The kitchen is the slowest room to pack and the one where most moving damage happens. Our packers handle hundreds of kitchens a year, and almost every broken plate we see comes down to three mistakes: boxes that are too big, plates packed flat, and not enough padding at the bottom of the box.
Use small, double-walled boxes
Dishes are heavy. A large box full of plates can top 60 pounds and the bottom gives way. Use small or medium dish-pack boxes with double walls, and keep every box under about 40 pounds.
Stand plates on their edge
Wrap each plate in packing paper, then stand them upright like records in a crate. Plates are much stronger on their edge than flat, and a vertical stack absorbs bumps instead of cracking down the middle.
- Line the bottom of every box with 2–3 inches of crumpled paper.
- Wrap glasses individually and stuff paper inside each one.
- Fill every gap so nothing can shift when you shake the box.
- Label the box “Fragile – Kitchen – This Side Up” on two sides.
The one material we never skip
Cell dividers. Cardboard inserts that split a box into compartments stop glasses and mugs from touching each other. They cost a few dollars and save far more than that.
Short on time? Our packing and unpacking service can pack just the kitchen and fragile items while you handle the rest. Get a free quote to see the flat-rate price.
