How to Pack Fragile Items, Glasses and China Safely

Knowing how to pack fragile items is what stands between a smooth move and a box of broken glass. Here is the method Sussex movers use to get china, glassware and ornaments to the new house intact.

The single biggest cause of breakages on moving day is not the van or the removal crew, it is poor packing. Learning how to pack fragile items properly, with the right materials and a bit of patience the week before, means glasses, plates and ornaments arrive in one piece. This guide walks through the materials to buy, the wrapping techniques for each type of item, and how to load a box so nothing shifts in transit.

Start with the right materials

Fragile packing works because of cushioning and immobility: every item is wrapped, and nothing can move inside the box. Gather these before you start:

• Sturdy small-to-medium double-walled boxes. Heavy, dense items go in small boxes so they stay liftable.
• Plenty of packing paper (plain newsprint) or bubble wrap. Newspaper works but the ink can transfer, so keep it off white china.
• Strong packing tape and a marker pen.
• Extra padding for the base and top of each box: scrunched paper, towels or bubble wrap.

Line the bottom of every fragile box with two or three inches of scrunched paper before anything goes in. That cushioned base absorbs the knocks that happen when a box is set down.

Packing glasses and stemware

Glasses are vulnerable at the rim and, for wine glasses, at the stem. Wrap each glass individually: lay it on a corner of a sheet of paper, roll it up, tucking paper into the bowl as you go for internal support, then fold the ends in. For stemware, wrap a little extra around the stem. Stand glasses upright in the box, never on their sides, and use a box with cardboard dividers (a cell box) if you can, as it keeps each glass separate. Fill any gaps with more paper so nothing rattles.

Packing plates and china

Plates are strongest on their edge and weakest flat, so they travel standing on their sides, not stacked flat like in a cupboard. Wrap each plate individually in paper or bubble wrap, then build stacks of three or four wrapped plates and wrap the whole bundle again. Stand the bundles vertically in a well-padded box. Put the heaviest items at the bottom and lighter pieces on top. Cups, bowls and delicate china get the same individual wrap, with paper stuffed inside cups and bowls to stop the sides flexing.

Ornaments, vases and awkward shapes

Hollow items such as vases should be filled with scrunched paper first, then wrapped on the outside. For ornaments with fragile protrusions (handles, spouts, figurines), wrap the delicate part with extra padding before wrapping the whole piece. Anything especially valuable or irreplaceable is worth double-boxing: pack it snugly in a small box, then sit that box inside a larger one surrounded by cushioning.

Loading and labelling the box

A well-packed box should have no empty space and should not rattle when you gently shake it. Top it off with a final layer of padding so items do not touch the lid, then tape it firmly. Do not overload: a fragile box you cannot lift comfortably is a box waiting to be dropped. Mark every side clearly with the word FRAGILE, note which room it belongs in, and draw an arrow showing which way is up. On the day, tell the crew which boxes are the breakables so they load and place them with care. A clear moving day plan makes that handover easy.

When to let the professionals pack

If you have a lot of glassware, antiques or a full china service, a professional packing service is often worth it: trained packers work fast, use proper materials, and the items are covered by the mover's insurance when they pack them. Our guide to packing service costs in Sussex sets out what that adds to a move, and the Sussex removal cost guide puts it in the context of the whole bill. You can also find vetted firms through the British Association of Removers. For everything else about your move, start at the Move Sussex homepage.