How to Safely Pack Your TV

General rules for packing and moving TVs

• Flat screens are designed to be kept upright. While modern TV screens aren't made out of brittle glass anymore, the middle of the screen is not designed to support the weight of the television. Leaving a TV flat for any length of time or during transport can cause damage like bending and cracking.
• Keep the TV within moderate temperatures. Televisions are electronic equipment, which means extreme temperatures can damage them. Televisions should never be left in direct sunlight or temperatures exceeding 30 C. Conversely, once the temperature drops below freezing, the television could be damaged. A cold television may create condensation if warmed quickly, which could short it out if it is turned on immediately. If your TV does have to be cold for a while, let it gradually warm up before turning it on.
• Keep your TV dry. You may want to clean your TV before moving it, but don't use a great deal of water. Damp cloths are the most you should use. There are several screen-specific solutions for safer cleaning of the display. Water can damage the electronics of a TV if it gets inside. Exposing a TV to rain is almost sure to break it.
• The original packaging is ideal. Like a lot of things, the box and packaging that your TV came in makes the best packing material. If you saved the original box and packaging, you should be able to use it again.

Packing the TV

• Cover the screen in a non-abrasive cloth material. A t-shirt or bed sheet should work. Make sure it is free of dirt and debris that could scratch the screen.
• Add a layer of heavy-duty bubble wrap. This layer is where you can add additional padding if you feel the need to do so. Bubble wrap should not be placed directly on a TV screen since it could leave smudges.
• Seal up both layers with packing tape.
• Put the television in an appropriately-sized box. If you still have the box you bought the TV in but none of the packaging, you can still use the box. Just add some packing paper to fill in the negative space where the Styrofoam or cardboard braces used to be. If you don't have a good box, you may need to ask hired movers to make one. It needs to have heavy duty cardboard and fit snugly around the television.
• Seal the box with more tape and label the television as "fragile."

Loading the TV

• Use at least two people to carry the box, keeping it upright.
• Place the TV between two heavy items on the moving truck.
• It that is impossible, use rope to secure the TV to the wall of the truck. Make sure the screen is facing open space, not the wall.
• Consider purchasing additional insurance if you are using professional movers. TVs are not worth much with the standard 60 cents per pound moving insurance. $2,000 televisions will only be reimbursed for roughly $50. Contact your moving company and ask about better insurance options.