What You Will Need:
One book may not feel heavy but once you’ve got 20, 30 or 40 books in one box, that’s a different story.
It is important to make sure you use strong, sturdy small cardboard boxes for your books. You want to use small boxes so you don’t overpack them until they become too heavy to lift. Try and use brand new boxes rather than second hand boxes for your books so you know the boxes can sustain the weight.
Begin by making sure the box is taped properly and well reinforced to be able to hold your books. You don’t want to pick up your packed box and see the bottom fall through along with your books. Be generous with the tape and place the tape vertically and horizontally and take the tape to at least halfway up the sides of the boxes for extra reinforcement.
Line the box with a few sheets of packing paper for additional cushioning and protection for your books.
Before you begin throwing your books into boxes, sort them out by type and size. Group all your hardcover books together and all your paperback books together. Once they have been grouped together, sort them out by size. You want to pack all the same size books together in one box so they can neatly be stacked with minimal amount of space wasted.
Hardcover Books
The best way to pack hardcover books is to place them in the box standing upright. Place the spine of the book against the sides of the box. This is the same way you stack your books on your bookshelf. You can also pack hardcover books flat and stacked if they are all the same shape and size.
Do not pack the books too tightly in the box as you may cause damage to the books when it is time to take them out for unpacking. You can use scrunched up packing paper as padding to help keep the books standing upright in the box.
If you have hardcover books that hold some value, individually wrap these books in packing paper before packing them up. You should also place small pieces of cardboard between each book so the spines of the book can remain straight during the move.
Paperback Books
With paperback books, it is recommended to pack them flat and stacked. This is especially great when all the books are the same size so try and pack all the same sized books together. When packing your books flat and stacked, place the heavier books on the bottom of the pile and work your way up to the top with the lighter books.
You can also pack them with the spine facing downwards and the paper edge facing upwards. This will minimise the chance of your pages and books bending during the move.
If you have any gaps in the box, fill them with scrunched packing paper or other soft household items like towel, clothes or linen. Filling the gaps will help prevent bowing and shifting.
Do not pack them with the paper edge facing downwards as that can distort the shape of the book and bend the pages.
With all the different shapes, sizes and types of books you may have in your personal library, you may need to utilise all the different ways of packing your books for the ultimate efficient pack.
