A cracked TV screen or a laptop with a snapped hinge can turn moving day into an expensive one. If you're planning a house move in London and aren't sure how to protect your gadgets, this guide walks you through packing electronics for a house move so they arrive at your new home in one piece.
Why Electronics Need Extra Care on Moving Day
Electronics don't survive rough handling. Screens crack under pressure, hard drives can fail after a hard knock, and static build-up can damage circuit boards without you knowing until you switch the device back on. A television or games console that travels loose in the back of a van, even for a short trip, can develop faults that don't show up for weeks.
Insurance matters here too. Every move with Just Removals London is covered by goods-in-transit protection and £5m public liability as standard, but packing electronics properly means you're far less likely to need to make a claim in the first place. Good packing is cheaper than a replacement screen, every time.
What You'll Need Before You Start Packing
Gather your materials before you touch a single cable. You'll need a flat-screen TV box or plenty of bubble wrap, anti-static bags for anything with a hard drive, strong packing tape, a permanent marker, and small resealable bags for screws and cable ends. If you'd rather not hunt for supplies yourself, our packing and unpacking service brings the right materials with the crew on the day.
How to Pack a TV Safely
TVs are the trickiest item to pack. Let the screen cool for at least an hour after switching it off, since heat and movement together increase the risk of a cracked panel. Wrap it in a thick blanket or bubble wrap, then stand it upright inside a flat-screen box or between two mattresses if you don't have one. Never lay a TV flat, and never let anyone stack boxes on top of it. A 55-inch television can weigh over 15kg, so it's a two-person lift into the van.
Packing Laptops, Consoles and Small Devices
Laptops, consoles and small devices need their own approach. Pack a laptop in its original sleeve or a padded box, not loose inside a bag of clothes where it can flex and crack. Wrap games consoles in bubble wrap and separate the controllers so nothing scratches the casing. Stand external hard drives upright in the box rather than laying them flat, and back up anything important before move day just in case. If you're relocating a full home office setup alongside the move, treat it the same way an office and business removals job would: everything labelled, nothing loose.
Cables, Remotes and Chargers: Don't Lose Track
Cables, remotes and chargers go missing more often than the electronics themselves. Take a photo of the wiring behind your TV or router before you unplug anything, so reconnecting at the new place takes minutes instead of an hour of guesswork. Bag each device's cables and remote separately, label the bag with a marker, and pack it in the same box as the device it belongs to. Don't throw all your chargers into one bin bag. You'll spend your first evening in the new place hunting through it.
Original Boxes: Use Them If You Have Them
If you kept the original boxes for your TV, games console or speakers, use them. Manufacturers design that packaging to hold the exact shape and weight of the item, and it's the safest option available. No original box? A trained crew will still wrap and box electronics properly using the same materials professionals use for fragile and high-value items, and if there's a gap between moving out and moving in, our secure storage keeps everything protected until you're ready.
Loading Electronics Into the Van
Loading is where a lot of damage actually happens, not the packing itself. Electronics should go into the van upright, secured so they can't slide, and loaded after heavier furniture rather than underneath it. If you're only moving a desktop set-up or a couple of boxes, a man and van team can still handle electronics with the same care as a full house move, provided you flag that the load includes fragile items when you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pack a TV without the original box?
Yes. Wrap the screen in a thick blanket or bubble wrap, stand it upright inside a sturdy box or between two mattresses, and keep it away from anything heavy. Never lay a flat-screen TV on its back or front during transport.
Should I back up my laptop before moving house?
Yes, it's a sensible precaution. Even with careful packing, a knock during a move is one of the more common causes of hard drive failure, so backing up files beforehand means you won't lose anything important.
Do removal companies pack electronics as part of the service?
Most professional movers, including Just Removals London, will pack electronics as part of a packing and unpacking service, using anti-static bags, bubble wrap and proper boxes. Ask when you book if you want this included.
How do I stop cables and remotes getting lost during a move?
Bag each device's cables and remote together, label the bag, and pack it in the same box as the device. Taking a photo of the wiring setup before you disconnect anything also saves time when you reconnect everything.
Packing electronics properly takes an extra half hour, and it's half an hour that saves you a broken TV or a laptop that won't turn on. If you'd rather leave the wrapping, boxing and lifting to a trained crew, get in touch with Just Removals London for a free, no-obligation quote on your next move.