Packing Electronics and Home-Office Equipment for a Move: Laptops, TVs, Cables and Data

Back up your data first, then pack each device the way its manufacturer says, or let the mover or a specialist pack it. Electronics are not just fragile, they are also often irreplaceable in a way furniture is not: a cracked vase is a cost, but a dead hard drive with ten years of photos on it is a loss no insurance payout fixes.

Before you pack anything: back it up

Do this a few days before moving day, not the night before:

• Back up laptops and desktops to an external drive or cloud storage, and check the backup actually opens before you box the machine.
• Photograph the back of routers, set-top boxes and any A/V equipment showing exactly which cable goes into which port, before you unplug a single one.
• Note down or photograph your broadband router’s settings sticker (network name, admin login) in case you need to set it up again at the new address. Keep that photo private.
• Make sure you can still sign in to important accounts if a device is damaged or delayed, for example through a password manager or recovery codes kept somewhere safe.

Start with the manufacturer’s instructions

Screens, printers and computers differ by model, so general packing tips can do more harm than good. Before packing, look up the user manual or the manufacturer’s support page for each valuable device and check what it says about:

• whether the device must stay upright or may be laid down in transit;
• removing stands, wall brackets, ink or toner, and any transport lock or carriage-lock setting;
• how long to wait before switching on after moving from a cold vehicle to a warm room;
• whether the original packaging is needed for safe transport or warranty purposes.

If the instructions are unclear, or the item is large, wall-mounted or expensive, ask the removal firm whether its crew will pack it or whether a specialist should. Taking a large TV off a wall bracket, or moving a large screen, is a job for two competent people or the crew, not one person working alone.

TVs and monitors

• Use the original box if you kept it. If you did not, ask the mover whether it supplies a purpose-made TV or screen carton, and let the crew pack it if you are unsure.
• Follow the manual on orientation. Do not assume a screen can travel lying flat, or that any position is fine. The manual or the manufacturer’s support line is the authority for your model.
• Avoid pressure on the screen. Do not stack boxes against or on top of a screen, and keep sharp or heavy items away from it.
• Let the crew know which box holds a screen so it can be loaded where it will not be crushed.

Laptops, desktops and external drives

Once backed up, pack the physical hardware with the same care as anything shock-sensitive:

• Original manufacturer boxes are ideal for desktop towers; if unavailable, use a snug box with padding on all sides so nothing can shift.
• For printers, check the manufacturer’s guidance on ink or toner and any transport lock before packing.
• Older mechanical hard drives are more sensitive to knocks than solid-state storage. Pack external drives powered off and padded, and ideally carry them yourself (see below).

Cables, chargers and peripherals

The unglamorous part of an office move is usually what actually delays you getting back online:

• Photograph each device’s cable setup before disconnecting (see above), then bag cables per device with labels such as “desk PC”, “printer” or “router”, rather than one giant bag of mystery leads.
• Pack chargers with their matching device, not in a separate box, so a laptop that needs charging on arrival is not lost in ten boxes.
• Keep one “day one” bag with the essentials: laptop charger, phone charger, a spare ethernet cable and any adapter you know you will need before the rest is unpacked. If broadband at the new address is not ready, see the guide to broadband when moving house.

What to carry yourself, rather than load with the rest

The British Association of Removers says that “even with the greatest care no mover can guarantee that belongings won’t get damaged in transit”, and advises customers to take responsibility for items such as jewellery rather than relying on the load. The same logic applies to a laptop holding financial records, an external drive with the only copy of family photos, or a desktop tower with specialist work software licensed to that machine: if it would be genuinely painful to lose, it travels with you, not in the van. The guide to valuables and documents that should travel with you covers the rest of that list.

Condition record before and after

A short record makes any later damage discussion factual:

• photograph each screen switched on before packing, showing it works and has no marks;
• note make, model and serial number, kept with your inventory, not on the box;
• photograph the packed box and its label;
• at the new home, photograph it again before switching on if the box or casing looks damaged.

If something breaks in transit

Note any visible damage on the delivery paperwork at the time, before the crew leaves, not after you have unpacked everything. Citizens Advice explains that under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 “services must be provided with reasonable care and skill”, and that where this standard is not met you can ask the trader to do the work again if possible or ask for a discount. That page covers England; Citizens Advice publishes separate versions for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. See the guides on what removal insurance actually covers and documenting a damage complaint for how claims on electronics are usually assessed against the mover’s or insurer’s terms, including how self-packed boxes are often treated differently from items the crew packed.

FAQs

Should I let the removal company pack my electronics, or do it myself?

Either can work, but check your policy first: cover for damage to the contents of a box is often stronger when the mover packed it and can see the condition going in, compared with a box you sealed yourself. If you pack electronics yourself, ask specifically how that affects any claim before moving day, not after. To price crew packing for screens and computers, see packing services.

Is it safe to move a desktop PC without removing the hard drive?

Check the manufacturer’s guidance for your machine, and do not open the case unless you are competent to. Whatever the drive type, if the data matters, back it up externally first regardless of how carefully the computer is packed.

Can I pack a printer with the ink cartridges still inside?

It depends on the model. Some manufacturers ask you to remove cartridges or use a transport setting first; others ask you to leave them in. Check your printer’s manual before packing.

Sources

• British Association of Removers, “Moving Home in the UK” (insurance and valuables guidance)
• Citizens Advice, “If you’re unhappy about poor service” (Consumer Rights Act 2015, reasonable care and skill)

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