How Do You Store a Television?
Sep 3, 2026 / Public Storage
Store an everyday television worth less than $5,000 by unplugging it, cleaning the screen, removing accessories, and packing it upright in its original box or a properly sized TV moving box. Keep the box on a raised surface, away from heavy furniture and containers that could press against the screen.
A storage unit can help during a move, renovation, or home refresh when an everyday TV and other household items do not fit your current layout. Keep personally significant or high-value electronics at home.
Television Storage Essentials:
- Unplug the TV and allow it to cool before packing.
- Wipe the screen and frame with a dry microfiber cloth.
- Remove cords, remotes, stands, and wall-mount components when manufacturer instructions allow it.
- Store cables, remotes, screws, and brackets in labeled bags or containers.
- Use the original TV box when available.
- Use a properly sized TV moving box when original packaging is unavailable.
- Cover the screen with a clean microfiber cloth or foam sheet.
- Keep the television upright during packing, transport, and storage.
- Do not stack boxes, furniture, or other household items on the TV box.
Television Storage at a Glance:
How Should You Prepare a TV for Storage?
Prepare a television by unplugging it, removing loose dust, and separating accessories before packing. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for removing the stand, wall mount, or other attached components.
Use this process:
- Turn off and unplug the TV.
- Allow the television to cool fully.
- Wipe the screen and frame with a dry microfiber cloth.
- Disconnect power cords, HDMI cables, streaming devices, and other accessories.
- Take a photo of cable connections if it will help with setup later.
- Remove the stand or wall-mount hardware only when manufacturer instructions allow it.
- Place cords, remotes, screws, brackets, and adapters in labeled bags or containers.
Do not spray cleaning products directly onto the screen, vents, controls, or connection ports.
How Should You Pack a TV for Storage?
Pack a TV in its original box when available. Original packaging is designed to fit the television and may include foam inserts that support the screen and frame.
Use a TV moving box when original packaging is unavailable. Choose a box that fits the television without excessive open space.
Use this process:
- Cover the screen with a clean microfiber cloth or foam sheet.
- Add padding around the television with foam, moving blankets, or other cushioning.
- Place the TV upright in the box.
- Fill open areas with lightweight cushioning material.
- Keep accessories in separate labeled containers.
- Seal the box and label the top and at least two sides.
- Store the box upright.
Use labels such as:
- Living Room — Television
- Television — This Side Up
- TV Cables and Remotes
- Home Entertainment — Retrieve Soon
Do not place items inside the TV box that could press against the screen.
Should You Store a TV Upright or Flat?
Store a flat-screen TV upright. Keeping the television vertical helps reduce pressure on the screen and internal components.
Do not lay a flat-screen television flat for an extended period. Do not stack boxes, furniture, or other heavy items on top of the TV box.
How Should You Store TV Cords, Remotes, and Hardware?
Store TV accessories in labeled bags or small containers near the matching television. Coil cables loosely and use soft ties or Velcro straps to keep cords organized.
Group accessories such as:
- Power cords
- HDMI cables
- Streaming-device cables
- Remotes
- TV stands
- Wall-mount screws and brackets
- Adapters
- Instruction materials
Keep cables and hardware separate from the TV screen and box interior.
Should You Use Climate-Controlled Storage for a TV?
Climate-controlled storage can be useful for everyday televisions worth less than $5,000 because high heat and changing humidity can affect screens, internal electronics, circuit boards, plastic housings, cables, and display components. Heat can contribute to changes in plastic and screen materials, while humidity can contribute to condensation and corrosion on electronic components.
More than 90% of Public Storage properties offer climate-controlled units. These units are designed to help maintain more consistent temperature or humidity levels than non-climate-controlled storage.
Pack the TV upright in a padded box, place it on shelving or another raised surface, and keep heavy items away from the television container.
Do You Need Drive-Up Storage for a Television?
Drive-up storage can be useful when you are moving a television with a TV stand, couch, entertainment furniture, moving boxes, and other bulky household items. Vehicle access near the unit can shorten the distance between your car, van, or moving truck and the storage space.
More than 45% of Public Storage properties offer drive-up access units.
Choose drive-up storage when you plan to:
- Load a boxed television directly from a vehicle
- Move a TV stand, entertainment center, or other living-room furniture
- Make multiple trips during a move or renovation
- Store the TV with furniture and household boxes
- Retrieve the television without carrying it through long hallways or elevators
Measure the TV box, TV stand, and other large furniture before reserving. Use the Public Storage size guide to compare available unit sizes and plan room for furniture, TV boxes, and a clear walkway.
How Should You Place a TV in a Storage Unit?
Place the boxed TV upright on shelving or another raised surface. Keep it in a stable electronics or living-room furniture area, away from the main walkway and heavy containers.
Keep the television box away from heavy furniture, tools, and containers that could shift or press against the screen.
What Should You Avoid When Storing a Television?
Avoid storing a TV while it is plugged in, placing it flat for an extended period, or using a box that does not support the screen and frame. Keep heavy furniture and boxes away from the television.
Avoid:
- Leaving cords connected to the TV
- Packing the screen without cushioning
- Laying the TV flat for extended storage
- Stacking items on the TV box
- Using an oversized box with too much empty space
- Storing personally significant or high-value electronics in a unit
- Storing a TV in changing heat or humidity without considering climate-controlled storage
Store Your Television With a Clear Plan.
A television is easier to store when it is unplugged, clean, padded, and packed upright with its accessories in labeled containers. Keep the TV box raised, away from heavy items, and organized with the furniture and electronics you plan to use together.
Find a Public Storage location near you to compare climate-controlled storage or drive-up storage for everyday televisions worth less than $5,000, furniture, and moving boxes.
A clear TV-storage plan makes the next home setup easier to start.
Television Storage FAQs
Can you store a television in a storage unit?
Yes. Store an everyday television worth less than $5,000 after unplugging, cleaning, padding, and packing it upright in a properly sized box.
Should you store a TV upright or flat?
Store a flat-screen TV upright. Do not lay it flat for extended storage or stack boxes on top of it.
What is the best box for storing a TV?
Use the original TV box when available. Otherwise, use a properly sized TV moving box with cushioning around the screen, corners, and frame.
Should you use climate-controlled storage for a TV?
Climate-controlled storage can be useful for everyday TVs because heat and changing humidity can affect screens, electronics, cables, and plastic components. More than 90% of Public Storage properties offer climate-controlled units.
How should you store TV cords and remotes?
Coil cords loosely, place remotes and hardware in labeled bags or containers, and store them beside the matching TV box.
