bending a cutting mat
 

Can a cutting mat be rolled for mailing and then put between mattresses or something once it gets there?

I wouldn't chance it. If you're buying it for some one as a gift, I would order it and have it shipped or mailed. They do have (at some mailing stations) flat boxes to send mats like that. You would have to check. You may be able to go to U-Haul and pick up a flat box. They have moving kit packages and may have one of those. Like they have for mirrors and framed photos. Hobby Lobby may have boxes also since they do framework. Good luck!

if a mat has any age on it, it can crack if rolled in any form

I ordered a large square ruler, it came in a flattened box.

I was wondering how it would be sent, and that seemed to work.

thank you everyone, I appreciate your wisdom once again!

I have seen white plastic like mats that are rolled up at JA's, but not the green or gray ones.

I don't know how they are shipped to stores but if I mailed one I would want to be sure it was securely packed in any box so it didn't have any room to buckle if the box was put on end. You have no way of knowing what temperature the box will be subjected to either and if it gets really hot then if the mat isn't secure it will likely warp.

If you're giving this as a gift why not just mail a gift card and have the person purchase one locally with the gift card or order one on-line and have it shipped to the person that way it is the seller's responsibility to make sure it is packed right.

The Martelli cutting mats, though quite expensive, can be rolled and will lay flat again. I wouldn't trust any other mat to rolling and shipping.

This is how my new mat was mailed to me by JAF. Unfortunately, it spent the WHOLE day in a HOT UPS truck and was bent when it arrived. JAF replaced it and again and it arrived being so HOT (had to use potholders to remove it) and placed it on my cool kitchen vinyl. Fortunately, it appears to be OK. Returned, with prepaid label, the damaged mat but it never arrived at the return center. Wonder what happened to it.

If I were going to ship a mat I think I'd put 2 layers of cardboard on either side. And I'd pay attention to the direction of the cardboard. Turn one of the 2 pieces 90 degrees so the stiffness (corrigated lines) run both ways. That's how they make plywood to be so sturdy. I can see how just 1 layer of cardboard could easily bend.