How do you move wine glasses without breaking them?

Of all household items, wine glasses are among the most fragile to move. Their thin stems, delicate bowls, and brittle glass make them susceptible to damage during transport. With the right packing technique and sufficient protective material, wine glasses almost always arrive intact at their new location. It takes a bit more time than ordinary dinnerware, but it's worth it for glasses you want to keep for a long time.

What do you need for packing?

To safely pack wine glasses, you'll need a few things. Packing paper or tissue paper is most suitable: it's soft, lint-free, and protects the glass without leaving scratches. Bubble wrap can also be used as an extra layer, but don't use it as the sole protection directly against the glass. Sturdy boxes with a good bottom are indispensable. Special glass boxes with compartments for each glass also exist and are the safest option if you're moving many glasses at once. You'll also need tape to secure the packing paper and extra void fill material such as crumpled paper or foam to fill any empty spaces in the box.

How do you pack a wine glass?

Start with the bowl. Lay a sheet of packing paper flat and place the glass on one corner. Roll the glass diagonally across the paper so that the bowl is fully wrapped. Fold the loose corners inward and continue rolling so that the stem and base are also wrapped. Use a second sheet of paper if the glass is large or if it's crystal glass that needs extra protection.

For crystal glasses, stuff a wad of soft paper into the bowl before you start packing. This prevents the bowl from being crushed if pressure is applied to the packed glass. The stem is the most fragile point: make sure it is well-wrapped and not exposed to direct pressure.

How do you pack the box?

Place a layer of crumpled paper or foam on the bottom of the box as a shock absorber. Place the packed glasses upright in the box, never on their side. They are more stable upright, and the pressure is better distributed over the base instead of the fragile stem or bowl. Do not place the glasses too close together: leave space between them and fill that space with crumpled paper or bubble wrap so that the glasses cannot shift against each other.

Never stack glasses on top of each other in the same box. If you want to use multiple layers, place a thick layer of cardboard or foam between the layers and ensure that the bottom layer can support the pressure of the top layer. In practice, one layer of glasses per box is the safest.

How do you label the boxes?

Clearly write "fragile glass" on each box. Also, indicate which side is up so that the box isn't accidentally placed upside down. For a professional move, it's advisable to keep the boxes with wine glasses separate and transport them yourself in the car instead of loading them into the moving truck. This gives you more control over how they are handled.

Crystal glasses versus regular wine glasses

Crystal glasses require extra attention when moving. Crystal is more brittle than regular glass and is more sensitive to pressure, vibrations, and temperature changes. Always pack crystal glasses with multiple layers of packing paper and ensure extra void fill material in the box. Avoid transporting crystal glasses together with heavy dinnerware in the same box.

The Amore wine glasses from Mémoire are made of high-quality lead-free crystal glass. They are thin and light, which makes them pleasant to use but requires caution when moving. Pack them individually and use sturdy boxes with sufficient void fill material.

Alternative: clothing and textiles as packing material

If you don't have packing paper on hand, you can also use soft clothing to wrap glasses. Thin cotton shirts, dish towels, or fabric napkins work well as an alternative. They provide sufficient cushioning and allow you to utilize the space in the moving box twice over. Avoid materials with buttons, zippers, or hard embellishments that could damage the glass.

Unpacking after the move

Unpack the glasses on a soft surface, such as a counter covered with a towel. Carefully loosen the packing paper without pulling. Check each glass for hairline cracks or chips before using it. Hairline cracks are not always immediately visible but can be detected by holding the glass up to the light and slowly rotating it.

Always wash the glasses first after unpacking before using them. Moving boxes contain dust, and the glasses have been in contact with packing material. You can read how to best wash wine glasses in how to wash wine glasses.

How many glasses fit in a box?

A standard moving box of approximately 40 by 30 by 30 centimeters provides space for six to eight wine glasses, depending on their size and the amount of packing material. Don't make boxes too heavy: a full box of glasses can quickly weigh ten kilograms or more. Keep boxes lighter than fifteen kilograms so they are easy to carry without having to tilt them, which increases the risk of the glasses shifting.

View Mémoire's wine glass collection if you want to replenish or renew your glassware after the move.