How to pack plates and crockery for moving

Plates and crockery are amongst the most common items that get broken when you’re moving house. That’s why it’s important to take a little extra care when you’re packing them up, especially if you have delicate, fragile or old crockery, or any items that might be family heirlooms or have some sentimental value.

Packing things like plates, bowls, and mugs for moving isn’t hard, but it does require some forethought and packaging supplies. Here’s how to pack these items in 7 easy steps – read on for more details:

1. Line a sturdy cardboard box with bubble wrap
2. Place some strong packing paper on a table, put your first item on it, and wrap the paper tightly around the item
3. Place the item in your box horizontally
4. Wrap the rest of the items in the same way, placing each one on top of the other
5. When your box is full, fill any space with packaging material
6. Seal your box securely
7. Ensure the box is labelled as fragile

Looking for the best way to pack glasses rather than plates and crockery? Check out our article on How to Pack Glasses for Moving. 

Equipment & supplies you need to pack plates and crockery

You’ll need to make sure that the equipment and supplies you have when it comes to packing your plates and crockery for moving house are pretty strong and robust. It’s important to package items up well (more on that in the step-by-step guide below) with these supplies to limit potential damage or breakage while your items are in transit.

Here’s what you’ll need to pack plates and crockery when you move:

• Strong packing paper to wrap each item
• Appropriate sized storage boxes for crockery
• Bubble wrap to line your boxes
• Package filler, such as packing peanuts, to fill in any empty spaces in your boxes
• Self-adhesive Kraft paper packaging tape to seal your boxes securely
• A marker pen to label your boxes

A step-by-step guide to packing plates and crockery when you move house

Firstly, it’s important to keep items of similar sizes and shapes together. For example, you’ll want to pack all your large plates together, all your small plates together, and all your dishes together, etc. The same goes for large items of crockery, such as casserole or pie dishes and baking dishes. Just remember that you shouldn’t make an individual box too heavy – there’s a much greater chance of dropping it.

Here’s how to pack your crockery for moving:

1. Line a sturdy cardboard box with bubble wrap – either paper bubble wrap or the traditional kind is fine.
2. Place some strong packing paper on a table, put your first item on it, and wrap the paper tightly around the item (don’t wrap more than one item at a time). If your items are very fragile, you might want to use bubble wrap instead of packaging paper at this stage.
3. Place the item in your box horizontally.
4. Wrap the rest of the items in the same way, placing each one on top of the other (this is why items of a similar size and shape should be packed together – and it’s much easier than packing items vertically).
5. When your box is full, fill any space with packaging material to ensure that the items can’t move around. It’s best to have everything tightly packed together rather than loose.
6. Seal your box securely.
7. Write the name of the room the box will be going into in your new home, and the words ‘FRAGILE’ on the top, and ‘THIS WAY UP’ on all the sides.

If you’re packing mugs and cups, the same principle applies but you’ll be placing multiple mugs side by side. Once one layer is complete, add another layer on top, and so on.

For more information on moving different items, read our Guide to Moving House.