tv in a living room overlay

How to Pack a TV for Moving to Another State

Posted in How-to on November 10, 2021

On average American households have more than two TVs. So learning how to pack a TV for moving cross country is a mandatory part of relocation. These sensitive electronic devices should be properly wrapped, padded, boxed up, and labeled before cross country movers load them onto a truck. To make the whole process easier for you, we made a guide that explains how to pack TVs for moving in the simplest and safest way possible.

How to Know What Kind of Supplies Do You Need to Get?

When considering how to pack a television for moving, you should go about the task as you would with boxing up fragile items. This means you need to gather a lot of high-quality supplies, pad every box, and label it. However, before you get to the actual packing part of the process, you need to know what kind of materials would actually protect sensitive electronics during the cross-country trip.

Once again, these are highly sensitive devices, so they need to be bundled correctly, just like you would do with fragile objects. Remember that even a minor bump can damage them. That’s why you should go to the shop and get:

  • Different types of foam padding,
  • Wide tape,
  • Cushioning in the form of packing paper or styrofoam,
  • Plastic wrap,
  • Anti-static bubble wrap,
  • Labels of various sizes,
  • Thick cardboard boxes of different sizes (if you have more than one device).
A man surrounded by boxes
Getting the right-sized boxes is an essential part of the relocation process

How to Prepare Electronic Devices for the Move

Boxing up is a delicate process. You can’t just grab a device and put it in the box, as this would easily result in damage. Let’s put it this way, how do you pack your clothes? Do you just grab them and throw them in bags? How about bathroom items? Do you just put them in crates and hope for the best? Of course, you don’t, because that would be a huge relocation mistake.

The same can be said with handling delicate electronic devices. There are a few steps in the boxing-up process that will ensure the safety of your belongings. And if you opted for DIYing the whole thing instead of using cross-country moving services, you should follow each of them. This way, you’ll know you did everything in your power to increase the safety of the items. Which will, in the long run, lower the relocation stress you might be feeling.

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Should You Remove All the Cables That Connect the Television With Other Devices?

Preparing your television for the move starts with removing all the cords and cables connected to it. However, before you start pulling out the wires, snap a few photos, just in case you forget where every line goes. When you have enough pics to safely assemble the device when you relocate, pull out cords and secure them with a twist tie. Lastly, put them in a small plastic bag and label them accordingly.

Also, it’s best to grab a screwdriver and remove the base, as this will make the move easier and safer. Since bases are usually made of plastic, they can easily break if left attached to the screen. That’s why you should remove them. Put them in a small bag along with screws.

Bonus tip – keep the bags with cables and screws in one place so that you can quickly get them when you start unpacking.

Is Cleaning the Device Part of the Preparation?

Who wants to clean the dust right when they start unpacking? Probably nobody, ever. That’s why you should clean all of your devices and furniture before boxing them up. It will make the unpacking that much faster and easier. Whipping the television should be a part of the move-out cleaning process. Just grab a microfiber cloth and dust away all the debris off of the device. By removing the dirt, you’ll protect the screen from scratches that can occur during the move. When you are sure that the device is clean, it is time to start boxing up.

woman whipping the flat screen
Use microfiber fabric to clean the sensitive device before the move and avoid scratches

How to Pack a TV for Moving if You Have the Original Packaging?

Let’s say that you stumbled upon some original packaging when creating a household inventory list. This can speed up the whole boxing-up process. Not only are the original cardboard containers usually made out of sturdier materials, but they also come with padding that fits perfectly around the electronic device.

Why Is Using the Original Box the Easiest Method of Packing?

When planning a move to a new city, you’ll have a lot of things on your plate. From finding a job and hiring professional movers to house hunting. So why would you make rocket science out of boxing up the television if you really don’t have to? Using original crates will save you so much time, and every second counts when you are moving at the last minute.

This method doesn’t require you to run to the store to grab padding supplies. They will already be inside the box, and they will fit perfectly around the device. Just remove all the cables and other mobile parts, place protective cushioning on the object, and slowly put it into a box. Grab a tape and seal it. And you are done.

For future reference – keeping original packaging is always a good thing. That’s why storing these crates should be one of the things to do after a move. You can employ some creative storage ideas to keep them or just place them in the garage. There is another option – using storage units professional long-distance movers offer.

A couple putting a TV into the box
Having original packaging will speed up the whole process

How to Move a Flat Screen TV Without a Box?

Not having the original packaging will make the boxing-up process a bit trickier. However, there are a few moving hacks that will make the whole process easier. Start by grabbing those materials you bought, as they are essential for making your own flat-screen packaging.

After you disconnected all the cables and loose parts, grab a tape and wrap it around the screen with a sticky side out (just be careful and don’t wrap the sticky side towards the device). Get bubble wrap (anti-static one) and put it around the object. The wrap will nicely stick to the tape, preventing it from slipping down.

When you are satisfied with the layers of bubbles around the device, grab moving blankets and bundle the object in them. After that, grab a tape and secure the blankets with it. This way, the front of the television will be completely covered and protected.

Get a container that is close to the dimensions of the TV, and pad its bottom with paper. Slowly slip the object in and continue adding more padding material on the side until there is no wiggle room. Close the container (tape it from both sides – top and bottom) and label it.

Rolls of packing paper
Paper can be a good padding solution

How to Pack the Device for Storage?

Are you relocating from a house to an apartment, and the space is a bit smaller than before? Maybe you are planning on renovating before putting all of your stuff in a new home? No matter what, if you have to keep your electronic devices in storage, there are a few things you should know.

Find a unit that is climate controlled. You don’t want to keep the items in a place where temperatures can get really high or really low. Extreme temperatures can ruin your devices. Also, they can create humidity which can irreparably damage the items.

To ensure your items are safe in storage, bundle them in bubbles and cover them with blankets and plastic wrap. All of these materials will protect the electronics from mold and moisture while they are being kept in a storage unit.

How to Place the Electronic Device in the Truck?

If you hire professionals to handle your stuff, they will load the truck as part of their packing services, so you don’t have to worry about it. However, if you are DIYing the whole thing, knowing how to pack a truck can make or break the entire relocation process.

It would be a real shame to spend so much time securing and properly boxing up the electronic devices only to put them in danger when loading them onto a truck. To avoid that, consider placing the objects between sturdy items such as a couch and a mattress. You can also secure them against the wall of the truck (by using cords or other heavy objects).

How Should You Position Flat-Screen TV in the Moving Truck?

If you just bundled your flat-screen in bubbles and covered it with a blanket, you might think it would be smart to lay it on the ground of the truck. Even though it is a myth that plasma and LCD devices cannot be transported like this, it’s better if you didn’t do it that way. Putting a television on the floor can cause damage to the screen as well as other parts of the device. If you don’t have the box, it is best to wedge the device between two objects in an upright position.

An open truck filled with house appliances
Positioning your devices plays a vital role in their safety during the move

Is DIY Worth All the Trouble, or Should You Hire Long Distance Movers to Help You?

You went over every step of boxing up the electronic devices. Does it seem like more trouble than it is worth? There are many things to consider when handling sensitive objects, and nobody guarantees you that they won’t accidentally get damaged during the move.

When it comes to the long-distance moving process, it’s highly recommended to hire professionals to assist you. Luckily, TVs are not on the list of items movers won’t move, so they will easily handle your devices without a fuss. After all, movers are not only equipped to handle all sorts of objects but also have a few packing tips up their sleeves. They will make the whole relocation process fast and easy. All you have to do is relax and wait for a new adventure to start.

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