How to Move Mirrors and Big Glass Objects

Professional wrapping and moving techniques for moving big pieces of glass and/or mirrors.

Whenever handling glass objects of any kind, the primary consideration is to not injure a mover if the glass breaks. Secondarily but nearly as importantly, you do not want to break the mirror or glass. So all glass and mirrors should be fully padded and boxed at all times so that if the glass breaks, its pieces are all kept within the pads and/or the box.

Also, if it breaks and you want to replace it, just take it AS IS in the pads and box to a glazer and they’ll carefully and safely remove it to measure it and make a new piece. Always destroy the pads and the box afterwards because glass shards can be embedded in them which can injure someone later.

Below is a photo sequence of a properly padded square mirror.

This mirror could have been bubble wrapped first for extra protection but the movers, in this case, didn’t think it was necessary. Remember, the amount of protection given to any item is a judgment call on the part of the packers and/or movers.
Notice the way the mover uses their fingers to tuck the pad in under the picture below to double its edge protection.

Then, they give it a couple of folds to fully shroud it and then they finally seal each end with tape.

Voila, it’s ready to be boxed up.

The following is a picture sequence for padding up a round glass table top but they could also be of a round mirror or a round picture. Each would be handled in the same manner with this easy padding sequence.

First, center the circular glass on the pad.

Notice that the mover is using a dusty pad for this glass. When you rent pads from a truck rental company, you are liable to be given some pads like this so use them on glass or glass pictures or other things that will not be damaged by the pad’s dirt. Never use dirty pads on cloth furniture.

Finish shrouding the glass with the pad and liberally tape it up. Then put it in a box for best protection.

How much padding and boxing to be done on your pictures or glass all depends on how roughly they are going to be handled. If you’re going to carry them in your car or the truck you should pad and box them as shown below.

If you’re going to ship them, then they need to be bubble-wrapped to the max)and, then firmly padded over the bubble wrap, and then boxed well because common shippers are notorious for poor handling. You will probably have to do a box-in-box pack job to adequately protect almost any fragile item to be shipped by a common carrier.

Below is a picture of a high-standing mirror. Notice that it’s completely padded and cardboarded except for its nickel base.

It can be easily handled without fear of breakage when it’s so well protected.

It stands nicely on the truck too. Here it’s bungee corded with a rug and some padded shelves into a neat and safe bundle on the wall.

Moving mirrors and large pieces of glass items can be plain dangerous unless you follow strict safety rules when packing and moving big glass objects. If you have never moved glass items before, then you’d be better off hiring professional movers to avoid personal injury and prevent property damage too.