- Home
- Packing guide
Wardrobe
How to pack a wardrobe
Without suitable packaging, even if the courier is careful, transport can cause damage to your wardrobe. This page outlines the steps to protect a wardrobe before transport.
Why packaging is essential
An object that’s not well protected can arrive scratched, damaged, or broken, even if the carrier is as careful as possible.
With Cocolis, your items travel with individuals or professionals on journeys they're already making. They are handled during loading, in transit, and unloading—each a moment where good packaging makes all the difference.
An object can arrive scratched, broken, or incomplete. These situations are rare but avoidable and almost never happen when an item is properly packed from the start.
Prepare your wardrobe before packing
Assess if the wardrobe can be dismantled – many large wardrobes, closets, or dressing units can be fully disassembled, which makes transport much easier and greatly reduces the risk of damage. Find the assembly instructions or take photos at each step as you take it apart. Check the condition of hinges and runners: any weak or damaged components should be reported to the carrier.
This is also a good moment to gather your materials and plan the right protection for each part. Good packaging preparation happens before you start, not as you go along.
Steps to pack a wardrobe
- Completely empty the wardrobe before transport. Never transport a wardrobe, closet, or dressing unit with items still inside – the extra weight will unbalance it and may damage the structure.
- Remove the doors if possible – these are the most fragile and cumbersome parts. Wrap each door separately in cardboard and secure with tape.
- Take out shelves, hanging rails, and drawers. Place all screws and fittings in a bag and attach it to the main unit.
- Protect all surfaces of the wardrobe with cardboard or stretch film, paying extra attention to the edges and corners.
- Make sure any remaining doors are securely fastened by taping them closed over a layer of cardboard before transit.
Good habits to know
The essential points to avoid problems during transport
Adapt packaging to the item
Packaging isn’t universal. Take into account the fragility, weight, and shape of your wardrobe to choose the right protection – the main thing is that the item is well protected during transport.
Don’t seal the packaging too soon
Leave your wardrobe visible when the courier arrives. They must be able to check its condition before taking charge and take photos with and without protection. Seal the packaging only afterwards.
Take photos before shipping
Photograph your item before and after packing. In case of a problem, these photos are your only evidence of its initial condition.
Inform about special requirements
Some items have specific requirements: must be kept upright, particular handling direction, extra fragility. Clearly inform the courier about these before departure.
Never stick tape on surfaces
Brown tape can leave marks or damage finishes. Never stick it directly to an item – always use an intermediate layer.
Frequent mistakes & things to watch out for
Some mistakes happen regularly and explain most damage on arrival.
Wardrobe doors are the main cause of damage during transport – they can swing open or break if they are not properly removed or securely closed. Even if you tape them shut, check that they cannot open by gently moving the wardrobe before departure. For mirrored wardrobes, treat each glass panel like an individual mirror.
Transporting wardrobe with Cocolis
Simpler, more human transport
With Cocolis, your item doesn't go through a warehouse, isn't passed from hand to hand and doesn't endure multiple re-loadings. It's delivered directly from point A to point B, in a single trip, by an individual or professional already making the journey.
In reality, it’s often someone like your neighbour or cousin making the trip for their own reasons who takes special care of what they're carrying. It's not a courier under pressure to deliver dozens of parcels a day. This difference means a lot in how your item is handled.
Fewer handlings also means less risk. But your item will still be loaded and unloaded, and a sudden brake can happen: correct packing is still essential to protect sensitive areas at these key moments.
Practically, packing doesn't need to be designed to withstand a whole logistics chain. It just needs to provide effective protection for a single journey—which is achievable by everyone.
Frequently asked questions
The person sending the item is usually responsible for ensuring it’s properly packed before transport.
However, if you’re the recipient of a second-hand purchase, you requested delivery via Cocolis, and you want the sender to pack your wardrobe, ask them explicitly and clarify your expectations: protection for surfaces, corners and fragile parts.
The sender is not automatically responsible—a clear request beforehand prevents misunderstanding.
If you can’t pack yourself, mention it in your Cocolis listing and alert the transporter in advance. Some co-transporters might help, but there’s no guarantee. In most cases, the simplest solution is to ask the sender to properly prepare the item before transport.
No. The courier must be able to see your wardrobe before sealing the packaging, to check its condition at the start. This is important: if damage is reported at delivery, photos taken at this point prove the item was in good condition and correctly packed initially.
Best practice: prepare packaging beforehand, keep the item visible for the courier’s arrival, take photos together before and after sealing, then close the packaging.
Photos serve as proof if there’s a problem. They show the state of your wardrobe before shipping and prove the item was properly packed.
Without photos, it’s difficult to demonstrate where damage came from and to get compensation.
Take photos before packing, after packing, and on receipt, to document any issue that may occur during transit.
Yes, but only if certain conditions are met: your wardrobe must be suitably packed with sensitive parts protected, photos must be taken before and after packing and at delivery, and a Cocolis insurance policy must be purchased when booking.
Without insurance, or if packaging is insufficient, or you don’t have proof of the item's condition before and after transport, your claim may be refused.
To find out more about coverage conditions, visit our parcel insurance page.
If something happened, you can follow the process to declare a claim on Cocolis.
Other packing guides
For further advice, you can review packing guides for different types of item.
Send a wardrobe with no nasty surprises
Post your listing in minutes and receive transport offers suited to your item.