How to Pack Books for Moving – All the Dos and Don’ts

Packing books successfully for a move requires gathering the right materials first. Then sort and declutter before you start packing and go through your books and decide which ones you want to keep and which ones you want to donate or sell. Ensure you pack books in small sturdy boxes that can support the weight of your books and avoid overloading the boxes or making them too heavy to lift.

Why Is It Important to Know How to Pack Books for Moving?

You’ve already booked your long-distance moving services, and you might think that you just need to empty your bookcase, get a ton of big containers, and fill them with all of the paperbacks and hardcovers. Cross-country movers then take your containers, load them into a truck, and just like that, the whole process is finished. This falls among the crucial relocation mistakes. Such a process is completely wrong, and it might lead to physical injuries as well as property damage during transit.

What you need to know is that you have to prepare a packing strategy that will enable you to correctly store and protect your belongings from falling inside the truck and damaging anything. There are certain rules you should be aware of before deciding to prepare your book collection for the move.

For you to know how to move efficiently, you should also research how to organize your move. You should prepare a relocation to-do list and start preparing early for your move to the new state. Your bookcase might be one of your essential belongings for you. Without a doubt, a beautiful bookcase makes an apartment feel like home. If you want to successfully transport all of your favorite editions, you should be very careful how you approach this task and check why Long-Distance USA Movers are the best choice for you. We have some helpful relocation tips for you in this article.

The Best Way to Pack Books for Moving – First Get All the Needed Materials and Supplies

There are some essential supplies you will require when trying to correctly store your novels and journals. You are likely to find everything you need in the local supply store. What you will probably require are:

• Cardboard boxes for books,
• Scissors,
• Duct tape,
• Bubble wrap,
• Packing paper,
• Box cutter,
• Markers and labels,
• For special editions and comics, consider buying a backing board.

If you’re looking for cheap relocation supplies, you can always take cardboard crates from local retail stores or labels for boxes from friends who have recently moved. You can also save money by choosing between bubble wrap or packing paper, as both cushioning materials have their pros and cons. You just need to decide what suits you better.

Here’s a video on how you can get cardboard containers for free.

How to Pack Books in Boxes?

So, what is the best way to pack books for moving? When it comes to putting your collection properly in relocation cartons, you can opt for different strategies. First, choose sturdy and thick cardboard containers that can support the weight of your belongings. Next, you can put some paper, newspaper, or bubble wrap at the bottom of the box so they stay safe and protected.

You can choose to lay everything flat, spine down, or upright. You could first opt for storing heavier ones first and then lighter ones. Don’t overfill the cardboard containers because they will quickly become heavy, so they cannot be easily picked up and carried. The voids can be filled with cushioning material which will make everything lighter and will also protect the items inside from falling down during the move.

The Best Way to Pack Books When Moving Is to
Sort Out the Bookshelf Before You Start

The key to a successful relocation is always to try and downsize for the move. All the book copies you think are too old, not valuable anymore, or you just don’t need to have them in your new home should be thrown away. Write down a moving-out list and decide what you want to keep and also what to get rid of. Not every piece should end up in a dumpster. You can always give some novels to your friends and family members.

If you have too many items you don’t want to take with you, you can always organize a yard sale. In this way, you can even earn and save additional money for the move. Another option is to recycle old journals and magazine issues or just donate to local libraries, nursing homes, and hospitals. Visit the Salvation Army website to find more information about where you can donate your novels.

Use the Best Packing Boxes

You need to be aware of what are the best-sized boxes for relocation. The condition of each box has to be inspected. You want to put your items in a damage-free, dry, and clean space. Make sure that you correctly assemble every box before you put anything in it. Use duct tape and tape the edges and the bottom so the novels can’t fall through. The dimensions of your cardboard box should be 12” x 12” x 12” (1.0 cu/ft). Smaller containers will limit the number of items you put in them, so they won’t get too heavy. You can also take a box cutter and cut holes that will serve as handles. In this way, you’ll be able to pick up your items lightly and carry them where you want.

How to Protect Paperback Books?

If you are wondering, should books be packed spine up or down, there are two ways your paperbacks can be packed. The first option is to take your paperbacks and put them flat in the box. This way, you will protect them from any damage since the paperbacks will be stacked on top of each other. The other option is to lay them with the paper edges are facing up, so the spines will be facing down. This method will allow you to have more room in the box for more paperbacks. You should avoid placing them so the paper edges face down since this can cause the pages to bend and the covers to break. You don’t want to be disappointed when you start unpacking your paperbacks and see that they got damaged using this method.

How to Secure Comics and Valuable Issues?

You should know some relocation hacks for securing comics for the move. The whole process is similar to other novels and journals. Still, you want to board each issue before you carefully place them in a relocation crate. The backing board is used for the protection and support of artwork. You should take the glossy part of the backing board and place a comic on it. The boarded comic can then be put into a plastic sleeve or a foam pouch. Next, run your palm over the sleeve so you can let any trapped air out. Then you can seal the sleeve. In this way, the comic is completely protected from any unpredictable damage.

The Best Way to Pack Hardcovers For Moving?

Some may find that hardcovers are more complicated to store correctly. If you want to avoid damaging the covers, put some newspaper between each copy. The position in which you want your hardcovers is always upright. Stack them, in the same way they were on the bookshelf. The spine should be against the box’s side. Those hardcovers that are not that valuable or expensive can be packed flat or stacked on top of each other. In case you have photo albums or some expensive editions, consider using bubble wrap or cardboard. Use these materials to wrap your valuable items so that nothing can damage them. Consider using suitcases with wheels for hardcovers that weigh a lot when stacked. You’ll be able to move freely, and you won’t have to lift heavy cartons if you consider using a suitcase.

Place the Boxes for Books at the Bottom of the Truck

When you finish packing books for moving, pay attention to how you will place the crates in the truck. A good hack to know is that the crates should be placed at the bottom of the truck. That is vital because you don’t want heavy crates with tomes toppling over and smashing some of your fragile and delicate belongings like plates and glasses. Make sure the long-distance movers place all of the crates at the bottom and that they don’t get stacked on top of each other.

One of the Best Tips for Packing Books for Moving Is to Hire Packing Services

You might get lost trying to pour through all of your novels, journals, and special editions. You might need someone who can carry the load for you and organize the whole process. In this case, consider requesting packing services from your long-distance moving company. Packers are experts at storing everything from bulky items to fragile items. Professional packers will also be able to disassemble and assemble your bookshelves. They can bring their own supplies and materials to help you meet your packing schedule on time. That will help you save time, and you will be able to concentrate on other relocation tasks at hand.

Make Sure You Label Everything Properly

You can also save precious time by using your markers and colorful stickers and labeling your crates, so you know where your items are. On the box’s surface, you can always put what you placed in it, but you can add extra information, too. For example, you can write all the rooms in the house where your items should be moved to and unpacked. In this way, you won’t have to rummage through and search for items when you have everything written down.

Some Boxes Can Be Placed in a Storage Unit

In the end, you’ll be surprised how many cartons and belongings are not necessarily required in your new home right away. If you want to leave something behind and gradually find places where you can put all of your stuff, consider requesting storage services. In a storage container, the belongings you care about will be kept under surveillance. All of the paperbacks and hardcovers will be packed and wrapped in sheets of paper so that nothing can damage them. This is an option that is also great because each person gets to use storage units for free for up to 30 days.

Also, if you are thinking about driving your vehicle and transporting some of your paperbacks, we have to advise against it. You should avoid driving long distances because there is a risk of damaging your vehicle and your belongings. A cross-country moving company can offer auto transport which is a better option. Those items that don’t end up in the truck you can leave in the storage unit.

What You Should Avoid Doing?

If you implement some of these tips and tricks but neglect other useful advice, you might still cause yourself problems during the move. Avoid using your cardboard crates without reinforcing the bottom with tape. You should try not to overfill the crates and also don’t prepare your entire collection for the move. Some editions should be discarded, and a couple of very important pieces should be in your personal luggage and not in the crates. Check a couple of times if you have sealed the crates correctly and put the label FRAGILE on cartons you think are the most essential.

With These Tips, You’ll Protect Your Book Collection

Before you search online for “long-distance movers near me” and invest in cross-country moving services, make sure you know every step of the correct boxing-up process of hardcovers and paperbacks. Choose the best way to pack books for moving, one that works for your particular collection. If you get into problems along the way, you can always call your packers, who will be able to help you with everything you need. Make sure you get a hold of good materials and supplies and secure the crates with tape before loading them into a truck. We wish you luck.

However, if you contact Long-Distance USA Movers, you won’t need much luck because our crew is experienced in transporting all kinds of items, even the fragile and valuable ones like your book are. So, contact us and get the best quote on the market.