Guide to Protective Packaging Materials for Shipping

The 5 Most Protective Packing Materials to Use When Moving

You&#;ve found a new home, planned out your move and are now (finally) ready to start packing. With so much on that moving to-do list, ordering the right packing materials may have fallen by the wayside. Unfortunately, these packing materials can make or break your move (and your belongings &#; literally), so it&#;s important that you invest in the right ones. Below, we&#;ve listed five packing materials that every move should consider having on-hand. These items provide (in our opinion) the best protection for everything from fragile stemware and dishes to delicate antiques and electronics. All of these packing materials can also be found at a number of easy-to-find retailers.

1. Packing Paper

   When it comes to packing materials, packing paper is one of the most affordable ways to protect your items while moving. It&#;s also especially easy to use. Large packing paper rolls can usually be purchased for under $20, giving you plenty of bang for your buck. We recommend using packing paper to wrap and protect kitchen items, such as glasses, mugs, bowls, pots, pans, etc, as well as small electronics, paintings and picture frames. Packing paper can also be used to fill in gaps between items and the moving box to prevent belongings from shifting while in transit. Keep in mind, though, that while packing paper is certainly an economical way to protect items, it isn&#;t always the most effective. For particularly fragile items, you may need to add an extra layer of bubble cushioning or foam on top of packing paper. In addition, if you choose to use newsprint paper instead of traditional packing paper, you could end up staining belongings with the ink.

   How to use packing paper for moving

   • Assess how much packing paper you&#;ll need to properly protect the item. Tear or cut the amount you need from the packing paper roll.
   • Wrap your belonging in packing paper until it is property protected. This could mean wrapping the item in one layer of packing paper or several &#; depending on the fragility of the item.
   • Stuff the inside of items (think: cups, mugs and glasses) with packing paper. This will protect the entire item and prevent objects from breaking.
   • Secure the packing paper with tape to keep it in place.
   • As you place items inside moving boxes, be sure to fill in empty gaps with extra paper. This will prevent items from shifting while in transit.

2. Bubble Cushioning

   When making your list of packing materials, don&#;t forget about bubble cushioning. We recommend purchasing several large bubble rolls (often called Bubble Cushion Wrap) before packing up belongings. This plastic material is made up of small air-filled bubbles which provide cushioning to materials. Bubble cushioning is also lightweight and won&#;t weigh down your boxes the way other materials can. It provides top-notch protection for your belongings. We recommend using bubble cushioning for fragile items, such as glassware, china, crystal, antiques and anything even remotely breakable. There are aren&#;t many drawbacks to using bubble cushioning except that you&#;ll find yourself going through a lot of it very quickly, making it less economical than packing paper. To save money, we suggest using it as a single layer on top of other packing materials. So, for instance, wrapping a glass in packing paper and then adding a layer of bubble cushioning on top. Finish by stuffing holes and empty space with more packing paper. 

   How to use bubble cushioning for moving

   • Wrap the fragile item you wish to pack in bubble cushioning to assess how much you need. Cut or tear the amount of bubble cushioning you need.
   • Roll the item in a protective layer of packing paper first, Then, top with a layer of bubble cushioning for added protection.
   • Secure the item with packing tape. Make sure the insides of glasses, cups and mugs have been filled with either bubble cushioning or another packing material.
   • Place item inside moving box and fill empty space with additional protection.

3. Styrofoam Packing Peanuts

   If you&#;ve received a package in the mail, then you&#;ve likely &#; at some point or another &#; had to sift through a box filled with Styrofoam packing peanuts to find your item hiding underneath. While these small pieces of Styrofoam are useful for filling empty space and preventing an item from shifting and breaking while in transit, it&#;s not particularly great at protecting fragile or delicate items, which need to be tightly wrapped in a layer of protection. We recommend using packing peanuts as only a supplement for filling in empty space inside moving boxes. A similar alternative to packing peanuts (that creates a lot less mess) are larger Styrofoam pieces, such as Styrofoam blocks. These blocks can be used to surround and protect items inside a box. 

   How to use packing peanuts for moving

   • Assess how many bags of packing peanuts it&#;s going to take to fill in your boxes. Make sure to purchase the right amount of loose-fill packing materials for your packing needs.
   • Wrap and protect your item in a proper packing material. Before placing the wrapped item inside a box, dump a layer of packing peanuts inside so that the bottom of the box is properly cushioned.
   • Place the protected item inside the box on top of the layer of packing peanuts.
   • Follow up by filling the rest of the box and surrounding empty space with the remaining packing peanuts.

4. Packing foam

   Packing foam comes in several different forms. The most popular types of packing foam for moving are foam rolls, foam pouches, foam sheets and foam corner guards. Packing foam can be used to protect all sorts of items, including dishes, glassware, appliances, picture frames, ornaments and jewelry. For larger items, we recommend purchasing foam rolls or sheets. Smaller items can be place inside foam pouches. One advantage to using packing foam over other protective materials is the ease in which it can be used. Afterall, with foam pouches all you have to do is place the item inside the foam pouch and voila &#; it&#;s protected. Foam rolls are also easy to use when packing. The only disadvantage to using packing foam is that it isn&#;t the cheapest packing material.   

   How to use packing foam for moving

   • Decide how many foam rolls and pouches you&#;ll need. For reference, when packing glasses, mugs and plates, you&#;ll likely need a separate foam pouch for every individual item. We don&#;t recommend packing multiple items inside a foam pouch.
   • Either wrap items in foam wrap or place inside a foam pouch. If using corner guards, place the foam corner guards on items (think: TVs, picture frames and artwork).
   • Close foam pouches and secure foam wrap with packing tape to keep items properly protected. If the foam wrap doesn&#;t provide enough protection, you may need to add a layer of packing paper or bubble cushioning as well.
   • Place item inside the moving box and fill empty space with other packing materials. 

5. Specialty packing kits

   While specialty packing kits aren&#;t cheap, they are the best way to ensure that fragile items are packed safely and efficiently. Kitchen items, in particular, benefit most from specialty packing kits. Dish packing kits and glass divider kits are two of the most popular packing materials for moving individual dishes, water glasses, wine glasses and other stemware. These kits typically come with a box and a cardboard divider set that can be easily put together. The dividers keep items separated so they don&#;t touch (or break) while in transit.

   How to use packing kits for moving

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   • First, decide how many dish and glass packing kits you&#;ll need. Chances are you&#;ll need at least two of each for packing dishes and stemware.
   • Assemble the cardboard box that comes with the kit. Make sure the bottom is secured with packing tape but the leave the top flap open.
   • Place the cardboard dividers inside per the packing kit&#;s instructions.
   • Once the dividers are in place, wrap and protect dishes and glasses in foam pouches, bubble cushioning or packing paper. Place protected items inside the individual compartments.
   • Fill empty space with remaining packing materials. Close and secure the moving box with packing tape.