How to Pack Vases for Moving So That Everything Comes up Roses

There are some common household items that seem to have magical powers – a fireplace, a piano, a wind chime, a teddy bear… They bring coziness and warmth to the home, transport people back and forth in time, evoke imagination and creativity, and do all kinds of wonders.

Flower vases are such magical items:

You want to brighten up a room? A vase of fresh flowers will do the trick.

You want to bring cheer to the space? A vase of fragrant flowers is all you need.

You want to add character to the home? A vase of beautiful flowers will work.

You want to make a place feel like yours? A vase of your favorite flowers will help.

Elegant and beautiful, vases bring artistic appeal to the space. More importantly, they create a sense of joy and harmony.

There is no doubt, then, that when moving to a new home, you’ll want to take your flower vases with you and use them to make the new place feel more welcoming, more personal, and more cheerful.

Moving vases to another house is not difficult, but keeping them intact during the relocation is very much so. Vases are extremely delicate and fragile – in order to survive the move in one piece they need top-notch protection and extra care. In other words, they need to be packed and handled in the safest way possible.

Read on to find out how to pack vases for moving so they arrive at your new home intact and unscathed.

Make sure you have the right packing supplies

In order to provide your vases with optimum protection you’ll need the right packing materials for the job:

Packing boxes for vases

You may be able to save some money on your move by packing in used boxes you can get for free, but you should never use old boxes for your vases.

Like other fragile items, vases are easily vulnerable to damage during a house move – to ensure their safety, you need to pack them in sturdy boxes that will create a robust protective shell around them and will completely absorb shocks and vibrations during transit.

Used boxes are not strong enough for the purpose – their structural integrity may be compromised and they may put your vases at risk (a weak box may collapse during the move, causing your fragile flower holders to break).

See also: The risks of using free moving boxes

It is, therefore, very important to get brand-new, quality moving boxes for vases. Any strong, small to medium-sized cardboard boxes will do, but you may want to consider some more specialized packing containers as well:

• If you have a lot of small vases, it may be best to invest in dish boxes – Dish packs are designed to hold chinaware and glassware, so they’re made of sturdy cardboard, have thick walls, and usually come with dividers. These specialty boxes will not only provide maximum protection to your small vases, but will also make the packing task much faster and easier;
• If you have very tall vases, tall boxes are your safest choice – These boxes are designed specifically for packing elongated items, so they will provide optimal protection to your tall vases – and will make packing easier;
• If you’re moving antique vases, crystal vases, very large and heavy vases, or odd-shaped vases – or any vases with great monetary or sentimental value – custom crates are your best bet – Wood crates are much stronger than cardboard boxes, of course, and they will be custom built to perfectly fit the vase they’re intended for, so they will provide the best possible protection to your treasured flower holders.

Related: Types of moving boxes – the best boxes for your packing needs

Soft packing paper

Packing paper will provide the first layer of protection to your vases, so you need to get the highest quality wrapping paper you can find:

• soft and smooth so it doesn’t scratch the delicate surface of your vases;
• white and acid-free so it doesn’t smudge or stain the glass, crystal, or ceramic surfaces.

It will be cheaper to use old newspapers than to purchase quality packing paper, of course, but doing so is a very bad idea – the newsprint may leave ugly ink stains on your vases.

In addition to packing paper, tissue paper may also come in handy when packing vases for moving.

Related: How to use packing paper when moving

Bubble wrap

Made up of air-filled bubbles, bubble wrap absorbs shocks from impacts and provides superb cushioning. It can prevent a fragile item from breaking, even if the breakable is accidentally dropped or hit against something.

Therefore, bubble wrap is indispensable for packing fragile items – including vases – for moving. Remember though that you should not use it directly on your flower vessels – it may stick to the delicate surfaces and smudge them, especially in hot weather.

Related: How to use bubble wrap for packing

Packing tape

You will need quality packing tape to secure the protective wrappings in place and to reinforce and seal the vase packing boxes.

Padding and cushioning materials

In order to stay safe and sound during the move, your vases need to be well cushioned and completely immobilized in the moving boxes – so, you’re going to need plenty of paper wads, packing peanuts, foam sheets, towels, and other cushioning and padding materials when packing your delicate breakables for shipping.

Permanent markers and FRAGILE stickers

When packing vases for moving, you need to make sure that everyone handling them will know to be extra careful. The best way to achieve this is to write all the necessary handling instructions (THIS SIDE UP, HANDLE WITH CARE, etc.) in big letters (so they’re easily visible), with a permanent marker (so they don’t become illegible at some point during the move).

Using large, brightly colored FRAGILE stickers is also a good idea – the stickers will attract attention, so people will take heed.

Prepare the packing boxes

Before you can start packing your vases for moving, you need to make the packing boxes as safe for your delicate flower holders as possible:

Reinforce the boxes

Your first task is to ensure the packing containers won’t fall apart during the move. Double-tape the bottoms of the boxes, then tape all the edges and corners and secure the bottom flaps along the inside seam.

Don’t skip this step even if you’ve bought strong moving boxes that can easily withstand the weight of your vases – if you don’t tape up the bottom of the box and only fold the bottom flats over each other, the carton may easily collapse when lifted.

Provide plenty of padding inside the boxes

Strong cardboard boxes will provide a good protective cover for your vases but they will offer very little cushioning. To ensure the safety of your beautiful breakables, you need to pad the boxes.

Cover the bottom of each vase packing box with crumpled paper, packing peanuts, bubble wrap, foam sheets, or old towels – the padding materials will create a protective layer that will absorb any shocks and vibrations during transit and will reduce the risk of damage to your vases.

Once you have gathered all the necessary packing materials and prepared the moving boxes, it’s time to get your vases ready for moving.

Prepare your vases for moving

Like everything else, vases need to be properly prepared for the trip to your new home:

Sort out your vases

Arrange all your flower holders on the table, inspect them carefully, and decide their fate:

• Put all cracked, chipped, permanently stained, or otherwise damaged vases in a  box and have them recycled before the move;
• Set aside vases in good condition that you don’t like and that have no special meaning to you – give them away to friends or sell them at your moving sale;
• Group the vases you intend to take to your new home by type (glass vases, porcelain vases, etc.), size (small vases, large vases, tall vases, etc.), and value (expensive vases, family heirlooms, etc.).

Make sure the vases are clean and dry

Wash all the vases you’re going to pack for moving – keep in mind that any dust or dirt remaining on the delicate glass, crystal, or ceramic surfaces may cause scratches or stains during the move.

Dry the vases well to prevent water stains and mildew.

Fill the inside of the vases with crumpled paper

Stuff all vases with crumpled paper to provide some extra support to the fragile flower vessels during the move.

Filling the vases with tissue paper is also a good option.

Wrap your vases with care

As all fragile items, vases need to be individually wrapped in protective materials before being put in boxes.

Here is how to wrap vases for moving the right way:

• Place a soft blanket or a large towel on a flat, stable surface (the dining room table is the best choice);
• Lay out several sheets of soft packing paper over the blanket or towel;
• Place a vase on its side on the wrapping paper, diagonally to a corner;
• Take two or three sheets of paper from the corner and wrap them as one around the vase;
• Slowly roll the vase in the paper, tucking the upper ends of the paper into the opening of the vase as you go;
• When the paper is fully wrapped around the vase, fold over the ends at the bottom of the vase;
• Use some packing tape to secure the paper wrapping in place;
• Wrap all your vases in packing paper the same way;
• When ready, remove any remaining packing paper from your working surface and lay a large piece of bubble wrap on top of the blanket or towel (make sure the bubble side is facing down);
• Place a paper-wrapped vase on the bubble wrap and wrap it in the bubbly material the same way you wrapped it in the packing paper. Make sure the bubble wrapping is at least one inch thick (two to three inches for heavier vases and more valuable vases). You may need to use several sheets of bubble wrap to achieve the desired thickness;
• Secure the protective wrappings with packing tape;
• Do the same with all your paper-wrapped vases.

When all your vases are safely wrapped in protective materials, you can pack them in the previously prepared moving boxes.

How to pack vases for moving

When both the boxes and the vases are ready, packing the flower holders for moving is quite a straightforward task:

1. Place the wrapped vases in the boxes, on top of the padding layer.

2. Add plenty of padding – fill any empty spaces in the packing containers with cushioning materials (crumpled paper, pieces of bubble wrap, foam sheets, old towels or clothes, etc.) to ensure the vases are safely cushioned on all sides and prevent them from shifting around the box during transit.

3. Make a protective layer of bubble wrap on top of the vases and close the boxes.

4. Lift each box and shake it gently to make sure the vases inside are completely immobile – if you can detect any movement, open the box, add more padding, and repeat the test.

5. Seal the boxes with packing tape.

6. Use a permanent marker to label the vase moving boxes and write the necessary handling instructions. Add “FRAGILE” stickers to all sides of boxes and use arrows to show which way is up.

Now, you know how to pack a vase for moving – in general. Different kinds of vases, however, have their own specifics, so the packing process is slightly different for each type of vases.

How to pack small vases for moving

Ideally, each vase should be packed in a separate box.

When packing smaller vases, however, you can put several of them together in the same box – place the vases in the box upright, with their bases facing downward, and provide plenty of cushioning between them, so they can’t come in contact with one another during the move.

Keep in mind though that while this packing method is good enough for inexpensive vases, it should not be used for more valuable ones. Expensive vases and vases with high sentimental value should be packed individually – or, at least, in a dish pack with dividers.

If you decide to use a dish box, set each vase in a separate cell and add as much cushioning as possible around it.

How to pack large vases for moving

When packing larger vases, you should put only one vase in a moving box.

Before putting the vase in the box, use newspapers or old towels to create a protective nest in the center of the box for the vase to sit in. Place the vase into the protective nest – depending on the dimensions of the box, it may be better to place the vase on its side or with its base pointing towards the bottom of the box (the recommended way, as the base is the strongest point of the vase and can withstand pressure better). Add lots of cushioning around the vase, seal the box tightly, and label it properly.

If the vase is very large and heavy, consider packing it in a wooden crate.

How to pack glass vases for moving

Glass vases are the most common type of vases, so you will certainly have some glass flower vessels you will want to move to your new home.

To ensure the safety of your glass vases during the move, wrap them carefully in packing paper and bubble wrap as explained above, then pack them in sturdy, well-padded moving boxes of appropriate sizes. Fill any empty spaces in the boxes with cushioning materials to keep your glass vases safe and immobile, seal the cartons, and label them as “FRAGILE”.

How to pack crystal vases for moving

Crystal vases are just as fragile as glass vases but they’re much more expensive, so you need to provide them with even better protection when packing them for moving.

Wrap your crystal vases in soft packing paper and plenty of bubble wrap and pack them in strong moving boxes with plenty of cushioning inside.

Consider double boxing your valuable breakables – when you seal the vase packing box, place it in a second, larger box (already reinforced and lined with padding materials). Fill the empty space between the inner and the outer box with cushioning materials, close the outer box, seal it securely, and label it with its contents and any necessary handling instructions. This way, there will be two hard covers and two cushioning layers protecting your crystal vases from damage, so the risk to their safety will be greatly reduced.

Packing your crystal vases in wooden crates is also an excellent option.

How to pack ceramic vases for moving

Ceramic vases are heavier than glass vases and crystal vases, so they need stronger moving containers.

You can use heavy-duty moving boxes or take advantage of the double boxing method described above, but wood crates are your best bet – wrap your ceramic vases in packing paper and bubble wrap and pack them in wooden crates with lots of padding inside. There will be no risk of the wood crates breaking under the weight of the ceramic vases – and the sturdy containers will provide excellent protection to your flower holders.

Good to remember: Amphoras, antique vases, vintage vases, and other vases of high momentary or sentimental value – as well as unusually shaped vases – will be safest in custom crates.

It is highly advisable to purchase appropriate moving insurance for your more valuable vases – or, even better, for all your vases. Having proper insurance will give you peace of mind and will help mitigate replacement costs in case something happens to your vases during the move.

So, to put it all in a nutshell, the best way to pack vases for moving is to wrap them individually in protective materials and put them in sturdy, well-padded moving boxes.

If you’re performing a self-move, be careful when loading the vase boxes on the moving truck – be sure to have a good grip on the cartons while carrying them to the moving vehicle so you don’t accidentally drop them, place them on top of heavier boxes or well-secured furniture pieces, secure them in place so they don’t topple over during the transportation, and make sure not to put anything heavy on top of them.

For maximum safety, hire experienced, trustworthy packers and movers to take care of your vases – and all your other items. Your belongings will be delivered to your new home in perfect condition – and you will be able to make the place charming and cheerful with the help of your perfectly intact flower vases.