Packing Your Kitchen: A Room-by-Room Guide

Your kitchen contains more items than any other room in your house. Seriously.

The average kitchen holds 300-500 individual items. Plates, mugs, glasses, cutlery, utensils, pans, appliances, food, cleaning products, odd bits of Tupperware with missing lids—it’s overwhelming when you actually start counting.

And here’s the thing—kitchens take longer to pack than people expect. Most people estimate 4-5 hours. The reality? A proper kitchen pack takes 8-12 hours for an average-sized kitchen. That’s two full days if you’re working in realistic chunks.

Plus, you need to keep eating throughout the moving process. You can’t just pack everything on day one and live on takeaways for three weeks.

Here’s how to pack your kitchen systematically without losing your mind or smashing your wedding china. A complete guide provided by removals company Removals Woking (https://removalswoking.com).

Start Three Weeks Out, Not Three Days

When should you actually start packing your kitchen?

The day you book your removal company. Genuinely. Kitchens need the longest packing time of any room, and you absolutely need to do it gradually whilst keeping the kitchen functional.

Trying to pack your entire kitchen in one panicked day before moving? That’s how things get broken, lost, or packed so chaotically that unpacking takes weeks.

Realistic kitchen packing timeline:

• 3 weeks before: Special occasion items, fancy serving dishes, rarely used appliances
• 2 weeks before: Duplicate items, extra glasses, cookbooks, decorative items
• 1 week before: Excess food, most of your crockery, spare utensils
• 2-3 days before: Almost everything except essentials box
• Moving day morning: Final essentials, contents of fridge

This gradual approach means you’re still cooking proper meals right up until moving day. You’re not living on beans from the tin because you packed your tin opener two weeks ago.

The Essentials Box: What You Actually Need

You need one box that contains everything required to function for 2-3 days. This box travels in your car, not in the removal van. You need access to it immediately.

Kitchen essentials box contents:

• Kettle (obviously the most important item)
• Tea, coffee, sugar, milk (long-life or fresh)
• 4 mugs
• 4 plates
• 4 bowls
• Cutlery for 4 people
• Sharp knife
• Tin opener
• Bottle opener
• Wooden spoon
• Small saucepan
• Frying pan
• Dish soap and sponge
• Tea towels (2-3)
• Bin bags
• Kitchen roll
• Basic food (bread, butter, pasta, rice, tins)
• Salt and pepper

Can you survive three days with just this? Absolutely. You’re eating simple meals—beans on toast, pasta with sauce, scrambled eggs. It’s not MasterChef, but you’re fed and caffeinated whilst you unpack properly.

Label this box clearly in huge letters: “KITCHEN ESSENTIALS – OPEN FIRST”. Use bright marker pen. Make it impossible to miss.

Gathering Proper Packing Materials

What do you actually need to pack a kitchen safely?

More than you think. Kitchen items are fragile, oddly shaped, and prone to breaking if packed badly. Proper materials prevent damage worth hundreds of pounds.

Materials needed for average kitchen:

• Sturdy boxes (20-30 small to medium boxes)
• Specialist dish boxes if you have fine china (£3-5 each)
• Bubble wrap (3-4 large rolls at £20-25 per roll)
• Packing paper or newspaper (several packs)
• Strong packing tape (4-6 rolls)
• Permanent markers for labelling
• Box labels or coloured stickers

Budget £100-150 for proper kitchen packing materials. Yes, that seems expensive. But one broken Le Creuset pot costs £150+. One smashed set of wedding china is irreplaceable.

Free cardboard boxes from supermarkets seem appealing. But they’re often damaged, different sizes, and lack structural strength for heavy kitchen items. Box of plates collapses during the move? That’s £200-400 of broken crockery.

Use boxes designed for moving. They’re double-walled, properly sized, and have weight limits that prevent overloading.

Packing Plates, Bowls, and Serving Dishes

How should you actually pack plates? Because stacking them and hoping for the best doesn’t work.

Every single plate needs individual wrapping. Yes, every single one. Use packing paper or bubble wrap. Wrap each plate completely, then stack them vertically in boxes—like vinyl records, not horizontally like a pile.

Why vertically? Because plates on edge absorb shocks better than plates stacked flat. They’re less likely to crack under pressure.

Step-by-step plate packing:

Line the box bottom with crumpled packing paper for cushioning (at least 5cm deep). Wrap each plate individually in 3-4 sheets of packing paper. Place wrapped plates vertically in the box, not stacked horizontally. Fill gaps with crumpled paper so nothing shifts during transit. Never pack plates in boxes larger than medium size—heavy boxes break and hurt your back.

Bowls nest inside each other but still need protection. Put crumpled paper between nested bowls. Don’t nest more than 4-5 bowls together or they become too heavy.

Serving dishes and platters are awkward shapes that don’t fit standard boxes. Wrap them generously in bubble wrap—at least three layers. Mark boxes containing these as “FRAGILE – LARGE DISHES” so removal men don’t stack heavy items on top.

Packing Glasses and Mugs

When did you last count how many glasses you actually own?

The average household has 30-40 glasses—wine glasses, pint glasses, tumblers, champagne flutes, random promotional glasses from that time you went to a beer festival. Each one needs careful packing.

Glass packing technique:

Stuff the inside of each glass with packing paper. This provides internal support and prevents the rim cracking. Wrap the outside with 2-3 sheets of packing paper or bubble wrap. Wrap stems separately on wine glasses—they’re the most vulnerable part.

Pack glasses upright in boxes, never on their side or upside down. Use cardboard dividers if you have proper glass boxes. Fill all gaps with crumpled paper.

Limit each box to 12-15 glasses maximum. More than that and the box becomes dangerously heavy. Remember, you’re lifting these boxes multiple times.

Mugs are slightly more robust but still need wrapping. Wrap in pairs—place two mugs rim-to-rim, then wrap them together. This protects the rims and saves packing materials.

Your expensive crystal wine glasses deserve special attention. Buy proper dish boxes with cell dividers (£5-8 each). Each glass gets its own cell. It’s excessive for everyday glasses but essential for irreplaceable items.

Cutlery, Utensils, and Kitchen Tools

Can you just chuck all your cutlery in a box? Technically yes, but you’ll regret it.

Organized cutlery packing:

Use the cutlery tray from your drawer if it’s removable. Wrap the entire tray in cling film or put it in a bag. Place it carefully in a box with cushioning around it. Unpacking is instant—you just put the tray straight in the new drawer.

No removable tray? Bundle cutlery by type using elastic bands or tape. Forks together, knives together, spoons together. Wrap each bundle in paper. This prevents the horrible job of sorting mixed cutlery whilst unpacking.

Sharp knives need special care. Wrap blade sections in multiple layers of paper, then tape them securely. Label boxes containing knives as “CAUTION – SHARP KNIVES” in huge letters. You don’t want to slice your hand open whilst unpacking.

Kitchen utensils—spatulas, whisks, ladles, tongs—can go together in one box. But separate wooden spoons from metal utensils to prevent scratching. Put heavy items like rolling pins at the bottom, lighter items on top.

Pots, Pans, and Baking Tins

Pots and pans are heavy and awkward. But they’re also relatively durable compared to plates and glasses.

Pan packing strategy:

Stack pans inside each other like Russian dolls. Place a sheet of packing paper between each pan to prevent scratching non-stick surfaces. Wrap the entire stack in paper or bubble wrap.

Glass lids are the fragile part. Remove them and pack separately with plates or wrap them individually in bubble wrap. Never leave glass lids in pans during the move—they will break.

Baking tins can stack together. Wrap the stack to prevent them sliding about and getting scratched. Muffin tins, roasting tins, and cake tins all nest reasonably well.

Le Creuset, cast iron, and expensive pans deserve extra protection. Wrap each piece individually in bubble wrap. They’re heavy, so limit how many go in each box. A box of cast iron pans is incredibly heavy—too heavy to lift safely.

Small Appliances: Toaster, Kettle, Blender

Should you keep the original boxes for small appliances? If you’re someone who moves house regularly, yes absolutely.

Original boxes are perfectly sized and usually include custom foam inserts. But most people threw those boxes away years ago.

Packing small appliances without original boxes:

Clean everything thoroughly before packing. You don’t want to unpack a toaster full of old crumbs in your new kitchen. Remove crumb trays, wash them, and let everything dry completely.

Wrap appliances in bubble wrap, paying special attention to protruding parts. Blender blades, toaster levers, and kettle spouts are vulnerable.

Pack each appliance in its own appropriately sized box. Don’t try to cram three appliances in one box—they bash against each other and get damaged.

Keep cords wrapped and attached to their appliances. Use elastic bands or cable ties. Trying to match mysterious cables to appliances whilst unpacking is maddening.

Hand mixers, food processors, and anything with attachments need all their parts packed together. Put all attachments in a bag, tape it shut, and tape it to the main appliance. Nothing worse than unpacking a food processor but the blade is in a box somewhere in the garage.

Food: What to Pack, What to Bin

What should you do with all your food?

Moving house is the perfect time for a brutal kitchen clear-out. That tin of chickpeas from 2019? The spices you bought for one recipe three years ago? Bin them or donate them.

Food sorting strategy:

Start eating down your freezer three weeks before moving. Use up frozen meat, cook those mystery items in Tupperware, eat the ice cream. Defrost the freezer completely 2-3 days before moving.

Tinned and dried goods can move with you, but think carefully. Is it worth paying removal costs to transport a 79p tin of tomatoes? Many people find it cheaper to donate food to a food bank and buy fresh stock after moving.

Open packets of flour, sugar, rice, and pasta need proper sealing. Transfer them to zip-lock bags or sealed containers. Flour exploding in a moving box covers everything in a white powdery mess. I’ve seen it happen. It’s not pleasant.

Herbs and spices are lightweight and worth moving if you actually use them. Pack them in a small box clearly labelled. These are expensive to replace.

Oils and liquids need careful packing. Ensure lids are tight. Wrap bottles in plastic bags in case they leak. Pack them upright and separately from anything that would be ruined by olive oil.

Throw away anything approaching its use-by date. You don’t want to unpack food that needs immediate binning.

Cleaning Products and Under-Sink Items

The under-sink cupboard is everyone’s dumping ground. Random cleaning products, carrier bags, that thing you bought once and never used.

Under-sink packing approach:

Check what you actually need to move. Half-empty bottles of bathroom cleaner that cost £2? Just bin them and buy new ones. It’s not worth the packing effort.

Cleaning products must be packed carefully. Many removal companies won’t transport hazardous chemicals—bleach, drain unblocker, oven cleaner. Check your removal company’s policy.

If you’re moving cleaning products, ensure lids are sealed tight. Put bottles in plastic bags. Pack them separately from food items. Bleach leaking onto your pasta collection isn’t ideal.

Carrier bags, bin bags, and general plastic bags can be stuffed into one large bag. They weigh nothing and might be useful during unpacking.

Under-sink organizers and storage units should be emptied. They’re awkward shapes that don’t pack well when full.

Fridges and Freezers

How early should you defrost your fridge?

At least 24 hours before moving, ideally 48 hours. Fridges need to be completely defrosted, cleaned, and dry before moving. Water sloshing about inside a fridge during transit damages the appliance.

Fridge moving preparation:

Stop buying fresh food a week before moving. Eat what you have. The only fresh food you should be buying is milk for tea and bread.

Turn off and unplug the fridge 24-48 hours before moving. Remove all shelves and drawers, wrap them separately, and tape them together. Never leave them loose inside the fridge—they’ll break.

Clean the interior thoroughly with antibacterial cleaner. Wipe it completely dry. Leave doors open so air circulates and prevents mould forming.

Tape doors shut on moving day using removal tape, never duct tape (which leaves sticky residue). Secure them well—fridge doors flying open during transit is a disaster.

Most removal companies recommend transporting fridges upright. If a fridge must be tilted, let it stand upright for 24 hours before plugging it in at your new home. This allows coolant to settle properly.

Decorative and Rarely Used Items

Your kitchen probably contains items you use once a year. Fancy serving dishes for Christmas dinner. The cake stand for birthdays. The fondue set from 1983.

These get packed first because you don’t need them. They’re not essential for daily functioning.

First items to pack (3 weeks before):

• Special occasion serving dishes
• Wine glasses you only use for dinner parties
• The nice china that lives in the display cabinet
• Cookbooks (be honest, when did you last open them?)
• Decorative items—that bowl of decorative lemons, wall art, plants
• Specialty appliances—ice cream maker, bread machine, juicer you bought enthusiastically then never used

Packing these first makes your kitchen feel more manageable. You’ve made visible progress without impacting your ability to cook dinner.

Labelling: More Detail Than You Think Necessary

How should you label kitchen boxes?

With far more detail than seems reasonable. “Kitchen” isn’t enough. “Kitchen – plates and bowls” is better. “Kitchen – everyday dinner plates (white ones) and cereal bowls – FRAGILE” is perfect.

Effective labelling system:

Use permanent marker on multiple sides of each box. Write on top and at least two sides. You need to read labels regardless of how boxes are stacked.

Number your boxes. Kitchen Box 1, Kitchen Box 2, etc. Keep a master list on your phone of what’s in each numbered box. Lost your tin opener? Check your list, find Kitchen Box 7, locate that specific box.

Mark fragile items clearly. Use red marker. Write “FRAGILE” on all sides. Add specific warnings like “WINE GLASSES – THIS WAY UP” with arrows.

Indicate which room items belong in at the new house. “Kitchen – PANTRY cupboard items” tells removal men exactly where this box goes.

Consider colour-coded labels. Green stickers for kitchen, blue for bathroom, yellow for bedroom. Visual system helps removal teams place boxes correctly without reading detailed labels.

Common Kitchen Packing Mistakes

What do people consistently get wrong when packing kitchens?

Mistakes that cause problems:

Packing boxes too heavy. A box of tinned food weighs a ton. You can’t lift it. Removal men can’t lift it. The box splits open on the driveway. Use smaller boxes for heavy items.

Not wrapping fragile items individually. Stacking plates without paper between them. Guaranteed breakages. Every single item needs protection.

Leaving food in cupboards and drawers. Removal men won’t empty your cupboards for you. Everything needs to be in boxes before they arrive.

Packing the essentials box in the removal van. You can’t access it when you need it. Essentials travel in your car where you can reach them immediately.

Forgetting about the items on top of cupboards. That dusty roasting tin you use once a year. The fancy bottles of alcohol. Check every surface, including tops of units.

Not defrosting the fridge early enough. It’s still dripping on moving day. This creates water damage and delays.

Throwing random items in boxes at the last minute. You’ll never find anything. That tin opener is somewhere in one of these 30 identical boxes.

Unpacking Strategy: First Days in New Kitchen

You’ve arrived at your new house. There are 30 kitchen boxes. Where do you start? Check out the unplacking plan provided by removals company Removals Wimbledon (https://removals-wimbledon.co.uk).

Strategic unpacking order:

Unpack the essentials box first. Set up your kettle, mugs, and basic cooking equipment. Brew tea. This is essential for morale.

Unpack boxes needed for breakfast tomorrow. Bowls, spoons, cereal, milk. You need to feed everyone without massive upheaval.

Set up coffee station if you’re coffee drinkers. Kettle, coffee, mugs, spoons. Functional coffee setup prevents grumpiness.

Unpack everyday plates, bowls, cutlery, and glasses. You need these immediately. The fancy serving dishes can wait weeks.

Set up basic cooking equipment—pans, wooden spoons, spatulas, knives. You’re cooking dinner tonight with these.

Leave the rarely used items for last. Your kitchen doesn’t need to be perfectly organized in week one. It needs to be functional.

Unpack gradually over several days, not in one exhausting marathon. You’re tired from moving. Pace yourself. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Your kitchen won’t be either.

Your Kitchen Will Be Functional Again

Packing a kitchen feels overwhelming when you’re standing in the middle of it surrounded by stuff. But with systematic approach, proper materials, and realistic timeline, it’s completely manageable.

Start early. Pack gradually. Protect fragile items properly. Label everything clearly. Keep essentials accessible.

Your kitchen contains your life—the mugs you drink from every morning, the plates you eat dinner from, the pans you cook family meals in. These items deserve careful packing and thoughtful organization.

Take your time. Do it properly. You’ll thank yourself when you’re unpacking in your new home and everything’s intact, organized, and ready to use.

Now go make a cup of tea and start on those special occasion serving dishes.