Most breakage doesn’t happen because a box was dropped — it happens because items had room to move. The goal of good fragile packing is simple: nothing shifts, and nothing touches anything hard.
Start with the right box
Use small, sturdy boxes for heavy fragile items like dishes. A big box full of glassware is too heavy to handle safely and puts pressure on the pieces at the bottom. Double-wall boxes are worth it for anything irreplaceable.
Cushion every layer
Line the bottom of the box with two inches of crumpled paper. Wrap each item individually, then add paper between layers and along the sides. Give the box a gentle shake before sealing — if anything moves, add more padding.
Pack plates on their edge
Plates are strongest vertically, like records in a crate. Wrap each one, then stand them on edge rather than stacking them flat. Stacked plates crack under their own weight over a long drive.
Label it loudly
Mark fragile boxes on the top and all four sides, and note which end is up. Load them last and unload them first so they spend the least time under other boxes.
When in doubt, over-pad. Paper is cheap; the coffee mug your grandmother gave you is not.