Fragile items break for the same few reasons every time: not enough cushioning, too much room to shift, or a heavy box on top. Master the basic method and almost anything breakable survives.
Line the bottom of a sturdy box with a few inches of crumpled packing paper or bubble wrap, and finish the same way on top. The contents should never touch the box walls directly — a buffer on every side absorbs the bumps that crack things.
Wrap every fragile piece on its own in paper or bubble wrap, taping it closed. Hollow items (vases, glasses, mugs) get stuffed with paper inside too, so they can't collapse. Don't let two breakables touch — paper between everything.
The enemy is movement. Once items are in, fill all the empty space with paper so nothing can shift, then gently shake the closed box — if you hear or feel movement, add more padding. Pack heaviest fragiles on the bottom, lightest on top.
Use small-to-medium sturdy boxes (dish-pack/double-walled for kitchenware), never oversized ones. Mark every fragile box FRAGILE and THIS SIDE UP on the sides so it's loaded on top and set down gently. Our crews follow your labels and keep fragiles on top — or let our packing service handle them. See dishes & glassware and art & mirrors guides.
Cushion the box top and bottom, wrap each item individually, fill every gap so nothing shifts, and use small sturdy boxes marked FRAGILE and THIS SIDE UP.
Packing paper and bubble wrap. Avoid newspaper (the ink transfers). Towels and linens can add cushioning, but wrap the item in paper or bubble wrap first.
Full enough that nothing moves — fill all gaps with paper and shake-test it. Empty space is what lets items shift and break in transit.
Yes — always on top of tiers, never under heavy boxes, and ideally loaded last so they come off first.
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