Moving a large screen TV

Use proper packing materials

When it comes to packing a television, it’s important to protect the most fragile parts — the glass screen and the corners.  

Here are the materials to have on hand:  

• Bubble Wrap™ 
• Foam wrap 
• Microfiber cloth or electronics wipes 
• Packing paper 
• Packing tape 
• Painter’s tape or cord labels 
• Cable ties 
• Permanent marker 
• Moving box (for accessories like cords, remotes or stands) 
• Television box (see below for details) 

Original TV box

The best solution to protect a television during a move is to use the original shipping box and packing materials, as long as you still have it and everything’s in good shape. Just pack the TV up like it arrived and secure the box with packing tape. 

Television shipping box 

Already tossed the original box and materials for a flat-screen? That’s okay! Just buy a television shipping box. You can find these online or at a moving supply or home improvement store. They’re made in several sizes to fit most LED, LCD and 4K models and often come with foam edges to protect the corners.  

For older or curved-screen televisions without original packaging, you can make your own box. 

Make your own container  

If you don’t have a suitable box and can’t get one, it’s possible to use  other boxes or stiff pieces of cardboard. Cut large boxes (like wardrobe boxes) and fold them to fit around the TV. Make sure it’s large enough to hold the TV and several inches of packing material around the top, bottom and all sides. Secure everything with packing tape. Remember this shouldn’t be the first choice since boxes made especially for televisions are the best option. 

Pack your TV like a pro 

No matter what type of box is available, you’ll want to protect the television from damage before it’s shipped. Follow these steps for the best results. 

1. Clean the television with a microfiber cloth or electronics wipe to remove dust and dirt. 
2. Roll out foam wrap on a secure flat surface like the floor or a large table. 
3. Remove the TV from its base, stand or wall mount and gently place it face down on the foam. (You may need a helper depending on the size.) 
4. Use painter’s tape or labels to identify each cord before disconnecting and securing it with cable ties. It can help to take a photo to make setup easier at the new home. If a cord can’t be removed, bind it with a cable tie or secure it to the back (never the screen!) of the television with painter’s tape. 
5. Wrap the foam wrap around the back of the TV and secure it with packing tape. 
6. Wrap a layer (or more) of Bubble Wrap™ around everything and secure it with packing tape. 
7. Prepare the box by lining it with crushed packing paper and corner shields if you have them. 
8. Place the wrapped bundle in the box and fill in any remaining space with packing paper and corner shields.  
9. Tape the box closed and be sure to label it with “Fragile-TV” and “This side up” to indicate the top. 
10. Pack accessories such as mounts or stands, remotes and cords in a separate labeled moving box.