How to Pack Electronics and TVs for a Move Without Damage

To pack electronics and TVs for a move without damage, use the original boxes where you still have them, photograph the cable setup before you unplug anything, wrap screens and devices in bubble wrap or anti-static material, and always transport flat-panel TVs standing on their edge, never lying flat. Screens crack under pressure when laid flat, and loose cables cause half the confusion at the other end. Handle it methodically and everything powers back on in the new place. Here is the full method.

Key takeaways

• Photograph every cable setup before unplugging, so reconnecting is painless.
• Original boxes are best; otherwise use bubble wrap and a snug carton.
• Always move flat-screen TVs on their edge, never lying flat.
• Back up your data before the move in case a device is jolted.
• Bag and label cables per device, then get quotes from vetted crews.

Before you unplug anything

Photograph the setup

Take a photo of the back of your TV, computer, router and gaming console before you touch a single cable. When you are staring at a nest of identical black cables at the new place, that photo is worth an hour of frustration. Do the same for any AV or home-theatre setup.

Back up your data

A move is a jolt-heavy journey and hard drives do not love being dropped. Back up your computer, and photos, to the cloud or an external drive before moving day. It costs nothing and protects the one thing you truly cannot replace.

Work out your boxes

Electronics need small-to-medium boxes and plenty of cushioning. Factor them into your box count with the packing box calculator so you have the right sizes and enough bubble wrap on hand.

Manage the cables

Cables are where electronics moves go wrong. A methodical approach:

• Unplug and coil each cable, then secure it with a velcro tie or twist tie.
• Bag cables by device. All the TV cables in one labelled zip bag, all the computer cables in another.
• Tape the bag to the device it belongs to, or drop it inside that device's box. Now nothing gets orphaned.
• Photograph before and label after, so setup at the new place is plug-and-play.

Packing the TV

The TV is the most vulnerable item because the screen is large, thin and expensive.

1. Original box first. If you kept it, the moulded foam inserts are purpose-built and unbeatable. This is the safest option by a mile.
2. No original box? Wrap the screen in a soft blanket or bubble wrap, screen-side protected, then use a specialist flat TV moving box or a snug custom carton. Never let anything press directly on the screen.
3. Corners and edges take the knocks, so add extra padding there.
4. Always transport on edge, standing upright, exactly as it sits on the wall or stand. Laid flat, the screen flexes under any weight or vibration and cracks. This is the single most important rule.
5. Label THIS WAY UP and FRAGILE on all sides.

For the general fragile-handling principles behind this, see our fragile items guide.

Computers, consoles and audio gear

• Desktop towers travel upright in a padded box. Remove any loose add-in cards only if you know what you are doing; otherwise leave the internals alone and cushion the whole unit.
• Laptops and tablets go in a padded sleeve or bubble wrap, ideally carried in your own bag rather than the truck.
• Games consoles should have discs removed and the unit wrapped and boxed with its cables bagged alongside.
• Speakers and audio gear need the cones protected; wrap and box snugly with padding.
• Printers can leak ink, so remove cartridges, or at least bag the printer, and pack upright.

Small appliances count too

Microwaves, coffee machines, air fryers and the like are electronics with moving or fragile parts. Secure any glass plates or carafes separately, tape down loose doors and lids, and box them with cushioning. Wrap and pad anything with a screen or a glass component.

Screens, TVs and furniture disassembly

If your TV is wall-mounted or your gear sits in an entertainment unit that needs to come apart, tackle the furniture side using our furniture disassembly guide. Keep the mounting brackets, screws and Allen keys in a labelled bag taped to the unit, so reassembly at the new place is straightforward.

Temperature and static

Two quick cautions for an Adelaide move:

• Heat. In a hot Adelaide summer, do not leave electronics baking in a closed truck or car for hours. Extreme heat is hard on batteries and screens. Move devices promptly and, for very valuable gear, carry it in the air-conditioned cabin.
• Static and moisture. Anti-static wrap is ideal for computer components. If a device has been somewhere cold, let it reach room temperature before powering on to avoid condensation.

Carry the irreplaceable yourself

Your laptop, hard drives, cameras and phone should travel with you in the car, not on the truck. They are small, high-value and hold data you cannot replace. Everything bulky, the TV, the desktop, the sound system, can go with the crew, packed and labelled.

Let a vetted crew handle the load

A packed and cushioned TV still has to be carried, loaded on its edge, and secured so it does not shift on the drive. That is where experience matters. Once your electronics are boxed, cabled and labelled, get matched with vetted, insured Adelaide crews and compare 3 free quotes. Local, insured, no obligation, and your screens travel upright and secure the whole way.