Many of us are guilty of committing to something and later realizing that the task at hand might be more complex than we initially thought. This also applies to moving where many of us tend to take the DIY route only to realize later that there’s so much we don’t know!

While moving companies offer full-service moves, only hiring them for the moving bit can save you a significant amount of cash. But, what do you do when it’s time to pack complex items like a TV? Here’s the big question – can you handle it all by yourself?

There’s another question that might have come to your mind – that is how to pack your TV for your move. This Article will guide you for the same.

Should I Replace My TV?

If your TV doesn’t have the features you want and doesn’t support modern sources that you might need, then it’s best to replace your TV rather than packing it. TVs are part of the fast-moving electronic world and you’ll always have new updates rolling in. But that doesn’t mean you have to chuck your TV out every time a new piece gets launched in the market.

If your TV is working just fine or if it has problems that can be fixed easily, we suggest you pack it and continue using it in your new home. When it comes to packing a TV, whatever doubts you might have, if you do enough research and pack it carefully, you can be sure that it won’t get damaged.

Let’s actually go through the steps to packing a TV so that you know the nitty-gritties of the entire process.

Related: Tips For Moving And Packing Electronics

1. Gather All Your Packing Materials

We don’t have to tell you that you’ll definitely need to have the right packing materials in place to actually pack your TV. What’s best here is to have the original box that your TV came in, since it already has all the required cushioning to avoid any kind of damage to the TV. It also comes with spaces to store the accessories that came with your TV, so it’s the easiest way out.

If you don’t have the original box, we suggest you gather these packing materials before you start packing:

  • A sturdy cardboard box that can fit your TV
  • Packing tape
  • Bubble wrap or stretch wrap
  • A moving blanket

You can also try securing cardboard boxes and other packing materials from recycling centers or local department stores. These include grocery stores, recycling centers, liquor stores, and even bookshops. You’ll save some money while also being conscious of the environmental impact such items have.

See Also: How to Find Free Moving Boxes? | From Where To Rent Moving Blankets?

Tip: If you don’t have the original box that your TV came in, look for a cardboard box and ensure that it is at least 2 to 3 inches bigger than your TV. We suggest this because you’ll require some space inside the box to create padding.

2. Prep Your TV

The next step in the process is to prepping your TV so that it’s ready to be packed. You must be wondering what possible prepping a TV could need, and we’re here to tell you that in short:

Take A Picture Of The Back:

Before you do anything else at all, take your phone out and click a picture of the back of your TV where all the cables are attached. While this might have skipped your mind entirely, we all know that this tiny step will save you quite a lot of time when you have to reinstall your TV in your new home. If your TV doesn’t have ports at the back, it might even have them at the bottom. Irrespective of that, click a picture for future reference!

Remove And Dismantle:

Take all the cables out from the ports and unmount your TV from the wall if it’s up. Also, remove any stand or legs that your TV might have. These plastic pieces are usually fairly easy to take off and just have to be unscrewed.

Wipe Your TV Down:

While you might have the opportunity to wipe down the front of your TV frequently, the back usually gathers dust, especially if it’s mounted on the wall. Take this as an opportunity to clean your TV thoroughly. Wiping your screen down with a good screen cleaner also serves another purpose – dust particles can cause scratches during transit.

Label All Your TV’s Cables:

You’ve taken a picture of the back of your TV so that you can reinstall the cables with no hassle. But what about the cables themselves? You might have many that go into the TV at different times from your DVD cables to that of your Xbox.

Imagine opening your packed box to reach for a particular cable but you can’t find it because you carelessly dumped all the cords in a box and now it’s a huge tangled mess! Save yourself the added hassle by labeling your cables and neatly packing them in a box.

While you can label these by writing their purpose (e.g. DVD audio), you can also add color-coded stickers to make things easier for you. Before you dump these cables in a box, coil them neatly and secure them with a zip tie, rubber band, or twist tie. This way you can be assured that you won’t end up with a million different cables tangled together.

3. Let’s Pack! Time To Protect Your TV

We now reach the stage where you’ve to do a few things to ensure that your TV won’t get damaged during transit. Always protect the screen of your TV because that’s the most fragile part. One mistake somewhere and it’s likely that the screen will crack. You have two options here – either you start with bubble wrap or with blankets.

If you want to start with bubble wrap, what you can do is start wrapping it around the TV to create a good cushion and then secure it with tape. There’s another way to this – loosely wrap packing tape around your TV keeping the sticky side of it outwards. After this, start wrapping the bubble wrap around the tape. Once you’re done with this, you can use a few blankets to wrap your TV more for extra cushioning.

You can also directly start with blankets that are thick. Wrap it carefully around your TV and then secure it using rubber bands, small ropes, or even bungee cords. Place your TV inside the box and remember to firmly close it with packing tape. Use a sharpie to write “TV” and “FRAGILE” on the box so that you or anyone who moves it is aware of what’s inside. We also suggest you put a “SCREEN SIDE UP” marking on the specific side of the box for extra precaution.

Tip: Don’t choose blankets that have anything like buttons or zippers since they might end up scratching your TV up!

4. Time to Load The TV In The Moving Truck

When it’s time to load the TV, be very careful so as to not damage it in any way. If it’s a flat-screen, it’s best to keep it propped up against the wall of the truck or in the middle of two sturdy pieces of furniture. Laying your TV flat on the floor of the truck is a big no since the likelihood of damage to the exterior is high, so don’t even think about it!

If you’re going to place your TV against the wall of the moving truck, then don’t forget to secure it to the wall using cords. Also, never place the TV in a way that the screen faces the wall, you want to limit the risk of damage, not increase it!

For those of you transporting your TV in your car, place it on the backseat, and don’t forget to place other items all around it. If you don’t have anything then just roll blankets and keep them around your boxed TV. The aim here is to avoid the TV from shifting while you drive.

Also Read: How to Pack and Load a Moving Truck?

5. Unpacking Your TV

It’s necessary to be careful even after your TV has been unloaded from the moving truck and placed in the room of your choice. When it’s time to get it back up, don’t be the only one to open the box and take the TV out, that’s a bad idea!

Take another person’s help when you take the TV out and also when you want to mount it on the wall in your new house. There’s another thing you need to be careful about – don’t plug your TV in before it has returned to room temperature. Those of you who will likely be storing your TV in climate-controlled storage units before getting it to your new home need to be aware of this.

Also See: Best Moving Truck Rental Companies

Additional Tips For When You Pack Your TV

Here are a few additional things you can keep in when you start packing your TV for your move:

  1. If the box you find for your TV is much bigger than the TV itself, there might remain small empty spaces inside the box when you put your padded TV inside. Fill these up with small pieces of linen or cloth so that your TV doesn’t shift during transit.
  2. You can also put pieces of foam around the edges of your TV to protect it further.
  3. When you’re taking off the legs or any part of the TV before you pack it, don’t forget to store the screws in a small ziplock bag and keep that handy. You can even stick it to the TV mount using tape so that it doesn’t get misplaced.
  4. Don’t forget to label your remotes as well. We suggest you take the batteries out before you move and place the remotes in a bag or box.
  5. Get temporary insurance for your TV, especially if it’s new or in good condition. Let the insurance last from the packing to the unpacking stage if you’re hiring movers.
  6. If the climate is going to be humid or if there are chances of moisture entering the box, try placing silica gel packs inside the TV box to avoid the same.

Read Also: Cable vs Satellite TV – Pros and Cons

Conclusion

Packing your TV can seem daunting because it’s a high value item and it’s fragile. But if you’re careful and you follow the right steps, you really have nothing to worry about. Even though a TV is something we need as soon as we’ve moved, don’t try to rush the unpacking and reinstallation process. Also, if you’re ever going to buy a new TV, don’t forget to keep the box or at least its protective sleeve!

FAQs

How can I move my TV without a box?

If you cannot find a box to move your TV, you can use thick blankets instead. Though it’s not the safest option, you can first place bubble wrap around the screen of the TV and then wrap it entirely with a few blankets. Don’t forget to secure the blankets with bungee cords or rubber bands.

What temperature is bad for electronics?

Anything that goes above 120°F can lead to damage, which is why it’s best if you don’t let your electronics get overheated. Also, remember that overheating just makes your devices slower in the future.

Can I bring a TV on a plane?

Yes, you can but we recommend that you check with the airline you’re traveling with beforehand to make sure that the television will fit in overhead storage or under your seat. TVs count as checked baggage and you can count it as being part of your carry-on weight.

How to transport a 65 inch TV?

The easiest way to transport a TV of that size is to place it on the backseat of your car and secure it with safety belts. You can even place things around the TV to limit shifting like we’ve mentioned before. If you’re placing your TV in your trunk, don’t forget to secure it too.

Can you lay a curved TV on its back?

No, don’t lay a curved TV on its back as it can damage your TV significantly. Instead, place it upright as it’s supposed to be.