How to pack records

Seven steps to pack vinyl records

1. Pick small boxes. Use small, strong boxes, because a box of records gets heavy fast, and tape the bottom twice.
2. Check the sleeves. Put each record in a clean inner sleeve and each sleeve in its jacket, and replace torn sleeves.
3. Stand them on edge. Load records upright like books, with the spines in line, never flat in a stack.
4. Pack snugly. Fill each box so the records stand firmly, without squeezing, and add paper at the ends.
5. Pad the top. Add a layer of paper on the top of the records before closing the box.
6. Seal and mark. Tape the box, label it Records and This Side Up and write a short list.
7. Keep them cool. Load them last into a shaded part of the truck, away from heat and sunlight.

A record collection is heavy for its size and sensitive to pressure, heat and bending. Treat it like a shelf of books, upright and snug, with the heaviest weight in the smallest boxes. This guide is about vinyl; for other kinds of paper files see the records retention guide.

Weight and box size

Records are dense. A full box of 12-inch records can be too heavy to lift safely, so use smaller boxes and half-fill if needed. Mark the weight on the box so the crew knows. If you own a large collection, the number of boxes adds up quickly, and it helps to tell the estimator how many shelves of records there are.

Heat is the enemy

Vinyl softens in heat, and a car or truck parked in the sun can warp records. Keep them in the cab or in a shaded part of the truck, and unpack them soon after arrival. Library of Congress guidance covers the care of recorded sound materials.

Jackets and covers

Cardboard jackets are fragile and can split. Place outer sleeves on valuable covers. Do not stack boxes of records beneath other boxes. See how to pack books for a similar technique.

Valuable collections

A rare collection deserves a note on the written inventory. Tell the estimator about it so it is listed, and consider the valuation coverage options. For a very large collection, a crate can be arranged; see custom crating.