Packing Fragile Items for Moving: Techniques to Prevent Breakage

Packing fragile items for a move can be nerve-wracking, especially when you’re trying to avoid the heartbreak of opening a box to find something shattered. Whether it's delicate china, glassware, or sentimental keepsakes, understanding the right techniques is key to ensuring everything arrives in one piece. Below are practical, tested methods to help you pack fragile items safely and efficiently.

Choosing the Right Materials

The first step in packing fragile items starts with using the correct packing materials. Cheap shortcuts may lead to expensive replacements. Here’s a list of essential materials:

• Packing Paper: There are three types of packing paper; “Hex-Comb”, Shredded and Regular. Regular packing paper is cost-effective and versatile. As an industry standard, it's the best option for padding delicate items. Bunnings Warehouse sells 125-sheet rolls for $13.88, and this is often the cheapest and most efficient choice. For businesses, buying in bulk is cheaper, which is why Big Camel prefers to purchase wholesale.
• Bubble Wrap: A staple for protecting fragile objects, bubble wrap adds a thick layer of cushioning. Whether you're packing a fragile vase or a set of plates, it ensures items are protected from bumps and pressure. A 25m roll from Bunnings costs $18.90, making it a worthy investment when packing your most fragile belongings.
• Boxes: Always opt for sturdy, double-walled boxes when packing fragile items. This minimizes the risk of punctures and provides extra support.
• Tape: This is where many people falter. Always use two layers of tape on the bottom of every box, especially for heavy items. From personal experience, I’ve seen plenty of client-packed boxes where the bottoms weren’t properly sealed, resulting in us having to re-tape them to prevent the contents from spilling out during transport.

Materials to Avoid

Packing Peanuts: These styrofoam peanuts are super messy and too loose to provide adequate protection. We definitely recommend you do not use these. 

Layer the Bottom of the Box

Before placing any items in the box, start with a foundation of packing paper or bubble wrap. This creates a buffer against shocks when boxes are placed on hard surfaces. The rule is simple: the more protection you build at the base, the less likely items are to break from sudden drops or sharp edges in the moving truck.

Wrap Items Generously

When packing fragile items, more is always better. Wrap each piece generously with bubble wrap or packing paper. As I always tell clients, “More is more here,” especially when it comes to fragile belongings. Being stingy with materials is a sure way to end up with broken items at your destination.

For hollow objects like cups or vases, fill the inside with crumpled packing paper. This ensures they can withstand more pressure and won't collapse under the weight of other items in the box.

Packing Dishes and Glassware

When packing dishes, the trick is to stack them vertically like vinyl records. Place a layer of bubble wrap at the bottom of the box, then wrap each dish individually in packing paper. Stack them on their edges, not flat, to reduce the chance of breakage. Between every two or three dishes, add a layer of padding.

For glasses, wrap them individually and, if they are hollow, stuff the inside with paper to give them extra support. You can then place them in a small box with extra padding between each item.

You can learn more about packing a kitchen in our kitchen packing tutorial Youtube video.

Proper Box Packing Technique

Packing fragile items is not just about the individual pieces, but also how they’re arranged inside the box. Always pack heavier items at the bottom and lighter ones on top. This helps avoid crushing anything delicate during transport. This rule applies both inside boxes and when stacking them in the moving truck. By placing the heavier boxes on the bottom, you not only avoid damage to the lighter boxes but also create a more stable stack.

Always leave some space at the top of the box and fill it with packing paper to prevent items from shifting during transit. Never overstuff a box, as this can cause the box to bulge and break open.

Paintings, Mirrors & TVs

For paintings, mirrors, and TVs, the packing process is a little different but follows the same basic principles. Start by wrapping these items completely in blankets to add a layer of soft protection. Tape the blankets tightly to keep them in place, or use moving bands if available. Once wrapped, place the item inside a specialist “picture and mirror box” for an additional layer of protection. You can buy these boxes from most self storage box-shops. 

Final Inspection “The Shakedown”

Before sealing each box, give it a little shake. If anything shifts or makes noise, reopen it and add more padding. Silence is your goal here—it means everything is securely packed. After everything is packed, tape the box shut using two layers of tape. As a final check, make sure the box is clearly labeled as "Fragile" so movers know to handle it with extra care.

Take Your Time

While packing fragile items takes more time, rushing through it is never a good idea. Taking an extra 10 minutes to wrap and pack properly could mean the difference between everything arriving intact or spending hours cleaning up broken pieces. In my experience, careful packing prevents a lot of headaches and heartaches down the road.

Packing fragile items requires more attention to detail and care than other household items, but with the right materials and techniques, you can ensure everything arrives safely at your new home. Remember, being generous with bubble wrap and packing paper isn’t wasteful—it’s the key to protecting your valuable items. With these techniques, you’ll significantly reduce the risk of breakage.

Big Camel offers a Packing & Moving service to take care of this for you. Big Camel is a local moving company offering a better service at competitive rates.

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