How to pack fragile items so nothing breaks

Pack fragile items in a sturdy box with cushioning on every side, wrap each piece individually, stand plates and glasses on their edges rather than flat, and fill every gap so nothing can shift. The single rule behind all of it: an item that cannot move inside a well-padded box cannot break. A sealed box shaken gently should make no sound at all.

Glasses, plates, mirrors, framed art, lamps and electronics are the things people worry about most, and they are exactly the things that a few minutes of proper packing protects completely. Here is how to pack each kind so it arrives in one piece, whether your move is across Tallinn or across the EU.

Start with the right materials

Good packing is mostly about cushioning and a box that holds its shape. Gather your supplies before you start so you are not improvising halfway through.

• Sturdy small boxes. Use small, strong boxes for heavy fragile things like crockery – a big box of plates becomes too heavy to lift safely and is more likely to give way.
• Bubble wrap and packing paper. Plenty of both. Plain newsprint or packing paper is better than printed newspaper, which can leave ink on china.
• Tape, markers and a 'Fragile' label. Reinforce the bottom of every box with extra tape and mark it clearly so the crew knows to keep it upright and on top.

Glasses, plates and crockery

Kitchenware breaks most often because it is packed flat and stacked. The trick is to pack it on edge and pad it well.

• Line the box. Crumple paper into a thick layer on the bottom for shock absorption.
• Plates on their edges. Wrap each plate, then stand them vertically like records rather than stacked flat – a plate on edge resists pressure far better.
• Glasses individually. Wrap each glass, stuff stems and hollows with paper, and place them rim-down. Add a layer of padding between rows.

Mirrors, framed art and screens

Flat, rigid things crack across the middle when they are laid down or knocked on a corner. Pack them so they travel upright.

• Tape an X across glass. A strip of tape from corner to corner helps hold the pane and contains the shards if it does break.
• Wrap and corner-protect. Wrap in bubble wrap, add cardboard corners, and sandwich large mirrors or art between flat sheets of cardboard.
• Carry flat things upright. Load mirrors, glass and TVs standing on their edge against a van wall, never flat under other items.

Electronics, lamps and odd shapes

Electronics suffer from knocks and loose cables; lamps and ornaments suffer from awkward shapes. Treat each on its own terms.

• Original boxes win. If you kept the box a TV or appliance came in, use it – it was designed for exactly this. Otherwise wrap well and fill the gaps.
• Photograph the cabling. Snap a photo of the back of your TV or PC before unplugging so reconnecting at the other end is quick.
• Pad hollow and protruding parts. Remove lampshades and bulbs, wrap them separately, and cushion handles, spouts and anything that sticks out.

Fill every gap and label clearly

However you pack, the last step is the same: nothing should move. Close the box, give it a gentle shake, and if you hear or feel movement, open it and add more padding.

• Top off with padding. Add a final layer of paper or bubble wrap so the lid presses lightly on the contents.
• Do not overfill. A bulging box will not close flat and cannot be stacked safely. Keep heavy boxes light enough to lift.
• Mark 'Fragile' and 'This way up'. Label the sides so the crew loads it upright and on top of the heavier boxes.