# How to pack a kitchen for moving
1st Choice Packaging · Updated 25 October 2026

The kitchen takes longer than any other room: lots of small, heavy and breakable things. Start it about a week before the move and leave a few essentials until last.

## What you'll need

- 8–15 [medium boxes](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/medium-removal-box/) for an average kitchen
- A [5 kg pack of packing paper](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/packing-paper/)
- [Plate](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/plate-divider/) and [glass dividers](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/bottle-divider/) (optional, but they speed things up)
- [Fragile tape](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/fragile-tape/)

## The order to pack in

- **Things you rarely use:** serving dishes, special glasses, baking tins, the bread maker.
- **Food cupboard:** use up what you can. Tape open packets shut, and put jars in a box lined with a bin bag.
- **Most crockery and glasses:** keep out one set each. See [how to pack plates and glasses](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/guides/how-to-pack-plates-and-glasses/).
- **Pans and utensils:** nest pans together with paper between them; wrap knives in paper and mark the bundle clearly.
- **Last of all:** kettle, mugs, a plate, cutlery and tea towels go in your "open first" box.

## Appliances

- **Fridge freezer:** defrost it the day before and leave the door slightly open. Once moved, let it stand for a few hours before switching on.
- **Washing machine:** needs transit bolts fitted before moving. Check the manual or ask your removals company.
- **Small appliances:** in their original boxes if you still have them, otherwise wrapped in bubble wrap in a medium box.

**Packing tip:** Label kitchen boxes by cupboard ("cups and mugs", "under the sink") as well as by room. It makes unpacking twice as fast.

## Questions

**How many boxes do I need to pack a kitchen?**
An average kitchen needs 8 to 15 medium boxes. A large family kitchen can need 20 or more.

**When should I pack the kitchen?**
About a week before the move, leaving one set of everyday crockery and the kettle until the last day.

## Shop for this
[Plate divider £4.95](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/plate-divider/) [Packing paper, 5 kg £12.95](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/packing-paper/) [Medium removal box £2.95](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/medium-removal-box/)
[Work out how many boxes](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/box-calculator/)

## More moving guides
Guide

### [How many moving boxes do I need?](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/guides/how-many-boxes-do-i-need/)
Box counts by home size and by room, and what pushes the number up or down.

Guide

### [Moving house checklist](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/guides/moving-house-checklist/)
A week-by-week UK moving checklist, including who to tell about your new address.

Guide

### [How to pack plates and glasses for moving](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/guides/how-to-pack-plates-and-glasses/)
How to wrap and box crockery and glassware so nothing breaks.

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Source: https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/guides/how-to-pack-a-kitchen/ · 1st Choice Packaging, 41 King John Avenue, Bearwood, Bournemouth, BH11 9RX · hello@1stchoicepackaging.co.uk