How to Pack Fragile Items for Moving: A Step-by-Step UK Guide

Why Packing Fragiles Properly Matters

The single biggest source of moving-day damage is badly packed fragile items. Insurance often won't pay out if the damage was caused by inadequate packing — most policies specifically exclude items packed by the owner unless they were packed to professional standards.

Get the materials and the technique right, and you can move an entire kitchen of crockery and a houseful of ornaments without losing a single piece.

The Two Materials You Actually Need

1. Acid-Free White Wrapping Paper (for small fragiles)

For plates, bowls, glasses, mugs and small ornaments, acid-free wrapping paper is the right tool. It's clean (no ink transfer), thin enough to layer without bulking out the box, and provides excellent cushioning when crumpled.

A 5 kg pack is roughly enough to pack the contents of a medium-sized kitchen. You can buy a 5 kg pack of white acid-free wrapping paper from MyMovingBox.

Avoid newspaper. The ink will transfer onto china, glass and any polished surface, and you'll spend hours washing items at the other end.

2. Bubble Wrap (for large or delicate fragiles)

Use bubble wrap for items that are bigger, more valuable, or have protruding parts:

• Vases and decorative ornaments
• Table lamps and lampshades
• Picture frames and mirrors
• TVs and monitors
• Glass shelves and cabinet doors

Use small-bubble wrap (10 mm) for the inner layer and large-bubble wrap (25 mm) for an outer cushioning layer on the most fragile pieces.

How to Pack Plates (Step by Step)

1. Lay 2-3 sheets of acid-free paper flat on the worktop.
2. Place the plate in the centre and bring each corner of the paper up over the plate, then wrap a second sheet around it for full coverage.
3. Repeat for each plate.
4. Line the bottom of a small or medium box with 5-8 cm of crumpled paper as a cushion.
5. Stack the wrapped plates vertically, on their edge, not flat. This is the single most important rule.
6. Fill the sides and top with more crumpled paper until nothing moves when you shake the box.
7. Tape the box shut and label it "FRAGILE — PLATES — THIS WAY UP" on the top and at least two sides.

How to Pack Glasses and Stemware

• Stuff the inside of each glass with a small ball of crumpled paper before wrapping.
• Wrap each glass individually in 2-3 sheets, paying extra attention to the stem on wine glasses.
• Stand glasses upright in the box (never on their side).
• Use a divided box (or create dividers from cardboard) for crystal and stemware.

How to Pack Vases, Ornaments and Lamps

These are bubble-wrap items.

1. Remove anything detachable: lamp shades, lampshade harps, lid stoppers.
2. Wrap the body of the item in 2-3 layers of small-bubble wrap. Tape the wrap closed — don't rely on it staying put.
3. Lampshades go in their own box, alone, surrounded by paper. Never inside another shade.
4. Stand vases and tall ornaments upright in the box, with crumpled paper underneath and around them.
5. Don't mix heavy items with light fragiles. A heavy vase will crush a wrapped lampshade in transit.

How to Pack Pictures, Mirrors and Framed Art

1. Cover the glass with a large "X" of low-tack masking tape. If the glass cracks, the tape stops shards from scattering.
2. Wrap each frame in two layers of bubble wrap, corners taped.
3. Pack frames vertically, on their long edge, in a picture box or a slim wardrobe box, with paper between each frame.
4. Never lay framed art flat under other boxes — the weight will crack the glass.

The Golden Rules

• Always pack on the edge, not flat for plates, frames, and vinyl records.
• Fill every void — empty space is the enemy.
• Heavy items in small boxes, light items in large boxes — this prevents box failure and back injuries.
• Label every fragile box clearly on the top and at least two sides, plus an arrow showing which way is up.
• Don't overload. Even a "fragile" box should not exceed about 15-18 kg.

What Professional Movers Do Differently

If you're using a packing service, the team will use industrial-strength wrapping paper, double-walled boxes, and dividers for stemware. They also typically pack the day before the move, which gives them time to do the job slowly. If you're packing yourself, give yourself at least one full day per room for fragiles — it always takes longer than you think.

Where to Buy Packing Materials in the UK

You can buy acid-free wrapping paper, bubble wrap and double-walled boxes from specialist suppliers like MyMovingBox, or from larger DIY chains. Avoid free supermarket boxes for fragiles — they're single-walled and rarely strong enough for the journey.