[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":205},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-\u002Fguides\u002Fhow-to-pack-boxes":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"description":194,"extension":195,"meta":196,"navigation":197,"path":198,"publishedAt":199,"readingMinutes":200,"seo":201,"stem":202,"updatedAt":203,"__hash__":204},"guides\u002Fguides\u002Fhow-to-pack-boxes.md","How to pack boxes so nothing breaks",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":183},"minimark",[9,13,25,28,33,36,58,61,65,68,71,75,107,111,118,121,125,131,137,143,149,153,156,170,173,177,180],[10,11,12],"p",{},"There is one thing worth saying before any of the practical advice, because it changes how much of this matters to you.",[10,14,15,19,20,24],{},[16,17,18],"strong",{},"Where you pack a box yourself, we cannot take responsibility for damage to the contents"," unless our team caused it. Not because we are looking for a way out, but because nobody can assess wrapping they never saw. Anything ",[21,22,23],"em",{},"we"," pack is our responsibility. If you are moving glassware, ceramics or anything you would genuinely be upset to lose, that difference is worth more than the cost of the packing service.",[10,26,27],{},"If you are packing yourself, here is how to do it properly.",[29,30,32],"h2",{"id":31},"weight-beats-size-every-time","Weight beats size, every time",[10,34,35],{},"The most common packing mistake is a big box filled with heavy things. A box of books that nobody can lift is not a packed box — it is a problem that has to be repacked on the day, usually by someone in a hurry.",[37,38,39,46,52],"ul",{},[40,41,42,45],"li",{},[16,43,44],{},"Heavy things in small boxes."," Books, tools, tinned food, records.",[40,47,48,51],{},[16,49,50],{},"Light and bulky in big boxes."," Bedding, cushions, coats, soft toys.",[40,53,54,57],{},[16,55,56],{},"The test:"," you should be able to lift it comfortably yourself. If you have to brace, take something out.",[10,59,60],{},"Never overfill a box past the point where the flaps will close flat. A bulging lid means it cannot be stacked, and a load that cannot be stacked is a load that shifts.",[29,62,64],{"id":63},"everything-goes-in-a-proper-container","Everything goes in a proper container",[10,66,67],{},"Loose items and open bags may be refused, and where we do carry them it is at your own risk. Boxes, cases and sealed containers only. Bin bags are not packing — they tear, they cannot be stacked, and they end up on the floor of the van with everything else on top.",[10,69,70],{},"Fill every gap. An empty space inside a box is where things move, and things that move are things that break. Screwed-up paper, tea towels and socks are all fine as padding.",[29,72,74],{"id":73},"wrapping-fragile-things","Wrapping fragile things",[37,76,77,83,89,95,101],{},[40,78,79,82],{},[16,80,81],{},"Wrap each item individually."," Two glasses wrapped together are two glasses that break together.",[40,84,85,88],{},[16,86,87],{},"Plates on their edge, not stacked flat."," A stack of plates transfers the whole weight onto the bottom one; on edge, each takes its own.",[40,90,91,94],{},[16,92,93],{},"Paper, not newspaper, on anything light-coloured."," Newsprint transfers.",[40,96,97,100],{},[16,98,99],{},"Pad the bottom and the top of the box",", not just between the items.",[40,102,103,106],{},[16,104,105],{},"Label it FRAGILE on the top and at least two sides."," The side matters — once boxes are stacked, the top of most of them is not visible.",[29,108,110],{"id":109},"label-for-the-room-not-the-contents","Label for the room, not the contents",[10,112,113,114,117],{},"Write the room it is going ",[21,115,116],{},"to",", in large letters, on the side of the box. \"Kitchen\" on the side is more useful than a detailed inventory on the lid, because the crew reads it once, at speed, while carrying it.",[10,119,120],{},"If you want the detail as well, number the boxes and keep a list on your phone. That way you know which box the router is in without opening nine of them.",[29,122,124],{"id":123},"things-that-need-their-own-approach","Things that need their own approach",[10,126,127,130],{},[16,128,129],{},"Electronics"," — photograph the back of the TV and the router before you unplug anything. It takes ten seconds and saves an hour at the other end.",[10,132,133,136],{},[16,134,135],{},"Wardrobes and drawers"," — ask us rather than guessing. Some furniture travels better with the drawers in, some does not, and some needs dismantling to get out of the room at all. Dismantling needs requesting when you get your quote so we bring the tools and allow the time.",[10,138,139,142],{},[16,140,141],{},"Pictures and mirrors"," — flat, on their edge, well padded, and never laid down under anything.",[10,144,145,148],{},[16,146,147],{},"Beds"," — strip them the night before, and keep the bolts and fittings in a labelled bag taped to the frame. That bag going missing is the reason people end up sleeping on a mattress on the floor.",[29,150,152],{"id":151},"what-cannot-go-in-a-box-at-all","What cannot go in a box at all",[10,154,155],{},"Some things cannot legally or safely travel in a loaded van, however well they are packed:",[37,157,158,161,164,167],{},[40,159,160],{},"Compressed gas cylinders, including camping gas and patio bottles",[40,162,163],{},"Petrol, diesel and other fuels — run mowers and strimmers dry first",[40,165,166],{},"Corrosive or toxic chemicals, explosives and fireworks",[40,168,169],{},"Perishable and frozen food — defrost and empty the fridge and freezer 24 hours ahead",[10,171,172],{},"And some things should not be packed even though they could be: cash, jewellery, passports, deeds, medication and anything irreplaceable. These sit outside standard goods in transit cover. Keep them in a labelled bag that stays with you in your own car.",[29,174,176],{"id":175},"the-box-that-saves-the-day","The box that saves the day",[10,178,179],{},"Pack one box last and put it in your car, not the van. Kettle, mugs, tea and coffee, phone chargers, medication, toilet roll, hand soap, a towel, a change of clothes, and any paperwork you might need.",[10,181,182],{},"It is the difference between arriving and unpacking, and arriving and sitting on the floor in the dark trying to remember which of forty boxes has the kettle in it.",{"title":184,"searchDepth":185,"depth":185,"links":186},"",2,[187,188,189,190,191,192,193],{"id":31,"depth":185,"text":32},{"id":63,"depth":185,"text":64},{"id":73,"depth":185,"text":74},{"id":109,"depth":185,"text":110},{"id":123,"depth":185,"text":124},{"id":151,"depth":185,"text":152},{"id":175,"depth":185,"text":176},"Weight, wrapping, labelling and the mistakes we see most often — plus the one thing about self-packed boxes worth knowing before you start.","md",{},true,"\u002Fguides\u002Fhow-to-pack-boxes","2026-08-31",6,{"title":5,"description":194},"guides\u002Fhow-to-pack-boxes",null,"JX4HrX83fXqnfu0TaPhDZ2naOOwC5ipgzSrkJizoTD8",1791712369861]