Packing Useful Info

How We Protect Your Home During International Moving

When moving an entire household overseas, the most critical part of the process is not the transportation—it is how your belongings are prepared before they ever leave your home.

Once items enter the shipping process, they are exposed to multiple stages of handling, long-distance transport, container loading, and extended time at sea. If they are not properly packed at the beginning, even the best logistics in the world cannot fully prevent damage.

At Hermes International Movers, packing is not treated as a basic step or an afterthought. It is a structured and deliberate process designed specifically for international transport, where durability, stability, and protection must work together over time—not just during a single move.

Hermes-International-Movers

Packing for the Realities of International Shipping

Domestic moving and international shipping are fundamentally different.

In an international move, your belongings will:

  • Be handled multiple times across different stages
  • Be loaded and secured within a shipping container
  • Remain in transit for extended periods of time
  • Be exposed to constant vibration, pressure, and environmental changes


These conditions require a level of preparation that goes beyond standard packing. Items must be protected not only from impact, but also from sustained pressure, shifting, and humidity.

Our packing process is built specifically around these realities.

A Layered System Designed for Protection

For furniture and larger household items, we utilize a three-layer protection system that is designed to address multiple types of risk simultaneously.

Rather than relying on a single material, each layer serves a specific function. When applied correctly, they work together to create a controlled and reinforced protective structure.


Bubble Wrap — Cushioning Against Impact

The first layer applied is bubble wrap, which acts as the primary cushioning material.

Its role is to:

  • Absorb shock during handling and movement
  • Protect surfaces from direct impact
  • Provide a soft barrier around delicate finishes

Because of its air-filled structure, bubble wrap disperses energy when an item is bumped or shifted. This makes it particularly effective for protecting corners, edges, and surfaces that are prone to scratching or impact damage.

However, while it is excellent for cushioning, it does not provide structural strength. Under sustained pressure, it can compress—which is why additional layers are necessary.


Corrugated BubbleKraft — Structural Strength and Pressure Resistance

The second layer is corrugated BubbleKraft, which introduces rigidity and structural reinforcement.

This material combines:

  • A corrugated outer layer that adds strength
  • An inner cushioning layer that complements the bubble wrap

Its purpose is to:

  • Distribute weight more evenly across the item
  • Protect against crushing forces during stacking
  • Add resistance to pressure and puncture

In a shipping container, items are often stacked and subjected to continuous weight and pressure. BubbleKraft ensures that the item maintains its structure and is not compromised under these conditions.

While bubble wrap protects against impact, BubbleKraft protects against long-term pressure and structural stress.


Stretch Wrap — Stability and Environmental Protection

The final outer layer is stretch wrap, which secures the entire system and protects it from external exposure.

This layer:

  • Holds all materials tightly in place
  • Prevents shifting or loosening during handling
  • Creates a sealed outer surface

In addition, stretch wrap provides protection against:

  • Dust and surface contaminants
  • Moisture and humidity during ocean transit

Ocean shipping environments naturally introduce humidity and temperature variation. While no material can fully eliminate these conditions, stretch wrap adds a critical barrier that helps minimize their effect.

How the Three Layers Work Together

Each of these materials serves a different purpose, but their true effectiveness comes from how they function as a system.

Together, they provide protection against:

  • Surface damage and scratches through cushioning and coverage
  • Impact from handling and movement through shock absorption
  • Compression and stacking pressure through structural reinforcement
  • Shifting during transport through tight stabilization
  • Humidity and environmental exposure through outer sealing

No single material can address all of these risks on its own. It is the combination—and the correct application—that creates a comprehensive level of protection.

Custom Crating for High-Risk Items

While the layered wrapping system is sufficient for most furniture, certain items require an additional level of protection.

For these cases, we provide custom-built crating, designed specifically for the item being transported.

Crating is typically used for:

  • Fragile or high-value furniture
  • Artwork and specialty items
  • Marble, glass, or delicate materials
  • Irregular or structurally sensitive pieces

A crate creates a rigid outer structure that isolates the item from external pressure and movement, providing the highest level of protection available.

Packing Is Only Part of the Process

Proper protection does not end with wrapping.

Equally important is how items are:

  • Organized
  • Positioned
  • Loaded within the shipment

We take a structured approach to loading, ensuring that weight is distributed correctly and that items are placed in a way that minimizes movement and pressure.

This level of coordination ensures that the protection created during packing is maintained throughout the entire journey.

The Difference Between Basic and Professional Packing

Many issues in international moving are not caused by transportation—they are caused by improper preparation.

Common problems with basic packing include:

  • Insufficient protection for fragile surfaces
  • Items shifting within the shipment
  • Compression damage from stacking
  • Use of materials not suited for long-distance transport

Professional packing eliminates these variables by addressing them before the shipment begins.

When Professional Packing Becomes Essential

While smaller, non-fragile items can sometimes be packed by the client, professional packing is strongly recommended for:

  • Furniture and large household items
  • Fragile or high-value belongings
  • Items with glass, marble, or delicate finishes
  • Anything difficult or costly to replace

In these cases, proper packing is not an upgrade—it is a necessary step in protecting your shipment.

A Process Built on Experience

Packing at this level requires more than materials—it requires judgment and experience.

Our team understands:

  • How different materials respond to pressure and movement
  • How to secure irregular shapes
  • How to prepare items for extended transit
  • How to anticipate and prevent common failure points

This experience allows us to apply the right level of protection to each item, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.

The Objective: Arrival Without Compromise

Every step of our packing process is designed with one goal in mind:

Your belongings arriving in the same condition they were shipped.

Achieving this requires:

  • Proper materials
  • Correct application
  • Structured handling
  • Careful loading

When these elements come together, the result is a shipment that is stable, protected, and prepared for international transport.

A Higher Standard for International Moving

Not all packing is equal, and not all shipments are prepared the same way.

By combining a layered protection system, custom solutions when needed, and a disciplined approach to handling, we provide a level of preparation specifically designed for moving entire households overseas.

Proper Packing Is the Foundation of a Successful Move

A well-packed shipment is a controlled shipment.

And a controlled shipment is one that arrives exactly as expected.