Packing books for a move is easy to underestimate. They seem manageable enough until you lift the first box and realise it weighs as much as a small person. Improperly packed book boxes are one of the most common causes of bent spines, ripped pages, and strained backs on moving day.
We’ve covered quite a number of packing tips and advice before. Books, however, are a whole other story.
TL;DR
- Use small, sturdy double-walled cardboard boxes (no deeper than 16 inches), books are heavy and overfilling splits the base and injures backs.
- Pack books flat in stacks, not upright, with the largest and heaviest volumes at the bottom of the box.
- Fill every gap with packing paper, old towels, or clothing, loose books shift in transit and damage spines.
- Label every book box clearly as “HEAVY, BOOKS” so your removals crew load it at the bottom of the van.
- For paperbacks, wrap in tissue paper before boxing to protect covers during the move.
- For antique or collector’s books, use acid-free tissue and clean hands or gloves, and remove all bookmarks before packing.
- Use specialist book boxes (around 355 × 355 × 355 mm), standard large boxes encourage overpacking and become impossible to lift safely.
Table of Contents
How to Pack Books in Boxes, General Packing Tips
To pack books for moving, use small, sturdy cardboard boxes (no bigger than 16 inches deep), pack books flat with the heaviest at the bottom, fill all gaps with packing paper, and seal firmly with brown packing tape. Label every box clearly as heavy. That’s the foundation, here’s how to do it step by step.
How to pack books for moving using the right boxes, packing order, and materials to protect your collection and keep boxes safe to lift.
Choose the right box size
Look for small, sturdy corrugated cardboard boxes, ideally no deeper than about 40 cm (16 inches). The smaller the box, the less likely you are to overfill it. Books are dense, and a large box packed with them can easily exceed 30 kg.
Line the box with packing paper
Before adding any books, line the inside of the box with tissue or packing paper. This is especially useful for hardbacks with attractive slipcovers, as it prevents scuffing against the cardboard.
Load heaviest books first
Place your largest, heaviest books at the bottom of the box first. This keeps the centre of gravity low and prevents lighter books from being crushed underneath.
Pack books flat, not upright
Stack books flat (cover-to-cover) rather than standing them on their spines. Upright packing risks damage if other boxes are stacked on top. Depending on the size of your packing boxes for books, you should be able to fit two separate flat stacks side by side.
Fill all gaps with padding
Once the books are in, fill any empty space with packing paper, old newspaper, clothing, or towels. This stops the books shifting in transit, which is the most common cause of bent spines and damaged covers.
Don’t overfill, leave some headroom
Leave a gap of roughly 2.5 cm (about an inch) between the top of the books and the lid of the box. Overfilling makes the box harder to seal and puts stress on the base.
Seal firmly with packing tape
Use brown packing tape to seal the box, running several strips across the base as well as the lid. A well-taped box protects the books inside and reduces your moving costs, books in good condition need no restoration.
Label the box clearly
Write “HEAVY, BOOKS” on at least two sides of the box, and note which room it belongs in. This tells your removals crew to load it at the bottom of the van. See our professional tips for labelling moving boxes for more on this.
Check this video below, which perfectly illustrates how to put some of these general tips for packing books before a move into practice:
Credits: Upack
What Are the Best Moving Boxes for Books?
Choosing the right moving boxes for books makes a bigger difference than most people expect. The temptation is to grab whatever large boxes are available and pack as many books as possible into each one. Don’t. A large box full of books can easily reach 30 kg or more, too heavy to lift safely and likely to split at the base.
The right book boxes for moving are small to medium in size, made from double-walled corrugated cardboard, and ideally no deeper than about 40 cm. With Fantastic Removals, you can choose between medium and large moving boxes depending on your needs. Medium boxes measure 355 × 355 × 355 mm and are ideal for books. Large boxes (457 × 457 × 457 mm) are fine for lighter paperbacks but should never be filled entirely with books, they become unmanageable. The same box dimensions work just as well if you’re packing books for storage rather than a move.
You don’t necessarily need to buy boxes new. You can often find free high-quality removals boxes if you search the right places. If you’d rather have them delivered, we offer a packing materials delivery service, just tell us what you need and we’ll get it to you.
Materials You’ll Need
- Strong cardboard boxes, small, sturdy, double-walled, ideally no deeper than 16 inches. See the section above for recommended dimensions.
- Packing tape, brown packing tape is best for keeping boxes sealed. Masking tape is easier to remove and less likely to cause damage if it touches a cover directly, so keep some of that handy too.
- Gap-filler materials, packing paper, old newspaper, clothing, towels, or rags. These go between and around the books to prevent shifting in transit.
- Tissue paper, useful for wrapping individual paperbacks or hardbacks with slipcovers before they go into the box.
Check also:
How Heavy Are Packed Book Boxes?
Overfill a box of books, and you will soon find it impossible to lift. Even boxes that aren’t quite full can become awkward to handle. You only need to carry a few before feeling the strain on your back. A medium box packed entirely with hardbacks can easily hit 20 kg. A large one filled to the brim can exceed 30 kg, well above the recommended limit for safe lifting without assistance.
The practical rule: if you can’t comfortably pick the box up with both hands and walk with it, it’s too heavy. Redistribute some books into a second box rather than pushing your luck.
Book a packing service with Fantastic Removals!
Enter your postcode to view our rates and availability in your area.
For questions about the services we offer visit our main site or you can always call us at 020 3746 0584
How to Pack Books for Travel
When you move abroad or travel outside your city, it’s important to pack your books in a way that ensures their protection. Pull a paperback out of a badly packed bag after a long journey and you’ll often find bent corners, creased covers, and pages that look like they’ve been through a tumble dryer. For collector’s books, that kind of damage reduces their value immediately.
Avoid packing books loose, as pages that aren’t secured can crease or tear during transit. Below are a few extra tips on how to pack your books when travelling. Use them alongside the general packing tips in this post to make sure your favourite reads arrive intact:
- Use the laptop compartment of your backpack if it has one.
It provides extra protection for anything stored inside and a book is no exception. You could also use some bubble wrap to add extra padding and protect your book. - Pack some books that are strictly related to the country or specific place you are about to visit.
If you don’t find such books, at least try to get your hands on a read written by an international author from the country you are going to. It’ll provide a unique feeling during and after the trip. - Don’t take too many books with you.
There will be plenty of opportunities to buy some on site when you arrive at your destination. - Ask your travelling partners what they will be reading.
Discuss any opportunities for a book swap and consider this when choosing what reads to take from your own collection. - Take only selected pages from your guidebooks if possible.
You’ll only need information for the specific location you’re heading to. You can scan or photocopy the relevant sections if digital editions are unavailable, no need to take apart a mint-condition paperback.
How to Pack Books in a Suitcase
Use the same principles for packing books inside boxes when packing a suitcase. International removal companies can advise you on protecting books in general and will be useful when preparing for a longer trip. Here are some specific tips for packing books in a suitcase:
- If you’re planning to travel with a wheeled suitcase, pack any heavy books inside it.
- Keep your hand luggage as light as possible when flying.
The last thing you need is to carry around a heavy bag, especially one without wheels. If you want something to read on the plane, pack only light editions, short guidebooks and nothing bulky. - Avoid putting sharp objects inside the suitcase alongside your books.
They may damage the slipcover and ruin the condition of your valuable reads. - Provide additional protection by placing the book inside a plastic bag.
This keeps it safe if it comes into contact with food, drinks, or toiletries. - Make a list of things to exclude from your suitcase.
Don’t limit yourself to just these tips. Return to the general packing steps above and consider which ones apply to your particular needs when packing books inside a suitcase.
Check also:
How to Pack Mirrors for Moving
How to Pack Books for Shipping
Whether you own a bookstore or regularly sell books online, you need to know how to properly pack a book for shipping. Proper packing ensures the book reaches the buyer intact. Damaged books are usually returned to the seller at their expense.
Bubble mailers are popular among online sellers, but they don’t always provide enough protection. The most common issue with books sent inside bubble mailers is bent or folded corners, as they get pressed against other items during the shipping process.
It’s standard practice to ship a book in either a bubble-padded envelope or a solid box. Out of the two, the box is far more secure. If you’ve decided to use a mailer, follow these tips:
How to Ship Books In a Bubble Mailer
- Reinforce the book corners by cutting pieces of cardboard to size.
Fold them into shape and secure the book corners. Make sure the protection stays in place when you slip the book into the bubble envelope. This way, the edges won’t get folded or deformed during shipping. - Pack the book in a soft fabric before putting it in the envelope.
Cotton works best, it absorbs moisture if the package gets wet accidentally during shipping. - Place a piece of cardboard beneath and above the book for additional support, wrap it with tape, and then put it inside the mailer.
This gives the book extra resistance against pointed objects that might come into contact with the covers or pages. - Improve the durability of the bubble mailer.
You can secure the package with additional bubble wrap on the outside and tape it down. Do this if you have reason to believe the package will be handled roughly during shipping.
Our professional packing services are available across our service areas, don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like us to handle this for you.
How to Ship Books in a Box
Using a box when shipping books gives you plenty of benefits:
- You get increased protection for the books
- You can place multiple books inside one box, which counts as one package
- Boxes are easier to handle and transport
Follow these tips to make sure the shipping of your books in a box goes smoothly:
- Pick a box of appropriate dimensions.
Choose one that can fit all your books, leaving only a small gap of free space inside. - Pad the bottom of the box with bubble wrap and lay the first book on top.
Then add another layer of bubble wrap and place the second book on top. Repeat until you’ve placed the last book, then finish with another layer of bubble wrap on top. This keeps the covers well-protected and prevents books pressing against each other even if heavy items are stacked on the box during transit. - Before sealing the box, fill any remaining gap with packing paper or newspaper.
Aim to position the books in the centre of the box and pad out the sides. This stops everything shifting during delivery.
How to Pack Books for Storage
The best way to store books is to pack them specifically for a storage facility. Whether you use your own space or book a professional storage service is up to you.
Storage is usually required when you need to free space in your home but have nowhere else to put things. For the short-term storage of your books, follow these packing tips:
- Pack the books
Use the tips above and choose the most suitable packing materials and cardboard boxes for book storage. Paperbacks are best stored packed flat in boxes. - Consider the duration of the storage period
The longer books are stored, the more exposed to the environment they become. Humidity and pests destroy books stored for a long period without any regular check on their condition. - Evaluate the risk for rodent issues
If the storage facility is in a basement, there is a higher risk of rats entering and chewing on the books’ pages. Rats have ever-growing incisors and need to chew on something to keep them in check. When choosing a container, make sure it is resistant to rat teeth. - Provide additional support
If you use a removal firm, your boxes will be stored in a personal storage container. In a shared storage unit, other items might be placed on top. This can put significant pressure on your boxes and damage the books inside. Fill any free space with padding, or use a more solid box, plastic or metal is preferable if you’re unsure about the service provider’s storage practices. - Apply the “spine down” rule
When dealing with a large number of books that can’t be stacked flat, pack them with the spine facing down. This is known as spine shelving. Packing with the pages facing down can cause the pages to bend due to insufficient support. - Determine the size of the storage container
When hiring a storage company for a long-term storage service, always enquire about the size of their containers. At Fantastic Removals, we use containers of the following dimensions: 2.10 x 1.80 x 2.30 (length, width, height in metres). For books alone, you can often use a much smaller container.
Before we carry out an international moving and storage service, we always ask customers whether they need help with packing. If they do, we send a team of packers to handle that first, then the specialists proceed with loading and transporting the items to the storage facility.
How to Pack Books for Long-Term Storage
Long-term storage is when you store your items for longer than 6 months and have no access to your belongings during this period. CCTV cameras usually monitor your items, providing complete video control for your boxes.
Boxes stored for a long period sustain significant depreciation as they become exposed to humidity and other environmental threats. To properly preserve your boxes during long-term storage, follow this advice:
- Don’t store boxes on a concrete floor.
Keep them off the ground to prevent water intrusion. Cardboard boxes will absorb moisture if left directly on the floor. - Distribute the books across several moving boxes.
This makes them easier to load and transport to the storage facility. - Avoid using moving boxes with handle holes when storing books in basements or attics.
Those holes can serve as entry points for rodents. This isn’t a concern if a moving company is providing your storage, as the container is sealed. - Ensure protection from silverfish.
Talk to a pest control specialist who can advise on protecting your boxes and books from silverfish and other insects. You can also check this guide on how to protect books from silverfish in your home library.
Note: Tight plastic containers are not a solution against silverfish as the lack of air will cause condensation, leading to moisture build-up. During long-term storage, always ensure solid containers have tiny gaps or punctures as a countermeasure against condensation.
Kim Ukura Book blogger & contributing editor at BookRiot
"Don’t pack all of your books! Make sure you leave out a few options to read just before and after your move, especially if you’ll be without your full library for any length of time. Put these books in the same box you put all of your other “emergency” supplies like contact information, medication, and cell phone chargers. Being without a good book would be a disaster."
Choosing the Best Storage Boxes for Books
Before booking a storage company, make sure you have the right moving boxes for the job. Most removal companies offer boxes in a range of dimensions. With Fantastic Removals, you can choose between medium, large, and wardrobe moving boxes depending on your needs.
Medium moving boxes measure exactly 355 × 355 × 355 mm, while large ones are about 30% bigger at 457 × 457 × 457 mm. Both types are suitable for packing your books before a move or for storage. You can also use the same moving boxes to ship books. It’s always worth keeping a few spare boxes, as you may need them later.
Book Fantastic Removals for a quick and hassle-free relocation!
Enter your postcode to view our rates and availability in your area.
For questions about the services we offer visit our main site or you can always call us at 020 3746 0584
Packing Antique Books
Antique books are tricky when it comes to packing them properly. The value of an old or rare edition increases over time, which means a damaged antique book loses most of its value instantly, no matter how much older it gets.
Once damaged, it will never fully regain its maximum value. Even professional restoration leaves visible marks that a genuine collector will notice.
Take some additional security measures when packing antique paperbacks, regardless of whether you’re storing or shipping them. Non-concerned parties should have zero access to the contents of the box.
The last thing you need is to pursue a legal claim because someone tampered with the box and damaged your antique books. If necessary, label the box and state that extra care should be taken, in case customs decide to inspect the package.
Follow these tips for taking proper care of antique books during packing:
- Clean your hands thoroughly before handling any antique books.
Using gloves is also a good idea if you want to avoid leaving fingerprints on the covers. - Keep food, drinks, and other liquids away from the antique editions during packing.
- Remove any bookmarks.
They may react with the paper during storage or shipping and leave marks on the pages. - Leave slight gaps for better air circulation to prevent condensation.
- Minimise exposure to light.
The darker the container, the less chance of light permeating through the surface.
Check also:
Tips During Storage of Antique Books
- Keep away from heaters and ventilation outlets.
- Clean and dust the place and the shelves regularly.
- Keep the books from getting their covers and pages filled with dust or other microscopic abrasive particles.
- Ensure you take preventative measures against rodents and insects.
- Avoid slipcases as they don’t provide proper support for the book spine.
- Books wider than 8 cm and taller than 50 cm are best packed flat inside the box.
- Avoid stacking more than 3 books. Avoid storage areas where the air is too dry.
Dry air causes paper to become brittle and leather bindings to dry out, which leads to cracking.
By following the tips above, you’ll preserve the condition of your antique books and protect their value over time. A book’s saleability depends entirely on it remaining in perfect condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books can fit in a moving box?
A standard medium book box (355 × 355 × 355 mm) typically holds 20–30 paperbacks or 10–15 large hardbacks before it becomes too heavy to lift safely. Fill to no more than three-quarters capacity if you’re mixing hardbacks and paperbacks, and always check the weight before sealing, if you can’t carry it comfortably, redistribute into a second box.
Should I pack books spine-up or flat when moving?
For moving, pack books flat (stacked cover-to-cover) wherever box space allows. If you need to stand them upright, place them spine-down, never spine-up or pages-down, both of which put strain on the binding. The flat method is safest because it distributes weight evenly and reduces the risk of damage if other boxes are stacked on top.
How do I pack books for moving without boxes?
If you haven’t sourced boxes yet, a wheeled suitcase works well for heavy hardbacks, it protects the spines and takes the weight off your back. A sturdy backpack can handle a small number of paperbacks for a short move, and reusable shopping bags are a reasonable option for a very short-distance move with lighter books. That said, proper cardboard boxes remain the safest choice for any meaningful volume of books.
Take advantage of our storage service!
Enter your postcode to view our rates and availability in your area.
For questions about the services we offer visit our main site or you can always call us at 020 3746 0584
In conclusion
You can do a lot to protect your cherished books during a house move. Invest in quality packing materials. Your choice will vary depending on whether you’ll unpack your books immediately at your new home or plan on storing them for a while. Choose containers that will protect your collection from moisture, bad weather, hungry pests, and the general rough-and-tumble of a moving day.
Repay your books for all the great adventures they’ve taken you on by going the extra mile to make sure they make it safely through the move.
