You’ve made it to moving day… but will your favourite wine glasses survive it?
Picture this: you finally reach your new home, kick off your shoes, open the first kitchen box ready for a much-needed cuppa… and are greeted by a glittering pile of broken glass where your best mugs used to be.
Heart-sinking, right?
The thing is, most breakages aren’t “one of those things”. They’re caused by rushed, last-minute packing, flimsy old boxes, and fragile items left to rattle around with everything else. Change that, and you massively cut the risk of anything getting chipped, cracked or smashed on the way to your new place.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to pack fragile items like a professional removals team: what materials you actually need (and what you don’t), how to wrap and box different items properly, how to label and stack your boxes, and when it’s worth letting experts like Reliable Removals take the stress (and the bubble wrap) off your hands.
Why do fragile items get broken during a house move
Understanding how things break helps you stop it from happening:
- Movement inside the box – items knocking into each other or the sides of the carton is the number one culprit.
- Stacking pressure – a big, heavy box of books on top of a half-empty box of glasses = crushed contents.
- Weak or reused boxes – old, flimsy cartons can buckle or split under pressure.
- Poor labelling – if a box doesn’t clearly shout ‘FRAGILE/THIS WAY UP’ or isn’t marked with fragile stickers, it’ll be treated like any other box.
Your job when packing fragile items is to create a rigid “shell” (strong box) with a cushioned interior where nothing can move, rattle or take the weight of anything else.
Step 1: Gather the right packing materials
Before you start wrapping a single wine glass, get your kit together. Professional removal crews always turn up with more materials than they think they’ll need, and you should too.
Essential materials for fragile items
- Double-walled moving boxes in small and medium sizes (easier to carry and less likely to collapse than huge boxes).
- High-quality packing tape – wide, strong tape that will stay put.
- Packing paper – clean, ink-free paper is ideal. Newspaper works but can transfer ink.
- Bubble wrap or padded wrap – especially for glass, ceramics and electronics.
- Cardboard off-cuts – to create cardboard dividers or protect flat surfaces like TV screens and mirrors.
- Foam or rubber corner protectors – perfect for framed pictures, mirrors and furniture edges.
- Stretch wrap/cling film – handy to keep small bundles together and protect leak-prone lids.
- Zip-lock bags – for screws, fixings and small parts.
- Permanent markers and labels – so you can clearly mark boxes with room + contents + FRAGILE.
- Soft items for extra padding – towels, bedding and jumpers can double up as cushioning.
If you’re trying to be more sustainable, couriers often recommend reusing spare cardboard boxes and scrunched paper as gap-fill instead of buying everything new.
Step 2: Golden rules for packing any fragile item
Whatever you’re packing, glasses, tech, ornaments, antiques, these rules will help you pack fragile items carefully and avoid unnecessary breakages:
- Use small or medium boxes
Big boxes get overfilled and too heavy. Keep fragile items in compact cartons so they’re easier to handle. - Line the bottom of every box
Add a thick layer of scrunched tissue paper or bubble wrap to absorb shocks from below. - Wrap each item individually
Think of every box as a fragile parcel, and don’t let bare surfaces touch. - Fill all empty space
If you can hear things rattling when you gently shake the box, add more padding. - Heavier at the bottom, lighter at the top
Put sturdy items at the base and delicate objects above them in layers. - Never overpack
A bulging box is a weak box. The lid should close flat without forcing it. - Seal all seams with tape
Tape along all edges and openings, not just the centre seam. - Label clearly – on multiple sides
Mark each box with:
Room (e.g. Kitchen)
Contents (e.g. Glasses & Mugs)
Handling (e.g. FRAGILE, THIS WAY UP)
Step 3: Room-by-room guide to packing fragile items
Kitchen: glasses, plates, mugs & china
The kitchen is usually the most fragile-heavy room in the house, so take your time here.
Glasses & stemware
- Line the base of a small box with a deep layer of scrunched paper.
- Stuff each glass with packing paper, then wrap the outside, twisting at the stem.
- For wine glasses, add an extra layer of bubble wrap around the bowl and stem.
- Place glasses upright in rows, like in a dishwasher, not lying on their sides.
- Fill gaps with more paper so nothing can move.
- Finish with a padded layer on top before closing the box.
Plates & bowls
- Wrap each plate individually in paper, then stack them on their edges, like records, not flat, they’re stronger that way.
- Put a thick cushioning layer at the bottom, then a row of plates, more padding, then another row.
- Bowls can be nested: paper between each, then the whole stack wrapped again.
Mugs & odd-shaped items
- Stuff handles and interiors with paper, then wrap the whole mug.
- Place them upright and tightly packed with plenty of padding between.
Kitchen packing checklist
- Enough small/medium boxes
- Glasses wrapped individually & upright
- Plates standing on edge with padding
- No item touching bare cardboard
Living room: pictures, mirrors, ornaments & vases
Pictures, artwork & mirrors
- Put cardboard sheets or corner protectors on each corner.
- Wrap the whole piece in bubble wrap, taping it securely.
- For pieces of a similar size, stack them together with glass surfaces facing inwards towards each other.
- Place in a specially sized picture box if you have one, or a flat carton lined with padding.
- Mark the box FRAGILE, GLASS, THIS WAY UP.
Vases & decorative glass
- Fill the inside of each vase with rolled paper or fabric, so it can’t collapse if pressure is applied.
- Wrap the outside in bubble wrap and tape.
- Stand vases upright in a box and wedge them in place with towels you’re moving anyway.
Ornaments & collectibles
- Wrap each ornament individually; for very delicate items, double-wrap.
- Pack heavier ornaments at the bottom of the box and lighter, more delicate ones above.
- Use plenty of filler (crumpled packing paper, packing peanuts, soft fabrics) so nothing can roll or slide.
Bedrooms & lamps
Lamps
Lamps combine an awkward shape with fragile parts.
- Remove bulbs and shades first.
- Wrap lampshades lightly in paper and place them in their own box so they can’t be crushed.
- Wrap the base and stem with bubble wrap and secure cords so they don’t catch.
- Pack lamps upright and label the box clearly.
Mirrors & dressing table items
- Treat mirrors like small pictures: protect corners, wrap securely, and pack upright.
- Perfume bottles and make-up palettes should be securely wrapped individually and packed tightly in a small box.
- For anything with a liquid lid (lotions, perfumes), add a layer of cling film over the opening before putting the lid back on to minimise leaks.
Home office & electronics
Computers & laptops
- If you still have the original packaging, use it.
- For tower PCs, it’s safer to keep them upright.
- Wrap towers in bubble wrap and place them in a snug box with plenty of padding.
TVs & monitors
- Protect the screen with a piece of cardboard, then wrap the whole unit in bubble wrap.
- Pack TVs upright, never flat.
- Remove stands if possible and label cables.
- Put all leads, brackets and the remote in a labelled bag taped to the back or packed in the same box.
Step 4: Labelling, loading & protecting fragile boxes on moving day
Packing well is half the battle; how boxes are handled and stacked in the van matters just as much.
Labelling best practice
- Write ROOM + CONTENTS + “FRAGILE” on at least two sides and the top.
- Use arrows and “THIS WAY UP” for items that must stay upright.
- Consider colour-coding labels by room to make unloading and unpacking easier.
Where fragile boxes should go in the van
- Fragile boxes should never be at the bottom of a stack.
- Place them:
On top of heavier, sturdier boxes
Towards the front or sides of the van, where they can be strapped in
Away from loose items that might topple
For longer journeys, it’s also worth slipping a note inside each fragile box with your name, new address and phone number, useful if labels come off in transit.
Common fragile-packing mistakes to avoid
Even with the best intentions, these mistakes can undo your hard work:
- Leaving it all to the night before
Rushing means corners get cut, boxes aren’t padded properly, and labels are forgotten. - Using “mystery” boxes from the supermarket
Old boxes may be weakened by moisture or previous use. - Putting mixed heavy and fragile items together
A cast-iron pan in the same box as your best china is asking for trouble. - Half-empty boxes
Any void space invites movement. - Random labelling
“Bits & bobs” won’t help your movers prioritise careful handling.
When it’s worth letting professionals pack your fragile items
Sometimes, doing it all yourself just isn’t realistic, and that’s exactly why professional packing services exist.
It’s especially worth considering a packing service if:
- You’ve got limited time between exchange and completion
- You’re moving from a large property or have lots of belongings
- You own sentimental or high-value items (artwork, antiques, collections)
- You’re dealing with mobility or health issues
- You simply don’t want weeks of evenings spent surrounded by half-packed boxes
Reliable Removals shares a real example: a customer in Westcliff had just one week between exchange and completion. A two-person packing crew arrived the day before the move and packed around 80 boxes by 4pm, leaving only essentials like the kettle for her to use overnight.
For her, professional packing turned an impossible job into a calm, organised move.
The Reliable Difference: Let the Experts Protect Your Fragile Items
Imagine this instead of chaos: the day before your move, a friendly team arrives with all the boxes, paper and bubble wrap. By late afternoon, every glass, plate, ornament and picture is safely packed and labelled. You go to bed in a tidy home, wake up, hand over the keys, and that’s it.
If you’re moving in Essex or the surrounding areas and the thought of packing your fragile possessions fills you with dread, Reliable Removals can take the whole job off your hands.
Full or Part Packing Service – You Stay in Control
Reliable Removals offer a dedicated Home Packing Service with options to suit different homes, timescales and budgets:
Full packing service – perfect if you just want it done:
Their trained packers carefully pack all household contents, including:
- China, glass and kitchenware
- Mirrors, pictures and artwork
- Antiques and ornaments
- Clothes, books and everyday items
Part packing service – ideal if you want to share the load:
Great if you’re happy to box up simple items yourself but want professionals to handle the delicate or awkward bits, such as:
- Fragile, awkward or valuable items
- Specific rooms (often the kitchen and living room)
Their crews are regularly trained in the art of packing and use quality materials chosen to protect fragile and valuable items in transit, including specialist wraps and techniques for antiques, artwork and electronics.
Tailored to Your Move
No two moves are the same. Reliable Removals creates personalised packing plans based on:
- What you’re moving (and what you’re most worried about)
- How much time do you have before moving day
- Whether you want everything packed, or just the trickiest items
They operate across Basildon, Wickford, Chelmsford, Brentwood, Southend, Rayleigh, Witham, Colchester and many more local areas, with a reputation built over decades of helping families move home.
How It Works – Step by Step
- Get in touch for a quote
Use the quick online form or call the office to talk through your move, your fragile items and the level of help you’d like. - Choose your packing level
Decide between full or part packing, and flag any especially delicate or high-value pieces so they can plan extra protection. - Packing day
A professional packing team arrives (often the day before completion), brings all packaging materials, and systematically packs your home, leaving you with only your chosen overnight essentials. - Move & unload
On move day, the removals team load your clearly labelled boxes, transport everything safely and place boxes in the correct rooms at your new home.
The result? No weeks of living with half-packed cupboards, no guessing which box the wine glasses are in, and far less chance of any breakages. Just a smooth move and the confidence that your most fragile things have been treated with care.
Got a moving date in the diary?
Give your glasses, plates and precious keepsakes the best chance of arriving in one piece. Get in touch with Reliable Removals today for a home packing and removals quote and let the experts handle the hard part for you.
