Packing
How to Pack Books for Moving
Books are heavy, awkward to stack and easy to damage. A few simple rules keep covers flat, spines straight and pages intact all the way to your new shelves.
Packing · March 3, 2026 · 4 min read
Packing a book collection is not just about weight. Each book needs to arrive in the same condition it left, without crushed corners, bent covers, creased pages or torn dust jackets.
Once you know the right method, packing books becomes one of the more satisfying jobs on your moving list.
What to Do When Packing Books
Books can feel like old friends, but most of us own a few we read once and will never open again. A move is the ideal time to let those go so someone else can enjoy them.
Start early, take your time and donate the titles you no longer need to a library, school or local charity. Every book you give away is one less you have to box and carry.
With your collection trimmed down, follow these steps to get the rest of it safely to your new home.
Steps for Packing Books
- Step 1
Start early
Packing books always takes longer than expected. Each one needs to be placed carefully so the box stays tight and even, and valuable editions need extra wrapping. Begin with the shelves you browse least, a week or more before moving day.
- Step 2
Group books by size
Sorting by size makes it much easier to fill each box neatly. Keep hardcovers separate from paperbacks. Height and width matter more than thickness. Graphic novels, art books and other oddly shaped volumes should be grouped with books of similar dimensions.
- Step 3
Use plenty of sturdy, small boxes
A few books are easy to carry, but a box of fifty is a different story, and the novelty wears off after the second or third trip down the stairs. Use small, strong corrugated boxes and keep each one under about 40 pounds. Line the sides with packing paper to protect against dust and moisture.
- Step 4
Use rolling luggage for heavy titles
If you are bringing wheeled suitcases, fill them with some of your heaviest books so you can roll them instead of lifting. Pack them the same way you would a box, and wrap hardcovers in paper so their corners do not dent other volumes.
- Step 5
Pack by weight
After sorting by size, think about weight. Place the heaviest books on the bottom, medium ones in the middle and the lightest on top. Packing the other way around crushes the more delicate titles. Heavy stacks can also press pages together, so when you unpack, open each book and gently fan the pages to let them breathe.
- Step 6
Make the most of the space
Books can travel flat, which works well when they are all the same size, or upright as they sit on a shelf. If you pack them upright, turn the spines toward the side of the box rather than up or down. Avoid packing books spine-up with the pages hanging, which strains the binding.
Seal It Up and Keep One Out
Book boxes are heavy, so seal each one with at least two layers of tape on the bottom and top. Mark which side is up on boxes with valuable or rare editions, and write the room name on every carton.
Finally, leave a book or two out to enjoy until moving day.
If your library is large, or includes rare and collectible editions, MPs New York can pack it for you with the right boxes and materials through our packing services. Our local movers handle the heavy lifting, and storage is available if your new shelves are not ready yet. Get a free quote to see what it would take.
Let Us Carry the Heavy Boxes
Request a written quote from MPs New York for packing and moving your library.