Ask any family after a move what broke, and the answer is almost always the same: a cup, a few glasses, a plate from the good dinner set. Crockery and glass are not hard to pack – they just need the right material and a bit of patience. This is the method our packing team uses on house shifting jobs in Lahore, and you can follow it yourself if you are packing on your own.
What you need
- Small, strong cartons. Crockery is heavy. A big carton full of plates becomes too heavy to lift safely and the bottom can give way. Use small or medium double-wall cartons.
- Packing paper – plain white paper or old newspaper. Newspaper ink can mark white crockery, so wrap the first layer in plain paper if you have it.
- Bubble wrap for glasses, cups, bowls and anything with a handle or thin edge.
- Strong packing tape – two or three rolls for a normal kitchen.
- Filler – crumpled paper, towels, dish cloths or foam to fill every gap.
- A marker for labelling.
Step 1: Prepare the carton
Tape the bottom of the carton along the middle seam and across both edges. Then put a 2–3 inch cushion of crumpled paper or a folded towel on the bottom. This layer absorbs the bumps when the carton is lifted and placed down – most breakage happens at the bottom of a box, not the top.
Step 2: Wrap plates one by one and pack them standing
Wrap each plate on its own in two or three sheets of paper. Then make a small bundle of three or four wrapped plates and wrap the bundle again.
Place the bundles in the carton standing on their edge, like files in a folder, not lying flat in a stack. A plate standing on its edge is much stronger than a plate lying flat with weight on top of it. Put the biggest and heaviest plates at the bottom and the lighter side plates above.
Step 3: Glasses and cups
Fill the inside of each glass or cup with a little crumpled paper, then wrap it in bubble wrap. Cups with handles need an extra wrap around the handle, because handles break first.
Pack glasses upright (rim facing up), on the top layer of the carton, never under plates or bowls. Wine glasses and thin glassware are safest in a carton with cardboard dividers.
Step 4: Bowls, serving dishes and dinner sets
Wrap bowls one by one and nest two or three together with paper between them. Large serving dishes are packed like plates – wrapped and standing on their edge. Keep matching dinner-set pieces together in one or two cartons so they are easy to find and check at the new home.
Step 5: Fill every gap
When the carton is full, fill all empty spaces with crumpled paper or cloth. Gently shake the closed carton: if you hear anything move or clink, open it and add more filler. Then put one more cushion layer on top before you close and tape it.
Step 6: Label it properly
Write on at least two sides, not only on top:
- FRAGILE
- THIS SIDE UP with an arrow
- The room – for example KITCHEN – CROCKERY
Labels on the side matter because cartons are often stacked, and the top of a box is the first thing that gets covered.
Glass table tops, mirrors and framed pictures
Flat glass needs different handling from crockery:
- Put cardboard corner guards on all four corners.
- Wrap the whole piece in bubble wrap, then sandwich it between two sheets of cardboard and tape them together.
- Mark which side is the front and write GLASS – DO NOT LAY FLAT.
- In the vehicle, flat glass travels standing on its edge, tied against a mattress or sofa – never lying flat under other items.
Large dining-table glass tops and big mirrors are best packed in a wooden frame. If you have one, mention it at the survey so the team brings the right material.
How fragile cartons should be loaded
Packing is only half the job. Fragile cartons should be loaded last and unloaded first, placed on top of heavy items, and never under furniture or appliances. In a covered vehicle they also stay safe from rain and dust. If you are using your own labour, tell them clearly which cartons are fragile before loading starts.
Common mistakes
- Using one big carton for the whole kitchen. It becomes too heavy and the bottom gives way.
- Stacking plates flat. The bottom plate carries all the weight of the plates above it.
- Leaving gaps. Items that can move in the carton will knock against each other on every bump.
- Packing glasses under heavier items. Glasses always go on top.
- Only writing “fragile” on the top. Write it on the sides too.
- Packing on the last night. Crockery takes longer than people expect – start a day or two before moving day and keep out only what you need.
Want us to pack it for you?
Our team brings cartons, paper, bubble wrap, stretch film and blankets, and wraps crockery and glass piece by piece as described above. For one 16 ft Mazda trip within Lahore our standard rate is Rs 15,000 without packing and Rs 25,000 with full packing; other vehicles and intercity moves are priced after a free survey.
Related pages:
- Packing and unpacking services in Lahore
- House shifting checklist
- Shehzore vs Mazda vs Container – which vehicle for your move
- Our damage claim policy
Call or WhatsApp 0323 4097155 for a free survey – open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
