How to Pack a Kitchen for a Move Without Breaking Anything

The kitchen is the most time-consuming room in the house to pack. It’s full of fragile items, awkward shapes, heavy appliances and things you’ll need right up until moving day. Pack is badly and you’ll end up with broken glasses, chipped plates and a blender that rattles – or worse, a box that gives way under the weight of your cast iron.

Pack it well and you’ll unpack into your new home with everything intact and a setup that makes sense from day one.

Here’s how to do it properly.

Start earlier than you think

Most people underestimate how long the kitchen takes. A standard family kitchen – crockery, cookware, pantry, appliances, untensils – can easily take four to six hours to pack properly. Start at least three to four days before moving day, not the night before.

Begin with the things you use least: the good china, the serving platters, the appliances that only come out at Christmas. Work your way toward the everyday items last, and pack a separate “last night” box with enough to get through your final evening – a pot, a pan, a few plates, some cutlery and the kettle.

Get the right materials

Cutting corners on packing materials in the kitchen is where most breakages happen. What you’ll need:

Double-walled boxes for heavy items like crockery, pots and appliances
Standard boxes for lighter items like pantry goods and tupperware
Packing paper (not newspaper – the ink transfers and stains)
Bubble wrap for glasses, stemware and anything genuinely fragile
Packing tape – more then you think you’ll neep
Marker for labelling every box clearly

Don’t use tea towels or clothing as a substitute for proper wrapping material. It feels resourceful but it doesn’t provide consistent protection, and you’ll end up with damp wrapping from condensation on appliances.

How to pack plates and crockery

Plates are heavier than they look and break more easily than people expect. The key rule: always pack plates vertically, like records in a crate – not stacked flat. Plates packed flat put all the pressure on the one below; packed vertically, the weight distributes evenly and they’re far less likely to crack in transit.

For each plate:

Lay a sheet of packing paper flat and place the plate in the centre
Fold the corners over and wrap snugly
Add a second sheet for anything valuable or delicate
Pack vertically in a double-walled box with crumpled paper filling any gaps

Never leave space in a box for things to shift. If there’s movement, there’s a breakage.

How to pack glasses and stemware

Glasses are the items most likely to arrive broken if packed carelessly. Each glass needs to be individually wrapped – no exceptions, including everyday tumblers.

For standard glasses:

Place a sheet of packing paper on flat surface
Set the glass on its side at on its side at one corner and roll it up in the paper, tucking the ends in as you go
Place upright in the box, never on their sides

For wine glasses and stemware, wrap the stem separately first with a small piece of bubble wrap before wrapping the whole glass in packing paper. Pack them in a dedicated box and label it FRAGILE – GLASSES – THIS SIDE UP on at least two sides.

Line the bottom of the box with a few centimetres of crumpled paper before placing anything in. Add a layer of crumpled paper between each row.

How to pack pots, pans and cookware

Pots and pans are sturdy but they’re also heavy, and improper packing can damage non-stick coating and lids.

Wrap lids separately in packing paper – don’t leave them loose inside the pot
Nest smaller pots inside larger ones with a layer of paper between each to protect surfaces
Pack non-stick pans individually with a sheet of packing paper between each one to prevent scratching
Cast iron should go in its own box at the bottom – never on top of other items

Keep cookware boxes light enough to lift safely. A box full of cast iron is a back injury waiting to happen.

Appliances - what to do before you pack them

Small appliances need a little preparation before they go in a box

Empty and defrost the fridge at least 24 hours before moving day. Wipe it dry to prevent mould and odours
Run the dishwasher one final time and leave the door open to air dry before the move
Clean and dry the toaster, coffee machine, microwave and any other appliances before packing – food residue attracts pests and creates odours in transit
Wrap cords and tape them to the appliance or pack them in a labelled zip-lock bag inside the same box
Use original boxes where you still have them – if not, pack in a snug box with bubble wrap filling the gaps

For larger appliances like the microwave, wrap in bubble wrap and pack in a double-walled box the heaviest side down.

Panty and dry goods

Pantry items are often left to last and packed in a rush. A few things to know:

Check expiry dates before you pack anything – a move is a good opportunity to clear our what you won’t use
Seal everything – open packets should be sealed with tape or transferred to a zip-lock bag before packing. A split bag of flour or rice in a box is a mess that’s hard to clean up
Pack oils and liquids upright and seal lids with tape. Wrap each bottle individually in packing paper and pack them in a box on their own – a single leaking bottle of olive oil can ruin everything around it
Don’t overload pantry boxes – tins are deceptively heavy

Label everything clearly

Every kitchen box should have:

The room it belongs to (KITCHEN)
A brief description of contents (PLATES/GLASSES/PANTRY)
Handling instructions where relevant (FRAGILE, HEAVY, THIS SIDE UP)

Label on the top and at least one side so the label is visible however the box is stacked.

Rather not pack the kitchen yourself?

Packing a kitchen properly takes time, the right materials and a system. If you’d rather hand it over to someone who does it every day, Nova Relocations offers professional packing services in Newcastle and Hunter Region moves. We bring the materials, we do the wrapping and everything arrives at your new home the way you left it.

Get a free quote from Nova Relocations and ask us about packing when you book.