How to Pack a Computer and Monitor for a House Move
Back up your data before you back up your computer. Everything else, original boxes, cable labelling, upright screen transport, protects the hardware, but a backup is the one step that protects what actually matters if something does go wrong during the move.
Most of this takes minutes once the backup itself is done, and the same principles apply whether you own a single laptop or a desk full of connected peripherals.
Back up important data first. Use original boxes with factory foam where possible, remove ink cartridges from printers, label cables before disconnecting, and transport screens upright, never flat with weight on top.
Back Up Your Data Before Moving Day
Before disconnecting anything, back up important files to an external drive or cloud storage.
This is worth doing regardless of how careful you plan to be with the physical hardware, simply because it is the one step that protects the actual value of a computer, the data on it, rather than the hardware itself, which can always be replaced if the data cannot.
Using Original Boxes and Factory Packaging
Labelling and Photographing Cable Setups
Preparing Printers for Transport
Remove ink or toner cartridges from a printer before it travels, since vibration during transit can cause a cartridge to leak inside the machine, an issue that does not happen if the printer is stationary on a desk.
Check the printer's manual if you still have it, since some models have a specific transport lock or setting for the print head that should be engaged before moving.
Transporting Screens Upright, Never Flat
- 01
Monitors and TVs should always travel upright rather than laid flat with other items stacked on top.
- 02
Modern LCD and OLED panels are vulnerable to point pressure in a way that older, heavier CRT screens were not, and a box or piece of furniture resting on a flat screen for the length of a move can crack the panel even without an obvious impact.
- 03
Pack screens into a snug box or wrap them in a moving blanket, secured upright against the van wall.
Static-Sensitive Internal Components
If you are moving desktop computer internals separately, RAM, graphics cards or other components outside their case, keep them in their original anti-static bags.
Static discharge is a genuine risk for exposed circuit boards, and anti-static bags are inexpensive and widely available if you need spares for components without their original packaging.
External Drives, Cables and Small Accessories
Pack external hard drives individually with padding, since they are more sensitive to knocks than most people expect, particularly mechanical drives with moving parts inside.
Keep loose cables, chargers and small accessories together in one labelled bag or box rather than scattered across several boxes, where a specific charger or cable is easy to lose track of during unpacking.
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Original Packaging vs Generic Boxes for Electronics
Computers and screens combine two different kinds of value, the hardware and the data on it, and the packing technique that protects one does not automatically protect the other.
Treat the data backup step as non-negotiable even if every other step on this page feels optional for your particular setup, since it is the one precaution that protects something a warranty or an insurance claim cannot replace.
Giant Van's packing service starts from £150 and covers materials, wrapping and loading.
Electronics are wrapped, boxed and transported upright as standard on every packing booking, with goods-in-transit insurance included on the job.
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How to Pack a Computer and Monitor for a House Move — FAQs
Should I back up my computer before a house move?
Yes, before disconnecting anything. Backing up important files to an external drive or cloud storage protects the actual value of the machine, the data, regardless of how carefully the hardware itself is handled.
Do I need the original box to pack a computer for moving?
It is the best option if you have it, since factory packaging is designed with foam or cardboard inserts that hold the specific model securely. Without it, a snug box with roughly 5cm of clearance filled with bubble wrap works well.
Should a monitor or TV be transported flat or upright?
Always upright, never flat with anything stacked on top. Modern LCD and OLED panels are vulnerable to point pressure and can crack under sustained weight even without an obvious impact.
Should printer ink cartridges be removed before a move?
Yes. Vibration during transit can cause a cartridge to leak inside the printer, which does not happen when the machine is stationary on a desk.
How do I remember which cable goes where after a move?
Photograph the back of the machine before disconnecting anything, and label each cable at both ends with tape and a marker. This saves significant time reassembling the setup afterwards.
How should computer components like RAM or graphics cards be packed?
Keep them in their original anti-static bags if moving them outside the computer case, since static discharge is a genuine risk for exposed circuit boards.
Should a computer be switched off completely before a move, or just put to sleep?
Fully powered down is safer than sleep mode. A device that wakes unexpectedly inside a packed, unventilated bag or box can overheat, whereas a fully shut-down machine has no risk of drawing power or generating heat while it is boxed.
Sources and further reading
These are the official UK sources that set the rules for a job like this one. Each link goes straight to the source so you can check it yourself. Links open in a new tab.
- WRAP
WRAP's guidance on reuse and recycling, including what to do with packing materials and bulky items you no longer want.
- HSE — Manual handling at work: a brief guide (INDG143)
The Health and Safety Executive's guide to lifting and carrying heavy loads without injuring yourself.
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, s.49 (reasonable care and skill)
Section 49 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015: a service you pay for must be carried out with reasonable care and skill.
- Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013
The regulations covering what a trader must tell you before you book, and your right to cancel a service booked online or by phone.
All links checked on or after 1 August 2026.
Compiled by the Giant Van editorial team
Giant Van Ltd. Registered in England & Wales.