How to Pack Mugs for Moving

Mugs are one of the easiest things to break during a move: the handle sticks out, the rim is thin and they tend to get packed loose. With the right materials and a few minutes per box, you can get every mug to your new home in one piece.

What you need

  • Small or medium sturdy boxes (or a dish pack box with cell dividers)
  • Packing paper or plain newsprint
  • Bubble wrap for favorite or fragile mugs
  • Packing tape and a marker
  • Towels, socks or dish cloths as extra padding

How to pack mugs step by step

  1. Prepare the box. Tape the bottom twice and add a 2-inch layer of crumpled paper or a towel.
  2. Fill the inside. Stuff a sheet of crumpled paper into the mug and through the handle. This supports the walls and protects the handle.
  3. Wrap each mug. Place the mug on its side at the corner of two or three sheets of paper. Roll it up, folding the sides in as you go. Use bubble wrap for special mugs.
  4. Pack them upright or on their side. Place mugs rim-down or on their side, never stacked inside each other. Keep the handles pointing the same way.
  5. Fill every gap. Mugs should not move when you gently shake the box. Fill gaps with crumpled paper or soft items.
  6. Add a top layer. Add more padding on top before you close the box.
  7. Label it. Write "FRAGILE – MUGS – THIS SIDE UP" on at least two sides.

Can you pack mugs without packing paper?

Yes. Wrap each mug in a dish towel, T-shirt or thick sock. It saves paper and packs your linens at the same time. Just make sure each mug is fully covered and the box is tightly filled.

Tips to avoid broken mugs

  • Keep boxes small: a box full of mugs gets heavy quickly, and heavy boxes get dropped.
  • Never stack mugs inside one another.
  • Put mug boxes on top in the moving truck, not under books or furniture.
  • Pack sentimental mugs in your own car.

Unpacking

Unwrap mugs over a table, not over the floor, and check the paper before you throw it away so you don't toss a small mug with it.

New home, new mugs? Browse our coffee mugs, or read how to wrap a mug as a housewarming gift.