How To Pack a Kitchen for Moving: Tips For Different Items
When packing, it’s simple to pack rooms with a few straightforward categories: bedrooms have clothes and furniture, bathrooms have linens and toiletries. The kitchen is a little different, filled with items like glassware, knives, and appliances, which all need unique packing methods to prevent damage and maintain safety.
Properly sorting your dishes and pans into boxes is a little daunting, but all you need is a plan and a few supplies. Learn how to pack a kitchen for moving with tips for specific pieces, from plates and bowls to large appliances.
If you prefer to leave the work to the pros, reach out to College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving. Our teams bring all the right materials, pack carefully, and transport your belongings from start to finish—so you don't have to lift a heavy box of cast iron skillets into a rental truck.
When To Start Packing a Kitchen for a Move
You’ll use your kitchen up until moving day, so it makes sense to pack it in stages: Secure non-essentials first, and prep items you use daily last. Packing everything early means cutting open a box to make dinner or brew coffee.
Three to four weeks before your move, start with the items you don’t often use, like specialty kitchen appliances, holiday glassware, and extra sets of dishes. About two weeks out, stop restocking the freezer and use what’s left inside to try and empty it out. Moving crews won’t handle food, so this gives you time to clear out frozen pizzas and ice cream to avoid throwing them away.
Spend the last two days packing everyday items, like plates, glasses, and cutlery, and daily appliances like coffee machines and toasters.
Pro tip: Leave a few basics unpacked just in case you need to cook one last meal before the big move. This might be a few plates, cups, and utensils.
Packing The Kitchen: Supplies You'll Need
Gather your supplies before you begin packing. A few starting items include:
Small, thick boxes for dense items like canned goods and small appliances
- Medium-size boxes for lighter items, like dish towels, food storage containers, and plastic cups
- Dish pack boxes and cell kits for glassware and ceramics
- Packing paper for wrapping breakables and filling gaps inside boxes
- Bubble wrap for added protection to delicate pieces, like stemware
- Packing tape for sealing and reinforcing boxes
- Permanent markers to label every box by room and item type
One of our favorite kitchen packing tips is using dish towels and oven mitts as padding. You need to pack them anyway, and they add extra cushioning and help you use fewer packing materials.
The Best Way To Pack Kitchen Items: Dishes, Glasses, Cookware, and Knives
Here are the top ways to pack kitchen basics, from fragile dishes to sharp knives.
Plates and Bowls
First, face each plate down on a sheet of packing paper and fold the corners toward the center of the dish to enclose it. Then, secure the paper’s edges with a piece of tape (be careful not to get adhesive on the plate’s surface).
Pack plates on their sides rather than stacking them flat. Stand each one vertically in a strong cardboard box, grouping them by size. Bowls go in one at a time with padding nestled between each. Fill any extra space with packing paper until nothing shifts when you gently tilt the box. Then, use a permanent marker and mark the box with “Fragile” and “This Side Up ↑” on at least two sides.
Glasses and Stemware
Crumple up a piece of packing paper into a ball and stuff it into each glass before wrapping the outside—this makes the glass more resistant to outside pressure. To wrap a glass, roll it diagonally in a full sheet and tuck the paper’s ends inside the cup. For wine glasses, secure bubble wrap around the stem. Then, stand the piece upright in a divided box. Don’t lay glasses on their sides, where the rim would hold all of the weight above.
Pots, Pans, and Lids
Wrap cast iron cookware completely, including handles, in paper or kitchen towels. This protects the pan and safeguards surrounding items—iron skillet handles are tough enough to punch through some boxes. Bundle the lids separately.
Any nonstick pots and pans should have at least a single layer of paper between them to prevent damage to the delicate surface. Fill in empty spaces inside the box with extra packing paper to prevent shifting.
Keep boxes containing cast iron small. Compact boxes distribute the weight, which prevents cookware from breaking through and makes them easier to carry. Don’t forget to reinforce the bottom seam with extra tape before lifting.
Knives and Utensils
Fold and secure a piece of cardboard around your kitchen knife with a piece of tape. Never place an uncovered knife inside a moving box to prevent sharp edges poking through. Once every knife is bundled safely, pack them flat with the blades pointing in the same direction. On the outside of the box, use your permanent marker to label it as “Sharp” so people lift it carefully.
As for utensils, bundle them by type and wrap them in towels. Keep them away from ceramics—even one loose fork is heavy enough to chip a plate in transit.
How To Pack Kitchen Items for Moving: Small and Large Appliances
Kitchen appliances seem slightly more challenging to pack due to their bulk and shape. Some appliances also require professional help to safely disconnect. Let’s see what you can handle yourself, and what you should leave to the pros.
Small Appliances
If you still have the original box to your favorite small kitchen appliance, go ahead and pack it in that. If not, use a medium box with heavy padding. Make sure the appliance is clean and dry, and if it comes apart, disassemble it. Wrap each piece separately in paper or bubble wrap, but store everything in a single, labeled box so nothing goes missing along the way.
Large Appliances
Prep your large appliances for moving. Empty, defrost, and clean freezers and refrigerators 24 to 48 hours before moving day. If your fridge is attached to a water line, call a plumber to disconnect it.
You’ll also need a professional to detach the gas line from your oven. But there are a few things you can handle yourself: Clean the appliance, remove the racks, and secure the door shut with stretch wrap.
After the experts disconnect the water and gas lines, large appliances can still be a bit daunting. But with companies like College HUNKS, you’ll never have to face a move alone. Our full-service moving and hourly labor services handle packing, loading, and unloading. Save time and muscle strain by leaving the tricky work to our trained, licensed teams.
Pantry Items and Your First-Night Box
You don’t need to pack your entire pantry. Use the last week or two before your move to eat through frozen and pantry foods to lighten the load. Fewer items to pack means fewer heavy boxes and less food that could spoil during the move. If you can’t eat every can of corn and green beans, consider donating shelf-stable items to a local organization.
As for your first night at the new home, a single box of staples should suffice. Pack one box with essentials like plates and utensils, and be sure it has supplies like dish soap, paper towels, and coffee filters. Label it clearly on at least two sides, and load it into the moving truck last—then it’ll be the first box you unload.
Pack Your Kitchen With Confidence
Knowing how to pack a kitchen takes careful planning, but the extra elbow grease protects your dishes from breaking and your knives from poking through boxes. Start early, pack in stages, and before you know it, your kitchen will be ready to go.
If you’d rather leave the packing and heavy lifting to the professionals, call College HUNKS for a free estimate. We offer full-service moving to help make the big day easier, whether you’re moving across town or across the country.
Call today for a personalized quote, and make your first step toward a stress-free move.
FAQ
What's the Best Way to Pack Dishes So They Don't Break?
To ensure your dishes don’t break at the first bump, wrap each piece separately, then stand the plates on their side. Reinforce the box’s bottom with tape at the seam, and cushion the interior with crumpled paper to fill the gaps.
How Do I Pack Kitchen Appliances for a Move?
Clean and dry each appliance before packing it. Remove detachable parts, wrap them separately, and place them in a compact box—use the original box if possible.
What Order Should I Pack My Kitchen In?
Pack the least used items, like specialty appliances or holiday-themed dishes for family gatherings, three to four weeks before moving day. In the final week, pack pantry goods and most dishes and cookware. Then, in the final two days, pack your daily dishes and flatware.