Packing dishes for moving is one of the most demanding parts of getting an apartment ready for the truck. Plates, glasses, mugs and glassware are the things that get damaged most often in transit. And most of that damage does not come from a bad road. It comes from packing done the wrong way. Even an expensive china set has a much better chance of arriving without a single crack if the dishes are prepared properly ahead of time.
Preparing to Pack the Dishes
Before you start packing the dishes, get ready properly. Stock up on sturdy boxes in different sizes. Specialized dish boxes with extra dividers are ideal. It is also best to have bubble wrap or special packing paper on hand, so nothing gets damaged.
Check every piece for cracks or chips. If you find damaged items, it is better to get rid of them right away, so you are not hauling garbage to the new place. It also helps to make an inventory and write down everything you plan to move. That way you can track what has been packed, and nothing important gets lost.
Do not use boxes that are too big. Even if they hold the weight, they are awkward to carry, and the risk of damage to what is inside goes up. If you are still putting together the rest of your list, our moving supplies checklist for a Chicago move covers it, so here we stay with the kitchen.
Packing Paper or Bubble Wrap for Dishes
What to pack dishes in for a move, so that as little as possible gets broken:
- Sturdy cardboard boxes of different sizes.
- Packing paper, kraft paper or plain paper.
- Bubble wrap - handy for glassware, bulky pieces and small items with a lot of parts that stick out.
- Void fill for the box - foam peanuts, crumpled paper, large bags.
Use packing paper instead of newspaper. Printing ink leaves marks on the dishes, and you will have to wash everything again. Paper works for wrapping single pieces and for filling gaps. Bubble wrap is for glass, porcelain and anything with a spout or a handle. For especially fragile dishes, such as porcelain or glass, use more packing material and wrap each piece several times. Make sure every surface of the item is fully covered.
- Tape the bottom: run several strips of tape across the bottom of every box.
- Make a cushion: lay down 1 to 2 inches of crumpled paper or bubble wrap on the bottom. That layer absorbs bumps while the box is carried.
- Go small: small boxes are easier to fill tightly, with no gaps left.
Dish Pack Boxes and Cell Dividers
It is best to use strong double-wall boxes of a small size. A dish pack box with cardboard cells is the easiest option for glasses and cups, because every piece gets its own section. Boxes for dish packs and other moving boxes can be ordered in advance, together with paper and tape.
Dishes need to go into boxes that have been reinforced beforehand. This lowers the risk of things falling out on the way and makes the movers' work easier. To reinforce a box, tape the bottom in several layers and seal the top gap with packing tape. Pack dishes by category - for example, all the plates in one box, all the cups in another. This makes unpacking simpler and lowers the risk of accidental damage.
How to Pack Plates for Moving: On Edge, Never Flat
Plates must not be stacked without wrapping. Each plate has to be wrapped separately in paper or bubble wrap. After that, several plates can be gathered into a small bundle and wrapped again with stretch film.
It is very important to set plates in the box vertically, like records on a shelf. In this position they hold up to loads much better. Packing them on edge, like books, reduces the strain on the contents on the way. Fill the gaps between the bundles with paper.
Saucers and small plates are handled the same way: wrap each one in paper, form small stacks, wrap the stacks in bubble wrap and stand them in the box on edge.
| Item | How to wrap | How it goes in the box |
|---|---|---|
| Plates and saucers | Each one in paper, then a small bundle in stretch film | On edge, like records on a shelf |
| Glasses and wine glasses | Stem first in several layers of paper, then the whole glass | One per cell; soft padding if there are no dividers |
| Mugs and cups | One at a time, handle wrapped extra | Upright, bottom down, not pressed tight |
| Glass lids | Bubble wrap, handle in extra paper | Only upright |
How to Pack Glasses for Moving
Glasses are considered the most fragile pieces in the kitchen. Cups and glasses are best packed one per separate compartment. Wrap them in paper and set them in the box bottom down. This also helps avoid damage and cracks. Crumpled paper can be put inside glasses and cups.
Before the glassware goes in, line the bottom of the box with foam, rags or foam peanuts. Set the fragile pieces in, then fill every gap carefully, so the glasses do not roll around and are held firmly in place. Cover the top with a layer of paper or padding and close the box.
How to Pack Wine Glasses for Moving
First, the stem is wrapped in several layers of paper. After that, the whole glass is wrapped. If you use boxes with cardboard cells, each wine glass goes into its own section. If there are no dividers, soft padding between the glasses is a must.
Mugs and Cups
Mugs should also be packed one at a time. Pay special attention to the handles - they are what chips off most often. After each mug is wrapped, set them upright, not pressed too tightly against each other. The handles are the weakest spot on any dish, so they should be padded off from the body and from other pieces with several layers of napkins, soft corrugated paper or scraps of cloth. Turn the handles toward the inside of the box.
Bowls, Serving Pieces and Sets
Large salad bowls and serving dishes: wrap each piece in bubble wrap, and crumpled paper can go in the bottom of each one. Put foam peanuts into the box, lay down rags, then set the dishes in. Fill the gaps with whatever is at hand, or with padding.
Porcelain tea and coffee sets often carry not only monetary but also family value. Every piece has to be packed separately. The lids of sugar bowls and teapots are moved separately from the main part. Teapot spouts get extra protection with bubble wrap. It is better to put only one set in a box.
Crystal is very sensitive to point impacts. Put crumpled paper in the bottom of each piece, wrap it in several layers of bubble wrap, then in foam. Tape the wrapping so it does not come undone. Place the pieces in a rigid box, and first fill the gaps with cardboard, making a partition for every vase or glass. Fill the remaining space completely with soft material, put a towel on top and close the lid. Label the box "Fragile."
Pots, Pans and Glass Lids
Metal cookware rarely gets damaged itself, but it can easily break glass or porcelain. That is why pots are moved separately. Towels, pot holders or kitchen linens fit well inside them. Frying pans, pots, saucepans and kettles can be wrapped in soft fabric or paper. This protects nonstick coatings and enamel from chipping.
Glass lids need special care. Each lid is wrapped in bubble wrap. The handles get extra protection from several layers of paper. Lids are moved only upright. Silverware is simple: cover the points of knives and forks with plain paper, tape them together and put them in a cardboard box or a tote bag.
How to Pack Dishes Without Bubble Wrap
When packing a china set, crystal or old pieces, wrap them additionally in a soft towel, a throw or a blanket. Place them in boxes with rigid walls. Those protect against bumps, and the contents break less often on the way.
Soft linens do the same job inside the box: towels and kitchen textiles can go between pieces and into the empty space, and the dish box then needs less paper. The rule stays the same - each piece wrapped on its own, and no gaps left for anything to move. The same goes for a whole kitchen packed up for a house move in Chicago.
Tell us about your move, and we will put together a quote that includes packing the plates, glasses and serving pieces.
Get a Free Moving QuoteBox Weight and Labels
After packing, clear labels need to be made. Use a marker to label every box clearly. Write what is inside (for example, "fragile," "plates," "cups") and which room the box should go to. This makes unpacking at the new place easier. With a bright marker, draw arrows showing the top and bottom of the box. This makes the movers' job easier, and there is less risk of breaking dishes by turning the box over. Stickers work too.
Such marks help the movers handle the boxes carefully and not set heavy items on top. If you are moving a lot of boxes, write out a detailed plan of where each one goes. That way you find what you need faster after the move. On a Chicago apartment move with stairs, a box marked "kitchen" also tells the crew which room to carry it to.
Before the boxes go into the truck, check once more that the top and bottom marks are there. Try lifting each box. If you hear something shift in a box with glasses, cups or saucers, add padding and foam peanuts into the gaps. Check that the walls and the bottom of the box are intact.
- Boxes that are too big: they get heavy and the contents are at higher risk.
- No cushion on the bottom: every bump goes straight to the dishes.
- Gaps left inside the box: things move and knock against each other.
- Plates in flat stacks: they take the load worse than plates on edge.
- Glass with heavy metal cookware: pots break glass and porcelain.
- Saving on packing material: these mistakes are what most often cause cracks and chips.
Loading the Truck
When carrying boxes, support the bottom, so they are less likely to open. Boxes with dishes are best kept away from boxes of heavy things. Load the dish boxes so they cannot move. Put heavier boxes on the bottom and lighter ones on top. Make sure the boxes are secured and cannot tip over.
When loading, boxes can be arranged by the order in which they will be unloaded at the new place. A list like our moving day checklist for Chicago renters helps keep that order. In cold weather, read our tips for a Chicago winter move too. If the kitchen will not go straight into the new place, dish boxes packed this way can wait in short-term storage between two homes.
Unpacking: Check for Chips Before the Paper Goes Out
Be careful when unloading. Take out the boxes marked "fragile" first. Check every piece of the dishes for damage right after unloading, before the packing paper is thrown out - small pieces such as lids or saucers are easy to lose in it.
Packing dishes for a move takes care, the right materials and a few simple rules. Every plate, glass or cup has to be protected separately, and the free space in the boxes filled with cushioning material. This approach helps avoid damage even on a long drive. If you are still deciding who does the work, see what Chicago movers recommend about packing, or look at our packing and unpacking service for the kitchen.
