How to Pack Legos for Moving

 

When preparing Legos for a move, keeping them organized and intact is essential. I've talked with trusted moving experts who've seen too many Lego disasters after moves. Trust me, you don't want to open boxes of mixed-up pieces at your new place. I used to think throwing all my Legos in a box was fine—until I spent weeks sorting through thousands of pieces after my last move. 

From sorting by size to wrapping up your fragile Star Wars Death Star, each step matters if you want your brick collection to survive the trip. I'm sharing what works based on my moving nightmares.

Sorting Legos by Size

Start by sorting your Legos by size before packing them up. This might seem tedious, but you'll thank yourself later. I've found that having small, medium, and enormous piles makes rebuilding so much easier. Grab some plastic containers or even paper cups for the tiny pieces that love to disappear. 

The last time I moved, I skipped this step and spent hours digging through mixed pieces to find one specific connector. Trust me—sort first, pack second. Your future self will be grateful when you can quickly grab what you need when rebuilding your new space.

Securing Fragile Lego Structures

Do some impressive Lego builds you don't want to break down? You'll need to reinforce them. I learned this the hard way after my Millennium Falcon arrived in pieces. For large structures, add some internal support using flat pieces where possible. For smaller builds, wrap them carefully in bubble wrap—not too tight, but snug enough to hold everything together. 

Tape the bubble wrap securely but make sure you can remove it without damaging the Legos. My neighbor used this method for his detailed Hogwarts Castle, and it survived a cross-country move with barely a brick out of place.

Using Ziploc Bags for Organization

Ziploc bags are absolute lifesavers when moving Legos. Here's my tried-and-true system:

  1. Sort by Color: Put different colored pieces in separate bags. My kids can find the blue pieces instantly when they're not mixed with everything else.

  2. Label Bags: Slap a quick label on each bag. "Red 2x4 bricks" is much better than playing the guessing game later.

  3. Use Gallon Bags for Sets: Keep complete sets together in larger bags. I put the instruction booklet in there too—because finding those online later is a pain.

I moved three kids' worth of Legos this way last summer, and setup in the new playroom took hours instead of days.

Packing Legos in Sturdy Boxes

Don't cheap out on boxes for your Legos—they're heavy and pointy and will tear through flimsy containers. I use plastic tubs now after a cardboard box split open on my driveway during a rainy move day. Pick containers that won't buckle under weight and stay dry if they get stuck in a damp moving truck. 

Adding dividers inside makes a huge difference too—even simple cardboard separators keep different sets from mixing. My brother-in-law uses tool organizers with adjustable compartments, which worked brilliantly for his massive Technic collection.

Labeling Boxes for Easy Unpacking

Clear labels save you massive headaches on moving days. Here's what works for my family:

  1. Color Code: We mark each kid's Lego boxes with their favorite color. Blue tape is for my son's boxes, and purple is for my daughter's—there is no confusion about who is whose.

  2. Content Description: Write precisely what's inside. "Star Wars sets" tells me what to unpack first (because of priorities).

  3. Fragile Items: Any box with built structures gets a big "FRAGILE" warning. Our movers respected this and my son's castle survived perfectly.

Don't let your Lego collection become a jigsaw puzzle from hell during your next move! I spent one weekend organizing before my last move and saved myself weeks of sorting afterward. Start packing smart now, and you'll be back to building in your new place without the frustration of hunting for that one crucial piece that's somehow gone missing.


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