Ten cartons of books look like nothing in the shop. Put them on a pickup van and the springs sink. Books are one of the densest things a shop owner ever moves, and the people who pack them like clothes are the ones who end up with split cartons on the pavement.
This guide covers a bookshop, a church or school library, or a home with a wall of shelves.
Think weight first, space second
A full carton of hardbacks can be too heavy for one person to lift. A truck with a lot of free floor space can still be at its weight limit. That is why a bookshop is a weight problem, not a space problem.
Use small cartons. A box about the size of a bread crate is right, because even when it is full you can still carry it down a staircase. Large cartons are for light things like pillows, not paper.
Never fill a box to the top with hardbacks and then tape it shut. If you cannot lift it with a straight back, take books out.
Sort before you pack
A move is the best time to look at what you really have. Walk the shelves with three piles in mind:
- Keep and move.
- Sell off or discount before the move.
- Damaged, damp or outdated stock to give away or dispose of.
Every carton you do not pack is a carton you do not pay to carry. School libraries often find old textbooks that nobody has opened for years.
Pack in a way that keeps the order
The value of a bookshop is partly in how it is arranged. Staff know where fiction ends and school texts begin.
- Number every carton on two sides and the top.
- Pack one shelf or one category per carton where you can.
- Lay books flat or standing on the spine, never on the open page edge.
- Fill gaps with paper so books do not slide and bend corners.
- Keep a written list: "Carton 22, children's picture books, bay 3".
If you have a point of sale system or stock list on a computer, back it up before the move and carry the laptop yourself.
Protect paper from damp and dust
Paper hates water. Lagos humidity, a sudden shower or a wet floor at the drop-off can turn a good carton into pulp.
Wrap pallets or stacks of cartons in plastic sheeting under the tarpaulin. Do not let cartons sit on a wet floor at either end. Ask the driver to confirm the load will be covered the whole way, and move on a dry day if the weather looks uncertain.
If any books are valuable, old or signed, carry them in your own car in a closed bag.
Ready to move?
Request a truck or van on Sphere
Choose your vehicle, propose your price, and verified drivers in Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan accept or send a counter-offer.
Shelves, racks and counters
Metal shelving is heavy, and wooden bookcases are often built from board that does not like being tipped.
- Empty every shelf fully before moving it.
- Take out adjustable shelves and tie them together.
- Wrap wooden bookcases in blankets or old cloth and move them upright.
- Keep screws and brackets in a labelled bag taped to the unit.
For a school or church library with fixed shelving, ask whether the unit can be dismantled first. A bookcase carried assembled through a narrow door is how corners get broken.
Plan the loading order
Heavy cartons go low and flat on the truck bed, close to the cab, in tight rows with no gaps. Lighter cartons and shelves go on top. Keep the cartons of one section together so the offload follows the same order in reverse.
At the new shop, set the first cartons down by the section they belong to. Unpacking by category on day one means you can trade on day two.
Choosing the vehicle
A small bookshop of a few hundred titles may fit a pickup van in one or two trips if you weigh the load honestly. A school library or a large store room usually needs a truck. Tell the driver the number of cartons and that they are books, so the offer reflects the real weight.
For related ideas, see our guide on moving a small warehouse or store room and the notes on moving school furniture during holidays.
How to do this on Sphere
Open the app and choose a pickup van or a truck. Add the pickup and drop-off, then describe the load plainly: "about 120 cartons of books, plus six metal bookcases". Mention stairs and any narrow gate. Propose a price, and nearby verified drivers will accept it or send counter-offers. Agree loading and offloading help with the driver before you accept an offer.
You can also read about truck hire in Lagos and business moves in Lagos.
Frequently asked questions
How many books can I put in one carton?
Fill a small carton only as far as you can still lift it comfortably with a straight back. Hardbacks fill a small box much faster than paperbacks, so weigh the first carton and set your own limit.
Should I move books standing up or lying flat?
Either works if the carton is full and tight. Avoid leaving books loose on their spines with gaps, because they slump and bend. Fill every gap with paper.
Can I move a library in a pickup van?
A small collection can go in a pickup van if the weight is within its capacity. Larger libraries usually need a truck, and it is better to tell the driver the number of cartons than to guess.
How do I keep books dry on the road?
Wrap stacks in plastic sheeting, keep cartons off wet floors and make sure the tarpaulin covers the load properly. Move on a dry day if you can.
Should I sort the stock before moving?
Yes. Sell, give away or dispose of what you do not need first, because every carton moved has to be lifted, loaded and offloaded.
Request your move
Request a truck or van on Sphere
Choose your vehicle, propose your price, and verified drivers in Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan accept or send a counter-offer.
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