How to Package Drill Bits for Shipping — Without Losing One or Getting Hurt

Drill bits are sharp on both ends — the cutting point and the corner of the shank where it was cut off. Loose in a box, they rattle against each other during transit, dulling the very edges you're paying to have resharpened and occasionally drawing blood when someone reaches in. Good packaging takes about five minutes and solves both problems completely.

Whether you're shipping bits to MachinistPost or storing them in your own shop, the principles are the same: isolate the points, prevent movement, and label what you've got.

What Not to Do

The two most common mistakes we see from first-time senders:

• Loose bits in a padded envelope. Even a bubble mailer doesn't prevent the bits from moving against each other. Twenty drill bits tumbling loose in a bubble mailer for two days of transit will arrive with the cutting edges dinged, the tips bent on smaller sizes, and the sorting job left entirely to whoever opens the package. This is also how postal workers get injured handling mail.
• Loose bits in a cardboard box with crumpled paper. Better than a bubble mailer, but paper packing doesn't immobilize bits — it just softens the impacts slightly. Small-diameter bits (under 1/8") can bend from the accumulated force of larger bits settling against them.

The Right Way to Pack Drill Bits for Shipping

1. Sort by size first. Group bits by diameter. This makes the regrind job faster and ensures every bit comes back organized. If you're mixing sizes in a batch, a simple handwritten list (or a rubber-banded group per size) lets us process your order correctly.
2. Wrap small groups in paper or tape. Bundle each size group together with masking tape, electrical tape, or a strip of paper folded over and taped. The goal is immobilization — points facing the same direction, shanks together, no bit free to slide against another.
3. Protect the points. Wrap the tip end of each bundle in a few layers of masking tape or paper before taping the bundle. This cushions the sharpest part of the geometry during transit and prevents edge damage. Cork caps from wine bottles also work perfectly for individual bits.
4. Use a rigid outer container. A small cardboard box — even a recycled cereal box or a USPS small flat-rate box — is better than a padded envelope for anything over five bits. The rigid walls prevent the bundle from being compressed or bent if something heavy rides on top of it in the mail truck.
5. Fill dead space. If there's empty space in the box, fill it with crumpled paper or bubble wrap. The goal is zero movement inside the package during transit. Shake the box before sealing it — if you hear or feel anything moving, add more packing material.
6. Include your name and return address inside the package. Labels fall off. A card inside the box ensures we can match your order and return address to your bits even if the outside label is damaged in transit.

What to Include in the Box

Along with your bits, include a note that tells us:

• Your name and return shipping address
• Approximate count and size range of the bits
• Any special instructions — if you have split-point bits that need split-point geometry restored, note it; if you have bits used exclusively in aluminum and want zero-rake modification, tell us
• Email address if you want a confirmation when we receive the package

Shipping Method and Cost

For most batches of 10 to 50 bits, USPS First Class Package or Priority Mail works fine. First Class is cheaper for light packages (under 13 oz); Priority Mail is faster and includes tracking for a flat rate. For larger batches — 50+ bits — a USPS Priority Mail flat-rate box is usually the most economical option regardless of weight.

You don't need insurance on a batch of drill bits. The shipping cost to send 30 bits to us and get them back sharp is a fraction of what replacing them would cost, and we take full responsibility for bits in our care.

For Shop Batches

If you're sending a large shop batch — 100 bits or more — a drill roll or index tray is the best packing method. Drill rolls are designed exactly for this: every bit has its own pocket, the roll stays closed during transit, and your bits arrive sorted. Many shops have an old roll they use specifically for shipment to and from us. If you don't have one, foam sheeting from a hardware store with slots cut by a utility knife does the same job.