A purse ready to be packed before moving overseas overlay

How to Pack Purses for Moving Overseas

Posted How-to / March 18, 2025

The average woman possesses around six bags at any time given. Whether this is your number as well or your collection exceeds it by far, you’ll need to learn how to pack purses for moving before your international move starts. Luckily, we’ve put together a simple guide to help navigate this process and get your precious handbags to a new country without a scratch.

Before you start boxing all of your handbags up, you’ll need to downsize your existing collection, decide what items you don’t want to keep, gather the right materials, and clean each bag you plan to pack. Once the packing starts, stuff the bags to maintain their shape and protect each piece with suitable material. After all the bags are inside the box, provide cushioning, close, and add labels. In the end, remember not to store boxes with purses beneath other heavy items.

Is Learning How to Pack Purses for Moving Really That Important?

A handbag is more than just a place where you can store all of your necessities. More often than not, it’s a fashion statement, a style symbol whose value, both sentimental and financial, can get surprisingly high.

Of course, those who own one or two handbags won’t need the whole tutorial on how to pack a purse. After all, their handbags would not be in boxes at all but probably used in the midst of the relocation process. However, those with more pieces of these stylish accessories will find our relocation hacks truly helpful when the time for packing comes – and will be able to execute this task without a fault.

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Start by Decluttering Your Collection

Deciding what to get rid of and what to keep is a crucial part of every relocation process, but it’s extremely important for those moving overseas. Here is why:

  • Relocating to a new city abroad can get pretty expensive, but downsizing is one of the best ways to save money on moving costs. It’s simple – the fewer things you have to ship abroad, the more money you’ll be able to save.
  • Decluttering is a way to save time boxing up your goods since fewer items to relocate means fewer items to pack.
  • Downsizing before you start living overseas is an excellent way to keep your new home clutter-free since you’ll bring only those items you truly need.

When it comes to handbags, the first task on your to-do list would be making an inventory of all the purses in your collection. If time is not an issue, it would also be wise to categorize them by type and/or material. This way, you’ll clearly see if you own too many handbags of one type (such as clutches, shoulder bags, and so on). It will also help you better understand what packing materials you’ll need, as well as their number and size.

Deciding to leave some handbags behind can be tough, especially if they represent one of the most loved types of accessories for you. However, there is no better time to start being rational than when you need to prepare for a move across the world. If a specific handbag has seen better days, if you haven’t used it for quite some time, or if it doesn’t go with your aesthetics anymore, it’s best you leave it behind.

"1001 Nights Diamond Purse" is the name of the most expensive bag in the world, and its worth is estimated at $34.5 million.

Donate or Sell Handbags in Good Condition

One of the questions to answer after sorting your collection will be what to do with those handbags you don’t want to keep. One of the options you have is to donate them to Goodwill or some other charity organization. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a way to improve finances before you go, you can always try and sell some of the handbags online. It’s a good way to get some extra money.

However, in both cases, the handbags you decide to give away need to be in relatively good condition, almost like new or gently used. Handbags that have suffered too much wear and tear should be recycled.

Have the Right Packing Materials by Your Side

Before you start packing to move, you’ll need to get all the necessary supplies. You may think that throwing all the handbags you have into one box should do the trick – but you would be wrong. You must know how to store purses during overseas transit so they don’t get damaged, and for that, you’ll need more than a box. Packing paper, foam peanuts, tape, and markers should also be on your relocation essentials checklist.

It’s always better to go with sturdier boxes with cardboard that cannot break easily. When it comes to the size, go with smaller to medium-sized boxes, so you avoid overpacking them. Packing paper (or tissue paper) should be used for wrapping bags, and its primary function is to stop materials from rubbing on each other and creating damage. In some cases, you can also use bubble wrap, as one of the safest wrapping and cushioning materials. However, it would be better not to utilize it if your handbag is made from material that can be damaged by plastic – such as leather.

Finally, you’ll need some quality tape to seal the boxes, as well as markers for creating relocation labels. When it’s finally time to move, you would want all of your belongings clearly labeled, so you always know where certain items you may need are.

Alternative Packing Materials

For those handbags that are not overly rare or costly, you can opt for materials you already have in your home, such as blankets, towels, and so on. Some people choose newspapers instead of packing paper. However, if you’re considering it, beware – ink can severely damage items in your handbag collection.

On the other hand, instead of boxes, you may go with suitcases, plastic bins, or even laundry baskets – and save boxes for the most worthy of your bags.

Clean Each Bag Before You Box It Up

So, you’ve decluttered all your bags and come up with all the materials you’ll need for packing them. Now what? There is one more thing to do before the actual packing starts and that is cleaning. An average bag has sixteen items in it. Not only that, but many handbags get cluttered over time – just think of receipts, small notes, pens, and other small items at the bottom of the purses that lay forgotten.

While the task of cleaning these bags can be left for a time after unpacking, it’s wiser to do it during relocation day preparations. You can never know which items are hiding inside a handbag you wore months ago. Some of these items, such as nail polish or nail polish remover, for example, can open and create damage. So, why risk it? Clean your bags and finish moving abroad worry-free.

Packing Purses – A Step-by-Step Guide

Step One - Stuff the Bags

So bags don’t get misshaped during transit, it’s best you start the packaging process by filling the purses with some of the material such as packing or tissue paper. If you fail to do so, you can end up with handbags that are deformed. Not only that, but these types of deformation could also permanently damage the material such as leather.

Step Two - Wrap Each Bag Separately

Use your chosen wrapping material to wrap each purse individually. If some delicate parts of the bag need extra protection, make sure to provide it. For bigger handbags, as well as for those with higher value, don’t hesitate to use more material. On top of that, if some of your bags come with high sentimental or monetary value and you plan on getting international moving services, consider investing in moving insurance.

Step Three - Place Bags Carefully Into the Box

Make sure boxes are not too full, but also not too empty. If you try to cram as many bags as possible into the box, you may end up damaging some of them. On the other hand, allowing handbags to shift freely during the relocation process is also not a good choice. Therefore, make sure not to leave too much space inside the box, as well.

Step Four - Fill the Box With Cushioning

Use packing paper, bubble wrap, or specifically designed material such as foam peanuts to immobilize packed bags. However, don’t overdo it – excessive use of these supplies can also lead to creating space that is too tight.

Step Five - Close and Label

Moving labels can become true time-savers after relocation to a new home. If the contents of the boxes are clear, you’ll find everything you need in no time. Let’s say you arrive in a new country and you want to explore the new city before you tackle the tiring task of unpacking – you’ll need your purses right away. A clearly labeled box will help you find them.

Step Five - Load Them Into the Truck

If you’re not hiring an overseas shipping company, you’ll be the one loading the relocation truck. In that case, keep in mind that boxes containing lighter stuff such as handbags should not go on the bottom with numerous heavy items on top of them. Quite the contrary, place a box with handbags closer to the top of your box pile.

How to Keep Your Handbags Safe Once You Move?

It would be unfortunate to go through all this trouble only for your bags to end up getting damaged after you move internationally. Once the unpacking after the relocation is completed, make sure your bags are stored safely – at least those most valuable ones.

If you have enough space in your new home, it’s a good idea to invest in shelf dividers and keep all of your bags separate from each other. It will not only help your closet look less cluttered but will allow you to get a better picture of all the handbags you own and rotate them more often. On the other hand, if your closet does not offer enough space, consider installing decorative hooks on the walls. It’s a great way to personalize your new space.

In the end, don’t forget to keep your bags stuffed when not being used – it will prevent slumping and ensure each of your bags keeps its original shape.

Let Professionals Pack Your Handbags – Along With Everything Else

Moving internationally is a big change even for those most adventurous amongst us. Not only that, but it comes with a seemingly endless list of tasks that need to be completed perfectly. After all, there is little to no space for relocation mistakes once you plan to move across the world.

That is why many future US expats decide to get help from a trustworthy international moving company, such as I Love International Moving, and make use of their packing services. When shipping overseas, professional packers are able to pack all of your household goods, including handbags, safely and efficiently, so you won’t have to worry about their well-being during the trip. It’s your best chance at getting a stress-free relocation.

Leave All Your Worries Aside With I Love International Moving

Are you looking for a reliable overseas moving company able to take some relocation burden off your back? With a long list of satisfied customers and years of experience in the business, I Love International Moving is the best option for your upcoming move. With us, you can rest assured that all of your belongings will be packed safely and transported to your new home without a fuss. All you have to do is contact us – and we will take care of everything else.

Hannah Michaelson

Hannah is a freelance relocation writer from NYC that has become an expert on packing and unpacking.

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