How to Pack for a Move, Room by Room
Good packing is not about buying every box on the shelf. It's technique: the right box for the right item, a labelling system that holds up on a chaotic day, and knowing what should never go in a box at all. Do this well and you also cut down the hours your movers need to bill.
Get the boxes right before you start
Wrong-sized boxes cost you time twice: once when you pack them, once when the crew has to reinforce or repack them on moving day. Use small boxes for heavy items, medium for most household goods, and large boxes only for light, bulky things.
- Small boxes for books, tools, and anything dense
- Medium boxes for most kitchen and living room items
- Large boxes only for light items. A full large box of books is too heavy to carry safely
- Tape the bottom with at least three strips. A single strip will not hold under weight
Pack the kitchen: dishes, glasses, and everything fragile
Dishes break from movement, not just impact. Wrap each plate individually in paper, then pack plates on their edge, like records in a crate, not stacked flat. Stacked flat plates crack under their own weight.
- Wrap glasses and stemware individually, then nest a few per compartment in a dish-pack box, never loose in a regular box
- Pack plates vertically on their edge, wrapped, with paper filling every gap
- Use a proper dish-pack box with dividers for glassware if you have one. The extra structure matters
- Fill every empty space in the box. Movement inside the box is what breaks things, not the box itself
Pack closets: wardrobe boxes and what to fold
Wardrobe boxes let you move clothes straight off the closet rod, on hangers, with no folding and no wrinkling. They're worth it for anything on a hanger. For folded clothing, dresser drawers can often stay loaded and just get wrapped. Ask your mover if that's allowed for your move instead of emptying every drawer by hand.
- Hanging clothes go straight into a wardrobe box, on the hanger
- Folded clothing can often travel in the dresser it's already in
- Shoes pack well in their own small box or a shoe organizer, not loose
Label so anyone can read the plan, not just you
Label every box with the destination room and a one-line summary of what's inside, not just "kitchen." On moving day the crew is reading labels fast while carrying a box, not stopping to study your inventory.
- Write the destination room in large letters on the top and one side, visible however the box gets stacked
- Mark fragile boxes clearly, and put fragile items on top of the stack, not the bottom
- Number your boxes and keep a simple list if you want to track everything. Useful for insurance too
What never goes in a box
Some things should never go in a moving box, either for safety reasons or because a mover legally can't transport them on the truck.
- Flammables and pressurized items: propane tanks, gasoline, aerosols, cleaning chemicals
- Perishable and frozen food
- Cash, jewelry, important documents, and passports. Keep these with you
- Plants. Most movers won't transport them, and they don't travel well boxed up anyway
Good to know
How many boxes do I need for a move?
It depends heavily on how much you own and how you pack, but plan for more boxes than you think. Most people underestimate. Start collecting early and use a mix of small, medium, and large so nothing ends up too heavy to lift.
Can movers pack my kitchen and closets for me?
Yes, most movers offer full or partial packing with materials supplied. It's common to have the movers handle fragile items like dishes and glassware while you pack easier things like books and clothing yourself.
Do I need to empty my dresser drawers before the move?
Not always. Many movers can move a dresser with folded clothing still inside, wrapped for the trip. Ask your mover directly, since it depends on the weight and the piece of furniture.
What items should I pack myself instead of leaving to movers?
Keep cash, jewelry, important documents, medications, and anything irreplaceable with you personally. Movers generally won't transport flammables, perishables, or plants either, so plan to move those yourself.
Ready to book your move?
Packed and labelled ahead of time means less time on the clock when the crew arrives.