How to Pack and Move a TV by Yourself

There are many items that commonly get damaged on moving day, and a television is at the top of that list.

Knowing how to minimise the risk of damage to your TV set is vitally important and in this guide, we will share our top tips to ensure that the TV arrives in your new home intact.

Since most people rely on their TV to entertain them before the day of their move, the job of packing a TV for moving is often left for last, and because of that, it may easily become too rushed and prone to common mistakes when packing and moving a TV.

You shouldn’t worry though – with a bit of preparation, planning, and common sense, you will be able to pack up and move your home entertainment system without any problems whatsoever.

Most pieces of electronic equipment are quite expensive and your television set is probably too, especially if it happens to be a big flat-panel LCD TV.

Follow these essential packing and moving steps below to learn how to move a TV by yourself.

You may also like to read: The Top 10 Most Frequently Damaged Items Moving Home. In this guide, we list the top ten most frequently damaged items during a home move and offer packing tips so that your items have the best chance of arriving at your new home intact.

What to do Before Packing Your TV for Moving

Before you can pack and move a TV to your new home, there are a few preparation steps you should follow so that you don’t waste much valuable time and can finish the packing and moving job as quickly as possible.

The preparation stage for packing a TV when moving home includes:

#1 Is my TV set worth the moving expense?

This is probably the biggest question to ask yourself before burdening yourself with packing and moving your TV safely.

In reality, you shouldn’t find it too difficult to find the right answer here:

• If your TV is brand new, relatively new, or kind of old but with no technical problems whatsoever, then yes, you should definitely take it with you. How much you paid for your set is another factor you should take into consideration.
• If the warranty period of your device has long expired, it’s too outdated and you’ve been having nothing but issues with it recently, then maybe it’s time to purchase a new one when your household move is over.

#2 Where’s the original TV box?

If you still keep the original box of your TV, then your packing job will be so much easier.

Original packaging always provides the best protection for the product it’s been designed for.

In addition to having a cardboard box of the perfect size, you also get the custom Styrofoam inserts that were keeping your TV immobilised during transport when you first bought it.

#3 What packing materials do I need?

If you don’t have the box your TV came in, then that shouldn’t be a problem – you will just need to find another strong cardboard box with similar dimensions. Additionally, get your hands on

• one roll of Bubble wrap®,
• one roll of quality packing tape
• several thick moving blankets (ordinary thick blankets will do just fine).

#4 How can a single photo save me time?

Use your smartphone to take a photo of the back of your TV set.

Why? That photo will enable you to identify quickly which cables go where once you reach your new home and you’re about to set up your entertainment hub.

Besides the signal cable from your Cable or Satellite service provider, you may have various external devices connected to the set such as home theater components, Blu-ray or DVD players, speakers, etc.

E-mail that photo to yourself as a backup or print it out.

Keep in mind that the photo of the way your TV cables are connected can save you plenty of post-move time and spare you some nerves too.

Your best bet is to use a separate box to transport all those cables – read on for more details.

#5 Should I clean the TV before packing it?

Before we share with you the best way to pack a TV for moving, let’s say a few words about whether you need to clean your television set before the move or not.

It’s a good idea to dust it with the help of a soft and dry piece of cloth before you pack it up for transportation.

You don’t have to overdo the pre-move TV cleaning task but the general idea is to prevent any coarse dust particles from scratching the sensitive flat screen during the move or from entering and possibly clogging the electronic components inside.

Once you move into your new place, you should give your set a good cleaning following the cleaning instructions in the manual.

You may also like to read: How to Pack Electronics for Moving. Most people have a desktop or laptop computer, gaming equipment, and numerous other electronic gadgets. In this guide, we show you how to pack them properly to prevent any damage during your home move.

How to Pack a TV for Moving

Flat-screen TVs are constantly evolving and the general tendency is thinner designs and less weight.

However, the major problem you will face when packing your TV for shipping is the huge screen that is very fragile and must be protected extremely well during transport.

Regardless of how small or big your TV set is, it’s vitally important to follow the proper packing steps so that you don’t find your expensive piece of equipment scratched, cracked, or non-functional at the end of your relocation journey.

#1 Use the Original Box

Use the original box of your TV set if you still keep it somewhere in your home. In most cases, such TV boxes are the best as they come with custom-shaped Styrofoam and protective coverings.

#2 How to pack a TV without the original box

If you can’t use the manufacturer’s box for obvious reasons, get an extra strong double-walled box that’s specifically designed for flat-panel TVs.

Such special boxes are sold by the diagonal size of your TV screen, and you can get one from your nearby DIY shop, hardware shop, or your local removal company.

If you can get hold of one, a bicycle box is ideal for packing your TV in.

#3 Ensure the box is not too big

Make sure the cardboard box that will replace the original TV box is not too big compared to the dimensions of your set – otherwise, your sensitive piece of equipment will be moving inside it and may get damaged.

#4 Securely tape the box

The best way to pack a TV for shipping is to know that the container won’t break under the weight inside it, so don’t forget to tape the bottom of the box and its sides just to stay on the safe side.

Use only high-quality packing tape.

#5 Cushion the inside of the box

Place a few sheets of Bubble wrap® on the bottom of the cardboard box as a cushioning layer. Packing peanuts can also do just fine.

Using a couple of old towels as protection is also an option if you don’t have Bubble wrap®.

#6 Protect the screen

Cut out a piece of cardboard in a rectangular shape to match the entire screen, including the edges.

Place a blanket over the TV set, then place the cardboard over the screen, securing it in place with tape.

Do not place the cardboard directly onto the screen as that may scratch it and ensure no tape touches the screen or TV casing.

Take another moving blanket and place that additional protection over the front of your TV and wrap the entire TV body and secure it with more tape.

#7 Secure the blankets in place

Secure the blankets with packing tape or shrink wrap and be cautious not to let any tape touch the surface of your TV as that may cause damage to the screen or casing.

#8 Place the TV in the box

Once you’ve created a nice tight bundle, it’s time to slide it into the cardboard box you prepared at the beginning of your TV packing job.

You need to pack your TV vertically and keep it upright during the entire move.

Never lay a TV flat down.

If possible, have a friend help you lower the TV into the box.

#9 Ensure the TV is immobile within the box

Once inside the box, place padding materials such as Bubble wrap®, crumpled packing paper, crumpled newspapers, towels, and pieces of old yet clean clothes inside the box along the sides.

The objective is to fill in the remaining space so that your television set doesn’t shift inside.

Place a final layer of padding on the top of the TV set before closing the box. The padding should protrude slightly above the rim of the box so that when the lid is closed the padding compresses.

#11 Seal the box securely

Close the lids and seal the box with a generous helping of packing tape.

Mark the box as TV, FRAGILE, and THIS SIDE UP on at least 2 sides to remind whoever’s going to handle that box that they need to be extra careful.

#11 Pack the cables and accessories

Pack all the cables and other small TV accessories such as the remote control, in a separate box or ziplock bag as they could potentially damage your TV if packed together with it.

Label that packing box as TV ACCESSORIES and write down the destination room that the TV will be placed in at your new home.

You may also like to read: The Top 10 Common Packing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them. Packing for a home move is not something that most people do often, and it is common that packing mistakes will lead to damage and expense. In this guide, we look at the 10 most common packing mistakes and how to avoid them.

How to Move a TV by Yourself

The above packing steps show clearly the best way to pack a flat-screen TV without professional help, but here comes the question of how to move a flat-screen TV by yourself.

Unlike packing, the actual moving hides much more potential risks and dangers for your entertainment set if you do it on your own.

Here’s what you need to know when moving a big and heavy TV by yourself:

• If you’re planning to move a flat-screen TV in a rented moving van, then position the TV box between long and flat items such as mattresses. Avoid placing your packed and boxed TV set between sharp or heavy items that may damage your valuable possession.
• Do not place the TV box on top of other household items for fear of it accidentally falling and breaking. Do not place any items on top of the TV either.
• As long as you have enough space, you can also move a flat-screen TV in your car, but such a big box will severely restrict the room for other essential items that you intend to take with you in your vehicle.
• Your big-screen TV set is a sensitive piece of equipment and extreme temperature fluctuations can damage it. Avoid extremely hot, cold, or humid transportation conditions.
• Large-screen TVs are both heavy and bulky, so you must have at least one other person to help you move your TV.
• When you reach the safety of your new home, let your TV acclimatise to the room temperature before you turn it on.

You may also like to read: How to Move Heavy Furniture. Whilst your TV set is unlikely to be heavy, it will be awkward to move. In this guide, we share lifting techniques, and how to measure the route out of your old home and into your new home so that you know the TV will fit through those narrow doorways and passageways, as well as other essential information to know when moving heavy or awkward things to your new home.

Home Moving Insurance

One important thing to take into consideration when packing and moving a TV yourself is that many insurance companies will not insure your TV for damage if you have packed it yourself, so check your insurance policy carefully.

When that important piece of information is taken into consideration, along with the time and effort required to pack your TV set properly, it is no wonder that most people opt for hiring professional packers when they move home.

Seriously consider this option if you have a particularly expensive TV or multiple TV sets.

You may also like to read: Are Professional Packers Worth the Cost? In this guide, we look at what professional packers do, how much on average they cost, whether they offer good value for money, and if it makes sense to hire packers for your particular home move.

Be sure to visit our home moving blog which is packed with tips to make your home move cheaper, easier, and safer.

Good luck with your home move.

Bubble Wrap® is the registered trademark of Sealed Air Corporation.