18" (72 x 46 x 46 cm) box, the same one we use for French horns.

A "dishpack" box will usually work. You can find them at most truck rental locations, self-storage centers, and home improvement stores.

As musicians, we also recommend packing the trumpet yourself rather than using your local shipping store's service.

Should It Ship in Its Case?

If shipping in the factory case case, like a Yamaha in its factory Yamaha case, shipping it in the case is usually safe. Make sure to still follow the steps below.

Aftermarket cases like Protec aren't built to fit one specific trumpet, so the parts can often shift inside. Make sure to fill any gaps, and cover all parts of the instrument if possible.

Aftermarket gig bags like Gard and Reunion Blues are not considered "cases" because they do not have a protective hardshell built in. They have the highest risk of damage, so we recommend additional layers of bubble wrap around the areas mentioned below, and at least 3 layers of bubble wrap around the outside of the gig bag.

Step 1: Secure the 1st and 3rd slides aka "kickers". Tighten any stop screws or nuts snugly, and wrap an elastic hair tie around the finger ring/hook. PS: Slides often fall out in transit due to vibration or sharp hits, and become misaligned, and can bounce around inside the case and cause other damage.

Step 2: Around the bell crook and mouthpiece receiver

Step 3: Around the leadpipe and slides

Step 4: Inside the bell flare, and around the bell. PS: Make sure all remaining space is filled, to prevent shifting and damage during transit.

Step 5: No accessories inside the case. Place them into an outside pocket of the case, inside a sealed interior compartment, or in a separate bag or pouch buried in the packing peanuts outside the case. PS: Mouthpieces and lyres fall out of their slots and "pinball" around inside the case, oils leak and spread, mutes get crushed, and anything loose can damage the trumpet.

Packing the Box

1. Tape the bottom of the box and add about 4" of packing peanuts.
2. Take the mouthpiece out of the trumpet. No accessories inside the case.
3. If the trumpet isn't in a case, wrap it in several layers of bubble wrap until it's barely visible, taping each layer.
4. Lay the trumpet (or case) on the peanuts, centered so there's room on every side, and wedge rolls of bubble wrap between it and all four sides of the box.
5. Put the mouthpiece and any other accessories in a separate bag or pouch and bury it in the peanuts, away from the trumpet. Bubble wrap anything heavy or with sharp edges.
6. 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.

Make sure no part of the trumpet touches the walls of the box without several inches of padding in between. A bell or leadpipe that takes a direct hit through the side of the box is the most common damage we see.

PS: As we typically use expandable foam bags, this can be replaced with 3-4 layers of bubble wrap around the instrument/ case, and surrounding with foam peanuts. For step-by-step photos of the wrapping and padding technique, see our article on shipping a French horn. It works the same way for a trumpet.

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 that should stay facing up. You can also write "This Side Up" on the outside of the box.
• Put a "Fragile" sticker on every side.

Insurance and Carriers

Always insure the package for at least what you paid for the trumpet.

Each carrier caps how much it will cover (UPS and FedEx call this "declared value"), so pick one that can cover your trumpet's full value.

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.