You don’t have to be a bibliophile to want your packed books to arrive safely at their destination. Maybe you move people for a living, you’re a serial renter, a book collector, a student, a casual book lover, or just someone who has books to move along with other things. Here are the expert recommended moving tips for packing books with the least possible chance of bending, warping, or other damage.
Why Packing Books Right Protects Your Collection (and Your Back)
So, you’re packing up your books, and things just aren’t fitting right.
First off, the shapes of books and the sizes are completely random in a typical collection. You’ve got a mix of paperback books, hardcovers, and spiral bounds, all in various sizes. Of course you’ll be challenged fitting them into a container.
Then there’s the weight. If you’ve traveled with books, you know how heavy paper is. Add up the weight of a mere four books and you’ve got something hefty to contend with.
Beyond the weight and the varying sizes, poor packing technique can do visible damage to the books, which is a problem when you have a valuable collection, even if it’s just emotional value. Spines crack, covers bend, dust jackets crease, and pages warp when books are crammed into the wrong size box or positioned incorrectly. A crushed hardcover or a paperback with a folded spine is still readable, but it’s never quite the same.
Big John’s Moving has been packing and moving NYC book collections since 1977, including fragile personal libraries, academic archives, and rare collections. Our professional moving company team has seen exactly what separates a successful book move from a bad one.
Your Book-Packing Supply Kit: What to Gather Before You Start
Going the DIY route? Here’s what you’ll need.
Use small boxes. A sturdy cardboard box around 1.5 cubic feet is the sweet spot for a book box. Anything bigger becomes too heavy to lift safely and puts stress on the box seams. Small, sturdy boxes are your best friend when you’re moving books.
For packing materials, you’ll want heavy-duty packing tape (not the cheap stuff). You’ll want archival quality packing paper for padding and bubble wrap for first editions and such. If you’re moving rare or older books, pick up some acid-free tissue paper at a hobby store. It protects covers and pages in a way that regular paper can’t. Grab a couple fat markers for labeling.
If you’re in NYC and can’t imagine hauling supplies home on the subway, Big John’s runs a packing supply showroom and offers free delivery on Manhattan orders over $75.
Your 7-Step Method for Packing a Box of Books Correctly
Here’s how to pack boxes for moving your books.
Step 1: Run an extra strip of packing tape along the bottom seam of the moving box before you put anything inside. Book boxes get really heavy, and a single layer of tape doesn’t cut it.
Step 2: Line the bottom with crumpled packing paper. This cushions the first layer of books and acts like a shock absorber.
Step 3: Sort your books by size, not subject matter, before loading. Hardcovers together, paperbacks together, oversized books in their own box. Trying to categorize like putting all your cookbooks together is a recipe for disaster.
Step 4: Load books using the right orientation. Most books go in spine-down, pages facing up.
Step 5: Fill gaps with crumpled packing material paper or bubble wrap. You want to avoid empty space that lets books move around during transit. That’s the kind of thing that leads to bent covers and spine damage. Go for snug, but not too tight. Don’t try to force in that last book. Just fill the gap with crumpled paper and pack that last book with something else.
Step 6: Seal the top properly. Fold the flaps and run packing tape across the top seam and along both side seams for a solid seal.
Step 7: Label the box clearly. Write the destination room, the word “BOOKS,” and a weight warning if it’s on the heavier side.
Big John’s professional packers follow this step-based protocol on full-service moves because consistency is what prevents in-transit damage.
Flat or Upright? The Right Way to Position Your Books in a Box
Getting into the details of optimal book positioning for moving; for standard hardcovers and paperbacks, pack them upright with the spine facing down and pages facing up. In other words, they’re lying back on their spine. This position spreads the book’s weight across the spine instead of forcing it to bend under pressure. (It also lets you fit more books per box when they’re close in size!)
Oversized books, coffee table hardcover books, and photo albums are a different story. These should go in flat, stacked on top of each other. Their size makes upright packing awkward, and trying to force them in alongside smaller books puts stress on both the covers and the binding.
How to Protect Your Rare, Antique & Signed Editions in Transit
Valuable books, emotional and financial, get extra attention. Your childhood books that your parents read to you in bed. The books your college boyfriend gave you. The books that changed how you see life. And yes, the ones that hold monetary value. Maybe you have a collection of first editions, signed copies, leather-bound volumes, or similar.
In cases like this, start by wrapping each book individually in that acid-free tissue paper you invested in. Then add a layer of bubble wrap on top of that. Never put newsprint or regular paper directly against a rare book. You’ll regret that. The acids in standard paper can transfer to covers and pages.
For first editions, signed copies, and leather-bound books, use acid-free and lignin-free archival boxes. The Library of Congress recommends them for prolonged storage, and preservation-grade options from providers like Gaylord Archival have passed the Photographic Activity Test. Standard, sturdy moving boxes are fine if you pad them really well, but archival boxes offer real peace of mind for anything irreplaceable.
If you’re moving a significant rare book collection, it’s worth talking to Big John’s during your free estimate about declared-value coverage and specialty handling. We have experience with fine art, antiques, and valuable collectibles, so this isn’t unfamiliar territory for them.
Moving a Large Book Collection: Downsize, Sort, Then Pack
If you’ve got hundreds or thousands of books to move, don’t start with boxes. Start with editing.
Before you pack a single thing, go through your collection and pull out what you’re willing to part with. Be real with yourself about the books you want to keep and the books you could let go and not miss in the future. Libraries, local bookstores, charities, and textbook resellers will happily take donations.
For collections over a few hundred books, professional packing services are totally worth it. The time savings alone are significant, but so is the damage prevention. Big John’s professional packing service is built for exactly this kind of move, with decades of experience in NYC brownstones and academic households where large book collections are the norm.
How to Lift, Label & Load Your Book Boxes Without Hurting Yourself
Even when you’ve packed perfectly, book boxes are still heavy. Here’s how to handle them safely without spending the next week on your couch nursing a strained back muscle.
For book boxes, do yourself a favor and use a dolly, stacking like-sized boxes together. For lifting, lift with your legs and keep your back straight. Book boxes are one of the most common sources of moving-day injuries, and it’s usually because someone thought they would be a hero and try to do it without a dolly.
Label every box clearly on at least two sides. Write the destination room in large letters, the words “BOOKS” and “HEAVY” for heavy boxes.
A shortcut is printing out labels for your books boxes. Then affix them to multiple sides, so they’re readable no matter what side is facing out.
Book boxes go on the bottom when loading up because they’ll support lighter weights on top of them, but crush anything below.
Questions NYC Movers Get Asked About Packing Books
Can I use suitcases or plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes?
Yes, and for books specifically, rolling suitcases are a great option. The wheels take the weight off your back. Sturdy plastic bins also work well for shorter moves. You can get really durable ones at home supply stores.
How many books should go in a single box?
Keep each book box under 40 pounds as a hard limit, and aim for 25 to 30 pounds in practice. For a small box, that’s roughly two-thirds full of average hardcovers.
Should I vacuum-seal books for long-term storage or humidity protection?
Generally, no. Sealed bags can trap existing moisture against your books, especially if they’re going to storage units before they go to your new location. The Library of Congress recommends a stable, cool, relatively dry environment around 35% relative humidity.
Do professional movers pack books for you?
Yes! Big John’s offers full-service moving that includes packing. For large or specialty collections, having our professionals handle the packing can be the difference between a one-day job and a week of sore muscles after moving day. If you’re dealing with a legitimate book collection, it’s worth asking about during your moving service estimate.