TVs crack, hard drives bump, hi-fi speakers pop when packed badly. Here is how a removal firm packs electronics so they arrive working.
Electronics are one of the highest-value-per-cubic-metre categories in any household move, and one of the most-damaged when self-packed without care. A cracked TV screen, a snapped hi-fi tonearm, a hard drive that lost its data — all preventable with the right method but expensive when they happen. After forty years of Sussex moves we have a clear electronics-packing playbook. This guide is it.
The detail below covers the major electronic categories: TVs and monitors, computers and laptops, hi-fi and audio equipment, cameras and small electronics, and the cabling that ties it all together. For each category we cover the materials, the packing method, and the practical things that catch out self-packers most often.
The right materials separate a damage-rate that’s essentially zero from one that’s alarmingly common. Original boxes: by far the best protection for TVs, computers, hi-fi separates and most other electronics. The original packaging is engineered specifically for the device’s weight distribution, fragile points and shipping orientation. Keep the boxes if you can.
If you don’t have the original boxes, you need removal-grade cartons sized appropriately (we stock these at our Lower Dicker packaging shop), anti-static bubble wrap (regular bubble wrap can carry a static charge that damages sensitive electronics; anti-static is worth the small extra cost), foam padding inserts for cavity-filling, and acid-free packing tissue for screen protection.
Avoid newspaper for electronics. The ink transfers onto plastic casings and screens, and the abrasive properties can scratch glass. The fragile-items guide covers the broader materials choice for the fragile categories.
TVs are the highest-stakes single electronics item in most moves. The single most important rule: TVs travel upright (screen vertical) and never flat (screen horizontal). Flat transport causes uneven pressure on the LCD/OLED panel and can lead to permanent black-line damage that’s typically not covered by transit insurance.
The standard packing method without the original box: wrap the screen in two layers of acid-free tissue (preventing direct contact between any other material and the screen), then two layers of anti-static bubble wrap covering the entire body, then corner-board protection on all four corners, then place inside a properly-sized carton with foam padding filling all cavities. Label the carton clearly: TV-FRAGILE-UP arrows on three sides.
Loading: TVs are loaded upright in the lorry against an internal wall, secured with strapping. Never stacked under heavier items. For multiple TVs, each gets its own carton or a specialist TV crate (we have these for larger jobs). The fine art guide covers the parallel considerations for items that share this vertical-orientation rule.
Desktop computers and laptops divide into the device itself and the data. For the device: original box where possible; otherwise heavy bubble wrap inside an appropriately-sized carton with cavity foam. Computers contain sensitive components that can be damaged by shock or static; the anti-static bubble matters more here than for TVs.
For the data: back up before packing. The standard backup pattern is the 3-2-1 rule — 3 copies of important data, on 2 different media types, with 1 copy off-site (typically cloud storage). For genuinely valuable data (business records, family photos, important documents), the backup should be tested before packing the original.
For external hard drives: pack like delicate electronics with anti-static bubble plus an outer cushioning layer. For SSDs and solid-state drives, they’re more robust than spinning disk drives but still benefit from cushioning. For tape backups (rare but exists for business customers), specialist climate-stable storage is the right approach for long-term holding.
Audio equipment has the widest range of fragility in the electronics category. Turntables and record players: by far the most fragile single audio category. The tonearm needs locking down with the supplied tonearm clip; the platter needs separating from the motor spindle; the cartridge needs removing or specifically protecting. Always pack in the original box.
Amplifiers and CD players: less fragile than turntables but still need careful handling. Internal components can shift under transit; the standard rule is to pack in original boxes or use appropriately-sized cartons with substantial cavity-fill. The connection cables are separate and labelled.
Speakers: these are sturdy but the cone surface is delicate. Wrap each speaker individually with the cone facing up; never store speakers face-down. For valuable hi-fi setups (genuine high-end audio, vintage equipment), the standard packing method may not be sufficient and specialist crating is worth considering. The antiques moving guide covers the parallel considerations for vintage and valuable items.
Cameras and lenses are the most fragile single small-electronics category in most household moves. The standard rule: each camera body and each lens in its own padded compartment, never in contact with another lens or body. For DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, the original packaging includes appropriate padding; for older film cameras or vintage equipment, custom padded cases are the right answer.
For lens collections: dedicated lens-storage cases or individual padded sleeves. Lens caps both ends; bubble wrap each lens individually; pack in a carton sized to allow each lens to sit in its own compartment without contact with neighbours. For valuable lens collections (over £5,000 in aggregate), declare them on the transit insurance at the booking stage.
For small electronics generally (e-readers, smart speakers, smartwatches, dash cams): original boxes if available, otherwise individually padded in a single carton labelled SMALL-ELECTRONICS-FRAGILE. Smaller devices are more prone to being misplaced than damaged; the carton labelling helps with the inventory check at the unload.
Cables, remotes and accessories accumulate quickly behind electronics and are easily forgotten or damaged in self-pack moves. The recommended approach: photograph the back of each device before disconnecting any cables, label each cable as it’s disconnected, and pack all cables in a single labelled carton (CABLES-AND-ACCESSORIES) separate from the devices themselves.
For remote controls: pack with the device they belong to (TV remote with the TV carton, hi-fi remote with the amplifier). Batteries should be removed for storage of more than a few weeks — alkaline batteries can leak in long-term storage and damage the remote.
For passwords, login details and device-specific notes (Wi-Fi setup, smart-home configurations, account credentials): keep these on paper or in a password manager — not on the devices being packed. The most common post-move IT problem we see is “I can’t remember the Wi-Fi password to log my smart TV back in”. Plan for it. The moving-day step-by-step guide covers the wider setup process at the new property.
We've been a family-run Sussex remover since 1982 — the same name on the lorry as the name on the paperwork. Mark personally surveys the high-value and overseas moves; our crews are directly employed (not casual day labour) and trained at our own staff training centre, one of only a handful of UK removers with that facility on site.
Standard inclusions on every full removal: pad-wrap protection for every freestanding piece of furniture, removal-grade cartons, a written and itemised fixed-price quote with no surprises on the day, and the British Association of Removers' Advance Payment Guarantee protecting every deposit. The result, over forty years and tens of thousands of moves, is a 4.9/5 review average across 120+ independent Google reviews.
Booking the survey takes ten minutes. Whether it's a one-bedroom flat across Eastbourne or a country house to overseas, the process is the same: in-home or video survey, written quote within 48 hours, deposit-protected booking, and a calm move day.
Free in-home or video survey, written fixed-price quote, BAR-protected deposit. Sussex’s family-run remover since 1982.
One last thing worth flagging: standard goods-in-transit insurance covers electronics on professionally-packed moves at typical per-item limits. For genuinely valuable electronics (cinema systems, professional audio gear, high-end camera bodies over £2,500), declare them specifically on the contract at booking. Items over £10,000 usually need a separate specialist policy. Talk to us at survey if your inventory includes electronics at these values; we’ll walk through the right insurance setup.
For your specific move, the free survey takes ten minutes and we’ll come back within 48 hours with a fixed-price quote and clear plan. Forty years of Sussex moves behind every survey.
Upright, always. Flat transport causes uneven pressure on the LCD/OLED panel and can lead to permanent black-line damage. The TV-FRAGILE-UP arrows on the carton ensure the crew loads correctly.
For sensitive electronics (computers, hi-fi components, professional camera equipment), yes — the static charge from regular bubble wrap can damage components. For routine TVs and large appliances, regular bubble wrap is acceptable.
Yes. The 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies of important data, on 2 different media types, with 1 copy off-site. Test the backup before packing the original. Hard drive failure during transit is rare but unrecoverable if you don't have a backup.
Each item in its own padded compartment, never in contact with another lens or body. Declare collections over £5,000 on the transit insurance at booking. For genuinely high-end equipment, specialist crating may be appropriate.
Yes, if they've been stored well (not damp, not crushed). The original packaging is by far the best protection for any electronic device. Many customers throw away the original boxes; if you have space, keeping them is worthwhile.