Packing dishes and glassware: how to keep it all intact

Cushion the bottom with a shock-absorbing layer. Crumpled paper, bubble wrap or a tea towel — that buffer absorbs vibrations and knocks during lifting and driving, exactly where most breakage happens.

Wrap each piece individually — every one gets its own crumple zone. Paper or bubble wrap, and between each layer a sheet or divider so nothing taps directly against anything else. No newspaper against dishes — ink rubs off.

Fill every gap so nothing can shift. Make the box full but liftable — guideline max 23 kg (see also the Dutch Arboportaal lifting guideline). A half-full box is just as risky as one that's too heavy.

Tape top and bottom + clear 'fragile' label. Mark 'this way up' on several sides with the destination room. Heaviest boxes at the bottom, light ones with fragile contents on top — transport calmly without sudden braking.

Plates vertical on their edge — like records in a rack. Never flat on top of each other (all pressure on the bottom plate). Wrap each plate separately + cardboard divider or paper between. Soft layer below and above, fitting without play.

Paper inside each glass + upright in cell divider. So glasses don't touch. For wine glasses: extra cushioning on the stem — that's the weakest point. Largest glasses at the bottom, tea towel over the top layer.

Fill inside + wrap the whole cup; extra attention to the handle — that breaks first. Cups and mugs side by side in the box, not on top. Only stackable ones may go on top with a protective layer between.

Bowls separately + hollow pieces (vases, jugs) filled inside AND wrapped outside. For antiques, porcelain and crystal: first a layer of acid-free paper against scratches, then bubble wrap. For larger fragile pieces, see also our guide moving fragile furniture.