Every moving crew has a story about a badly packed box. The good news: fragile packing is a skill, not luck. Here's exactly how professionals do it — the same method our crews use on every Karachi move.
1. Choose the Right Box, Not Just Any Box
Fragile items belong in small to medium 5-ply cartons — never large ones. A big box that's easy to fill becomes too heavy and gets stacked, which is exactly how glass gets crushed. Dish-pack cartons with internal cell dividers are the gold standard for crockery and glassware.
2. Cushion the Bottom — Really Cushion It
Before the first item goes in, create a 5—6 cm base layer of crumpled packing paper or bubble wrap. This is the suspension system of the box. Skipping it is the most common DIY mistake we see.
3. Wrap Individually, Never in Pairs
- Wrap every glass, plate and ornament individually in packing paper, then a bubble-wrap layer.
- Place the heaviest items at the bottom of the box, lighter items on top.
- Plates travel best on their edge, vertically — like records — not stacked flat.
4. Fill Every Void
A box with empty space lets contents shift, and shifting is what breaks things. After the last item, fill remaining gaps with paper until nothing moves when you gently shake the closed box. If you hear movement, open it and add more padding.
5. Mirrors, Frames & Glass Tops
These travel with three layers: bubble wrap directly on the glass, a cardboard or foam sheet cut slightly larger than the frame, and moving blankets around the whole piece. Large glass tops should ideally be crated — ask your moving team.
6. Electronics: Photograph Before You Unplug
Before disconnecting your TV, router or computer, take a photo of the cables. Original boxes are ideal if you kept them; otherwise wrap in anti-static bubble wrap, keep screens upright, and never lay a plasma/LED TV flat.
7. Label Like a Professional
Write "FRAGILE — THIS SIDE UP" on at least two sides of every delicate box, plus the destination room. Movers stack according to labels, so clear labels directly change how your boxes are treated.
Or skip the stress entirely: our crews arrive with dish-packs, bubble wrap, foam and crates — and pack fragile items to this standard for you, included in your packing service.