A laptop, desktop computer, tablet, smartphone – almost every home has them.
And it seems sometimes that life would be unimaginable without them, and the expense of such items aside, just the inconvenience of being without them is almost unthinkable.
So the last thing you will want is any of your electronics getting damaged in your upcoming home move.
Knowing how to pack a computer for moving is a skill worth learning.
You may also like to read: How to Move Out of Your Home Office. If you primarily work from home or have a home-based business then you will find the packing and moving tips in this guide invaluable.
Top Tips on How to Pack Electronics for Moving Home
Packing peanuts are useful for absorbing any impact that the computer may suffer during the home move
No matter what electronic equipment you intend to move, a PC or a TV, here is some advice that you may find invaluable and could save you hours of trouble.
Top tip #1 for moving computers: Back up all the data. Twice. At least.
Whether to memory sticks, removable data banks, or remote servers, back up everything to at least two different places. Then if the worst happens, you will not have lost everything.
Top tip #2 for packing any electronics: Photograph and label all the connections
This is essential so that you know exactly what connections go where when it is time to reconnect everything.
Putting different coloured labels on each connection is useful, but what happens if some of those labels come off?
It is best to have a photograph of every connection before you unplug it so there can be no confusion and as a backup for your label system.
When shipping your computer or electronics to your new home consider using anti-static bubble wrap. This will prevent a build-up of static which could damage your device.
Pack peripherals and cables separately from the main units to prevent damage.
If at all possible, always use the original manufacturers’ boxes to move your electronics, but only if they are in good enough condition to adequately protect your expensive electronics.
You may also like to read: How to Label Moving Boxes – An Easy and Foolproof Way. It is essential that you clearly label every moving box so that you can easily identify what is in the box and so that the unloaders know exactly which room to put the box in at your new home. This labeling system also helps you identify the order in which to unpack your things.
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Always try to use the original packing when moving a computer
Back up all your data as mentioned previously.
Photograph and label all connections before disconnecting them.
If your tower has a removable hard drive you may want to remove and pack it separately.
Prepare a sturdy box, 3 ply is recommended, which fits your computer with about 10cm of space on every side for protective padding.
Double-tape the bottom of the box so that it will safely hold the weight of the computer.
Layer the bottom of the box with at least 10cm of scrunched newspaper, or anti-static bubble wrap.
Then wrap the tower in at least two layers of anti-static bubble wrap to prevent any damage
Insert the wrapped tower into the nest of padding that you have created in the moving box.
Once nestled firmly in the box, fill all the space around the side of the tower with more scrunched paper, soft blankets, packing peanuts, or bubble wrap so that the tower cannot move about inside the box.
Add a final layer of protection across the top of the tower before sealing the box shut.
Securely tape the lid closed.
Clearly mark the box as fragile, this way up.
You may also like to read: How to Choose the Right Boxes for Moving Home. The size and strength of the boxes you use for packing are vitally important when you want to not only give your possessions the best protection but also when it comes to making lifting and moving your boxes easier. In this guide, we tell you all you need to know about moving boxes.
How to Pack a Desktop Computer for Shipping Overseas
When shipping your computer abroad use the double-box method to pack it
Most home moves involve your goods being transported by sea if emigrating, as having items flown is usually very expensive. European home moves will be done by road transport usually.
Before packing your computer be sure to photograph not only the connections but the condition of the computer from every angle.
You should also photograph how well it was packed. It will help if you need to make an insurance claim.
There are going to be security checks that your computer is going to have to be subject to, but the security scanners should have no adverse effect on your hardware.
Just be sure that you have backed up all that data.
If you have a very expensive tower and know what you are doing, you may consider taking out the GPU, RAM, CPU heatsink, PCI cards, in fact, anything that is attached to the motherboard that could get dislodged and cause damage.
Those items should be individually wrapped in anti-static bubble wrap and shipped in a separate box to your tower using the packing technique previously described.
You may also consider that it is just not worth the risk or cost to transport a desktop PC and that it would be cheaper to buy a new one in your new home country.
Note that your removal company may have to pack your computer for an international move as there may be customs paperwork to complete and some insurance companies will not cover things you have packed yourself.
Check with your removal company and with your insurance company.
You may also like to read: Home Moving Insurance – Do I Need It? Being underinsured is a common moving mistake and usually a costly mistake at that. In this guide, we look at the various cover options and whether it is worth the extra cost to take out those policies.
How to Pack a Computer Monitor for Moving Home
Is it worth the cost to pack and move your monitor or is it time to get a new one?
Of all the computer components likely to get damaged during a home move it is a monitor. So follow these instructions carefully.
Remove the base of the screen if possible and wrap it in bubble wrap separately from the screen.
Source a box that is at least 10cm bigger on all sides than the monitor.
Fill at least 10cm of the bottom of a 3-ply cardboard box with padding such as a blanket or bubble wrap.
Cut a piece of cardboard to the exact size of the screen of your monitor.
Lay out a piece of bubble wrap big enough to encase the entire monitor.
Lay the cardboard screen protector onto the bubble wrap
Place a piece of bubble wrap on top of the cardboard so that it cannot scratch the screen.
Lay the monitor face down onto the bubble wrap so the screen is entirely covered.
Tape the protection in place without getting any tape onto the monitor casing.
Now wrap the entire thing in at least another two layers of bubble wrap
Now place the monitor with the screen facing the box walls in the box so that it is nestled into the protective layer at the bottom of the box.
Fill all the gaps around the monitor with padding so that the monitor is held firmly in place.
Put a final protective layer on the top of the monitor.
Securely seal the box with tape.
Mark the box as fragile, this way up, glass. Be sure to mark the side of the box that the screen faces as fragile glass.
You may also like to read: Is Hiring Professional Packers Worth the Cost? Packing for a home move is time-consuming, and expensive, and having to live amongst piles of moving boxes for weeks on end is inconvenient. Most people therefore choose to hire professional packers, but are they worth the cost, and how will they make your home move so much easier? In this guide, we answer those questions for you.
How to Pack a Printer for Moving
Always photograph and label where each cable goes so that you know how to reconnect your electronics
Transporting a printer with ink may not be possible, but refer to your manufacturers’ handbook or call their customer service helpline for advice if you are unsure.
Photograph all the connections and label them so you know how to reconnect them.
Photograph every angle of the computer including the serial numbers in case the worst happens and you need to make an insurance claim.
Prepare a moving box as previously described for your computer.
Remove all the ink cartridges, (more about packing those in the next section).
Using masking tape, which should not damage the case of your printer, secure all moving parts such as the paper tray so that they cannot move.
Then wrap the entire printer in at least two layers of bubble wrap.
Place the printer, flat, not on its side, into the box.
Fill all gaps with protection to prevent any movement.
Add the final layer of protection before securely sealing the box.
Label the box as fragile, this way up.
You may also like to read: 10 Sneaky Ways to Save Money on Your Home Moving Costs. By now you have probably realised how expensive packing for a home move can be. In this guide, we suggest 10 slightly unusual ways to save money on your moving costs.
How to Pack and Transport Ink Cartridges
Zip-lock bags are ideal for transporting ink cartridges safely
It may just be prudent to plan to use up your ink before you move, recycle the cartridges, and then replace them in your new home.
But if that is not possible, this is how to pack them safely.
Note that if you have an inkjet printer you may not need to remove the cartridges at all, but with a laser printer, cartridges must always be removed before packing.
Always refer to your handbook for advice on your particular printer model.
IMPORTANT: If you do remove any ink tanks, and the printer head is not part of the cartridge itself, be sure to cover the print head with its protective plastic hood, or your print head with dry out and your printer will be useless.
Place the ink cartridge in a sealable plastic bag to prevent any spills
Wrap tightly in bubble wrap and seal with tape
Place in a padded box as described above
You may also like to read: How to Create a Home Office in a Small Space. This is an invaluable guide if you have only a small space in which to create your home office. There are suggestions for 19 ways to create office space as well as organisational tips to make the most of the available space in your new home.
How to Pack a Laptop
Be especially careful to protect the edges of your laptop or this may happen
Photograph the laptop from every angle ensuring you capture any serial numbers
Wrap the entire laptop in anti-static bubble wrap
Most likely you will have a laptop bag or case of some description, so place the wrapped laptop into that.
If the laptop is travelling with you, then that’s it. That will be enough protection.
If the laptop is being shipped then you will need to box it as you would a computer as described in the previous sections.
You may also like to read: The Epic Guide to Decluttering for a Home Move. The one guaranteed way to reduce your moving costs is to declutter your home before you do any packing. The fewer items that you have to pack and transport, the cheaper your relocation costs will be. In this guide, we tell you all you need to know about decluttering your home.
How to Pack a Laptop for an International Move
Pack your laptop as described above
For added protection place the boxed laptop into a second padded box for extra protection
Note that your removal company may have to pack your laptop for an international move as there may be customs paperwork to complete and some insurance companies will not cover things you have packed yourself.
Check with your removal company and with your insurance company.
How to Pack Computer Chargers, Cables, and Keyboards
Ensure all cables are clearly labeled as to where they reconnect
Make sure all your cable labels are securely in place.
Prepare some bags that are labeled with the component the cables are associated with, for example, a laptop or printer.
Secure each cable with an elastic band or zip tie so that they don’t get tangled
Place them in their respective bags and wrap the bag tightly in bubble wrap
These can then be placed in their prepared protective box
Keyboards should have their feet taped closed with masking tape to prevent them from getting snapped off.
Then wrap in at least two layers of bubble wrap before placing in the box.
Lastly, seal and label the box clearly.
As you can see there is a lot of work involved in just the packing of your computer equipment, imagine how much time and effort your whole home move will take.
You may want to consider hiring a full-service removal company to ensure your precious items are given the best possible protection during your home move.
You may also like to read: What is a Full-Service Home Move? In this guide, we look at what a full-service home move is, what they cost on average, on how a good removal company will make your home move so much easier and less stressful.
And this is worth repeating, many insurance companies will not cover items that you have packed yourself, and this is especially relevant to international home moves.
Be sure to check your insurance policies and ensure you comply with their terms exactly to prevent any future problems.
Good luck with your home move and be sure to visit our home moving blog which is packed with tips on how to make your move quicker, cheaper, safer, and less stressful.
Packing computer and its accessories is quite a difficult task, you need to be very careful. Most important is backing up your data, as it is never easy to recover lost data, so it is better to take precautions in advance.
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Packing computer and its accessories is quite a difficult task, you need to be very careful. Most important is backing up your data, as it is never easy to recover lost data, so it is better to take precautions in advance.