How to Pack Mugs for Moving: A 7-Step Guide

If you use recycled boxes and packing materials, you’ll save money and avoid packing waste, which is a win-win in our book. You’ll also need to figure out how many moving boxes you’ll need for your move.

Here are some easy ways to acquire recycled items to help you move:

• Search online marketplaces for free or recycled boxes

• Request used boxes from grocery or liquor stores

• Ask your local newspaper for old newspaper for packing

• Ask your local recycling vendor for used cardboard boxes and packing materials

If you can’t find sturdy boxes from a secondhand source, ordering cell boxes is your best bet. They cost between $2 and $3 per box and usually come in packs of 4, 10, or 16.

Drinking glasses are one of the most common fragile items that get damaged when you move. But when you think about it, moving is the perfect opportunity to assess your current mug collection and downsize a few unused pieces.

Which mugs can you donate or recycle? Which mugs can you offer up to friends? Is anyone in your family moving soon or going to college, and need to furnish a new kitchen? If your mugs have serious cracks, chips, or other damage, it might be time to put them in the recycling bin.

Next, divide your mugs according to how you’ll pack them. This will save you time later and keep them organized during transit. If you have a sizable mug inventory, sort your pieces by size and weight to ensure the large, heavy mugs are evenly distributed throughout your packing boxes.

If you have sets of mugs that go with plates, dishes, or other kitchenware, you might also choose to keep these all together in one box, especially if some items are going to storage and others are going to your new home. Or if you have sentimental items that you want to unpack on moving day, set those mugs aside to pack last.

Depending on the equipment you’ve gathered for this packing project, you may need to:

• Assemble your new boxes 

• Insert cardboard dividers into your boxes

• Grab packing tape and scissors 

To prepare your moving boxes for your mug collection, line the box with a layer of newspaper or bubble wrap to protect your mugs.

Wrap each mug with two layers of bubble wrap, newspaper, or packing paper, and then tape off the excess underneath the glass to seal it. For additional protection, put a small piece of crumpled paper or bubble wrap inside the mug.

If you aren’t using cardboard cell dividers, gently layer the mugs on top of one another in the box.

Tight packing is the key to preventing damage to your mugs during your move. Empty space inside a box spells trouble for coffee- and tea-drinking vessels and can cause them to bounce around during the move, leading to chips, cracks, or a total break.

You can use bubble wrap or any impact-absorbing material to fill in the gaps between mug layers.

Seal each box with packing tape. Use a label maker or a marker to label each box with helpful information for your family or the movers, such as: 

• The box’s contents

• The box’s final destination 

• The room it should be placed in

• Whether it’s heavy or fragile