How to Pack Lamps for Moving, From Bases to Shades
The Right Way to Pack a Lamp
Lamps break in moves more often than almost anything else in a living room. They are top-heavy, the shades crush easily, and the parts that hold everything together, the harp, the finial, and the socket, are small and easy to lose. The fix is simple: take every lamp apart, pack each piece on its own, and give the shades a box of their own.
Our packers at Priority Moving Services pack lamps for homes across Hillsboro and the Portland metro every week. This guide covers table lamps, floor lamps, lampshades, glass and ceramic bases, and bulbs, plus a calculator that tells you how many boxes and how much packing material you need.
How to pack a lamp in 6 steps
- Unplug the lamp and let the bulb cool, then remove it.
- Take off the shade, the finial, and the harp, and bag the small parts.
- Wrap the base in packing paper, then bubble wrap, and coil the cord.
- Stand the base upright in a box with padding on every side.
- Pack the shade in its own box, wrapped only in clean white paper.
- Label both boxes "Fragile" and "This side up" and keep them together.
Supplies for Packing Lamps
Most of these come in a standard moving kit. Our list of the best places to buy moving supplies in Portland can help you find the rest.
Clean white packing paper
Ink-free paper for shades and bases. Newsprint can stain fabric shades.
Bubble wrap
A second layer for bases, especially glass, ceramic, and metal with a finish.
Medium and large boxes
Medium for most bases, large for shades. A box per shade is ideal.
Tall lamp boxes
Long boxes made for floor lamps, available from moving supply stores.
Zip-top bags
For the harp, finial, and any screws. Tape the bag to the base wrap.
Packing tape and a marker
Seal boxes and label them Fragile, This side up, and the room.
Lamp Packing Calculator
Count the lamps in your home to see how many boxes and how much packing material to buy. For the rest of the house, try our moving box calculator.
An estimate based on how our packers usually pack lamps. Very large or oddly shaped lamps may need their own box. Nothing you enter here is sent or saved.
How to Pack a Table Lamp, Step by Step
These steps work for table, desk, and bedside lamps of any style.
Unplug and let the bulb cool
Turn the lamp off and unplug it. Give the bulb a few minutes to cool before you touch it.
Remove the bulb
Unscrew the bulb and pack it separately in a small padded box, or leave it behind if it is near the end of its life.
Take off the shade, finial, and harp
Unscrew the finial on top, lift off the shade, then squeeze the harp's sleeves and lift it out of its saddle. Put the finial and harp in a labeled zip-top bag.
Coil and secure the cord
Loop the cord loosely and hold it with a twist tie or tape against the base, so it cannot snag or pull on the socket.
Wrap the base
Wrap the base in two or three sheets of packing paper, then a layer of bubble wrap. Pad the socket area well, since it is the most fragile part.
Box it upright
Line the bottom of a medium box with crumpled paper, stand the base upright, and fill the gaps on all sides so it cannot move. Two sturdy, non-glass bases can share a box with padding between them.
Tape the parts bag to the base
Tape the bag with the harp and finial to the outside of the wrapped base so the lamp goes back together easily.
Seal and label
Close the box, shake it gently to check for movement, then label it Fragile, This side up, and the room it goes to.
Lampshades and Floor Lamps
How to pack a lampshade
Shades crush and dent easily, and once a fabric shade is creased it rarely looks right again. Give every shade space.
- Wrap the shade loosely in clean white paper. Never use newsprint on fabric or paper shades.
- Do not stuff paper inside the shade or pack anything heavy around it.
- Stand it upright in a large box with crumpled paper underneath and around the sides.
- Shades of different sizes can nest, smallest inside largest, with paper between them.
- Glass shades are packed like dishes: wrapped in paper, then bubble wrap, with padding on all sides.
How to pack a floor lamp
Floor lamps are tall, light at the top, and easy to bend. Taking them apart makes them much safer.
- Remove the shade, bulbs, and any glass diffuser or bowl, and pack them separately.
- Unscrew the pole sections if the lamp comes apart, and bag the hardware.
- Wrap each section in paper and bubble wrap, especially any finished metal.
- Pack the sections in a tall lamp box, or wrap a one-piece lamp in moving blankets.
- Load floor lamps standing up or lying flat on top of sturdy boxes, never under heavy furniture.
Special Lamps That Need Extra Care
Some lamps need more than the standard method.
Glass and ceramic bases
Give each one its own box, double-wrap it in paper and bubble wrap, and add an extra layer of padding at the bottom.
Antique and art glass lamps
Stained glass shades and antique lamps are worth professional packing. Our packing services team can crate or double-box them.
Lamps with built-in electronics
Touch lamps, smart lamps, and lamps with USB ports are packed like electronics. See how to pack electronics for moving.
Chandeliers and hanging fixtures
Fixtures with crystals or arms need their own method. Our guide to packing a chandelier covers it.
Bulbs
Pack LED and incandescent bulbs in a small padded box. Handle older CFL bulbs gently, since they contain a small amount of mercury.
Lamps with mirrors or glass tables
Pack the glass separately, like a mirror. See how to pack a mirror for moving.
Loading and Unpacking Lamps
Packing is half the job. How lamps ride and come out of the box matters too.
Load lamp boxes on top
Lamp boxes are light and fragile, so they go on top of heavy boxes, never underneath.
Keep base and shade together
Load each lamp's base and shade boxes next to each other so nothing gets separated.
Unpack shades first
Shades can lose shape if they sit in a box for weeks. Take them out early and let them breathe.
Reassemble in reverse
Seat the harp, set the shade, screw on the finial, and install a bulb with the right wattage for the fixture.
Check the cord and plug
Look for nicks or loose plugs before you turn the lamp on.
Dust off and place
Wipe off any packing dust and place the lamp where it has space around the shade.
Lamp Packing Mistakes to Avoid
The most common reasons lamps arrive broken, and how to avoid them.
Packing the lamp in one piece
A shade left on the base gets crushed, and the harp bends under the weight.
Using newspaper on shades
Newsprint ink transfers to fabric and paper shades and rarely comes out.
Leaving the bulb in
Bulbs break in the socket, and broken glass is hard to remove safely.
Losing the finial and harp
Small parts go missing first. Bag them and tape the bag to the base.
Leaving empty space in the box
A base that can slide around will crack or chip. Fill every gap.
Packing lamps at the bottom of the truck
Light, fragile boxes belong on top, not under heavy furniture and boxes.
Let Our Packers Handle the Fragile Things
Lamps are just one part of packing a home. Our packing services team in Hillsboro and across the Portland metro packs lamps, dishes, mirrors, and electronics with professional materials, and can pack your whole home or just the fragile rooms. For furniture, see our guide on how to wrap furniture for moving.
Get A Free QuoteLamp Packing FAQs
How do you pack a lamp for moving?
Unplug it and remove the bulb, then take off the shade, finial, and harp. Wrap the base in packing paper and bubble wrap, stand it upright in a padded box, and pack the shade in its own box wrapped in clean white paper.
How do you pack a lampshade without crushing it?
Wrap it loosely in clean white paper, stand it upright in a large box with padding underneath and around it, and do not stuff anything inside it or pack heavy items on top.
Can you pack a lamp and its shade in the same box?
It is safer to pack them separately. If they must share a box, the box needs to be large enough that the shade does not touch the base, with padding between them.
How do you pack a floor lamp?
Remove the shade, bulbs, and any glass parts, take the pole apart if it comes apart, wrap each section, and pack them in a tall lamp box or wrap a one-piece lamp in moving blankets.
What size box do you need for a lamp?
A medium box fits most table lamp bases, a large box fits most shades, and floor lamps need a tall lamp box.
Should I leave the light bulb in the lamp when moving?
No. Remove the bulb and pack it separately, or leave it behind. Bulbs left in the socket often break.
Can I use newspaper to pack lamps?
Newspaper is fine as crumpled filler around a wrapped base, but do not use it directly on shades or finished surfaces, because the ink can transfer.
How do you pack a glass or ceramic lamp?
Double-wrap the base in packing paper and bubble wrap, give it its own box, add extra padding at the bottom, and fill every gap so it cannot move.
How many lamps fit in one box?
One glass or ceramic base per box. Two sturdy bases can share a medium box with padding between them. Shades usually take one large box for every one or two shades.
Do movers pack lamps?
Yes. Priority Moving Services packs lamps as part of full or partial packing, using professional materials.
Want Us to Pack for You?
Full or partial packing with professional materials, from lamps and dishes to a whole home. Prefer to talk? Call 503-544-7972.