How To Pack Dishes and Other Kitchen Items for Moving

When packing for a move, the kitchen in the home can be the most hectic to organize, and for good reasons.

A lot is going on there, from dishes to cookware, cutlery, perishable foods to consider, and even appliances.

Packing tends to get confusing!

What goes where?

What goes together?

How do you even fit some of the oddly shaped utensils together?

Like you, many relocating people have wondered how many boxes are enough! Well, here's where good luck shines on you. 

Let's walk through your kitchen (and pantry), helping you organize and teaching you how to pack dishes for moving like a pro long before any hired hands get to your door!

Needed Supplies for the Move:

• Boxes (small, medium, large)
• Packing paper (enough of it)
• Plastic, cling, and bubble wraps
• Glass dividers/cell kits
• Plastic seal bags
• Kitchen towel/dish towel
• Markers/labels
• Packing/sealing tape

Step 1: Declutter

Like any standard relocation step, removing unnecessary items is helpful. 

For instance, it reduces the total load you have to move with, and it could be an excellent opportunity to make extra cash through yard sales or do some good by gifting.

While it might seem difficult to let go of some old, no longer helpful items, many professional packing services advise this.

Here are some tips to help you identify declutter-worthy items to let go of:

• Damaged items and appliances
• Anything old or outdated
• Expired food products
• Any items you rarely probably don't-use

Step 2: Create An Essentials Box

Set aside dishes and cutlery (depending on your family size), food items, and maybe small appliances like a toaster or coffee maker.

Why are you doing this?

Certain kitchen items will be needed the day before your move and when you arrive at your new place. Instead of sorting through the already-arranged boxes for some of these things, you have them easily accessible.

Note:

Pack as few essential things as you can. You most likely won't need a large box for this.

Considering a Move to a New City?
Let us help you. Call or Text Kenna Real Estate Group at 303-955-4220 to get personalized assistance from our expert real estate agents. Find out what your home is worth in today's market.

Step 3: Packing Instructions

At this point, the actual job begins. Let's guide you through how to pack dishes for moving and all other kitchen items individually.

Dishes

• Line the bottom of your intended dish box with at least a few inches of thick packing paper to form a cushioning layer for the dishes.
• How to wrap dishes for moving? Place a piece of packing paper flat on a table and put a plate in the center. Pull each corner of the paper into the dish to wrap it properly.
• Repeat the process with about four more plates of similar sizes and stack them together.
• After stacking five plates or more (depending on their thickness), place them into your intended box. Turn the stacks horizontally so that the plates rest on the edges.
• Repeat the process for breakable bowls. Place each packing paper on the inside if it isn't big enough to wrap the bowl from outward to inward.
• Keep stacking into the box horizontally until the bottom is covered and the dishes feel sturdy inside (without wriggling about.
• If there's room for more dishes on top, place enough packing paper over the ones below for proper cushioning before stacking again.
• Use bubble wrap to cover the top of the dishes before sealing the box shut with tape.
• Using a marker, write "Fragile" on the box to let the movers know to handle it with care.

Note:

The best way to pack plates for moving is to ensure the total weight of each box holding dishes is at most 45 lbs. 

Glasses and stemware

• Line the bottom of your intended dish box with packing paper to create cushioning.
• Place your glass dividers or cell kits into your medium-sized box to create specific spaces for each item.
• Wrap each glass cup, stem, and handle with packing paper before upright placing them in their individual spaces.
• If there's enough room in each space where individual glassware is, simply add packing paper or bubble wrap to the area to prevent wriggling during transport.
• Use bubble wrap to cover the top of all glass cups and seal the box shut with tape.
• Write "Fragile" on the outside of the box and indicate "This Side Up" with a marker so that movers will know where to place it.

Note:

Never place any item on top of this box. 

Cookware

• Pack pots, pans, and other cookware in graduated sizes. Place smaller cookware of similar shapes inside bigger ones.
• A medium or large-size box is needed. Wrap each pot or pan with packing paper on the inside before placing a smaller one in it.
• For pots or pans with glass lids, wrap them thoroughly with packing paper and place them separately inside the same box or a different small box.
• Add cushioning support inside the box, such as packing paper or bubble wrap, to prevent wriggling during transport.

Note:

Dishes and cookware must never be together inside the same box.

Flatware and serving utensils

• Wrap all flatware in plastic or packing paper and lay it flat inside a box.
• Serving utensils like spoons, forks, and other oddly shaped ones should be together. Group them in sizes and shapes—you may or may not need to wrap them.
• Bundle each grouped utensil tightly using a cling wrap to prevent movement inside the box.
• For knives, use packing paper to wrap each blade individually. Then, wrap the whole bundle using a kitchen or dish towel.

Note:

It would help to lay all knives and forks flat in a box or inside a resealable plastic container, never pointing upwards.

Pantry items

• Prepare a small-sized box for these items.
• Place canned goods and glass jars containing spices or condiments in the box and separate them using packing paper.
• Any pantry item (jars and containers) with liquid elements should be wrapped into plastic seal bags to prevent leaks.
• Place more giant, less-likely-to-break jars at the bottom and work to the top.
• Seal the box and use a marker to indicate the contents.

Note:

Canned goods aren't worth the extra weight needed for your move. Reduce the number of things you have to transport if you can.

Considering a Move to a New City?
Let us help you. Call or Text Kenna Real Estate Group at 303-955-4220 to get personalized assistance from our expert real estate agents. Find out what your home is worth in today's market.

Wine Bottles

• Pack only unopened wine bottles for your move into specialized wine moving boxes or the packs they came with.
• For those with valuable wine collections, consider a separate moving process with expertise in relocating them in the right climate conditions.

Appliances

• Clean and empty all appliances to avoid extra weight.
• If you have the original box for each appliance, place them back in them and move them.
• For smaller appliances without original boxes, get a small-sized box and place them inside.
• Add packing paper or bubble wrap inside the box to prevent them from wriggling around.
• Unplug larger appliances from their sockets, remove any needed hoses, and tape all the doors shut.
• Wrap large appliances in a moving blanket to prevent scratches or easy dents to the item's body.

Note:

It's best to have your appliances ready for the move 24 hours before the time. Call a professional if you need help unplugging or removing hoses in any of the appliances.

Everything Else

The final box can hold cookbooks, mixing bowls, baking trays, dish racks, baking mitts, and any other kitchen extras that aren't fragile.

Storage containers can go together. Place smaller ones inside of bigger containers until fully packed.

Note:

Avoid stacking heavier or larger items over lighter or smaller ones.

Final Words - How to Pack Dishes for Moving

Knowing how to pack dishes for moving is an essential hack that could save you extra dollars from hiring professionals. 

As stressful as organizing the kitchen for a move might seem, you could be all done within 3 - 4 hours with the right guide. After that, give yourself a nice pat on the back!

Remember this rule of thumb for the extra safety of your kitchen items during transport: never stack heavy items over boxes, especially fragile ones.

Happy moving!