Knowing how to pack properly isn’t an instinct. It’s a learned skill. Whether you have hundreds of glass collectibles, expensive electronics, or jewelry collections, ensuring your items remain undamaged while moving takes extra time and thought. Understanding how to pack fragile items can save you a lot of heartache. After all, the last thing you want to discover when unpacking is that Grandma’s best dishes have shattered in transit.
If you’re concerned about the safety of your fragile belongings during your move, following these five steps can help. Read on to learn how you can reduce the risk of damage to your breakable items during your move.
Why Does Proper Packing Matter?
No matter the type of move – be it an office relocation, home downsizing, or military family move – proper packing is vital. Taking the time to secure and protect your important and valuable items can help reduce the risk of damage.
Improper packing — including failing to buy the right packaging for fragile items — can have various consequences. Consequences can range from mildly annoying to devastating. It’s actually one of the most common moving mistakes people make.
Adding additional distance to your move makes these consequences more dire. Luckily, many long-distance moving services provide secure, proper packing as part of their service offerings.
What You’ll Need:
Building your moving budget is one of the first steps to plan your move. Purchasing the necessary packing materials and tools should be a line item on your plan.
To pack fragile items properly, make sure you have the following items on hand:
- Sturdy boxes in multiple sizes
- Bubble wrap
- Packing paper
- Tape
- Cushioning material
- Markers for labeling boxes
You can buy most of these at your local hardware store. Your moving company may also include materials as part of your service package.
How to Pack Fragile Items
So, how do you pack fragile items in a way that they won’t break during your move? Follow these five steps to reduce your worries and the risk of potential damage.
1. Take Stock of What You Have
As you pack your home or office room by room, take inventory of the items you have and their unique packing needs. Fragile dishes and stemware have different requirements than a laptop computer, for example. Canvas art typically needs different padding than framed photos. You don’t want to damage these items by using the wrong packing materials, which could scratch or otherwise harm them. That also includes using the correct box sizes.
While you may be tempted to buy five or six rolls of thick bubble wrap and call it a day, that’s not the best way to pack. Why is this the case? Consider our second tip:
2. Wrap Items Individually
Regardless of its size, wrap each item individually. This helps prevent items from colliding with one another during the move and reduces the risk of breakage. Use bubble wrap for delicate items like glassware and ceramics. Pick packing paper for less fragile items. Packing paper tends to cost less than bubble wrap, so we recommend buying multiple types of padding. If you’re able, pack electronics in their original boxes or — at the very least — with anti-static bubble wrap. When you take the time to wrap each item separately, you can provide an extra layer of protection and ensure your belongings arrive safely in your new home.
3. Pack Fragile Items in Boxes
Fragile items belong in boxes that have been clearly labeled with their contents, but that’s not the only important detail. One of the biggest questions we hear about how to pack fragile items for moving includes what size boxes you should consider. The answer isn’t complicated: The smallest box you can reasonably use.
Use sturdy, thick boxes with no give. If the box feels flimsy before you put an item inside, toss it out. It’s better to be safe than sorry. You should also layer the box’s bottom with soft packing material, such as packing paper, bubble wrap, foam, or even towels. Pack the heaviest items on the bottom of the box. This ensures the base is well-supported and smaller items won’t get crushed in transit.
4. Fill Empty Space in Boxes
With your box appropriately packed, fill as much space as possible with packing materials. If the box has glasses or stemware, utilize special dividers to keep those items from shifting during the move. In some cases, you can find packaging for fragile items that include those dividers.
5. Plan Pick Up, Transport, and Delivery Carefully
After packing your items properly, it’s time to move. That includes deciding whether you’ll hire professional movers or do it yourself. There are pros and cons to both. While moving your belongings on your own could save money, it also takes a lot of time. On the other hand, professional movers have teams that can quickly load and unload your belongings. They’re also experienced drivers. If you’ve never driven a moving truck before, there’s a slight learning curve.
Regardless of what you choose, have a clear understanding of the logistics of your move. How and when everything is being transported are critical details, especially for expensive, fragile items.
Materials Matter When Packing Fragile Items
The best packaging for fragile items isn’t necessarily the most expensive, but you do need to focus on using high-quality materials. Many experts recommend using new boxes when packing for your move because they can provide more protection than boxes that have been used repeatedly. In addition, using new boxes can reduce confusion if you’ve labeled them in the past and have written new things on them during your current move. Finally, because tape loses its adhesive property after it’s been peeled off, never try to use the same piece of tape multiple times.
Remember to Include Specialty Items in Planning
As you think about packaging for fragile items, remember to include your big, bulky items in your moving plans. Pay special attention to fragile items needing unconventional packaging or handling, like video game consoles, record players, exercise equipment, and more. These items might need different moving or transportation plans, including moving with you instead of in a moving truck.
Additional Tips for Packing Fragile Items
While we’ve covered most of the basics above, we have a few additional moving tips that can help you decide how to pack fragile items:
- Double-box extra fragile items: Place an incredibly fragile item in a smaller box, then nest that box within a larger one. Place cushioning material in between.
- Avoid empty spaces: Fill any gaps in boxes with packing peanuts, towels, or crumpled paper.
- Think about temperatures: Pack temperature-sensitive items like electronics in climate-controlled conditions to avoid heat damage.
- Secure box closures: Use strong packing tape to seal all box seams securely.
Consider Professional Support and Services
Just because you know how to pack fragile items to protect them from damage doesn’t mean you have to do it yourself. If you’re moving as part of a business relocation or long-distance, you may want to consider professional packing services as part of your process.
Booking moving services that include professional packing can allow you to focus on the other logistics of your move, including finding schools and medical providers and taking care of paperwork like changing your address and setting up utilities. Leaving the fragile items for professional packers can ensure these belongings receive the detailed attention they deserve.
As you shop for a moving company, consider including packing services in your quote. If you have questions about how this works, expert moving brokers at Safe Ship can help. We partner with highly rated movers to find the best balance of price and service for your needs. Contact us today for more information.
FAQs
Is packing paper or bubble wrap better?
Both packing paper and bubble wrap have their uses. Packing paper is great for wrapping smaller, less delicate items and filling gaps between items and in boxes. Bubble wrap offers superior protection for highly fragile items like glassware and electronics. Combining both provides optimal protection.
What is the most protective packaging for fragile items?
The most protective packaging for fragile items is a combination of bubble wrap, sturdy boxes, and cushioning materials — usually packing peanuts or foam. You can also double-box items and fill any gaps with towels, crumpled paper, or foam to enhance protection during transit.
What should you wrap stuff in when moving?
When you move, wrap items in the appropriate material. You can use bubble wrap for maximum protection. Packing paper works for less delicate items. Electronics often benefit from anti-static bubble wrap to prevent static damage.
