A packing sleeve including an outer lateral surface for a printing unit cylinder of an offset printing press is disclosed, wherein the outer lateral surface has at least one region with an area containing a number of incisions, which increase the elasticity of the packing sleeve in the peripheral direction. The packing sleeve according to the invention can advantageously be used to enlarge the effective outer diameter of a printing unit cylinder in an offset printing press by drawing the packing sleeve over the printing unit cylinder in the offset printing press.