How to Pack Fragile Items | How-to | Long Distance USA Movers

How to Pack Fragile Items Like a Professional

Average American relocates more than ten times in his lifetime. And with that much relocation, sending your prayers to the sky won’t be enough for preserving the breakables. On the other hand, learning how to pack fragile items like a pro can help you prevent any damage. Stay tuned cause we will explain everything to you in detail. And after you learn our tips, know that your glasses, jars, decorations, china, souvenirs, and vases will be forever grateful.

A person packing a plate before long-distance moving overlay
How do you package something that is fragile? Read our guide, and it will provide you with all the answers

First Step on How to Pack Fragile Items Is Preparing the Supply

The smartest way to start preparations for moving fragile items is to create an inventory list of all of them. This action should be a part of the checklist for relocating to a new state because it will help you estimate how many pieces are there to package. Next, try to divide them into different categories, and it will show you what kind of materials you’ll need and in which amount. If you don’t want to hire a relocation company, know that the process can become overwhelming with all the delicate pieces and different material choices. Luckily, we are here to assist you.

Cardboard, Scissors, Tape – What to Use to Pack Fragile Items?

The first rule on how to pack fragile items for moving is don’t skimp on boxing up material. The more you utilize, the safer the belongings will be. If in doubt whether to use bubble wrap or packing paper, stop because you will need both of them for almost every item. We prepared a list of relocation essentials required to protect your delicate belongings and deliver them undamaged to a new home address. Know that using a suitable supply could help you avoid some of the most common relocation mistakes.

Depending on what delicate thing you prepare for packaging, you will need different packing materials:

  • Medium or large-sized cardboard or plastic boxes. Some of them should have dividers,
  • Packaging papers,
  • Bubble wrap,
  • Packaging foam,
  • Foam peanuts,
  • Sturdy packaging tape,
  • Tape gun,
  • Labels for moving boxes.
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Best Packing Material for Fragile Items – Choosing the Right Box

The thing you should take care of the most when boxing up breakables is picking the right cardboard size. You don’t want your belongings to move during the transportations since this is a sure way to break them. All your belongings should be packed tightly into packages, which means you shouldn’t put them into too big of cardboard.

Unless you saved all the original packages, you probably would not be able to find a perfect box that will completely match your item’s shape and size. However, the box shouldn’t be either huge or too small. If there is space left around an object, know that it can be filled with foam peanuts that will reduce the jounce during transportation. That way, your breakable stuff will be almost impossible to damage.

Besides choosing the best-sized boxes for relocating your breakables, you should also be sure the cardboard is strong enough to sustain the heavier packages’ weight. And after everything is packed and nicely tucked, don’t forget to label all the packages from both sides. That way, your long-distance movers can load them and place them in the truck in the most convenient place.

Is There Such a Thing As a Free Box for Moving?

If your relocation budget demands some savings on relocation expenses, you could always look for free or cheap relocating supplies. You could:

  • Ask your family and friends if they can spare you some,
  • Visit websites such as Freecycle. Look for people who want to get rid of waste after relocation in an eco-friendly way,
  • Visit local stores, bars, and restaurants and ask the staff if they have some cartons they no longer need.

However, ensure to use second-hand cardboard only for some lighter things such as glass or small decorations. If you want prime advice on how do you pack large fragile items, know that used cardboard might not be a good solution.

If you don’t want to hire cross-country movers and need additional relocating hacks and tips on how to package fragile items for shipping during home relocation, check out the video below:

How to Wrap and Pack Glassware Sets

Delicate and gentle, wine, champagne, whiskey, crystal, or simple everyday glasses need special attention. Ensure that all of those types are packed in separate cardboard and labeled by category. That way, when the unpacking begins, you’ll know where to find them when it’s time to toast for a successful relocation. And that’s the main reason why you’ll become the first apartment essentials.

The Best Methods of Packing Glasses

If you’re wondering how to pack glasses for relocation, here is a detailed instruction on how to do it:

  • First, prepare the needed packaging materials.
  • Secondly, fold each glass into the packaging paper, and put it in the box with cells. This will ensure none of them get damaged during the transportation. Since glasses are very light, don’t hesitate to utilize already used wine cardboards because they have dividers. You can find them for free, too – liquor stores have them plenty.
  • Third, fill the empty space with foam peanuts, and remember to put crumpled papers to the foot and on top of the cardboard as a layer above packed objects. As we have already emphasized, there is no place for any free space in the relocation cardboard, no matter how far you’re relocating.

Don’t Forget to Package Bottles

One of the most commonly forgotten things to package are bottles, and for that reason, we’ll present you with some tips on how to package liquids. Remember, you’ll need them for the mentioned toast when you finally relocate to your new home. The reason why people usually leave them is that they are very weighty and difficult to package. However, if you provide a few wooden or plastic crates and fold each bottle into bubble wrap, it would be safe enough to take it with you. The same advice goes for vinegar, oil, and all other different kinds of glass bottles. Use whatever you can before the move, but bring the rest with you.

Plenty of liquor bottles on shelves before cross-country moving overlay
Don't leave your liquor behind just because you fear bottles breaking during the transport

Next Stop: Plates and Ceramics

When packing fragile items for moving, the kitchen will be a place to spend most of the time. Packing dishes, plates, bowls, coffee mugs, and all other ceramics utensils you can think of will be a long process. Again, the smartest idea would be to box them up separately into solid cardboard packages, or even plastic ones, since they can be really heavy. You don’t want the foot of the carton to give way. And what other tips do we have? Check the categories below.

How to Package Ceramic Dishes for Relocation

When packaging kitchen utensils, the easiest objects are plates. Since you won’t need to use them every day, you can set aside a few plates that will serve the household needs until the relocation day. The rest of them could be boxed up and placed into storage rooms right away.

Whether you choose plastic or cardboard boxes, they have to be prepared properly. You’ll have to encase them with packaging foam or crumbled papers, so the bottom is protected.

The next step in the “how to package plates” guide is to fold each plate with paper and then create small packages of four plates folded with bubbles. This way you will make those packages more stable and more resistant to jouncing during the transport. Also, remember to put the plates vertically into packages and fill all empty space with cringed papers, so there is no option left for them to move during the ride.

Packaging Fragile Items Like Bowls and Coffee Mugs

Packaging of bowls and coffee mugs is pretty similar to packaging the plates since you’ll need the same materials. However, they are a little bit more demanding to arrange due to their different shapes and sizes.

The medium-sized cardboard package will be suitable for boxing up all the bowls. You’ll fold them with paper separately to provide less contact with other stuff. Then, put them in each other and then fold them together into bubble wrap. This way, you will spare a lot of space and protect them at the same time.

And when it comes to mugs, don’t spare the packaging materials. Fold them into the chosen material in a few layers since you’ll have to arrange them one over the other. Padded divider sets could also be very handy in this case, especially if you want to provide exceptional protection for mugs that have sentimental value.

Ceramic set that should be packed before long-distance moving overlay
Kitchen utensils with sentimental value need to be treated more carefully

Belongings that Make Your Place a Home

Taking all decorations with you is of tremendous importance for two reasons. First, the majority of them usually represent your memories and have great sentimental value. Second, they will create that cozy home atmosphere in your new space and help you adjust to your new surroundings.

Vases, candlesticks, souvenirs, Christmas decorations, china, figurines, statues – all of them have to be adequately packed and protected, especially if they are antiques or pieces of art. This also applies to valuable pieces of ceramic decoration, so be sure to ask your professional movers for advice on how to pack china. If they could do it for you – even better.

You should be extremely careful when it comes to small figurines and statues. Since their delicate nature, consider leaving packaging to professionals from a long-distance moving company. They are equipped with the proper techniques and apparatus to transfer it undamaged to your new home address. However, if you rather do it by yourself, let’s see how you can box them up like a professional.

Boxing Up Delicate Figurines

The good thing is that figurines are small, meaning you could package them all into one big carton, except for the heavy ones. In case they are small but massive at the same time, you should package them into separate boxes and then put them in the large one with the rest of the figurines.

Nevertheless, we are all prone to hoarding all those cute little decorations that remind us of our last trip, or we got as a present. The truth is, you don’t need all of them. So, before you start the packaging process, declutter and explore where to donate unwanted items of this kind or throw a successful garage sale. Make someone happy with the new and affordable decoration.

Once you get the package, the first step is to encase it with packaging foam. After you do it, start wrapping each figurine separately with paper or bubble wrap. Again, be very generous using it – it is the best tip you could get on how do you wrap a fragile object and protect it from damage. Once you fold them, place heavier pieces at the bottom, and lighter above them. As with everything else, just remember to fill all the empty places with a material of your choosing.

A girl packing a box before long-distance moving overlay
The solution to protecting your breakables is to learn how to wrap fragile items properly

How to Package Mirrors?

Other complex stuff to move (and therefore better to hand over to a cross-country moving company) are mirrors – especially the huge ones. Even if you explore all the tips and tricks on the internet on how to package a mirror, you’ll just not be able to do it as professional movers can. Since we are sure you don’t want to find your mirror broken into a thousand pieces, we recommend exploring all the cross-country moving services. See if there is a company that can provide you with professional packing services and utilize that possibility the most.

A mirror in the white room overlay
Don't want to get your mirrors broken into thousands of pieces? Leave it to professionals

Movers Will Ensure That Fragiles Are Protected During the Transport and in the Storage Units

When organizing your move, know that the safest way to preserve the delicates is to get long-distance moving services. Relocation professionals can provide their assistance concerning the most delicate stuff and do it without a mistake. Ask yourself Which long-distance movers near me are the best? Do your research right. And when you hire the most reliable and trustworthy one, sleep peacefully. Professional movers will handle all of your breakables with the utmost care during the whole relocation process.

Milly Andrews

Born and raised in Portland, Milly has had a lot of experience moving and writing about the relocation process.


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