# How to Pack Dishes for Moving (Without Breaking Them) *Reviewed by Joey Padgett · Last reviewed September 2026* Most dish breakage during moves comes from two mistakes: not enough wrapping and flat stacking. Fix those two things and your dishes will arrive intact. The short version: wrap each piece individually in packing paper, place them on edge (like records in a crate, not like pancakes in a stack), and fill every void in the box so nothing can shift. --- ## What You Need - Packing paper (unprinted newsprint, sold by the pound) - Dish boxes or standard medium boxes (dish boxes have thicker walls) - Bubble wrap for anything genuinely fragile - Packing tape - Permanent marker Do not use newspaper. The ink transfers. You'll spend your first week in the new place washing black newsprint off dishes. For how much packing paper to buy and where to find it, see [Packing Paper for Moving](/advice/packing/packing-paper). For dish boxes specifically, see [Moving Boxes: Which to Use and How Many](/advice/packing/moving-boxes). --- ## How to Pack Plates 1. Lay 2 to 3 sheets of packing paper flat on a padded surface (the floor works, or a table with a blanket on it). 2. Place one plate in the center, slightly angled at 45 degrees to a corner. 3. Fold one corner of the paper over the plate, then roll the plate across the remaining paper, tucking the sides in as you go. 4. At the end, fold the last corner under and tape loosely if needed. 5. Wrap a second plate the same way, then nest it against the first and wrap both together in one more layer of paper. 6. Continue until you have a bundle of 3 to 4 plates. **Critical step:** Place plates on edge in the box, standing vertically like records, not flat. This distributes force along the stronger edge of the plate rather than across the face. Flat-stacked plates are far more likely to crack. Place crumpled packing paper on the bottom of the box before any dishes go in. Add crumpled paper between each bundle. When the layer is full, add more crumpled paper before the next layer. --- ## How to Pack Bowls Same principle as plates, with one difference: bowls nest naturally. Wrap one bowl, then nest the next inside it, then wrap both together. Two or three nested bowls per bundle. Place bowls on edge the same way you would plates. --- ## How to Pack Glasses and Stemware Glasses are the most likely thing to break in a kitchen move. Stemware (wine glasses, champagne flutes) is even more vulnerable. **Standard glasses:** 1. Place one sheet of packing paper flat. Set the glass on one corner. 2. Roll the glass diagonally across the paper, tucking the ends in as you roll. 3. When the paper is used up, tuck the remaining end inside the opening of the glass. 4. Place glasses upright in the box (not upside down), with paper crumpled between each one. **Stemware:** Same technique, but add a layer of bubble wrap around the stem before wrapping in paper. The stem is the failure point. Pack wine glasses upright with crumpled paper around each one. Never pack them on their sides. If you have a dish box with built-in cardboard dividers, use it for glasses. Each glass gets its own cell and the dividers prevent contact. It's the most reliable method for valuable stemware. --- ## How to Pack Mugs and Cups Mugs are thicker and more resilient than glasses, but handles are vulnerable. Wrap the handle separately with a few extra layers of paper before wrapping the whole mug. Pack upright, not stacked. --- ## How to Pack the Kitchen Box by Box A standard kitchen box should have: - Crumpled paper on the bottom (2 to 3 inches) - First layer of dishes or bowls (on edge, with paper between each bundle) - Crumpled paper filling any gaps and covering the first layer - Second layer if there's space (lighter items on top, never heavy items on top of fragile ones) - Crumpled paper on top to fill the box to the lid - A closed lid that doesn't bow upward (if it does, remove something) The box should feel solid when closed. If you can hear things shifting inside, add more paper. The goal is no movement whatsoever. --- ## What to Do With Odd-Shaped Kitchen Items **Cast iron:** Wrap in paper but pack in small boxes. Cast iron is extremely heavy. A box of cast iron cookware is genuinely difficult to lift and can crush lighter boxes underneath it. **Non-stick pans:** Stack with packing paper between each surface. Non-stick coatings scratch easily. **Mixing bowls:** Nest them, wrap them together, place on edge. **Small appliances:** Wrap in paper, pack upright, stuff voids with packing paper or kitchen towels. If you have original boxes, use them. **Cutting boards:** Stand on edge. They take up less space and are less likely to warp. --- ## Marking and Loading Write "FRAGILE" and "THIS SIDE UP" on at least three sides of every box containing dishes. Write the destination room as well. Load dish boxes into the moving truck last (they come out first) and place them on top of heavier boxes, never underneath. They should not have anything stacked on top of them in the truck. For anything truly irreplaceable, like wedding china or heirloom pieces, consider carrying those items in your own vehicle rather than the moving truck. --- ## Sources - [How to Pack Dishes — U-Haul Packing Tips](https://www.uhaul.com/Tips/Packing/) - [How to Pack Dishes for Moving — HireAHelper](https://www.hireahelper.com/advice/how-to-pack-dishes/) - [Packing Dishes and Glasses — This Old House](https://www.thisoldhouse.com/moving/how-to-pack-dishes) - [How to Pack a Kitchen for Moving — Moving.org](https://www.moving.org/moving-tips/how-to-pack-kitchen/) - [Packing Paper vs. Bubble Wrap — Airtasker](https://www.airtasker.com/us/comparisons/bubble-wrap-vs-packing-paper/)