Books are the heaviest thing per box in most homes, and the most common cause of a blown-out carton or a strained back. The trick is small boxes and a little technique.
Use small boxes for books — never large ones. A big box of books becomes too heavy to lift safely and will often split at the bottom. Liquor-store and bookstore boxes are ideal: small, thick and built for weight. Keep each box light enough that you can comfortably pick it up.
There are three good methods: lay books flat in stacks (gentlest on bindings, best for hardcovers and valuable books); stand them upright as they'd sit on a shelf, spine against the box wall (never spine-up, which warps the pages); or lay them spine-down. Don't pack books spine-out or fanned. Fill any gaps with packing paper so nothing shifts.
Wrap rare, leather-bound or sentimental books individually in paper, and consider a gallon bag for protection against moisture. Pack them flat, not crammed, and keep them in a box you'll carry yourself. Paperbacks you don't care about can be packed more densely.
A move is the perfect time to thin the collection — books are heavy to move and easy to donate, and LA has plenty of little free libraries and donation spots. Every box you don't pack is weight you don't carry.
Because book boxes are dense and heavy, they go on the bottom of stacks in the truck, never on top of lighter or fragile boxes. Label them by room and "BOOKS — HEAVY" so they're handled accordingly. Our crews load by weight automatically — heavy on the bottom, fragile on top. See where to get free boxes and our full packing guide.
Small boxes only — liquor-store or bookstore boxes are ideal. Large boxes of books get too heavy to lift safely and tend to split at the bottom.
Lay them flat in stacks, or stand them upright with spines against the box wall — never spine-up, which warps pages. Fill gaps with paper and wrap valuable books individually.
Light enough to lift comfortably — generally keep book boxes under about 30–40 lbs. If you can't pick it up easily, it's too heavy and risks splitting.
Both work. Flat stacking is gentlest on bindings and best for hardcovers and valuable books; upright (spine against the wall) is fine for the rest. Avoid packing them spine-up.
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