And if you don't mind the dirt, newsprint is cheaper than movers paper. And professional movers pack plates on edge, one layer of plates, a 4 inch deep layer of crumpled paper and another layer of plates....wrapped as rococo recommended.

I agree with rococogurl, I have used the same method and I found that Lowes has the best selection of bubble wrap rolls, I've used the small bubbles and they come pre-sized. I think using newspaper on heirloom dishes is to risky if they might be stored for any length of time.

Why do you think it would be risky?? China is glazed, meaning the surface is glass-like. News paper is just paper with printing on it.
Many times I have bought china at a household auction that has been wrapped in 50 year old newspaper....no risk involved.

I just saw how horribly I typed on my ipod and am so sorry for how difficult I made it! Thank you for those hints! I really appreciate it! I was under the impression (I work in a museum) that newspaper on glazed and glass surfaces is no problem, unless there is metal on your pattern- just so happens there is on mine. Because the glaze seals the ceramic/china there was no risk of stain or acid damage. The metal could react over time. Or if it is stoneware with exposed stone there COULD be a risk of acid over time. The vertical packing surprised me, but after considering it I understand.

If it were me, I would go to a place that sells moving supplies (Half Price Boxes, U-Haul stores). I have seen boxes and tpe at HD or Lowes, but not the specialty boxes and other supplies. I used supplies from Half Price Boxes here when I moved my son to grad school. He didn't have enough to need a dish barrel, but you might. The dish barrel is stronger than the average box -- double walled, I think.

I used bubble wrap on the bottom plus clean newsprint (the clean stuff you buy is better gread and have more body so it goes further and offers more protection than printed newpapers -- at least what I've seen in recent years. They use cheaper paper than they used to. The store suggested using sheet foam to wrap the dishes rather than bubble wrap. The weight of the dishes can pop bubbles, sespecially atthe edges where they need the most protection. I used clean newpaper inside bowls, cups and around handles and the foam between individual plates and bowls as well as to wrap groups of plates, bowls and individual cups. The sheet foam was in perforated sheets and it really went fast and easy.

Start with plates vertically on the bottom, then bowls and then serving pieces and cups typically on top -- dense to least dense bottom to top so you don't crush cup handles, lids, etc. Pay attention to how you turn those cup handles and make sure you use more paper to layer in between bundles and box edges to secure and prevent any edges from banging. If everything is cushioned and secure, nothing should shift sgnificantly and everything should arrive just as you packed it -- short of dropping the box down the stairs or something. Maybe even then. My son's boxes all looked liek they did when I sealed them and they were laoded, unloaded, moved into storage, reloaded, moved 1800 miles and then transferred to a shuttle for delivery.

unless the gold or silver trim is on a hand painted piece, it will be under the glaze....and stone ware is vitrified so there is no danger there. it's just messy....but cheap!

The packing ideas are great. I haven't packed plates on edge, so I don't know how that would work. I do have one extra hint. If you can, carry the dishes in your car instead of putting them on the moving truck.

I have used a couple methods that worked. We had kept the original heavy selling boxes for one set that separated plates with thin corogated cardboard and cardboard cup dividers. We packed other plates between paper plates. The foam type paper plates were really protective. I believe the outside of dish packs were protected in either 'peanuts' or crumpled movers paper (we got lots of it used from the movers dumpster). No damage (until we dropped a pack while unpacking ;-( ).

I am under the impression that movers are actually reasonably careful, and of course they pack boxes tightly together to save space. This keeps boxes from bouncing around like they would in the mail. I once bought a full set of dishes on e-bay from a Man who didn't think about his packing, and sent all dishes separated by single, non crumpled pieces of newspaper. At least, the dishes tightly filled his box. Not surprisingly, several serving size items and a couple plates were smashed, but it was not the pile of rubble that one might expect. And remember, this poor box went thru the regular mail.

Yes, if possible do not allow movers to handle them. Even though they will be insured, heirlooms are irreplaceable at any price.

When my daughter moved 300 miles, I made at least 4 trips with china, crystal, silver, mirrors and framed pictures....and lastly with the kids! Some things just can't be trusted to the movers! LOL!