How to Pack Books for Moving: The Best Way to Pack Your Books

First things first: Organize your books—alphabetically or by genre, whichever suits your plans for them in your new space. Doing so will make life much easier when you’re packing and unloading at your new residence. Yes, this is one of those projects where the room's going to look messier before it gets better. If you have many books, a secondary sorting method you might consider is to separate hardcover from softcover, too. This method will help you equally distribute the weight of your boxes later.

Some book collectors hate the idea of parting with books. Depending on your situation, though, it may simplify the move and make a lot of sense to donate or resell unwanted or unused books. Food for thought: The average cost to move varies greatly—it costs between $240 and $10,000—so you could potentially save money by repurposing or rehoming your books.

Good places to donate used books include:

• Local schools 

• Nonprofits or charities 

• Your local library 

• Little free libraries around local neighborhoods

You might also simply make a free or “for sale” post on online selling platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or Freecycle.

Investing in the right moving boxes makes relocating way easier. The average book weighs about five ounces, which means three books equal a pound, and, well, you can do the rest of the math. Stuffing one hundred books in a single box could make it weigh over 30 pounds. Heavy-duty cardboard boxes are your best bet when packing books during a move. They're sturdy and will prevent you from packing boxes that are too heavy.

In addition to using heavy-duty cardboard boxes, you should also stick to smaller sizes. It’s easy to want to fill the empty space in a large box, but packing too many books in one box will make it difficult to carry and more likely to break. Instead, pack books into small- to medium-sized boxes that will hold no more than 40 pounds.

If you have some stragglers leftover that don't warrant a small box, reusable grocery store bags are also a good—and eco-conscious—option for moving books safely.

Always place your heaviest hardcover books at the bottom of the box. This step prevents them from tipping over when hauling the box. To keep your beloved coffee table display books in good condition, wrap them in newspaper or packing paper before packing them.

You should also lay hardcover books flat inside the box. It might be tempting to put them sideways if wide books limit space inside the box, but that can cause them to shift around during transport.

With paperback books, you can place these lighter novels on top of hardcover books laying flat or pack them in sideways with the spine down and the pages up to prevent unwanted page bends.

Special magazines and comic books are trickier to pack, so you’ll need to take extra precautions to avoid damaging these delicate items. Wrap magazines and comic books in packing paper, and then lay them flat on top of the heavier items in the box. For your most valuable comics, consider wrapping them in acid-free archival paper and packing them alone in a small box or taking them with you rather than transporting them on a moving truck.

When you've finished loading each box, write the details about the books inside (their genre and other pertinent info)  on the outside of the box. Complete this step before you seal the box with tape. Otherwise, you may forget and have to rip the tape off to remind yourself of its contents. Adding labels is especially important if you're using a local moving company to relocate your belongings, so they know where everything goes.

Leave an inch or two gap at the top of each box to pack like a pro. Add a layer of newspaper or packing paper to it, and then set that box aside. 

For boxes with uneven books or reading materials that move around more easily (like comic books, for example), pack the inside tightly with packing tape or old newspaper. If some of your books are fragile, wrap them individually in bubble wrap. Consider transporting these items separately or set aside a box for items that need special handling.

Invest in a few rolls of heavy duty packing tape, and don't skimp when you're applying it. It'll be worth it to ensure your favorite reads make it safely to your destination. You can purchase packing tape online or at office supply stores. Sixty yards of tape will cost between $30 and $50.

Heavy boxes tend to shift around inside moving trucks, vans, and the trunks of cars. When packing your books into your moving vehicle, ensure they fit snug next to each other. Avoid stacking boxes high unless there is a sturdy flat object—like a wall or a dresser—to counter the force of your books potentially shifting.

Once you arrive at your new home, don’t wait too long to take your books out of the boxes. They'll hang out fine in a dry, cool storage space—but prolonged pressure to a book's spine or trapped loose pages may be hard to fix after a prolonged period.

How To Care for Books in Long-Term Storage

There are several steps to take before packing away boxes for long-term storage.

• Inspect the books for moisture, food residue, or pests.

• Dust the books before packing.

• Pack books in acid-free archival paper.

• Place books in archival boxes or waterproof hard plastic containers for long-term storage.

• Put small silica gel packets in the storage containers with the books.

• Consider storing books in a climate-controlled environment. 

• Avoid moist areas like basements to prevent damage.