How to Pack a Kitchen for Moving
The kitchen is the hardest room to pack. It has the most fragile items, the heaviest items, and the most things you forgot you owned. A 2BR kitchen takes 4 to 6 hours to pack yourself, or about 1 hour for a professional crew. Here is the order, the method, and the mistakes to avoid.
Pack in This Order
Start with what you use least and end with what you need until moving day.
Week 2 to 3 before: Rarely used items
Baking dishes, seasonal cookware, serving platters, specialty appliances (bread maker, fondue set, that pasta maker you used once), cookbooks, decorative items.
Week 1 to 2 before: Most dishes and pantry
Most plates, bowls, glasses, mugs (keep 2 of each out). Non-perishable pantry items. Small appliances. Utensil drawers (keep one set out).
Day before: Everything else
Last dishes, cleaning supplies, trash bags, paper towels, snacks for moving day. Defrost freezer. Empty and clean fridge.
How to Pack Dishes Without Breaking Them
Plates go vertical, not flat. Stand plates on their edge in the box like records in a crate. Wrap each one individually in packing paper. Vertical plates absorb impact better than a horizontal stack, where force transfers through the entire pile.
Glasses go in cells. Free liquor store boxes have built-in dividers. Each glass gets wrapped in packing paper (or a sock), then placed upright in a cell. Fill any gaps with crumpled paper. The box should not rattle when shaken.
Bowls nest, then wrap. Stack 3 to 4 bowls with packing paper between each, then wrap the entire stack. Place in box with paper cushion on all sides.
Mugs get individual wrapping. Wrap each mug in paper, tuck paper inside the mug to fill the cavity, place upside down in the box.
Bottom of box gets 3 inches of crumpled paper. This is your shock absorber. Items should never sit directly on the box floor.
Appliances
| Appliance | Prep |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator | Defrost 24 hours before. Clean interior. Tape doors shut. Remove or secure shelves. Let it sit upright 24 hours after delivery before plugging in (compressor oil). |
| Microwave | Remove glass turntable and wrap separately. Tape door shut. If built-in, leave it (movers handle it). |
| Toaster / toaster oven | Empty crumb tray. Wrap cord. Box with paper padding. |
| Coffee maker | Empty water tank and grounds. Wrap carafe separately (it will break if left in the machine). Remove and wrap any glass parts. |
| Blender / food processor | Disassemble. Wrap blades in cardboard and tape (for safety, not just protection). Box base and blade separately. |
| Stand mixer | Remove attachments. Use original box if you have it. Otherwise, wrap in moving blanket. It is heavy; use a small box. |
Knives
Never pack loose knives in a box. Someone will reach in and cut themselves on moving day.
Option 1: Knife block. Leave knives in the block, wrap the entire block in a towel, secure with tape or stretch wrap. Label "KNIVES" clearly.
Option 2: Cardboard sleeve. Fold a piece of cardboard around each blade, tape it shut. Bundle wrapped knives together with a rubber band.
Option 3: Knife roll or blade guards. If you have them, use them. This is what they are for.
The Pantry Decision: Keep, Toss, or Give Away
Pack It
- Unopened spices and seasonings
- Canned goods (heavy; use small boxes)
- Sealed dry goods (rice, pasta, flour)
- Cooking oils (sealed, upright, in a bag)
- Coffee and tea
Toss It
- Expired anything
- Open spices older than 1 year
- Half-empty condiment bottles
- Mystery freezer items
- Opened flour/sugar (bugs happen in transit)
Give Away
- Perishable food (fridge and freezer)
- Bulk items you won't finish
- Alcohol (movers won't transport it in some states)
- Duplicates you don't need
What Movers Will Not Pack
Open liquids. Movers refuse anything that can spill: open cooking oil, partially used cleaning products, open wine bottles.
Perishable food. Nothing from the fridge or freezer goes on the truck.
Propane tanks. If you have a grill with a propane tank, disconnect it and transport it yourself in a ventilated vehicle. No moving truck.
Hazardous chemicals. Bleach, ammonia, paint, pesticides, lighter fluid. Dispose of these before the move.
Supplies You Need for a Kitchen
Packing paper (not newspaper): 5 to 10 lbs for a typical kitchen. Newspaper leaves ink on everything.
Small and medium boxes: Heavy kitchen items (plates, cans, appliances) go in small boxes. Light items (plastic containers, linens) go in medium.
Liquor store boxes: Free, with built-in dividers for glasses and stemware. Call your local liquor store 2 weeks before and ask them to save boxes.
Stretch wrap: For bundling utensils, wrapping drawers, and securing loose lids.
Tape and markers: Label every box "KITCHEN" and note if it contains fragile items.
See our full moving boxes and supplies guide for pricing and where to buy.