# How to pack a TV for moving
1st Choice Packaging · Updated 3 November 2026

The short answer: take the stand or wall bracket off, cover the screen with something soft, put it in a box that fits snugly, and **keep it upright the whole way**. Flat screens are thin glass panels. They crack when they're laid flat with weight on them, or when something presses on the screen.

## What you'll need

- The original box and foam if you kept them, or an [adjustable tv and picture box](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/tv-moving-box/), which fits screens up to 65 inches
- A [transit blanket](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/moving-blanket/) or a clean, soft cloth for the screen
- [bubble wrap roll, 25 m](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/bubble-wrap/) for the stand, remote and any loose parts
- [brown packing tape](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/packing-tape/) and [fragile tape](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/fragile-tape/)
- A small sealable bag for screws

## Step by step

- **Photograph the back first.** A quick photo of which cable goes where saves a lot of head-scratching at the new place.

- **Unplug and coil the cables.** Tie each one with a twist tie and put them in a labelled bag with the remote.

- **Take off the stand or bracket.** Lay the TV face down on a duvet on a bed or table while you unscrew it, then bag and tape the screws to the stand.

- **Protect the screen.** Cover the front with a soft cloth or blanket. Don't put tape or bubble wrap straight onto the screen: tape can leave marks and pressure from the bubbles isn't good for the panel.

- **Box it.** Slide the TV into its box so it fits snugly, with no room to move. An adjustable TV box closes up around the screen size; fill any gaps at the sides with scrunched paper.

- **Label it.** Fragile tape, "TV: THIS WAY UP, DO NOT LAY FLAT" on both sides, and an arrow pointing up.

**Packing tip:** Pack the TV last on the night before the move, and set it up first at the new place. Everything else feels more like home once the telly works.

## Moving it

- Carry it with two people, holding the box at the sides, not by the screen.
- In the van or car, stand it upright against something solid and soft, such as a mattress or sofa, and strap it so it can't tip.
- Never stack boxes against the screen side or on top.
- In cold weather, let it come up to room temperature before switching it on, so any condensation can dry out.

Pictures and mirrors are packed in a similar way: see [how to pack pictures and mirrors](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/guides/how-to-pack-pictures-and-mirrors/). Our adjustable TV box works for those too.

## Questions

**Can you lay a flat-screen TV down to move it?**
It is best not to. Flat screens are designed to stand upright, and laying one flat puts pressure on the panel, especially if anything goes on top. Move it upright in a box.

**How do I move a TV without the original box?**
Use an adjustable TV box, cover the screen with a soft cloth or blanket first, and fill gaps so it can't move. Keep it upright in the van.

**Should I wrap a TV in bubble wrap?**
Not directly on the screen. Put a soft cloth or blanket over the screen, then box it. Bubble wrap is fine for the stand, remote and back of the set.

## Shop for this
[Adjustable TV and picture box £24.95](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/tv-moving-box/) [Transit blanket £4.95](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/moving-blanket/) [Fragile tape £2.59](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/fragile-tape/)
[Work out how many boxes](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/box-calculator/)

## More moving guides
Guide

### [How to protect a mattress when moving](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/guides/how-to-protect-a-mattress-when-moving/)
Choosing the right mattress bag, bagging it on moving day and carrying it without damage.

Guide

### [How to protect floors and carpets when moving](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/guides/protect-floors-and-carpets-when-moving/)
Which protection film goes on carpets and which on hard floors, how to lay it, and other ways to avoid marks on moving day.

Guide

### [How to move furniture without damage](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/guides/how-to-move-furniture-without-damage/)
Taking furniture apart, wrapping it in blankets, protecting edges and corners, and loading it safely.

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Source: https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/guides/how-to-pack-a-tv-for-moving/ · 1st Choice Packaging, 75 Tollerford Road, Poole, Dorset, BH17 9BW · hello@1stchoicepackaging.co.uk