Cardboard Mailing Tubes
At Essex Tube Windings, we manufacture high-quality cardboard mailing tubes that are trusted by individuals, businesses, and organisations across the UK. Made from fully recyclable materials, our tubes provide a durable and environmentally responsible solution for a wide range of packaging needs.
Whether you’re posting artwork, safeguarding important documents, or shipping promotional materials, we offer a comprehensive range of sizes and styles to ensure your items are well protected during transit.
Our team is always on hand to help you choose the right tube for your specific requirements.
High Quality & Affordable
Our dedication lies in ensuring the safety and security of your products throughout the transportation journey. By employing top-notch materials, your items will arrive in the same condition they were dispatched, maintaining their integrity.
Incorporating our strong cardboard mailing tubes enhances the safety of your products significantly. Whether piling tubes or display tubes, we assure exceptional quality that delivers outstanding performance across diverse applications.
Next Day Delivery
For your time-sensitive mailing packaging requirements, we are delighted to provide next-day delivery across the UK for all items in our stock. Rest assured; we are committed to meeting your needs. We accommodate to Royal Mail sizes.
Eco Friendly
We pride ourselves on being an eco-friendly company that does everything possible to reduce waste.
All of our cardboard tubes are recyclable, and any waste generated during the manufacturing process is carefully repurposed through re-pulping, contributing to the creation of other cardboard postal tubes.
These might include customised options, heavy-duty variants, standard round mailing tubes, or thin mailing tubes.
No Minimum Order
If you require only a single cardboard postal tube, we'll gladly send it to you. Our cardboard tubes come with no minimum order requirements.
Quick Enquiry Form
Custom Mailing Packaging Tubes
We are able to produce custom mailing packaging, adding your custom branding colours and logo to the tube. There is currently a 3-5 day lead time on our custom cardboard packaging products, and so, it may take that amount of time to fully process and deliver your order. If you just fill our the form on this page, we’ll try and get back to you on all your mailing packaging needs.
need extra protection?
A Variety of End Caps
We provide a selection of diverse end caps for our mailing tubes, catering to various requirements.
Our Anti Roll end caps for cardboard tubes are especially suited for extra protection, effectively preventing shifting.
Our Tucked Ends are an excellent choice for those prioritising environmental considerations, especially when dealing with lightweight products.
Our Plug Stapled Ends are a great solution when dealing with heavier items or multiple products, providing enhanced security.
Our MDF disks are designed for cardboard postal tubes exceeding 300mm in size, primarily intended for use with plinths.
The Versatility of Cardboard Tubes
We supply cardboard tubes for a wide range of applications beyond mailing and packaging.
Our tubes are ideal for creative use at home, particularly during the school holidays. Fun Summer Crafts for Kids Using Cardboard Tubes will give you several hands-on activities suitable for children, using tubes from household or packaging sources.
Our display tubes are also well-suited for the creative industries. Our blog on How Cardboard Display Tubes Bring Creative Visions to Life in Film and TV explores their role in set design and visual installations.
Our postal tubes are increasingly chosen for modern product packaging. Why Cardboard Tubes Are Becoming the Packaging Choice for Subscription Boxes highlights their appeal as a recyclable, branded solution for subscription-based businesses.
Cardboard tubes remain a practical and versatile option across both commercial and domestic use cases.
Choosing the Right Mailing Tube for Your Packaging Needs
Finding the perfect cardboard tube is essential to ensure that your products arrive safely and undamaged. Whether you’re shipping posters, artwork, documents, or industrial components, the right tube can make all the difference in protecting your items during transit.
At Essex Tubes, we offer a wide variety of postal tubes to suit different packaging requirements. From lightweight cardboard tubes for documents to heavy-duty piling tubes for more robust protection.
Mailing Tubes for Fragile Items
If you’re shipping fragile items such as artwork, glass bottles, or delicate electronics, our piling tubes provide the highest level of protection thanks to their reinforced walls and extra durability. Pairing these with secure end caps ensures your items are protected against impact, compression, and environmental factors during transit.
For more advice on how to protect fragile items during shipping, check out our blog: How Cardboard Tubes Can Help Protect Fragile Items During Shipping.
Discover Our Full Range of Packaging Solutions
Alongside our mailing tubes, we offer a variety of specialised tubes to meet different packaging needs:
- Piling Tubes – Extra-thick tubes designed for heavy-duty applications that require maximum strength and durability.
- Custom Cardboard Tubes – Made to your exact specifications, offering tailored protection and branding opportunities for your products.
- Display Tubes – Versatile tubes perfect for creative projects, including film set props, shop window displays, or artistic installations.
No matter your packaging requirements, Essex Tubes has the solution to keep your items safe, secure, and delivered in perfect condition.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are mailing tubes cheaper to ship than boxes?
Yes, cardboard mailing tubes are often cheaper to ship than boxes, especially when sending rolled items like posters, artwork, blueprints, or documents. Their cylindrical shape helps reduce overall packaging size and weight, which can lower postage costs. Mailing tubes also provide excellent protection without the need for excess internal packaging, helping reduce material costs.
For long, narrow items, postal tubes are not only more cost-effective but also more efficient and secure during transit compared to traditional boxes.
What sizes do cardboard tubes come in?
At Essex Tube Windings, we can manufacture cardboard mailing tubes in any size to meet your exact requirements. Whether you need a small, lightweight tube for documents or a large, heavy-duty tube for industrial packaging, we can create a solution tailored to your needs.
Here are some common size ranges:
- Small tubes (25mm–50mm diameter) – Ideal for certificates, rolled-up documents, and small prints.
- Medium tubes (50mm–100mm diameter) – Perfect for posters, artwork, and promotional materials.
- Large tubes (100mm–200mm+ diameter) – Suitable for blueprints, large-format prints, textiles, and bulkier items.
Since we custom-produce every tube, you’re not limited to standard sizes. If you need a specific diameter, length, or wall thickness, we can manufacture tubes to fit your exact needs, ensuring maximum protection and a perfect fit for your items. Get in touch with us to discuss your custom requirements!
How strong are cardboard mailing tubes for shipping?
Cardboard mailing tubes are an excellent choice for securely shipping items that need to be rolled, such as posters, artwork, documents, or textiles. These tubes are designed to offer strength and durability while protecting their contents during transit.
The strength of a cardboard mailing tube depends on several factors:
Material Quality: Most mailing tubes are made from high-quality cardboard that is both sturdy and resilient. The layers of cardboard provide reinforcement and help absorb impacts that might otherwise damage your items.
Wall Thickness: The thickness of the tube's walls plays a significant role in its strength. At Essex Tubes, we offer custom options, allowing you to select the ideal thickness for your packaging needs. Thicker tubes provide more protection for heavier or more delicate items.
Reinforced End Caps: Many cardboard mailing tubes come with reinforced end caps, which prevent crushing or collapsing. These caps ensure the tube remains securely closed during shipping, providing additional strength.
Custom Sizes: Because Essex Tubes can produce cardboard tubes in any size, you can choose the exact dimensions required for your products. A properly sized tube ensures the contents are snug and won’t shift, preventing potential damage from movement within the tube.
Overall, cardboard mailing tubes are a cost-effective, lightweight, and durable packaging option for shipping various items. By choosing the appropriate size and thickness, you can ensure that your products are safely protected, even in rough shipping conditions.
Can I send cardboard tubes through Royal Mail or courier services?
Yes, you can send cardboard mailing tubes through both Royal Mail and most courier services.
As long as the tube meets the size and weight restrictions set by the carrier, you should have no issue sending them through these services. Make sure the tube is securely sealed with end caps to protect the contents during transit, and ensure that the address label is properly attached. Some couriers may have additional packaging guidelines, so it's always a good idea to check with your chosen carrier for any specific requirements.
Are there restrictions on mailing tubes for international shipping?
Yes, there can be some restrictions on mailing tubes for international shipping, depending on the destination country and the carrier. While cardboard mailing tubes are widely accepted, certain countries may have specific rules regarding the size, weight, or contents of the package. Additionally, international shipping often requires customs declarations for the contents of the mailing tube.
It's important to check with your chosen carrier, such as Royal Mail, UPS, or FedEx, to ensure that the cardboard mailing tube meets all the necessary requirements. These can include weight limits, packaging standards, and restrictions on prohibited items. Also, make sure to properly label the package and provide any required documentation to avoid delays at customs.
Overall, as long as the tube is securely packed, and you follow the carrier's international shipping guidelines, mailing tubes can generally be shipped worldwide without issue.
How do I choose the right size cardboard postal tube for posters and prints?
Choosing the right size cardboard postal tube for posters and prints is crucial to ensure that your items arrive safely and in good condition. To select the best size, consider the following:
Poster Dimensions: Start by measuring the size of the poster or print you’re shipping. Make sure to select a tube with a diameter that allows for the print to fit without being too tight. It’s important to leave some space so the print can be rolled gently without risk of creasing or damaging the artwork.
Tube Length: The length of the tube should be slightly longer than the length of your poster. You should aim for about 2-4 inches of extra space at either end of the tube. This ensures there’s enough room to accommodate the rolled print while also protecting it from any pressure or bending during transit.
Roll Size: Consider how tightly your poster can be rolled. If it’s a large print, you may want a larger diameter tube to avoid too tight a roll, which could cause creases or damage. Smaller prints or posters can be rolled more tightly, allowing you to use a smaller tube.
Weight and Strength: Ensure the tube you choose is strong enough to support the weight of your poster or print. If your print is heavier or made from a thicker material, you’ll need a stronger, more rigid tube to protect it during transit.
By selecting the appropriate tube size and ensuring the print fits comfortably, you’ll minimise the risk of damage and provide a safer delivery option for your artwork. If you’re unsure, it’s often best to go with a slightly larger tube to provide extra protection.
Customer Testimonials
Presented below are testimonials from our customers who have purchased our cardboard tubes.
Our belief lies in fostering robust customer relationships, attainable solely through the delivery of cardboard tubes that are both high-quality and efficient.
As the creators of the cardboard tubes themselves, you have a direct connection to the individuals responsible for their production. Should you have any inquiries regarding our cardboard tubes, please contact us today!