How to pack a TV without the original box

Updated October 23, 2026 · About 10 minutes to read · 30–45 minutes to do

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The short version

Unplug everything, photograph the cables, and remove the stand or wall mount.
Cover the screen with something soft, then something rigid (flat cardboard), with foam on the corners.
Wrap the whole thing in a moving blanket. Tape only touches the blanket or cardboard, never the TV.
Carry it by the frame, and transport it upright, never flat, with nothing pressing on the screen.

The original box works because it does three jobs: it cushions the screen, it stops anything from pressing on it, and it keeps the TV standing upright. Without the box, your job is to rebuild those three things. The steps below do exactly that.

First: check your TV's manual

Search your TV's model number (on a sticker on the back) plus "manual". Most manufacturers include a "moving the TV" section. Samsung's manuals, for example, say to move the TV in its original packaging if possible, disconnect all cables first, hold the top and bottom of the frame without touching the screen, use at least two people for a large TV, avoid jolts and vibration, and keep the TV upright, never on its side (example Samsung manual page). If your manual says something different from this guide, follow the manual.

What you'll need

1–2 moving blankets (thick bedspreads or comforters work too)
A soft, clean layer for the screen: a cotton sheet, a soft towel, or a thin foam sheet
4 foam corner protectors (or folded cardboard "L" pieces)
2 pieces of flat, sturdy cardboard slightly bigger than the TV (flattened large moving boxes work)
Packing tape and a marker
A zip-top bag for screws, plus a bag or labeled envelope for the remote and cables
Optional, often easiest: an adjustable TV moving box kit. These are telescoping boxes, often sold with foam corners, that resize to fit different screens.
Optional: stretch wrap, used over the blanket only

Step by step

Unplug and photograph. Turn the TV off and unplug it. Take a photo of the back showing which cable goes in which port. This saves real frustration at the new place.
Bag the cables and remote. Disconnect every cable. Coil each one loosely, bag them together with the remote, and label the bag "TV". Keep this bag with your "open first" box, not in the truck's black hole.
Remove the stand or wall mount. Lay a thick blanket on a table or the floor, and with a helper, lay the TV face down on it. This is how manufacturers have you attach stands, so a padded flat surface is fine for this short step. Remove the stand or mounting bracket. Put the screws in a zip-top bag, label it, and tape it to the back of the TV or to the stand. Never tape anything to the screen.
Add the soft layer. Stand the TV back up (or keep it face down on the blanket) and cover the screen with your clean sheet, towel or foam. Make sure there's nothing gritty on it, because grit plus pressure means scratches.
Protect the corners. Slip a foam corner protector onto each corner. Corners take most of the knocks during a move.
Add the rigid layer. Place one piece of cardboard over the screen side and one over the back. Tape the two pieces to each other around the edges so they form a sleeve. The tape should touch only cardboard. The cardboard spreads out any bump so no single point presses on the screen.
Wrap it in a blanket. Wrap the whole bundle in a moving blanket and tape the blanket to itself, or run stretch wrap around the outside of the blanket to hold it snug.
Label it clearly. On the outside, write: "TV – FRAGILE – KEEP UPRIGHT", with arrows pointing up, and mark which side is the screen: "SCREEN SIDE – NOTHING AGAINST THIS SIDE".
Carry it the right way. Two people for anything large. Hold the top and bottom of the frame, not the screen, with the screen facing away from you.
Load it upright and secure it. In a truck, stand it upright against a side wall or between flat, sturdy items like a mattress, and strap it so it can't tip or slide. Don't lean boxes against the screen side. In a car, stand it upright on the back seat with the seat belt around it and padding around it. Don't lay it flat in the trunk.
At the new place: give it time. If the TV has been in a cold truck, let it reach room temperature before switching it on, so any condensation can dry. Your manual may give specific guidance.

Common mistakes that crack screens

Laying it flat. Flat panels are built to stand upright. Lying flat, the panel can flex under its own weight, especially with bumps on the road.
Grabbing it by the screen. Pressure on the panel is the most common way screens get damaged. Hold the frame.
Tape or plastic wrap directly on the TV. Tape can leave residue or pull at the screen's surface. Keep a soft layer between the TV and any wrap.
Soft padding only. A blanket alone cushions but doesn't stop a corner of a box from pressing straight into the screen. The cardboard layer is what prevents that.
Loose in a too-big box. If you use a box, the TV must not slide around inside. Fill gaps with padding.
Losing the screws. Stand and mount screws are model-specific. Bag them and tape the bag to the TV or stand.

When to pay for help

For very large or expensive TVs, consider a professional mover's TV crate or box, and check what your mover's coverage includes for electronics before moving day. A replacement TV costs far more than proper packing.