Dinner plates, side plates and saucers – we all have them, and they are frequently used household items, usually making up part of a set, therefore we want to make sure that during the moving and/or storing process, they remain intact.
Whether you’re moving locally or nationally, taking time to pack your crockery properly can be the difference between opening a box of intact dinnerware or one full of shattered china. Here’s a step-by-step guide how to pack plates for moving both safely and efficiently.
1.Gather Your Packing Supplies
The right materials will protect your items and make packing easier:
- Sturdy moving boxes (double-walled for extra strength)
- Packing paper or unprinted newsprint (avoid printed newspaper as the ink can transfer)
- Packing tape to secure the boxes
- Fragile Tape to mark the boxes
- Marker pens for clear labelling
2.Prep Your Boxes
When packing crockery, use no larger than a medium sized box as plates can be heavy therefore you want to make sure the box can be lifted and carried safely by one person. Due to both the weight and fragility of plates, reinforce the base of each box using the `SSS` method. Fold the flaps in and Seal with packing tape, then Strengthen the box with more tape along the openings. Finally, Secure the box by taping all the way around the bottom of the box as this locks the ‘seal and strengthen’ tape in place. Add a cushion of scrunched packing paper at the bottom of the box.
3.Wrap Each Item Individually
This is the most important step. Lay your ream of packing paper on a flat surface, place the plate near the corner, using TWO sheets of paper, take the corner and fold over so that it reaches the centre of the plate, then fold over the paper from the right, then from the left and fold the plate over diagonally, tucking in the edges as you go – we call this the Fish and Chip method (as it looks and feels as if you are wrapping a portion of chips).
4.Pack From Heavy to Light
When placing plates in the box, stand them VERTICALLY. The centre of the plate is the weakest area so if you placed them horizontally, the weight bearing down from those items stacked and packed above it could result in the plate breaking during the move. Stack the plates closely together and fill any gaps with crumpled packing paper to prevent movement.
5.Fill and Cushion
Once all plates are packed into the box, fill every remaining gap—top, sides, and between items—with packing paper. This is a key step in the packing process as a snug fit stops items from shifting during the move. Remember, ‘less movement = less risk of damage’
6.Seal and Label
Close the box and seal the top flaps then, using tape marked FRAGILE, tape from the side, over and across the top of the box and down the other side. Do this twice (with equal spacing), as not only does this highlight that the box is fragile but it also holds the top flaps together tightly, Use a marker to clearly label “CROCKERY” and draw arrows pointing upwards. This alerts anyone handling the box to take extra care and keep it the right way up.
7.Moving Day Tips
Transport fragile boxes upright.
When stacking crockery boxes in a transport vehicle and place them mid-level to avoid the immediate vibration of the vehicle floor when moving. (Only stack if you have used double-walled boxes).
Also, during the vehicle loading process, boxes stacked on top are usually moved/handled several times more than those stacked lower down, due to frequent space saving re-configurations, however crockery boxes should have minimal handling, so load mid-level to avoid both issues.
Label the boxes with the room they need to be placed in at your new home for quick and easy unloading.
Final Takeaway
It’s hard to replace just one or two damaged plates from a dinner set, so packing correctly is vital.
Packing crockery or glassware is all about preparation, patience, and the right supplies. With quality boxes, plenty of packing paper and correct stacking (both inside and outside of the box), you’ll get your crockery from A to B without any damage.
Check out our video on YouTube for more help on packing plates.
