Fill has one job: nothing moves when you shake. The right fill saves material, lowers void and prevents damage; pre-cutting it in quiet time also saves time.
Common fill compared
| Fill | Best for | Pros | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bubble wrap | General, fragile | Good cushioning, versatile | Pre-cut to standard lengths |
| Foam / foam pouches | Electronics, small parts | Dust-free, snug | Slightly costlier |
| Air pillows / columns | Regular items, bottles, void | Light, compact storage, pre-inflatable | Needs an inflator |
| Kraft / crumpled paper | Eco, gift | Recyclable, easy to tear | Less dust protection |
| Moulded foam / peanuts | High-value, odd-shaped fragile | Strong conformity | Bulky, eco concerns |
Three time-savers
- Pre-cut 50 bubble lengths or pre-inflate a batch of pillows at once;
- Keep fill in an open bin under the bench, not a bag you must untie;
- Place the scrap bin so you never turn around.
Speed gain
Pre-cut in quiet time instead of cutting each order saves about 8–15 s/order; 12 minutes of pre-cutting can reclaim over an hour on a busy evening.
Price & estimate note
Equipment prices are indicative Australian retail bands in AUD for 2026. They vary by brand, retailer, promotion and over time, and exclude GST, freight and installation; the invoice at purchase prevails. “Seconds saved” are ranges from published warehouse-operations material — estimates, not guarantees. Time your own process with a stopwatch first. See Sources & method.
Product-specific fill is in the fragile, electronics and liquids specs.