To pack glasses for moving, wrap each one in paper, use a small strong box with dividers, stand glasses upright and fill gaps so nothing shifts. Pack plates on their edges. This guide covers materials, glasses, plates, pans and labelling, and when a packing service is worth using.
The kitchen is where most breakages happen on a move. It holds the most fragile things in the house, in the most awkward shapes, and it is usually packed last, in a hurry, with whatever paper and boxes are left. A cracked glass in the first box you open is not the way to start life in a new home.
We move households across Southampton and Hampshire, and we have packed and carried a great many kitchens. This guide explains how to pack glasses for moving, and plates, bowls, mugs, pots and pans, with tips on materials, labelling and loading order. It sticks to glasses and kitchenware, and our other guides cover the rest of the house and other kinds of fragile items.
What do you need to pack glasses safely?
You do not need much, but what you use matters. Cheap, thin materials are where most damage starts.
- Packing paper, plain and clean, in plenty. Newspaper works, but the ink can mark glassware and plates, so plain paper is better.
- Small, strong boxes. Small boxes stay light, and a light box is a box that gets handled carefully.
- Dividers or cell boxes for glasses, if you can get them, or plenty of paper to make your own.
- Strong packing tape, and a marker pen.
- Bubble wrap for delicate or valuable pieces.
We supply double-walled boxes, tissue paper and foam wrap, tape and fragile stickers as part of our packing service, so ask us if you would rather not buy your own.
How to pack glasses for moving, step by step
- Line the bottom of the box with crumpled paper or bubble wrap, for cushioning.
- Wrap each glass individually, starting at the base, then wrapping the sides and the rim. For stemware, protect the stem and bowl with extra paper.
- Place heavier glasses at the bottom, and lighter ones on top, standing upright, unless the type needs a different method.
- Fill the gaps between glasses with crumpled paper, so nothing can move. Give the box a gentle shake to check.
- Add a layer of paper on top, close the box and seal it with tape.
Do not overfill the box, and do not use a large box for glasses, because a large box of glass is heavy and likely to break. Wine glasses and other stemware are especially delicate, so use dividers if you can, and never nest them inside one another.
Plates, bowls and mugs
Plates are stronger on their edge than flat, and that is how to pack them. Wrap each plate, or a small stack of plates, in paper, and stand them on their edges in the box, with padding at the bottom and the sides. Do not stack plates flat, because the weight builds up and breaks the bottom ones.
- Bowls: wrap them one at a time, and nest small groups of similar bowls with paper between them.
- Mugs: wrap each one, and pack them with handles in, upright or on their sides, with paper between them.
- Serving dishes and platters: wrap them well, stand them on edge and mark the box fragile.
- China with lids, such as teapots and casserole dishes: wrap the lid and the base separately.
Pots, pans and small appliances
Pots and pans are less fragile, but they are heavy, so keep the boxes small. Put a layer of paper between non-stick pans, so the surfaces do not scratch, and nest pans where it is safe. Keep the lids with the pans, or wrap them separately.
For small appliances, such as toasters, kettles and blenders, use the original box if you still have it. Otherwise, wrap the appliance in paper or bubble wrap, and keep the cable and parts together in a bag taped to it. Take a photo of any complicated appliance before you take it apart.
Labelling and loading order
A fragile label is only useful if it is clear and it is on more than one side. Mark boxes with the room, a short list of what is inside and the word fragile, in large letters, on the top and the sides. Use arrows on boxes that must stay upright.
Tell the team which boxes are fragile before loading. They can put them where they will not be crushed, and they can unload them with care. Boxes of glasses and plates should go near the top of the load, and never underneath heavier boxes, and they should be among the first things you unpack, so you can check them.
At the other end, unpack the kitchen carefully and in a sensible order. Open the boxes marked fragile first, on a table or the floor with a clear space, and unwrap items one at a time, checking for chips and cracks as you go. Keep the paper, because you may need it again, and if anything has broken, take photos straight away. It is much easier to sort out early than weeks later.
When to let a packing service do the kitchen
The kitchen is a common choice for partial packing. Part packing is one of our packing options, and most people use it for their fragile things or the rooms they are dreading. If you are short of time, have a lot of glassware or china or simply do not want to do it, we can pack the kitchen and you can do the rest. Our guide to removals with a packing service explains what is included.
Summary
- Wrap each glass and use small strong boxes.
- Pack plates on their edges.
- Label fragile boxes clearly.
- Consider a partial packing service for the kitchen.
FAQs
Wrap each glass individually in paper, place them upright in a small, strong box with dividers or plenty of paper, fill the gaps so nothing shifts and seal and label the box as fragile.
Wrap each plate or a small stack in paper, and stand them on their edges in a small, strong box with padding at the bottom and sides. Avoid stacking them flat.
You can, but the ink can rub off onto glass and china, so plain packing paper is cleaner. If you use newspaper, wrap glasses in a layer of plain paper first.
It depends on how much you own, so we have not given a number. Pack a cupboard, count the boxes and multiply for the rest, and make sure you have plenty of small, strong boxes.
Every move we carry out is fully insured, but how cover treats breakages can depend on who packed the box and on the policy wording. Ask us how it applies to boxes we pack and boxes you pack yourself, and check your own contents insurance.
One Last Thought
Want the kitchen packed for your Southampton or Hampshire move? Call K2 Swift Removals on 023 8111 3116 or 07356 097791 and we will give you a straight, free quote.
