Small boxes protect breakables better than big ones
A large carton full of dishes becomes too heavy to carry level, and that is when things crack. Use small or medium boxes, ideally dish-pack or double-wall cartons, and keep each one light enough to lift comfortably.
Reinforce the bottom seam with an extra strip of tape across and along it. Then crumple several sheets of paper into a soft layer two or three inches deep before anything goes in.
Plain packing paper beats newspaper and bubble wrap alone
Unprinted packing paper is clean, soft and easy to crumple into gaps, and it does not leave ink on your dishes. Bubble wrap is useful for awkward shapes and the most delicate pieces, but used alone it lets items slide against each other.
Towels, linens and soft clothing make good extra padding and save space at the same time. Just avoid wrapping glass in anything you will need on the first night.
| Item | How to wrap it | How to place it |
|---|---|---|
| Dinner plates | Each one in two sheets of paper | On edge, standing upright in a row |
| Drinking glasses | Paper stuffed inside, then wrapped | Rim-down, lightest layer on top |
| Stemware | Extra wrap around the stem first | In a cell divider insert if you have one |
| Framed art and mirrors | Corner protectors plus a blanket or foam | Standing on edge, never flat |
| Lamps | Shade packed separately, bulb removed | Base wrapped and padded in its own box |
Step by step
- Gather the right supplies
Small double-wall boxes, plenty of unprinted packing paper, tape, bubble wrap for odd shapes, and a marker.
- Build a soft base
Crumple paper into a thick cushion in the bottom of every box.
- Wrap each item on its own
No two pieces of glass should touch. Wrap, then wrap again for the most delicate.
- Load heavy to light
Put plates and bowls low, glasses and small items on top.
- Fill every gap
Stuff paper into corners and between pieces, then do the shake test.
- Seal and mark
Add a top cushion, tape well, and label FRAGILE with the room and an up arrow.
The shake test tells you whether a box is ready
Before sealing, close the flaps and give the box a gentle shake. If you hear clinking or feel anything slide, open it and add more crumpled paper until the contents are snug.
A full box with no movement is what keeps fragile items whole, far more than any special material. Top it with another soft layer before taping.
Desert heat changes what should ride on the truck
In a Las Vegas summer move, a closed truck can reach temperatures that soften candles, warp vinyl records and stress old photographs. Keep candles, records, framed photos and anything with glued joints in your air-conditioned car when possible.
Wine and spirits are also better off traveling with you, since heat can spoil wine quickly. If you are relocating in the hot months, our guide to moving in summer in Las Vegas covers timing and heat-sensitive belongings in more detail.
Label fragile boxes so they get unpacked first and carefully
Write FRAGILE and draw an arrow for this side up on at least three sides, along with the room the box belongs in. Movers stack and handle boxes by what they can see.
Keep fragile boxes together on your box list so they can be opened promptly and checked. If something did break, you will want to know while the moving company is still reachable. Our tips on how to label moving boxes make this simple.
