How to Pack Pots and Pans for Moving

Hauling your pots and pans can prove to be difficult since kitchenware can be heavy and oversized—in other words, a packing nightmare. Fortunately, learning how to pack pots and pans can help get your cooking gear safely from your old spot to your new home. Pack like a pro using this step-by-step guide.

How to Pack Pots and Pans

Follow these steps to ensure an efficient and damage-free journey for your pots and pans.

1. Sort Your Pots and Pans   

First, sort your pots and pans according to their size and material. This step will help you visualize the scope of your items to determine the best way to group and pack them. 

2. Wrap Each Individual Piece

To prevent scratches, shifting, and breakage during the move, wrap each pot and pan individually with packing paper or bubble wrap. For extra protection, consider placing a layer of newspaper or packing paper between each layer.

3. Nest Pots and Pans

If you have pots and pans of varying sizes, nest them within each other by placing smaller ones inside larger ones to save space and protect them.

4. Select a Sturdy Box

Next, select an appropriately-sized moving box that allows all of your cookware to fit snugly while still laying flat. Be sure it’s sturdy, and opt for heavy-duty moving boxes to hold cast iron pans and other heavier items. Avoid packing more than two or three pots and pans per box, otherwise it will be very heavy and difficult to carry.

5. Cushion the Bottom of the Box

Before you begin packing, place a layer of cushioning material like bubble wrap, crumpled newspaper, or towels at the bottom of the box to provide a protective base.

6. Pack Heavy Items First

Start by packing heavy items so they won’t damage lighter items. If you have multiple heavy items, try to disperse them between a few boxes to avoid making your boxes too heavy.

7. Add Lighter Items

Once your heavy pots and pans are packed, start adding your lighter items. Start with larger pieces and nest smaller kitchenwares where possible.

8. Add Padding to Fill In Gaps  

 Fill any gaps between pots and pans with more cushioning material to prevent movement during transportation. You want to minimize the chances of items shifting and getting damaged.

9. Seal the Box

After everything is packed securely, seal the boxes with packing tape. Reinforce the seams to prevent the boxes from opening during transit.

10. Label Your Boxes

To keep things organized and prevent potential damage from stacking, label your boxes “Pots and Pans.” If you have glass lids or other fragile items, be sure to label the boxes as “Fragile.”

Additional Pots and Pans Packing Tips

1. Splurge on Good Boxes

Garbage bags or flimsy boxes aren’t going to cut it when moving pots and pans. Cookware comes in various sizes and heavy materials (like cast iron, stainless steel, and even glass), so you’ll need boxes that are sturdy enough to support the weight. 

Sometimes you can luck out and find boxes for moving at your local grocery store. These are great for moving less fragile kitchen items like silverware or plastic cups. But when it comes to your pots and pans, get some heavy-duty moving boxes. You’ll find them at most stores that sell shipping supplies or from most storage or moving companies. 

2. Don’t Make Boxes Too Heavy

There’s a good rule of thumb for packing: lighter items can go in big boxes while heavier items should go in smaller boxes. Unfortunately, you don’t always have the option to use a smaller box when it comes to packing pots and pans. Roasting pans, for example, are just too big to fit in smaller boxes.

Keep the weight to size ratio in mind while you’re packing, and pack fewer items into bigger boxes to make them easier to haul and carry. Your back will thank you! But if you prefer to let a pro handle the carrying and lifting, call a moving company near you for an estimate. Most movers cost an average of $25 to $50 per mover for each hour. 

3. Nest Pans When Possible

You’ll be able to fit more items into a box when you nest them within one another. Just be sure not to pack more than three pans together, or even less if you’re working with heavier pans. Just because they’re nested neatly together doesn’t mean you should skimp on wrapping. Use at least one layer of protection between the bottom of one pan and the inside of another.

4. Wrap Your Pots and Pans 

Wrap your pots and pans before putting them in your moving boxes. You might want to skip the newspaper and opt for some heavy-duty coverage for these items—like bubble wrap, old rags, or even professional packing paper—to prevent your heavier pans from scratching your lighter ones. Close each box with packing tape to prevent any pots and pans from falling out and getting damaged. 

5. Give Nonstick and Glass Pans Space

If you have a variety of different types of pots and pans, make sure you’re packing like items together. For example, don’t pack your glass pots and pans in the same box as your cast iron ones. And keep your nonstick pans, or any other pans with an easy-to-scratch surface, separate from heavier pieces that could damage them. 

6. Keep Lids for Later

It can be easier to move your lids in separate boxes rather than with the pots and pans they go to. Normally, lids are significantly lighter, which means you may be able to pack all or most of them in a single large box while spacing out your pots and pans in a series of smaller, lighter boxes. 

7. Top Your Box With Extras

After you’ve gotten your pots and pans into boxes, you can add some miscellaneous, lightweight kitchen items as padding to keep your cookware from sliding around too much. Just make sure you’re using light items that won’t potentially damage the pots and pans in transit. Items like oven mitts or kitchen cloths and towels make excellent padding!

8. Label Everything Inside

The last thing you want to do after you’ve survived the slog of moving is hunting around for a pot so you can cook up your first meal in your new home. Make sure to label your boxes with exactly what’s inside to make unpacking easier. Use a dark sharpie on the top and side of the box. This way, you’ll be able to find specific items without having to empty multiple boxes while looking for the right frying pan or spatula.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

When packing pots and pans for a move, going the DIY route can save you around $1,000 if you’re forgoing packing services from your moving service, or $2,300 or more if you’re handling the entire move on your own. 

However, packing items like pots and pans can be time-consuming and stressful, and packing to ensure damage-free transport requires a lot of extra care. Full-service movers offer expertise and experience, plus a load off your mind and body when you’re moving. If it’s within your budget, hiring professional movers is well worth the extra expense.