Export Packing & Wrapping Service

Packed to Travel the Distance

Items shipped overseas face handling, vibration and changing climates. Our export packing uses heavy-duty materials, moisture protection and made-to-measure crates for fragile and high-value pieces, with a detailed inventory to support customs clearance.

It’s an essential part of any international or European move, and pairs with our antiques expertise for valuables.

The Materials We Use And Why They Matter

Materials make or break an export consignment, and we do not cut corners on them. We use double-wall and, where appropriate, triple-wall cartons that hold their shape under compression, because freight is stacked high and a collapsing box takes everything below it with it. For surfaces and finishes we use acid-free tissue and clean newsprint against the item, then bubble wrap and foam in layers so nothing rubs through. Moisture is the silent enemy of any sea shipment, so we reach for vapour-barrier wrapping, shrink film and, on longer crossings, desiccant pouches that draw dampness out of the enclosed space.

Each material has a job, and we match it to the contents rather than wrapping everything the same way. A typical export pack from our team will draw on the following:

• Double and triple-wall export cartons rated to hold weight in a stack
• Acid-free tissue and clean paper for direct contact with polished and painted surfaces
• Multi-layer bubble wrap, foam sheet and edge protectors for corners and projections
• Vapour-barrier film and desiccant for sea freight and tropical destinations
• Custom timber crates, plinths and battens for the heaviest and most delicate pieces
• Strong export-grade tape, banding and corner guards to keep everything closed and square

For pieces that need more than a carton can offer, we move up to timber. Our custom crate service builds bespoke cases around mirrors, marble, sculpture, electronics and anything awkward, so the structure itself takes the strain rather than the contents.

How We Prepare A Consignment Step By Step

Good export packing is a process, not a single action, and we follow the same disciplined sequence on every job. It begins with a survey, ideally in your home, where we assess what is travelling, how it is built, what it is made from and which items need crating rather than boxing. From that we plan the materials, the order of packing and the loading sequence, because the way a container is filled affects how the contents fare in transit.

On packing day we wrap each item individually before it ever touches a box, building up cushioning so there is no movement inside the carton. Heavy and rigid items are crated; fragile, high-value and irregular pieces get bespoke protection. As we go, we photograph and log everything, building the inventory that travels with the shipment. Finally we seal, label and band each unit, recording weights and dimensions so the freight side knows exactly what it is carrying. Where the contents call for the same level of care that does not need a crate, our fragile packing service and our wider full packing service use the identical professional methods, just scaled to the items in front of us.

Who Needs Export Packing And When

Export packing is for anyone whose belongings are crossing a border or an ocean, whether that is a few treasured pieces or an entire household. Families emigrating, professionals taking an overseas posting, retirees moving to a home in the sun, and collectors shipping antiques or art all rely on it. So do businesses relocating abroad or shipping equipment, machinery, office contents and stock overseas, where multi-item consignments need proper crating and an accurate inventory for customs. Antique dealers and private buyers are a regular part of our work given our LAPADA Approved Service Provider status and the trust placed in us by firms such as Fine & Country, Justin Lloyd and Mansell McTaggart, who recommend us for exactly this kind of careful, high-value handling.

You should be thinking about export packing the moment a sea or air shipment is on the cards, because lead times for surveys, crate building and materials all need planning. The general rule is straightforward — if an item is going by container, air pallet or long-distance road freight, it needs export-grade preparation rather than standard removal packing. If you are unsure how much you are shipping and whether some of it might travel later, our storage calculator helps you size the consignment, and our containerised storage can hold items between packing and shipping dates.