How to pack crockery and glasses for moving
Plates on their edge, glasses upright, every piece wrapped and every gap filled. That's most of it. Here's the step-by-step for plates, bowls, mugs and stemware, plus when it's worth paying someone else to do the kitchen.
Last updated: October 2026 · 4 min read
Written and fact-checked by the Removly editorial team · How we research prices
What do you need to pack crockery?
Small and medium boxes, double-walled if you can get them, plus plain packing paper, some bubble wrap, strong tape and a thick marker. That's the whole kit.
Box size matters more than people expect. Crockery is heavy for its size, so a large box of plates becomes too heavy to carry and too heavy for its own base. Our guide to moving boxes covers which sizes to buy and where.
Skip newspaper as a wrap — the ink can rub off on glazed china. It's fine scrunched up as gap filler, where it never touches a plate.
How do you pack plates for moving?
Start by padding the bottom of the box with crumpled paper or bubble wrap. That layer takes the bump every time the box is put down.
Wrap each plate on its own, folding the paper in from the corners. Then stand the plates on their edge, side by side, like records in a crate. Don't stack them flat: the bottom plate ends up carrying the weight of the whole pile.
Big serving plates and platters go in first, at the back. Smaller side plates fill in towards the front.
How do you pack bowls, cups and mugs?
Bowls can nest in small sets, with a sheet of paper between each one, then the set wrapped together. Stand the bundle on its edge, the same way as the plates.
Cups and mugs travel upright. Wrap each one, padding the handle first — it's the bit that snaps. Then set them in a layer on top of the plates, with a sheet of card or a layer of bubble wrap underneath.
Keep the heaviest pieces at the bottom of the box and the lightest at the top. Saucers and small dishes can slot in down the sides.
How do you pack glasses and stemware?
Wrap every glass separately, and push a little scrunched paper inside it before you wrap the outside. For wine glasses, wrap the stem first, then the bowl, then the whole glass.
Pack glasses upright, not upside down. The rim is the thinnest, weakest part of a glass, so standing it on its rim puts every bump straight through it.
Cardboard dividers make a real difference for stemware. Bottle boxes from an off-licence often come with them already fitted. Without dividers, stand the glasses in layers with card between them.
How do you stop crockery moving in the box?
Fill every gap with crumpled paper until nothing moves. Close the lid and give the box a gentle shake: if you hear anything shift or chink, open it and add more.
Leave a cushion of paper on top before sealing, and tape the box in an H — along the centre seam and across both ends — top and bottom.
Write FRAGILE on every side, with the room it's going to and an arrow showing which way up. A crew can't treat a box with care if they can't tell it needs it.
When is it worth paying for packing?
The kitchen is often the slowest room to pack well. If it's the part you dread, you don't have to hand over the whole house.
Some firms offer a fragile-only or kitchen-only packing service; ask whether boxes and paper are included. Ask for it as its own line on the quote, so you can see what it adds before you decide.
Want a rough figure for the whole move first? Our removal costs calculator lets you add packing and see the difference.
Packing crockery FAQs
Should plates be packed flat or on their edge?
On their edge, like records in a crate. A plate standing upright takes a knock across its strongest line; a flat stack puts the weight of every plate on the one at the bottom. Wrap each plate first, and pad the base of the box before the first one goes in.
Should glasses be packed upside down?
No — pack them upright. The rim is the thinnest, weakest part of a glass, so standing it on its rim puts the bump of every pothole straight through it. Wrap each glass separately and stand them in layers with card or paper between.
Can I use newspaper to wrap crockery?
You can, but newsprint ink can rub off onto glazed and painted china, so you may be washing everything after the move. Plain packing paper costs little and saves the washing-up. Newspaper is fine scrunched up as gap filler, where it never touches a plate.
What size box is best for crockery?
Small or medium, and double-walled if you can get them. Crockery is heavy for its size, so a large box of plates becomes too heavy to lift safely and too heavy for its own base. Keep the heavy pieces low and the light ones on top.
Is it worth paying someone to pack the kitchen?
Often, if it's the only part you dread. Some removal firms will pack just the fragiles or just the kitchen, which is often the room that takes longest to pack well. Ask for it as a separate line on your quote so you can see what it adds.
Method checked against packing guidance from UK removal firms Burke Bros and Purdie Worldwide (October 2026).