Your moving day is coming up fast. The last thing you want is to pack up your whole house, only to realize you forgot your kitchen drawers, which contain one of the things you use more often than anything else in your home: silverware. 

Today, we’re going to explain how to pack silverware for moving so that you know exactly what to do and can move onto your new home with ease. Let’s get started!

Why listen to us? We’re Bellhop – we’re national movers, and have moved tens of thousands of people over the past decade. We have long-distance movers in Atlanta, cross-country movers in Washington, DC, and interstate movers in Charlotte, among many others.

How to pack silverware for moving

These are the steps on how to pack silverware for moving: 

Tip #1: Purchase your supplies

When it comes to packing silverware, you’ll need a silverware tray, moving box, packing paper, packing tape, and a label. You can often get these at your local grocery store or craft store. You can also ask convenience stores if they have any small moving boxes so that you’re not left trying to find something at the last minute. 

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(Note: A large or medium moving box could work, but you’ll have to make sure to pack it full of packing paper or bubble wrap so that nothing moves around and gets damaged during the move. See tip #4.)

Tip #2: Use a silverware tray

Before you get started, make sure your silverware is washed and fully dry. Then, you’ll want to gather groups of spoons, forks, and knives, covering them in packing paper. 

Next, add those to the silverware tray. Cover the tray a few times with packing paper, and seal it with tape. It’s then safe to add that tray to a moving box with the rest of your kitchenware, including cups and bowls. 

Person packing-on-bench

Tip #3: Pay special attention to the knives

How do you pack knives for moving? Going back to tip #2 for a second, using a silverware tray is one of the easiest ways to pack silverware for moving. However, you have to be careful during the knife packing process, as knives are sharp and dangerous. (The same can also be said for forks.) 

When you pack your knives, put them first on packing paper, and fold that paper, pointing the blades away or close to your person every other knife. Make sure to label the knives with their respective name so that it’s crystal clear what’s inside that section of the tray.

Tip #4: Fill up the empty areas in the tray

Have open spots in the silverware tray that are causing the silverware to move around? Packing paper is your friend.

The Better Way to Move

Make small balls with the paper, and add those balls to the empty areas to keep everything secure during the move. This is an easy step that you will thank yourself for later. Trust us!

Tip #5: Tape the box closed

Once your silverware is packed in the box, it’s time to shut the box and get it ready for the moving truck. Packing tape is a great resource for this. Carefully tape the top of the box (and bottom–if it’s flimsy) to make sure everything stays in place.

After the box is taped shut, make sure you don’t hear anything shifting inside. Then, add a label that reads “kitchen” and “fragile” or “dangerous – knives inside.”  

More questions about moving with silverware

Here are some answers for you:

What do you do if you don’t have room for large kitchen utensils in the silverware tray?

Don’t worry! It’s easy to pack these items. What you can do is wrap them one by one and set them on the tray. You can also bundle them in groups, similar to what you did with the forks, knives, and spoons. 

Can you pack silverware without a tray?

Yes, you can. You will still want to group the different kitchen utensils together, and wrap them with several sheets of packing paper. Then, you’ll want to tape up those sets, add them into a box with packing paper, and tape the box shut. 

An Antique silver spoon

How should you pack old and valuable silver?

Let’s say you were gifted spoons or silverware set by a family member. Maybe they have been passed down for generations, and you’re the newest lucky recipient. If so, you have to be careful with these items to keep them safe. It’s not a bad idea to polish them first. 

Then, you’ll want to put the silver in white packing paper, tissue paper, or cloth. Once everything is wrapped, add it to an appropriately sized moving box with bubble wrap and/or packing paper inside. Label the box as “fragile” so that whoever you have helping you move will use extra caution during the loading and unloading process. 

Ready to get this move on the road?

Things are moving along better than ever now that you know the steps on how to pack silverware for moving. If you haven’t already, feel free to reach out to Bellhop for local or long-distance moving help. Our movers are vetted, background-checked, affordable, and available to assist with moves to multiple states throughout the U.S. You can trust us to get the job done quickly and at a great price.

Find movers near you today. 

Nick Valentino