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Posted on Friday, 12th June 2026 | Posted in how to pack fragile items for moving , how to pack delicate items for moving , how to pack fragile items , how to pack fragile items without bubble wrap , how to pack breakable items
Moving house is exciting, but packing up your fragile items? Less so. Here's how to pack them safely and get them to your new home in one piece.
Moving house is the start of an exciting new chapter, until you realise just how many fragile items you own. With the right materials and this step-by-step guide, we’ll help you pack your most precious belongings so you can get everything to your new home in one piece.
Need a place to store items during a move, or just a bit more room at home for your packing? We’ve got the perfect short-term and long-term flexible storage options to meet your every need.
Before you start wrapping everything in sight, it's worth having a good sort out first (we won't judge the sheer number of mugs) – sell, donate or recycle anything that doesn't need to come to your new house.
Save yourself the trip out to the shops on moving day, and make sure you have these to hand before you start packing your breakables:
· Sturdy or double-walled cardboard boxes
· Packing paper and bubble wrap
· Heavy-duty packing tape
· Cardboard dividers or inserts for glasses
· Household linens like tea towels, bath towels or blankets
We’ve got moving supplies and more at our in-store shops, so you can drop off your belongings and stock up on Sellotape all at the same time.
Start strong with a solid box. Before anything goes in, reinforce the bottom of each box with a few strips of heavy-duty tape in both directions. Then create a paper or bubble wrap bird’s nest at the bottom to absorb any jolts that’ll happen in transit.
Every single fragile item should be wrapped on its own. Start with a layer of packing paper, then add an outer layer of bubble wrap for anything particularly delicate. Make sure you don’t forget any lids, handles or loose parts – those need to be wrapped up separately too.
Always place your heavier, fragile items at the bottom of the box and work upwards with lighter, more delicate pieces on top. It sounds obvious, but it’s easy to forget when you’re on your tenth box of the day and just want to put your feet up.
Items like vases and jugs are especially vulnerable to breakage when you’re moving. Stuff crumpled newspaper or packing paper inside before you wrap the outside. This is also a great tip for keeping mugs and bowls safe.
This is the big one – most moving breakages actually happen from items inside the boxes shifting and knocking against each other on the journey. Make sure to fill every gap you can between items and along the sides of the box with newspaper, bubble wrap or spare tea towels until nothing moves when you give the box a gentle shake.
Vlatka Lake, storage expert at Space Station, says: “Labelling boxes properly is always worth it when it comes to your most fragile belongings. As well as marking a box “FRAGILE”, you should also add “THIS WAY UP” arrows to help your movers. A quick description like “Kitchen – Glasses” on boxes too makes unpacking so much easier.
Some fragile items need a bit of extra thought when it comes to packing. Here’s how to tackle the trickiest ones:
You might be surprised by this, but plates should actually be packed vertically, not flat in stacks. Stacking them on top of each other puts more pressure on each plate and increases the risk of cracking, so instead, wrap each one individually and stand them upright.
For everyday glasses, use the “burrito method”; lay a sheet of packing paper or bubble wrap flat, place the glass at one corner and roll it across, tucking the paper into the glass as you go. For wine glasses, to protect the most fragile part, you should wrap the stem first before wrapping the whole glass.
Better still, use dividers or inserts to keep each glass safe and snug in its own compartment. For more in-depth advice, we’ve got a whole blog on how to pack glassware properly.
If you’ve still got the packaging your electronics came in, this is the best option for protecting more delicate screens. If not, wrap any screens and monitors in anti-static bubble wrap and then again with a towel or blanket. To keep it extra safe, it’s better to move your delicate electronics just in your car, rather than loading them into the van.
Discover how to safely store other fragile and delicate items like your vinyl collection or prized red wine on our blog that’s jam-packed with expert storage advice.
It’s not a house move without a bit of stress, but you can make life a little easier for yourself by avoiding these packing mistakes:
· Using boxes that are too big – Large boxes are tempting because you can fit more in, but that also means there’s more space for fragile items to rattle around in, and the box is too heavy to carry.
· Not reinforcing the bottom – Double up on tape in both directions, the last thing you want is a box giving way halfway down the driveway.
· Leaving gaps unfilled – If in doubt, add more padding.
· Packing at the last minute – Packing always takes longer than you think, so give yourself plenty of time.
· Not checking your insurance – Check that your contents insurance covers any breakages that might happen in transit before it’s too late.
If you’ve run out of bubble wrap mid-move or maybe you’re trying to be more sustainable, there are plenty of alternatives you can find around the house. Towels, tea towels and blankets all work well to add a good layer of cushioning.
You can even use newspaper, packing paper or even spare jumpers and t-shirts to wrap individual fragile items. Or you could pop into your nearest Space Station location and grab some extra bubble wrap in-store, so you can crack on with the house move.
Everyone has their own timelines when it comes to moving house, but to make sure you give yourself enough time, you should try starting to pack at least a month before moving day. Start with the rooms you use least, like the spare room or the loft, and any items you won’t need before the move.
If you need some extra breathing room whilst you’re packing, why not drop some boxes off with us? With our flexible short-term storage, we can keep your boxes secure and out of the way until you’re ready to grab them.
