Protect Package Privacy With Discreet Shipping

February 03, 2025

by Jaidyn Farar

As an ecommerce business, it’s important to recognize that customers sometimes want to conceal what they’re purchasing.

When ordering expensive products, they might be concerned about the risk of porch piracy.

When purchasing sensitive or potentially embarrassing items, they might worry about what others—like delivery drivers, neighbors, or others in the household—will think.

To ease their minds, try offering a discreet shipping option; this article will explain what that means and how to get started.

What exactly is discreet shipping?

First, what is discreet shipping? Discreet shipping is the practice of preparing and shipping packages so that it’s unclear what they contain. It involves using plain, unbranded boxes or mailers, minimal labeling, and non-descriptive return addresses to avoid revealing product details.

The two main benefits of discreet shipping are theft protection and customer privacy.

Theft protection. When the outside of a package includes recognizable branding elements, such as company names or logos, it can signal that the contents are valuable. Plain boxes reduce the risk of theft—though it’s always helpful to insure high-value packages just in case they still end up getting snatched.
Customer privacy. If your business sells sensitive or personal items, discreet shipping protects customer privacy and shields them from potential embarrassment.

When would I use discreet shipping?

Discreet shipping can be used for any type of product—it’s always best to play it safe when it comes to package theft. But certain items are especially sensitive or valuable. If you sell any of the following, consider shipping discreetly.

Adult products

When ordering adult products, privacy is often a top concern for customers, and offering discreet shipping helps alleviate any potential embarrassment or awkwardness. It can make a big difference in customer trust and loyalty, especially when catering to a market where confidentiality is a priority.

CBD products

Because CBD products are often subject to strict regulations and varying perceptions, some customers may prefer to keep their purchases private. Discreet shipping lets you deliver these items without drawing unnecessary attention to the package or recipient.

Vape products

Vape products, like CBD, may carry a stigma or attract scrutiny, depending on the location and audience. Offering discreet shipping can be a major selling point for cautious customers.

Medicine and medical devices

Privacy is the name of the game when shipping medicine and medical devices, as people generally prefer to keep their health conditions confidential. Plain, unbranded packaging also helps minimize theft risks for valuable prescriptions or devices.

Learn more about shipping prescription drugs in this guide.

Subscription boxes

While subscription boxes often showcase their branding on the exterior, offering a discreet shipping option is helpful for customers who value privacy or want to surprise someone. This is especially relevant for niche or sensitive-themed boxes, such as those focused on wellness, adult products, or self-care.

Expensive items

For high-value items like jewelry, electronics, beauty products, or luxury goods, discreet shipping acts as an extra layer of security. When combined with other measures, like shipping insurance and signature-on-delivery, plain packaging not only protects your customers' purchases but also helps safeguard your reputation.

Anything intended as a gift

When customers purchase items as gifts, discreet shipping helps preserve the element of surprise. Whether the package is shipped directly to the recipient or to the buyer for safekeeping, discreet shipping ensures the contents remain a mystery until opened.

How to offer discreet shipping

To offer discreet shipping to your customers, simply follow the five steps below.

1. Make discreet shipping an option at checkout

Depending on the products you sell, it might make sense to make discreet shipping the default option. However, in some situations, businesses prefer to only ship discreetly if a customer requests it. If you want to take this route, just add a “ship discreetly,” “ship in plain packaging,” or “this item is a gift” option to your checkout page.

2. Use plain packaging

When shipping discreetly, use plain packaging that doesn’t reveal anything about your company or the product in the package. Avoid including any branding—including logos, custom graphics, slogans, or even your company name. Use plain brown or white boxes or mailers and generic tape.

While discreet shipping requires plain (and yes, boring) outer packaging, feel free to personalize the inside of the package. Go wild with your company colors and logo, include fun inserts like coupons, and customize the filler material. This allows you to strike the perfect balance between a fun unboxing experience and the customer’s privacy.

3. Make shipping labels generic

Shipping labels can reveal information about a package’s contents that a customer might want to conceal. For truly discreet packaging, you’ll want to keep labels as generic as possible. Rather than including your business name and address as the return address, consider using the name and address of a distribution center or PO box.

4. Train employees to prepare discreet packages

If the process of packing and shipping discreet packages differs from your normal order fulfillment workflow, make sure employees have the tools and knowledge to effectively adapt.

5. Stay compliant with laws and regulations

Finally, while discreet shipping is legal, you’ll want to be aware of legal requirements and carrier-specific regulations.

Customs declarations. For international shipments, businesses must include detailed customs declarations that accurately describe the contents of the package. Concealing or misrepresenting contents on customs forms is illegal and can lead to fines, confiscated shipments, or bans on future shipping.
Prohibited or restricted items. Certain items are prohibited or restricted from shipping, such as hazardous materials, firearms, or controlled substances. Other products can’t legally be shipped to certain states, regardless of how they’re packaged, even if other states do allow them to be imported. Before shipping discreetly, make sure you’re not violating laws related to prohibited or restricted items.
Carrier rules. Carriers have specific rules about how goods must be packaged and labeled; this is especially true for age-restricted goods, such as alcohol. Always review your carrier’s guidelines to avoid package delays, rejections, or fines.

Additional privacy and security options

In addition to discreet shipping, you can offer customers additional delivery options to protect their privacy and minimize package theft.

Let customers choose alternate shipping locations. Allow customers to select delivery to lockers, pickup points, PO boxes, or carrier locations. This keeps packages secure until the buyer is available to pick them up.
Provide an adult signature option. Require an adult signature upon delivery to prevent children from accessing sensitive items and make sure the package reaches the right person.
Provide package tracking. Share real-time tracking updates so customers can monitor their delivery and retrieve it promptly, reducing the risk of theft.
Insure high-value items. Offer insurance for expensive or fragile products to give customers peace of mind and protect them against loss, damage, and theft.

Choosing a discreet delivery carrier

Now, the big question: Which carrier is the best for discreet shipping? Fortunately, since discreet shipping is mostly about the packaging and label used, any national, regional, or local carrier is a great option!

To keep shipping affordable, try using a shipping API like EasyPost to automatically integrate with carriers, access discounted rates, and offer tracking and insurance.

For now, let’s look at some popular national carriers that you can use to ship discreetly.

USPS

USPS is a cost-effective option for discreet shipping, especially if you’re sending small, lightweight packages. One great benefit of USPS is that they offer free USPS-branded packaging for certain services.

In addition to delivering to PO boxes, USPS provides a Hold for Pickup service that allows customers to pick up their package at a designated Post Office location.

UPS

Although UPS doesn’t ship to PO boxes, services like UPS Access Points, package tracking, and signature-required delivery help protect customer privacy and keep packages out of the wrong hands.

FedEx

With detailed tracking and signature services, FedEx helps keep sensitive shipments safe. They offer a Hold at Location option that allows customers to send their orders to one of thousands of retail locations.

Discreet shipping FAQs

Before wrapping up, we’ll answer a few frequently asked questions about discreet shipping.

Is discreet shipping legal?

Yes, discreet shipping is legal as long as businesses comply with federal and state shipping laws and carrier regulations. These include labeling packages appropriately, including accurate customs declarations for international shipments, and following rules about restricted or prohibited items.

How much does discreet shipping cost?

Like normal shipping, the cost of discreet shipping varies depending on the carrier, service level, transit distance, and packaging materials used. Adding additional security features, such as insurance or an adult signature requirement, can increase the shipping cost.

What is the most discreet shipping method?

The most discreet shipping method is using plain, unbranded packaging with no logos or sender details that hint at the contents. It’s often coupled with services like hold-for-pickup, PO box delivery, or signature-required delivery.

Provide the perfect delivery experience with EasyPost

In many situations, discreet shipping is necessary for a good delivery experience. But packaging and labeling aren’t the only elements of the shipping process that influence customer satisfaction.

To live up to high consumer expectations, you also need to keep shipping costs low, make sure packages arrive on time, and provide updates along the way. EasyPost’s suite of shipping APIs simplifies every stage of the shipping process, providing access to a variety of solutions:

Talk to a shipping expert to learn more.