Moving Guide

How to Pack Fragile Items for a Move

Breakage during a move almost always comes down to one of two things: the wrong material, or the wrong box size. Here is what actually protects fragile items in transit.

Materials You Actually Need

• Bubble wrap for individual wrapping of glass, ceramic and electronics.
• Packing paper or newspaper to fill empty space inside boxes, preventing movement.
• Double-wall cartons, sturdier than single-wall, for anything heavy or fragile.
• Packing tape, enough to seal the bottom and top of every box properly, not just fold the flaps.

The Box-in-Box Technique

For very fragile or valuable items, wrap the item in bubble wrap, place it in a smaller box padded with crumpled paper, then place that box inside a larger box with more padding around it. The air gap absorbs shock that a single layer cannot.

Packing Specific Items

• Glassware, wrap each piece individually, pack upright in a carton divided by cardboard sheets if possible.
• Mirrors and framed art, use flat picture boxes or sandwich between two cardboard sheets, label 'Fragile, This Side Up'.
• Electronics, use original boxes if you kept them, otherwise bubble wrap plus a snug-fitting carton with no empty space.
• Crockery, pack plates vertically, not stacked flat, with paper between each one.

Labelling That Actually Helps

Write 'Fragile' on at least two sides of the box plus the top, not just one corner. Add an arrow showing which way is up. This matters more during loading, when boxes move fast and labels on one side alone get missed.

Frequently Asked Questions