How to Pack Books for Moving The Right Way

Books are sneaky. On the shelf, a row of paperbacks looks totally manageable. In a box, those same books can get so heavy not even two people can lift them. Our professional packing team sees this in almost every move. Someone's packed their books the same way they store them, and that's where things go wrong.

Here's the best way to pack books for moving, from the box you pick up to the label you write on the side.

Step 1: Choose the right book boxes for moving

Only use small boxes for packing books. A box roughly 30cm x 30cm x 30cm packed with paperbacks will weigh around 12–15 kilograms. That's about as heavy as you want to be carrying repeatedly. Anything bigger could break the base (or your back).

Good options for book boxes when moving:

• Liquor store boxes are great. They're built for glass, so the cardboard is usually thicker than your average cardboard box.
• Archive boxes or "book boxes" from a moving supplier are sized just right and hold up well under the weight.

Try to avoid reusing old boxes for books. The last thing you want is sharp-cornered books falling out of the bottom of the flimsy box while you’re carrying it.

Step 2: Pack the books in the right direction

Once you've got your box, it’s important to orient the books correctly if you want them to keep their shape during the move.

Hardcovers

Hardcovers can be packed one of three ways:

• Spine down: The binding is reinforced, so it can take the weight.
• Standing upright with the spine against the side of the box: Like how you stack your books on a bookshelf.
• Flat and stacked: As long as they are all the same shape and size.

Paperbacks

Stack them flat and horizontally, with heavier books at the bottom and lighter ones on top. Limit it to three to four layers only.

For both: avoid placing books spine up with pages facing down. That puts pressure on the page block instead of the binding, and you'll end up with fanned pages and warped covers.

Step 3: Fill the box properly

Fill the box up with books, but leave some space at the top and in between the books.

Use packing paper to firmly fill any gaps until the books have no room to move. Your target is to have a box that stays solid under pressure.

Do NOT fill the space with soft items like tea towels or stuffed toys. They can compress under the weight of the books. That creates extra space inside the box, and the books start to shift and lean, putting stress on the spines.

Do NOT fill the space with newspaper either. The ink can sometimes transfer onto covers and pages.

Step 4: Handle valuable books differently

You might have some collector’s editions, signed copies, expensive textbooks, or childhood mementos. If you've got books that are valuable, they deserve a bit of extra care before they go in a box.

• Wrap each one individually in acid-free tissue or clean butchers paper/newsprint — the same way you'd pack fragile items like glass or ceramics.
• Box them separately from your general book collection.
• Label the box clearly, and make sure it's loaded last and unloaded first. You don’t want it sitting under a pile of other things in the truck.
• Keep them in the cabin instead of the freight area of the truck or boot of the car.

Step 5: Label each box with weight and contents

If you want extra protection, label the boxes before you close them and move on with your moving day checklist. Write:

• What's in it and where it belongs (e.g. "Books — living room shelf")
• How much it weighs (e.g. "approx. 13kg")

The weight label helps your Sydney removalists make smart calls about stacking order in the truck, so heavier boxes don't end up crushing fragile ones underneath.

And at your new place, it lets you quickly work out which boxes need two people and which you can carry yourself.

Step 6: Always use two people for heavy boxes

Finally, it’s time for the move. Any book box over 10 kilograms should be a two-person lift. We know, it seems quicker to just get it done yourself. How heavy can some books be, right? But doing so for multiple heavy boxes is a sure way to injure yourself. Have someone available specifically to help with the heavy lifting and don't try to push through it solo.

Got a big collection? Storage might help

If you have a lot of books, moving them all on the same day as all your furniture can be tough. One option is putting some of them into short-term storage in Sydney before your main moving date. This way, you’ll have less heavy boxes to deal with on the day and more room on the truck.

Holloway Removals and Storage offers storage alongside a full removal, so you're dealing with one provider instead of two.

How to pack books for moving: Checklist

1. Use small boxes only (max 30×30×30cm): Liquor store boxes or book boxes work best.
2. Pack books in the right direction: Hardcovers spine down or upright, paperbacks flat with heavier books at the base. Never spine up, pages down.
3. Fill gaps with packing paper: The box shouldn't shift when you shake it.
4. Pack valuable books separately: Wrap in acid-free tissue, box separately, load last and unload first.
5. Label every box with contents and weight: "Books, living room, 13kg"
6. Use two people for anything over 10kg: Don't carry heavy boxes solo across multiple trips.

Packing books may seem like the easiest task of moving day. But books are heavy and boxes (and you) have limits. Take the time to pack them in the right boxes and in the right way. And make sure you've got the right removalist for the job while you're at it.

Moving in Sydney and want a team that knows how to handle the heavy stuff? Get a free quote today.