Books are surprisingly heavy: 100 paperbacks weigh more than 60 kg, and an average personal library can easily add up to 200–400 kg. Poor packing is the #1 cause of collapsed boxes, removal crews with back injuries, and damaged books. This guide explains how to pack your personal library for a house move using professional technique, avoiding back pain and battered books.
The golden rule: SMALL boxes
The most common mistake is cramming all the books into one large box "to make the most of it". The result: a 30 kg box that nobody can lift without risking a hernia, and which will probably burst at the base when loaded.
The right approach:
- Small reinforced boxes: 30–35 × 25 × 25 cm maximum
- Maximum recommended weight per box: 15–18 kg
- Double-wall cardboard (not a simple supermarket box, which will burst)
- Reinforcement tape on the base, both vertically and horizontally
Horizont Atlantic's moving boxes are specifically sized for books (the "Standard" model, 35×25×25 cm). A maximum of 15–20 books per box.
Before packing: smart sorting
Triage into 3 piles
Before putting books into boxes, carry out a selection process. This is the ideal moment to review what you actually want to take with you:
- Essentials: the ones that are definitely coming with you
- Donations: for public libraries, NGOs (Cáritas, Red Cross, Reciclaje Solidario), Wallapop, or to give to friends
- Recycling: very damaged books, obsolete manuals, old magazines. Take to a recycling centre or the blue paper bin
Moving books you will never read again costs money and time. This is the best moment to be honest with yourself.
Inventory of valuables
If you have collector's editions, first editions, signed or dedicated books, rare books… list them separately with a photo and estimated value. These should go in their own box with a clear label reading "VALUABLE BOOKS" and, if their total value exceeds €1,000, consider taking out declared-value insurance.
Packing technique: order and position
VERTICAL position preferred
Books should be packed upright, as on a shelf, not stacked horizontally. The reason: lateral weight on the spine is well supported; vertical weight on the front and back cover deforms the book over time (especially with paperback binding).
Exception: large-format books (atlases, art books) go flat, stacked horizontally, with a sheet of cardboard between every 3–4 books.
Fill the empty space
A half-empty box is a box that gets crushed. Fill the gaps with:
- Crumpled paper (the most professional option)
- Small blankets, tea towels, clean socks
- Bubble wrap (if you have it)
By subject or by shelf
Pack them following the current order of your shelves. That way, at your destination, you can put them back in the same order without having to think. Label each box: "BOOKS – LIVING ROOM SHELF 1-2", "BOOKS – STUDY TECHNICAL", etc.
Special cases
Old or damp books
If you have books from the 19th century or earlier, or books that already show signs of damp or mould, pack them with:
- Large zip-loc bags to isolate them from the rest
- Silica gel sachets (moisture absorbers) between the books
- Acid-free tissue paper (not newspaper, which stains)
For moves to the Canary Islands by sea, container humidity is a real risk for old books. Consider transporting them personally by air if they are irreplaceable.
Collector's comics and magazines
Each one in its own individual Mylar sleeve (the collector's standard). Stacked horizontally with a sheet of cardboard between every 10–15 comics. Small box, a maximum of 80–100 comics per box.
Paperbacks for "read and recycle"
If they are cheap novels you have already read and you are unsure whether to keep them, consider donating them to a public library or releasing them on BookCrossing before you move. Every box you do NOT move is 15 kg and €20 less to pay for your removal.
Moving to the Canary Islands: when it makes sense to ship books
Books are heavy but not expensive to replace. If your personal library exceeds 200 books, the cost of transporting them may approach the price of buying the most essential ones at your destination.
Reasons to send books to the Canary Islands:
- Specialist technical/professional library (medicine, law, engineering)
- Books with sentimental value (dedications, family heirlooms, the first books you ever read)
- Editions that are out of print or no longer available
- Collector's libraries with monetary value
Reasons to reduce before shipping:
- Bestsellers, popular non-fiction: can be bought new for €5–15 if you need them
- Old school textbooks
- Books you have not opened in over 5 years
Materials needed to pack 200 books
- 15–20 small reinforced boxes (€5–8 each from Horizont Atlantic) → ~€100
- 3–4 rolls of premium packing tape (€8) → ~€24
- 1 roll of crumpled paper or void fill (€15) → €15
- Permanent marker for labelling → €3
- 1 pack of coloured stickers → €5
Estimated total: ~€150 in materials to pack a medium-sized library. Or we supply everything as part of our professional packing service when you book a full removal.
The moment of truth: loading the boxes
Ask for help. Book boxes look small but weigh 15–18 kg. If you have 20 boxes, that is 300–360 kg of weight to load onto the lorry. Doing it alone is a guaranteed back injury.
If you hire a professional removals company, this is included in the service. If you do it yourself with friends, stay hydrated, use a lumbar support belt, and lift by bending your knees, NOT your back.
At your destination: organising the library
The advice: DO NOT unpack the books until the shelving is assembled and clean. Boxes of books can sit in a corner for 1–2 weeks without any problem. The worst thing is to unpack 200 books into piles on the living room floor because "you'll sort them out once you've put the shelves up".
An additional tip: use the unpacking as an opportunity to re-sort (by subject, author, or spine colour according to your system). It is like rediscovering your library, and sometimes you come across books you had completely forgotten you owned.
Do you have a large library?
If your library exceeds 500 books or includes items of value, at Horizont Atlantic we offer a specialist service: professional packing with the right materials, transport without unnecessary handling, and, if needed, temporary storage in our climate-controlled warehouses. Request a quote stating the approximate number of books and we will advise you on the best option.
Frequently asked questions about packing books
How many books fit in a standard box?
In a 30×30×30 cm box: approximately 25–35 paperbacks or 15–20 hardbacks, weighing between 12–15 kg. This is the optimum quantity: the box is full but not excessively heavy to move. A 1-metre-tall wall-mounted bookcase fits into ~3–4 standard boxes.
How do I prevent books from being damaged during transport?
VERTICAL position (spine upwards or to one side): protects the binding, distributes weight evenly, makes identification easier when unpacking. NEVER flat and stacked (the weight of the upper book distorts the bindings of those below). Minimum void fill in the gaps to prevent movement; acid-free paper for old or valuable books.
Is it worth using the move as an opportunity to declutter books?
YES. A common statistic: we only re-read 5–10% of the books we keep. Each discarded box saves €20–30 on your removal. Options: municipal libraries (donations), second-hand bookshops (they buy books with value), Wallapop or Todocoleccion for specific titles, cultural associations, charity markets. Do NOT put them in the paper recycling bin if they are in good condition.
Is it better to send books by post or include them in the removal?
For short-distance moves: in the lorry, without question. For long-distance moves (Canary Islands) with few books: Correos blue parcel service or a bookstore service (Eurosender) may be more cost-effective. Cost per kg: average removal €8–12/m³ (books are heavy), Correos €5–8/kg at standard rates. Calculate the total weight before deciding.
What about collector's books or first editions?
Special treatment: individual box with shock-absorbing padding, acid-free paper wrapping (prevents scuffs and stains), photographic inventory beforehand, declared value on the removal invoice, additional declared-value insurance if the item exceeds €500 per unit. For valuable collections (>10,000 €), consider personal transport or a specialist service. More detail: transporting collectables.
