How to Pack a Kitchen for Moving (Without Breakages)
Knowing how to pack a kitchen for moving is the difference between opening tidy, labelled boxes at the other end and unwrapping a crate of chipped plates. The kitchen is the most breakable, most awkward room in the house, so it rewards a bit of method. Work through it in a sensible order, use the right materials, and you can pack a typical Sussex kitchen in a day without a single breakage.
Start with what you can live without
Begin a week or two before the move with everything you rarely touch: the second set of glasses, the food processor you use twice a year, serving platters, spare mugs. Packing these first clears space and means moving week is only about the daily essentials. Keep a small box of true everyday items aside to pack last and open first.
Get the right materials
- Small, strong boxes for crockery and tins. Heavy items go in small boxes so nobody hurts their back.
- Packing paper and bubble wrap for wrapping. Newspaper works but can mark china, so use plain paper for anything pale.
- A dish-pack or dividers for glasses and stemware if you have a lot of them.
- Strong tape and a marker so every box is sealed properly and labelled by room and contents.
Pack plates on their edge
Wrap each plate individually in paper, then stand plates on their edge in a small box lined with crumpled paper, rather than stacking them flat. On edge, plates resist the pressure of the move far better. Fill any gaps with more paper so nothing shifts, and never leave a void at the top of a box.
Glasses, mugs and stemware
Wrap each glass in paper, stuffing a little inside tall glasses for support, and place them upright in a divided box. Mugs can be wrapped and boxed with handles protected. Stemware is the most fragile item in the room: wrap the bowl and stem separately and use a cell box if you can.
Pots, pans and small appliances
Pans can nest with paper between them, and lids wrap separately. For small appliances, use the original box if you kept it, or wrap the appliance and its cord and pad the box well. Tape any loose parts together and bag the small bits so they do not vanish.
Knives, liquids and the fiddly bits
Wrap sharp knives in a tea towel and tape it closed, then label it clearly so nobody reaches in blind. Seal opened bottles of oil or sauce in a bag in case they leak, and use up or give away perishables rather than moving them. Defrost and drain the freezer a day or two ahead.
Label everything and load it right
Mark each box "Kitchen", note whether it is fragile, and add a one-line list of contents. Tell your movers which boxes are heavy or fragile so they load and stack them sensibly. If you are still gathering supplies, our guide to how many moving boxes you need helps you buy the right amount, and once the kitchen is done, work through the rest with our room-by-room packing guide. For the bigger picture on costs and timing, see removal costs in Sussex.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to pack a kitchen?
For an average family kitchen, allow most of a day if you pack in one go, or spread it over a week by starting with items you rarely use. Having boxes, paper and tape ready before you start is the single biggest time-saver.
What is the best way to pack plates for moving?
Wrap each plate in packing paper and stand them on their edge in a small, well-padded box rather than stacking them flat. On edge, plates handle the pressure of a move far better, and filling gaps with paper stops any movement.
How do I pack glasses so they do not break?
Wrap every glass in paper, put a little paper inside tall glasses for support, and stand them upright in a box with cardboard dividers. Never lay glasses on their side, and never leave empty space at the top of the box.
Should I use small or large boxes for the kitchen?
Use small, strong boxes for anything heavy, such as crockery, tins and pans. Large boxes filled with heavy items become too heavy to lift safely and are more likely to fail at the base.
What should I pack last in the kitchen?
Keep an essentials box for the last day with a kettle, a couple of mugs, plates, a pan, a sharp knife, tea and coffee, and washing-up basics. Load it last so it comes off the van first at your new home.