How to Pack a TV for Moving Without Cracking the Screen

Supplies you need to pack a TV

A flat screen breaks from pressure and flex, not just from drops. The right materials keep anything from pressing on the panel.

• The original box and foam, if you kept them. Nothing fits better
• A TV moving box if you did not. These are adjustable two-piece cartons sold by screen size, usually with foam corner blocks
• A foam sheet or soft, clean cloth to cover the screen
• Moving blankets for extra padding around the box or the set
• Packing tape and stretch wrap. Tape goes on the wrapping, never on the screen or the frame
• Zip-top bags and a marker for screws, bolts, and small parts
• Painter's tape or labels for cables
• A screwdriver that fits the stand and mount screws

If we are packing for you, materials are included in the packing service quote.

What to do before you pack the TV

1. Take a photo of the back. A clear picture of which cable goes into which port saves a lot of guessing at the new house
2. Turn it off and unplug it well before packing so it is cool to the touch
3. Label each cable with a strip of painter's tape as you unplug it, then coil it and secure it with a twist tie
4. Gather the accessories. Put the remotes, power cord, cables, streaming device, and soundbar hardware in one small box and label it for the same room as the TV
5. Dust the screen with a dry microfiber cloth. Grit trapped under padding can scratch the panel

Take batteries out of remotes for a long-distance move so they cannot leak in transit.

How to remove a TV from a wall mount or stand

Always use two people to remove a TV from a wall mount. Large screens are awkward more than they are heavy, and one person cannot see the back while holding the front.

1. Unplug every cable first so nothing pulls tight as the set comes away from the wall
2. Look for the safety screws, pull cords, or locking bar at the bottom of the mount and release them
3. With one person on each side, lift the TV up and off the wall plate. Hold it by the frame, never by the screen
4. Set it face down on a bed or a table covered with a clean blanket only long enough to unscrew the mounting arms or the stand
5. Put every screw and washer in a labeled bag and tape the bag to the mount, not to the TV

Take the wall plate down too, and keep the mount, the stand, and the hardware together in one box. If the stand comes off, take it off. A TV packed with its feet attached is far more likely to twist in the box.

How to pack a TV for moving, step by step

These steps work for the original carton or a TV moving box.

1. Cover the screen. Lay a foam sheet or soft cloth over the whole panel. If the TV came with a thin foam bag, use that
2. Protect the corners. Fit the foam corner blocks or the original foam end caps. Corners take the hits
3. Slide the TV in upright. Stand the box on its long edge and lower the set straight in. Do not lay the box flat and drop the TV into it
4. Fill any gap. The TV should not shift when you rock the box gently. Add foam or crumpled paper along the edges and back, never a hard object against the screen side
5. Close and tape every seam
6. Label it. Write FRAGILE, the room, an arrow pointing up, and which side the screen faces on at least two sides

Good labels matter more than usual here. Our guide to labeling moving boxes covers a simple system.

Packing a TV without the original box

Packing a TV without the original box is fine as long as the screen is covered and nothing can press on it. You have two options.

Use a TV moving box. This is the better choice for long-distance moves, for storage, and for any large screen. Match the box to your screen size and follow the steps above.

Blanket wrap it. For a short local move, cover the screen with a foam sheet or a flat piece of clean cardboard cut to size, wrap the whole set in a thick moving blanket, and hold the blanket in place with stretch wrap or tape around the outside. Mark the screen side clearly on the blanket.

Do not put bubble wrap directly on the screen under tight wrapping. The bubbles can leave marks on the panel under pressure. Put a smooth, soft layer down first.

How to transport a TV in a truck or car

However you transport a TV, in a moving truck or in your own car, the rules are the same.

• Keep it upright. A flat screen laid flat has no support in the middle, and a bump in the road can crack the panel from its own weight
• Load it between soft, flat things. Between a mattress and a sofa back is ideal. Nothing with a corner or a knob should touch the screen side
• Strap it so it cannot tip or slide
• Stack nothing on it and lean nothing against it
• In a car, stand it upright behind the front seats or belted on the back seat, screen facing a seat back
• Mind the temperature. Do not leave a TV in a hot or freezing vehicle longer than you have to

At the new home, let the TV sit until it reaches room temperature before you plug it in, especially after a cold trip. Condensation inside electronics is a real risk.

Common mistakes that crack screens

• Carrying the TV with a hand or thumb pressed on the screen
• Laying it flat in the truck or the trunk
• Wrapping it in a blanket with nothing rigid or smooth over the screen, then leaning it on furniture
• Leaving the stand on
• Taping loose screws to the screen or the back panel
• Using a box that is too big, so the set slides around inside
• Losing the mount hardware. Bag it, label it, and box it with the mount

When to let movers pack and move the TV

A mid-size TV on a stand is a reasonable job for two careful people. Hand it off when the screen is very large, when it hangs high on a wall or over a fireplace, when you no longer have the box, or when it is going a long way.

Our crews pack and load TVs as part of local moves and long-distance moves, and you can add packing for the TV alone or for the whole house. When you request a quote, tell us how many TVs you have, their sizes, and which ones are wall mounted so the crew arrives with the right materials.

For an expensive set, ask about coverage before moving day. Our post on moving insurance and valuation explains the options.