How to Store Puzzles and Board Games

If you’re looking to put away your puzzles and board games in a storage unit, you can do it in a way that keeps everything tidy, organized, and ready for your next game night. Storing these items may seem straightforward, but a little planning goes a long way in keeping boxes intact and pieces from wandering off.

Sort and Organize Before You Stash

Before packing your games, take a moment to organize them. Group puzzles and games by size or type and check that all pieces are accounted for. For puzzles, consider sealing them in zip-top bags inside their original boxes. This prevents pieces from scattering and keeps the original box from taking on unnecessary wear. Board games with lots of pieces can benefit from small, labeled containers or resealable bags to keep tokens, cards, and dice neatly together.

How Should You Pack for a Storage Unit?

Once everything is sorted, it’s time to pack. Use sturdy boxes that won’t crush with stacked weight, and don’t overfill them. Line the bottom with packing paper or bubble wrap for extra cushioning. Stand games upright like books on a shelf to save space and prevent boxes from collapsing. If you have multiple boxes, stack them with heavier boxes on the bottom and lighter ones on top to maintain structure.

Think About Accessibility

When arranging your storage unit, put frequently used games near the front and reserve less-used items toward the back. Clear plastic bins are excellent for visibility, letting you see contents at a glance without opening every box, but cardboard boxes work, too. Adding labels to each box or bin keeps things organized, so you can quickly locate a specific puzzle or board game.

Keep Your Games in Good Condition

Temperature and moisture can impact cardboard and paper components over time. If your storage unit is climate-controlled, you’ll have added protection from humidity that can warp boards or curl puzzle pieces. Even without climate control, packing games in sealed plastic bins or thick boxes, avoiding direct contact with the floor, and using silica gel packets can reduce potential damage.

Protect Pieces with Smart Packing

With the right packing strategies, storing your puzzles and board games becomes a breeze. Keeping small pieces in resealable bags or containers ensures nothing gets lost, while neatly stacking boxes and keeping games upright makes them easy to access. Your storage unit can become a tidy, organized reserve, ready for your next game night without any missing pieces or last-minute scrambling.

Features and amenities vary by location, facility, and unit. “Climate-controlled” and related terms (such as air-conditioned, heated, or humidistat-equipped) describe storage spaces designed to help maintain more consistent temperature or humidity levels compared to non-climate-controlled units. Public Storage does not guarantee temperature or humidity ranges. Availability, features, and unit types may differ by location, facility, and unit. Please confirm with your facility whether specific climate-controlled features are available on units at that location.