When people prepare for a house move, cardboard boxes and bubble wrap usually get the most attention. Yet one of the simplest and most useful supplies to have beside you while packing is packing paper.
Packing paper can wrap individual belongings, separate items inside boxes, protect surfaces from scratches, and fill unwanted gaps that could allow your possessions to move during transport. It is particularly useful in kitchens, where you may have dozens of plates, bowls, mugs and other items that need protection without adding too much bulk.
However, getting good results depends on knowing when and how to use it.
If you're preparing for a move anywhere in the UK, here's how to use packing paper for moving efficiently and where it can make the biggest difference.
What Is Packing Paper?
Packing paper is plain paper designed to protect belongings during packing, moving, and storage.
Unlike ordinary printed newspaper, proper packing paper gives you a clean surface for wrapping household items. You can fold, scrunch, layer, or place it between belongings, depending on what you need to protect.
That versatility is why it is useful throughout a house move.
You can use packing paper to:
- Wrap plates, bowls, mugs and ornaments
- Separate stacked household items
- Protect surfaces against rubbing and scratches.
- Cushion the bottom of cardboard boxes.
- Fill small empty spaces.
- Support hollow items
- Add an initial protective layer before bubble wrap.
Packing Solution supplies packing tissue paper alongside cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, and other moving materials, giving you the option to combine different types of protection rather than relying on one material for everything.
Packing Paper vs Bubble Wrap: Which Should You Use?
You don't necessarily have to choose one.
Packing paper and bubble wrap perform slightly different jobs, and they can work particularly well together.
Packing paper is thin, flexible, and convenient for wrapping lots of smaller household items. It is also useful for placing between surfaces and filling relatively small spaces.
Bubble wrap adds greater cushioning and shock protection, making it useful for particularly fragile, valuable, or delicate possessions.
For example, an ordinary dinner plate may only require suitable paper protection when packed correctly. A delicate decorative plate or valuable piece of china might benefit from paper around the surface followed by an additional layer of bubble wrap.
Packing Solution's existing guide to bubble wrap vs packing paper explains where each material is most useful.
The practical rule is simple: match the protection to the item rather than treating every possession the same.
How to Use Packing Paper for Plates
Plates are among the most common items people need to protect when moving house.
Begin with a clean, flat working area and place a sheet of packing paper down. Position the plate towards the center and bring the paper over its surface, covering the edges as well as the face of the plate.
For greater protection, add another sheet if required.
Repeat the process with every plate rather than wrapping an entire stack together.
Individual wrapping prevents hard surfaces from sitting directly against one another.
When placing the plates inside a suitable cardboard box for moving, avoid leaving them loose. The contents should remain stable rather than sliding around every time somebody lifts the box.
You can also place paper between plates for additional separation.
How to Pack Glasses and Mugs With Packing Paper
Glasses and mugs require slightly different treatment because they contain both exterior surfaces and hollow spaces.
Start by gently placing packing paper inside the glass or mug. This provides additional internal support.
Next, lay the item on another sheet and roll or fold the paper around it until the whole surface is covered.
Pay extra attention to:
- Glass rims
- Mug handles
- Stems
- Decorative edges
- Thin glass sections
Don't push too much paper tightly inside delicate glassware. The intention is to provide support, not create pressure from the inside.
Particularly delicate stemware or valuable glasses may need bubble wrap in addition to paper.
Don't Wrap Several Fragile Items Together
Saving paper by wrapping several glasses or ornaments inside one bundle might appear efficient, but it can defeat the purpose of protective packaging.
Objects inside the same wrapping can still make contact.
Instead, wrap breakable items separately before arranging them inside the box.
This creates a protective barrier between each object and makes it easier to position everything securely.
You can then wrap those individually wrapped pieces with additional packing paper to reduce movement.
Use Packing Paper at the Bottom of the Box
Protection isn't only needed around the object itself.
Before placing fragile belongings inside a box, create a cushioning layer at the bottom.
Scrunch suitable amounts of packing paper loosely and arrange it across the base before adding your wrapped possessions.
This helps create separation between your belongings and the bottom surface of the cardboard box.
However, don't depend on paper to compensate for a weak box.
Your moving box still needs to be strong enough to carry its contents. Packing Solution offers both single- and double-walled options, with stronger boxes available where greater support is required. The company's packing-box collection includes medium and extra-large double-walled options as well as single-walled boxes.
Fill Empty Spaces Before Closing the Box
One of the best uses for packing paper for boxes is gap filling.
Imagine putting six carefully wrapped mugs into a cardboard box. They may be perfectly protected individually, but if a large empty area remains beside them, the entire group can shift whenever the box changes direction.
That movement can cause damage.
Once the main contents are inside, check the edges and any significant gaps.
Loosely scrunch packing paper and position it where movement needs to be reduced.
Then perform a simple check before sealing the box: gently move it.
If you can hear or feel the contents shifting considerably, the packing is not finished yet.
Add protection until everything feels stable without being compressed.
Use Packing Paper Between Stacked Items
Not everything requires complete wrapping.
For some belongings, simply separating surfaces is useful.
Packing paper can be placed between:
- Plates
- Bowls
- Baking trays
- Small framed items
- Non-stick cookware
- Decorative objects
- Some ornaments
This helps prevent rubbing and scratching while allowing you to pack efficiently.
Remember that surface protection and impact protection are different things. If an object could easily break when dropped or knocked, consider additional cushioning rather than relying on a thin paper separator alone.
Don't Overfill the Moving Box
Packing paper can make items fit more securely, but it doesn't make a cardboard box infinitely strong.
As you fill a box, keep an eye on its total weight.
A common packing mistake is to continue adding items simply because there is still physical space inside. The result can be a box that is difficult to lift, uncomfortable to carry, and placed under unnecessary strain.
For heavy belongings, smaller boxes often make more sense.
Larger boxes are generally better suited to lightweight but bulky possessions.
Packing Solution's guide to choosing the right cardboard box size for every room provides more detail on matching box sizes to household contents.
Packing Paper Is Useful Beyond the Kitchen
Although plates and glasses are obvious candidates, packing paper has uses throughout the house.
In a bedroom, it can help protect smaller decorative pieces, accessories and surfaces.
In the living room, use it around ornaments, picture frames and decorative objects before deciding whether additional bubble wrap is necessary.
In an office, packing paper can separate accessories and cushion smaller equipment.
You can also use sheets to protect items from rubbing directly against cardboard.
The aim isn't to wrap everything you own in several layers. Instead, identify surfaces and objects that could scratch, chip, or move during transportation and add protection where it provides a genuine benefit.
Combine Packing Paper With Strong Cardboard Boxes
Protective materials work best as part of a complete packing system.
Start with a box suitable for the weight and dimensions of your belongings. Add protection at the bottom where appropriate. Wrap or separate vulnerable possessions, arrange them carefully, fill unwanted gaps, and then securely seal the box using strong packing tape.
Packing Solution's cardboard boxes for moving range includes different sizes and specialist options for household moves.
Once sealed, label the box with both its destination room and important handling information.
For example:
KITCHEN – PLATES & BOWLS – FRAGILE
A clear label makes unpacking easier and tells anyone handling your move that the box requires additional care.
How Much Packing Paper Will You Need?
There isn't one quantity that suits every house move.
A household with a large kitchen, extensive glassware collection and lots of ornaments will naturally use more paper than a small flat with relatively few breakables.
Instead of trying to calculate an exact sheet for every item, think about which rooms contain the most possessions requiring wrapping.
The kitchen will usually account for a significant proportion, followed by living areas containing decorations and framed belongings.
Buying your packing materials before you start also prevents the frustrating situation of running out halfway through a room.
And if you're planning the whole move rather than one room, the simple packing guide provides a broader packing plan covering boxes, protection and moving-day preparation.
Small Packing Decisions Can Prevent Bigger Problems
Good packing isn't about using as much packaging as possible. It's about putting the right protection in the right place.
Packing paper for moving house is particularly useful because one simple material can wrap belongings, separate surfaces, cushion boxes and stop unwanted movement.
Use it individually around vulnerable household items, add extra protection where necessary and combine it with strong cardboard boxes, bubble wrap and reliable packing tape.
At Packing Solution, you'll find packing paper and tissue paper alongside moving boxes, bubble wrap and other packing materials for moving house, so you can prepare your move using materials designed for the job.
A few extra minutes spent wrapping, cushioning and filling gaps while packing can make unpacking at your new home much easier—and considerably less worrying.
