Use sturdy boxes of the same size, put heavy things like books in smaller boxes, fill every box to the top and tape the seams. Then stack heaviest at the bottom and lightest on top, on a pallet or boards, and keep to about five boxes high unless your bottom boxes are made to take more.
A stack is only as strong as its bottom box, so most of the work happens before the tape goes on.
Packing the box
- Use one size of box per stack. Boxes of the same size line up face to face and share the weight evenly, while mixed sizes lean, and a leaning stack can topple when you pull a box out.
- Put heavy things like books in smaller boxes, so they’re easy to lift and don’t burst, and save the bigger boxes for light, bulky things like bedding.
- Fill every box to the top. A half-empty box squashes under the one above, so fill the gaps with packing paper, towels or soft things until nothing moves, and check the lid closes flat.
- Tape along every seam, not just the top flaps, and add extra tape to the bottom of heavy boxes.
- Don’t overload. Very heavy boxes can collapse, and they’re hard to lift down safely.
Building the stack
Start with a pallet or boards on the floor, then build each column with the heaviest boxes at the bottom. Fragile boxes go on top of a steady stack, near the front, so you can reach them without climbing. A heavy fragile box, like plates, is happiest low down in a short stack of its own; plates and bowls also bear weight better packed upright than flat.
Five boxes high is a good guide. Stack only as high as you can lift the top box down safely, and never build anything you’d need to stand on something wobbly to dismantle. Leave a little air between your stacks and the walls, keep neat rows between stacks, and stop a step short of the door so nothing leans on it.
If you’d like shelves, use freestanding shelving, as nothing can be fixed to the unit walls. Laptops, tablets and anything else with a built-in battery should sit on their own, out of the stacks and with air around them.
Adding to a unit you already have
Check the bottom row before you add more. A bowed or sagging box is carrying more than it can, often because it wasn’t full. Repack it and rebuild that stack first.
Getting the boxes
Our Box Shop sells double-wall boxes in matching sizes, plus tape and packing paper, delivered to your door. Your own sturdy boxes are fine too. If you haven’t got a unit yet, get a price online or call us on 0800 2545585 and we’ll help you choose a size with room to stack sensibly.
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