How to pack books without making impossible boxes
Choose boxes, protect book covers and keep the weight manageable. A practical guide to moving the books you want on your next shelf.
Before you start
Use manageable boxes, support the books and label them for the shelves they are going to.
Books make wonderfully unhelpful moving boxes. They look compact on a shelf, then become a considerable load when you gather them all in one place.
The useful approach is to pack them in manageable groups, protect their condition and label them so they can find their way back onto shelves. If your collection is part of a wider packing job, include it when discussing full or partial packing.
Decide which books are making the move
Start with the shelves that contain books you are least likely to need before moving day. Keep current reading, work references and anything borrowed separately.
A book does not need to justify its presence in your next home. You can keep it because you like it. The practical question is whether you want to pack, carry and find shelf space for it. If the answer is no, allow time to arrange its next destination.
Do not assume that a donation point will accept every book. Confirm what it takes and when you can deliver before packing a box specifically for donation. Keep those boxes separate from the moving load.
Use a box that suits the weight
Choose a sound, reasonably small box rather than filling a large one with books. Check the base, seams and condition before you begin. A box weakened by previous use or moisture is a poor choice for a dense load.
Stop packing while the box is still manageable. There is no useful universal book count: a shelf of paperbacks and a shelf of large hardbacks are different loads. If you cannot handle the box comfortably, divide its contents rather than assuming the person carrying it will solve the problem.
Close the flaps without forcing them. If a book is too large for the container, give it a better-fitting box instead of bending a cover to make the dimensions work.
Keep books supported and clean
Place ordinary books flat in small, stable groups, with larger volumes beneath smaller ones. Avoid arrangements that bend covers or leave a book wedged diagonally under pressure. Fill empty areas with suitable clean packing material so the books cannot move freely inside the closed box.
Keep books away from leaking toiletries, pantry items and other sources of moisture. A nearly empty bottle is still capable of ruining the contents of a box.
Do not put adhesive tape directly onto covers or dust jackets. If you add protection around a volume, secure that protection without sticking it to the book itself. Take particular care with loose jackets and covers already showing wear.
These are ordinary packing considerations. A fragile binding, rare edition or valuable collection deserves advice specific to its condition. The Library of Congress book-preservation resources are a useful starting point for identifying when ordinary household packing is not the right approach.
Keep the organization you will want later
Choose an arrangement that helps at the destination. You might group books by room, subject, household member or the shelf they came from. There is no need to build a catalogue if all you need is to distinguish work books from bedtime stories.
Photograph a shelf before emptying it if its arrangement matters to you. A photograph can save a long discussion with yourself about where that particular collection used to sit.
Give each box a clear room name and a short contents description. “Living room: novels A–F” is more useful than “Books 4” unless you have a list explaining what number four means. Our box-labeling guide shows how to keep the system simple.
Tell the mover about the collection
Describe the number of packed boxes and any unusually large or valuable volumes when discussing the move. If packing is still underway, say that the final quantity may change.
Show any shelving that is also moving, including pieces that may require assessment before disassembly. Do not leave the books in a freestanding bookcase and assume it can be moved as a loaded unit. Ask how the furniture should be prepared.
For a collection going into storage, discuss the storage arrangements and packing requirements before sealing everything. Conditions suitable for everyday furniture are not automatically the right answer for sensitive paper or bindings.
Unpack when the shelves are ready
At the new address, make sure the intended shelves are stable, clean and dry before putting books back. Keep boxes out of the carrying route while larger furniture is being positioned.
Unpack a manageable group at a time. If you changed your mind about a shelf layout during the move, the labels still give you a way to find what you need without emptying every box at once.
Keep the books you expect to read first easy to reach. Moving may have interrupted the chapter; it does not have to lose your place.
Common questions
Should you pack books flat or upright?
For ordinary books, small flat groups in a suitable box are a useful approach: keep them supported and avoid bending covers or putting pressure on uneven stacks. Upright packing needs adequate support so books cannot slump or shift. Fragile bindings, rare volumes and unusually large books need advice suited to their condition.
How many books should I put in each moving box?
There is no useful fixed count because book sizes and weights vary. Choose a sound, manageable box and stop before the load becomes difficult to handle comfortably. Divide a heavy box rather than relying on its remaining space. The flaps should close normally, with the books supported and empty areas appropriately filled.
Should I make an inventory of every book?
Only if that level of detail is useful to you. For an ordinary household collection, room and subject labels may be enough. A photograph of each shelf can preserve an arrangement you want to recreate. Valuable collections or books going into storage may benefit from a more detailed record kept separately from the packed boxes.