How to Pack Books for a Move

Calling all book lovers! Do you have a swoon-worthy library that gets a hundred likes on Bookstagram? Your carefully curated collection of enchanting romances, high-adventure fantasies, and educational memoirs might be your pride and joy, but unfortunately even bibliophiles must move, and books are one of the hardest household items to pack. 

No need to panic, All My Sons Moving & Storage has some special tips for packing books so that you can get your library set up again in your new home.

This might be the hardest step for the die-hard book lover, but as every mover figures out, a move becomes more manageable the less stuff you decide to take with you. Make sure every item you carry with you to your new place counts and downsize your book collection before you pack.

Some questions to consider as you decide whether or not to keep a book:

• Was the book a five-star read? If the book is not your favorite, perhaps you can consider letting it go. 

• Are you likely to read or reference the book again? Books you love to return to time and time again get a point toward the keep pile. You should consider letting go of books you enjoyed but are not likely to pick up again.

• How easily can the book be replaced? Special editions, signed books, and books with personal significance to you get a point toward the keep pile.

One of the basic mistakes that amateur and first-time movers make is overloading their boxes. Since books can add up in weight very quickly, you will need to pack them in smaller boxes so that they can still be lifted and transported.

If you obtain used boxes, make sure they are dry and undamaged as your heavy books can easily tear through older, less durable boxes.

For extra protection, put a lining of bubble wrap at the bottoms of your book boxes.

As a rule, heavier books, like coffee table books, encyclopedias, or other textbooks, should go toward the bottom of your book boxes. 

Pack your book boxes with the largest books first and then fill space as available with smaller and lighter books. Always pack books flat or with the spine facing the side of the box to minimize damage to covers and pages. 

If you have special editions or other delicate books, you should wrap them in acid-free packing paper before you pack them into your boxes. You can add a sheet of cardboard between softcover books for extra protection against bending or warping.

Pack books into your boxes flat or spine to the side of the box until no more books fit. Do not pack books at an angle as they might warp during transit.

When you are not able to comfortably fit more books into your boxes, then fill any available space in your boxes with bubble wrap or packing paper. You can also pack softer, lighter household items like towels or linens in this extra space.

Seal your boxes well and label them. You can number the shelves your books came from and add the shelf number to your book boxes for easy set-up when you reach your new place.

We also recommend you keep an inventory of all your books, especially if you are a book lover. There are a lot of great apps for readers that help you keep track of the books you read, own, and collect like Goodreads, Fable, and StoryGraph. You can create lists in these apps of the books in your moving boxes so you know which boxes have your favorites in them.

Your library is now packed and ready to move. Once your new bookshelves are set up and your books are all back in place, your new house will really start to feel like a home and you can get back to reviewing your new favorite reads for Bookstagram. 

Does packing all those books sound like a tedious time-sink? You can ask the professional movers at All My Sons Moving & Storage about our packing services and save precious time on your move. Our trained team would be delighted to help pack all your books and get you moved into your new place. Make your move with confidence when you choose All My Sons Moving & Storage to do all the packing and heavy lifting. Call your local All My Sons Moving & Storage or get started with an online quote to start your stress-free move.