Pack Service
A professional pack service saves the most time in the kitchen because it is the most complex room to pack. Fragile crockery, heavy appliances, sharp knives, and dozens of small items all need different treatment. This guide covers how to pack each category, which materials to use, and when hiring packers movers makes more sense than doing it yourself.
Pack plates upright, glasses rim-down with bubble wrap, defrost the fridge 24-48 hours early, refit washing machine transit bolts. Giant Van packing service from £149 includes all materials.
When You Need How to Pack a Kitchen, We Deliver
Packers movers follow a method for crockery that virtually eliminates breakages.
Plates get wrapped individually in tissue paper or packing paper, then stood upright in a small box with cardboard dividers between each one.
Standing plates vertically distributes impact forces across the strongest part of the plate.
Glasses get stuffed with scrunched paper inside the glass, then wrapped in bubble wrap.
They go into boxes with cell dividers, the same compartmented inserts used for wine bottles.
If you do not have cell dividers, wrap each glass in two layers of bubble wrap and place them rim-down in the box.
Mugs are handled the same way as glasses.
Fill every gap in the box with scrunched paper so nothing shifts.
A kitchen in a typical 3-bed UK house produces 8 to 12 boxes.
Allow 2 to 3 hours for a DIY kitchen pack, or about 45 minutes for a professional crew of two.
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A professional pack service handles every kitchen item from the cutlery drawer to the top of the wall units.
The crew wraps each plate individually in tissue paper and stands them upright in cell-divider boxes.
Glasses go rim-down into divided inserts with bubble wrap cushioning.
Pots and pans nest inside each other with paper between surfaces to prevent scratching.
Small appliances (toaster, kettle, blender) get wrapped in moving blankets and packed into medium boxes.
The crew disconnects freestanding appliances like the washing machine (refitting transit bolts) and fridge-freezer (after you defrost it 24 to 48 hours beforehand).
Knives go into a knife roll or are wrapped individually in cardboard sheaths taped shut.
Spice jars, oils, and open containers get sealed in zip-lock bags before boxing.
A typical kitchen in a 3-bed house fills 8 to 12 boxes and takes a professional crew 60 to 90 minutes.
Giant Van's pack service from £149 covers the kitchen alongside every other room, with all materials included.
How to Book How to Pack a Kitchen
- 01
Pack the kitchen in this order to keep it functional until the last possible moment.
- 02
Week 2 before the move: pack items you rarely use.
- 03
Baking equipment, specialty gadgets, serving platters, and spare crockery go into boxes first.
- 04
Week 1: pack everything except daily-use plates, mugs, cutlery, and the kettle.
- 05
Defrost the freezer 48 hours before the move.
- 06
Empty the fridge the night before, using coolbags for items you want to keep.
- 07
Moving day morning: pack the remaining plates, mugs, and cutlery.
- 08
The kettle goes into the first night box.
How to Pack a Kitchen From Coast to Coast
Kitchens need specialist packing materials that other rooms do not.
Cell-divider inserts protect glasses and mugs by creating individual compartments within a standard medium box.
A 12-cell divider costs £1 to £2 and prevents the clinking and cracking that breaks glassware.
Dish-pack boxes are double-wall, extra-strong boxes designed for heavy crockery.
They cost £2 to £3 each.
Knife sheaths or blade guards (£3 to £5 for a set) prevent cuts during unpacking.
Zip-lock bags (£2 to £3 for a pack of 50) seal open containers of spices, oils, and sauces.
Standard tissue paper works for wrapping plates, but bubble wrap is better for items with handles (teapots, jugs, casserole dishes).
A pack service from Giant Van includes all specialist kitchen materials.
DIY packers need to source cell dividers and dish-pack boxes separately, which most general box kits do not include.
Reliable How to Pack a Kitchen, Every Time
Giant Van's pack service crews handle kitchens on every job.
The team follows a systematic process: upper cupboards first, then worktop appliances, then lower cupboards, then drawers.
Every fragile item gets individual wrapping.
All boxes are labelled with 'KITCHEN' and a contents summary on two sides.
Goods in transit insurance covers every packed item.
Kitchen packing is included in the full pack service from £149.
£500
Transit Insurance
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Industry Certified
Off-Peak How to Pack a Kitchen Savings
Packing a Kitchen Yourself vs Using Pack and Move Companies
A furniture pack for appliance cables keeps things tidy.
Bundle each cable with a velcro strap or elastic band and label it with the appliance name.
This saves time reconnecting everything at the new kitchen.
Giant Van offers full packing services that include the kitchen, bedrooms, and every other room.
The crew brings all materials and works room by room the day before your move.
House removals from £149, man and van from £49.
Message us in the live chat for a free quote.
The kitchen is the most complex room to pack in any house move.
Fragile crockery, heavy appliances, sharp knives, and dozens of small items all need different handling.
A professional pack service takes 60 to 90 minutes to pack a full kitchen.
DIY packing takes 3 to 5 hours.
Giant Van's pack service from £149 covers the kitchen alongside every room, with all specialist materials included.
Message us in the live chat for a free quote.
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Pack Service — FAQs
Does furniture flat pack assembly apply to kitchen units during a move?
Built-in kitchen units stay in place during a move. Freestanding units like kitchen islands, butcher's blocks, and standalone pantries may need disassembly. Furniture flat pack assembly skills apply: unscrew shelves, bag all fixings, label everything. Most freestanding kitchen furniture is straightforward to take apart and reassemble at the new property.
What home moving packing boxes should I use for the kitchen?
Use small home moving packing boxes for heavy kitchen items like plates, tins, and pans. Medium boxes suit lighter items like plastic containers and packets. Cell divider boxes protect glasses and mugs. A standard kitchen needs 8 to 12 boxes. Double-tape every base and fill all gaps with paper.
How do I pack plates safely for a kitchen pack service to check?
Wrap each plate individually in tissue paper or packing paper. Stand plates upright in the box like records in a rack, never flat in a stack. Place a layer of bubble wrap or scrunched paper between the plates and the box walls. A cell-divider insert adds extra protection. The box should feel solid with no movement when tilted.
Double-tape the base. Label 'FRAGILE KITCHEN' on two sides.
Should I empty the fridge before the pack service arrives?
Yes. Defrost the freezer 48 hours before the move and empty the fridge the night before. Use cool bags for items you want to keep. A professional pack service does not handle perishable food. Wipe down all shelves and leave the doors ajar to prevent mould.
On moving day, the crew disconnects the fridge and loads it upright in the van. Keep the fridge upright for at least 4 hours after delivery before switching it on.
How many boxes does a kitchen need for a house move?
A standard kitchen in a 2 to 3-bed house fills 8 to 12 boxes. Small boxes handle plates, tins, and heavy items. Medium boxes with cell dividers handle glasses and mugs. Large boxes suit lightweight items like plastic containers and packets. A 4-bed house kitchen with extensive crockery and appliances may need 15 to 18 boxes.
Giant Van's pack service includes all boxes and materials.
Do pack and move companies refit washing machine transit bolts?
Professional pack and move companies refit transit bolts on washing machines as part of the service. Transit bolts prevent the drum from moving during transport and are essential. Running a washing machine after a move without transit bolts can damage the drum bearings. If you have lost the original bolts, replacements cost £5 to £10 from the manufacturer.
Tell your removal crew before the move.
Related Locations and Services
- Advice — House Move
- Advice — Moving Van
- Advice — Car Transport Service
- Advice — Moving House Insurance
- Advice — Packing Materials Guide
- Advice — Transport Services
- Advice — Moving House Cost Uk
- Advice — Delivery 2
- Advice — Compare Van Hire
- Advice — Temporary Storage
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- Advice — Storage 10
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- Advice — Delivery 15
- Advice
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 is registered in England and Wales, company number 16071027.