---
title: "Packaging Requirements: Tubes, Cylinders & Irregular-Shaped Parcels"
description: Tubes and other irregular parcels cost extra to ship. See what counts as irregular, what couriers charge, and how to avoid it.
---
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# Packaging Requirements: Tubes, Cylinders & Irregular-Shaped Parcels
## Tubes and other irregular parcels cost extra to ship. See what counts as irregular, what couriers charge, and how to avoid it.
Couriers sort parcels on automated conveyor systems built for flat-sided boxes. Parcels that are round, tube-shaped or irregular can't run on these systems and have to be handled by hand, so couriers charge extra for them.
### Which packaging counts as irregular
- Mailing tubes and other round or cylindrical packaging
- Items that aren't fully packed inside an outer carton
- Outer packaging that isn't corrugated cardboard, such as plastic, wood, metal or foam
- Parcels wrapped only in shrink wrap or stretch film
- Parcels with straps, handles or wheels, or two boxes taped together
### What couriers charge (Hong Kong export, 2026)
- UPS — Additional Handling: HK$144 per package
- FedEx — Additional Handling – Packaging: HKD 233.70 per package, plus HKD 39 Non-Standard Shipment Demand Surcharge
- DHL Express — Non-Conveyable Piece: HKD 170 per piece
- Spaceship Air — irregular-shaped parcels are not accepted
These are base rates: each courier's fuel surcharge is added on top, so the final charge will be higher. These charges come from the courier's invoice, which usually arrives 3–6 weeks after delivery, so they may show up as a billing adjustment after your shipment has been delivered.
### If your parcel is in irregular packaging
Packaging is the shipper's responsibility. We don't check every parcel's shape or packaging before it ships, so if the courier applies a surcharge, we pass it on to you as a billing adjustment. You have these options:
1. **Repack:** we move the item into a standard carton for HKD 90 per package (repacking and relabelling, carton included). After repacking, the dimensions and the shipping cost may change.
2. **Ship as is:** where the courier accepts it, the surcharge above will apply.
3. **Return:** if the courier won't accept the parcel, we send it back to a Hong Kong address under our [Hong Kong Return Cost](https://support.spaceshipapp.com/en/hk-return-cost) policy.
### Tips
- Use a rectangular corrugated cardboard box. For long items, a long carton or a triangular tube packed inside a box works well.
- Long items can still go over the size limits even when boxed. Please check the limits for your chosen service before you ship.
- We measure each box at its widest point.
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