A large flatscreen TV is one of the items people are most anxious about during a move - and with good reason. Screens crack from impact and flex, and a TV that arrives at the new address with a damaged display is not covered by most household contents policies unless it was professionally packed. This guide covers how to move a large TV correctly, whether you are packing it yourself or asking your removalists to handle it.
The original box is the best solution - but most people don't have it
The best packaging for a TV is the box it came in. The original box is designed for exactly that screen size, with foam inserts that protect the corners and edges - the most vulnerable points on any flat panel. If you still have it, use it. If you don't, which is most people, you have a few practical alternatives.
TV moving boxes are available from moving suppliers and some hardware stores. These are purpose-made flat boxes with foam inserts in various size ranges. They are not as form-fitting as the original packaging but are significantly better than wrapping the screen in blankets and hoping for the best. If you have a 75-inch or larger screen, confirm the box size before you buy - oversized screens have fewer off-the-shelf box options and may require a custom approach.
How to pack a TV without the original box
If you are packing without a purpose-made TV box, the method is: screen face first into a layer of foam wrap or bubble wrap, with particular attention to the corners. Do not use newspaper directly against the screen - the ink can transfer and the paper provides almost no impact protection. Once the screen is wrapped, the whole TV goes into a moving blanket and is secured with packing tape around the outside of the blanket (never tape directly to the screen or the bezel). The wrapped TV then goes into a flat cardboard box if one is available, or is carried as a wrapped item on the truck.
The critical rule is to transport the TV upright - never flat on its back. A screen lying flat on a truck floor is exposed to vibration across its full surface and can crack internally without any visible impact. Upright, the screen is more stable and the suspension stress is distributed to the frame rather than the panel.
On the truck - position and securing
Billy and Jet position TVs upright against the wall of the truck, secured with a strap or wedged between upholstered furniture items. The TV never goes under other items, never goes flat, and never goes directly against hard surfaces without blanket protection between them. For very large screens (75 inches and above), the TV is typically the last item loaded and the first item unloaded - minimising the time it spends in transit and the number of times it is handled.
If you are moving the TV yourself in a hire van, the same rules apply. Upright, padded between soft items or against the van wall, never under anything, and driven carefully on any surface that is likely to cause sharp impacts (speed bumps, potholes).
Wall brackets and remounting
A wall-mounted TV requires the bracket to be removed before the move. This is usually a two-person job - one person holds the screen while the other removes the wall fixings or slides the screen off the mount. Do not attempt this alone with a large screen. The bracket itself can be packed in a labelled bag or box with its original fixings. Remounting at the new address depends on the wall type - masonry walls in brick or concrete require a hammer drill and masonry anchors, timber frame walls require studs. If you are not confident about remounting, this is worth adding to a handyperson's list for the first week rather than attempting it on moving day when everyone is tired.
What your removalists should do
A good removalist will ask about TVs at quoting stage - screen size, whether it is wall-mounted, and whether you have a box. Billy and Jet bring foam wrap and furniture blankets on every job and will wrap and secure your screen as part of the standard move. If you have a screen 65 inches or larger and no original packaging, mention it when you book so the right materials are brought. For more on what packing is included in a standard move, see our packing services page.
Frequently asked questions
Always upright. A flatscreen TV lying flat on a truck floor is exposed to vibration across its full surface and can crack internally without any visible impact. Upright, the suspension stress is distributed to the frame rather than the panel. This is the most important rule for moving any flatscreen TV.
Foam wrap or bubble wrap on the screen (never newspaper - the ink transfers), with extra attention to the corners. Then a moving blanket secured with tape around the outside of the blanket, never taped directly to the screen. A purpose-made TV moving box is better than blankets alone and is available from moving suppliers in most screen size ranges.
Yes - Billy and Jet bring foam wrap and furniture blankets on every job and wrap and secure TVs as part of the standard move. For screens 65 inches or larger with no original packaging, mention it when you book so the right materials are brought.
The bracket needs to come off the wall before the move - a two-person job for any large screen. The bracket and its fixings go in a labelled bag. Remounting at the new address depends on wall type (masonry vs timber frame). If you are not confident about remounting, this is worth adding to a handyperson's list rather than attempting on moving day.
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