How to Pack a Kitchen for Moving: A Room-by-Room Pro Guide

Why the Kitchen Is the Hardest Room

The kitchen combines fragile items, heavy items, awkward shapes, and the most individual pieces of any room in your home. Packing it properly prevents broken dishes and saves hours of frustration. Here's how the pros do it.

Gather the Right Supplies

• Dish pack boxes (double-walled, extra sturdy)
• Packing paper (lots of it — more than you think)
• Bubble wrap for stemware and delicate items
• Small boxes for heavy items like canned goods
• Cell dividers for glasses and stemware

Dishes: The Vertical Method

Wrap each plate individually in packing paper, then stack them vertically (on edge) in a dish pack box — like records in a crate. Plates are far stronger on edge than lying flat. Cushion the bottom and top with crumpled paper.

Glasses and Stemware

Use cell dividers. Wrap each glass in paper, stuff the inside with paper, and place in individual cells. Stemware should go in a dedicated box, never stacked.

Pots, Pans, and Bakeware

Nest pots inside each other with paper between them. Pack lids on edge alongside. These are durable, so they can fill the heavier bottom layers of boxes.

Small Appliances

• If you have the original boxes, use them
• Remove detachable parts and pack separately
• Secure cords with twist ties
• Wrap in bubble wrap or moving blankets

Pantry and Food

• Pack canned and boxed goods in small boxes (they get heavy fast)
• Seal open items in plastic bags to prevent spills
• Toss expired items and donate what you won't move
• Don't pack perishables — use them up or give them away

Pro Tips

• Label "FRAGILE" and "THIS SIDE UP" on all dish and glass boxes
• Don't overpack. A box you can't lift comfortably is too heavy and likely to break
• Pack a "first night" kitchen box — coffee maker, a few dishes, utensils, a pan

Let Us Pack It for You

Packing a kitchen takes hours. Our professional packing service does it fast and safely. Get a quote that includes full or partial packing.