How to Estimate the Weight of a Kitchen When Moving

The exact weight of your kitchen will depend on its size, contents, and the amount of furniture and appliances you will be relocating. When hiring professional movers, you may want to attempt to calculate the weight of your home to get an idea of what your move will cost. Additionally, if you are renting a truck and transporting your own goods, you will need to determine the cubic footage of your possessions to know what size trailer you will need. The following table lists some common kitchen items, their weight, and size in cubic feet so you can better determine the volume of the belongings you will be transporting for your move.

Packing the kitchen

The kitchen can be an especially tricky room to pack--delicate glassware and dishes, cumbersome appliances, and food items all need special care when packing. The following are some tips on how to efficiently pack your kitchen items using the same methods as the professionals:

Packing the kitchen table and chairs

If you can, disassemble your kitchen table and chairs to make them easier to transport and load onto the moving truck.

• Remove your table's legs and leaves and wrap each piece individually.
• If you have a glass table top, wrap it with moving pads, and then bubble wrap. The added protection of the air-filled pockets will prevent the glass from scratching or cracking. The furniture pad will prevent the bubbles from leaving impressions on the glass. You can also buy specialty boxes made for fragile items like glass tabletops called mirror boxes.
• Wrap wooden table tops and leaves in furniture pads or blankets and tape securely. Make sure the blankets cover the table's edges and corners. Don't use plastic wrapping directly on any wood surface--it can cause condensation to form and damage the wood's finish.
• If possible, remove the legs from your dining room chairs as well--chairs can be difficult to load onto a moving truck because of their unique shape. Dismantling the legs will facilitate packing and make the chairs more space efficient.
• Wrap wooden chair and table legs with furniture blankets, bubble wrap or stretch wrap. Be sure to wrap them with paper before using stretch wrap or bubble wrap to protect the wood from moisture.
• Do the same for the body of the chair, and wrap any extensions, rails or bars on the chair with bubble wrap for protection. These parts of the chair are most vulnerable to damage.
• Be sure to keep track of any nuts and bolts you removed during disassembly. Place them inside a plastic bag and tape it to the underside of your table.

Preparing appliances

• Make sure your refrigerator and freezer are completely emptied out and thoroughly cleaned to prevent the growth of mold and unpleasant odors. Remove all racks and shelves from the interior. Unplug the unit and allow it to defrost at least 24 hours prior to moving day. Tape the electrical cord to the back of the unit to prevent it from posing a hazard.
• Washers and dryers must be disconnected. Remove their hoses and place them inside the units. Make sure any gas connections are turned off before disconnecting the line. Tape electrical cords to the backside of the units to keep them safely out of the way.
• Disconnect and drain the water lines from washers and ice-makers on refrigerators.
• Dishwashers should be emptied, all racks removed and packed separately. Tape the door closed.
• Stoves should be cleaned thoroughly and all racks should be removed and packed separately. Turn off the gas before disconnecting the line.

Packing dishes

• Pack plates by placing each one in the center of a stack of packing paper sheets.
• Fold half of the sheet over the plate, then place a second plate on top.
• Repeat the process with 4-8 plates, depending on the thickness.
• Tuck the excess paper around the stack.
• Make sure to line the dish carton with crumpled paper for extra cushioning.
• Place the stacks inside the carton, on their sides. This is the safest position to pack plates.
• Tape the carton securely and label it "Fragile" and "This Side Up".

Packing glassware

• The best way to pack glasses is inside a cell box. Cell boxes are designed to transport glasses or glass bottles and come equipped with thin cardboard dividers to keep items stationary.
• Place a crumpled piece of packing paper at the bottom of each cell for cushioning.
• Take each glass and lay it on the corner of a sheet of packing paper, positioned perpendicular to the paper.
• Roll it in the paper, tucking the extra paper inside the glass.
• Place the glass rim-side down in the cell.
• Fill in any gaps with more crumpled paper, and then top it with a layer of bubble wrap.
• Place a sheet of cardboard on top of the bubble wrap.
• Shake the box gently to ensure nothing rattles inside. If so, add more padding.
• Tape the box securely with packing tape and label "Fragile" and "This Side Up".

Packing pots and pans

• Begin packing your pots and pans by preparing the box. Securely tape the bottom to prevent heavy pots and pans from falling through. Add a layer of crushed paper for cushioning.
• Place your largest pot in the center of a stack of packing paper. Fold the paper into the inside of the pot.
• Place the next largest pot inside the first pot and do the same--wrapping both pots with the next sheet of paper.
• Continue doing this with your pots, pans, and lids, making stacks of three.
• Place stacks of pots and pans sideways inside your box, and place lids flat on top.
• Fill any extra space in the box with crumpled paper to keep your pots and pans stationary during transport.

Packing the pantry

• Don't pack too many heavy canned goods in one box--the box can split open from the weight. Use small boxes and pack one layer of canned goods, filling up the rest of the space with paper products and other light items.
• Dry goods packed in cardboard boxes or plastic bags can easily tear, break or lose freshness. You may opt to pack them inside reusable plastic containers instead.
• Perishable foods are often not permitted on the moving truck--if you are moving a short distance, you may choose to transport them yourself in a cooler. However, if your move is rather long-distance or you don't have the space in your vehicle, it may be much easier to either use them up or toss them before moving day.