Packing is the part of moving most people underestimate. It always takes longer than you expect, and the way you pack decides how safely your belongings travel and how quickly you can settle in at the other end. If you are wondering how to pack for a house move without losing a fortnight of evenings or half your crockery, this guide takes you through it room by room, using the same principles our crews have relied on for more than thirty years of moves across Cheshire, the Wirral and the North West.
In short: start early with the rooms you use least, use small boxes for heavy items and large boxes for light ones, wrap fragile items individually, label every box on the side with its room and contents, and keep an essentials box with you on moving day.
When Should You Start Packing?
For a typical three bedroom home, start packing around four weeks before your moving date. That gives you time to work through one area at a time rather than packing everything in the final weekend. Begin with the spaces you rarely use, such as the loft, spare room, garage and shed, then work towards the rooms you live in every day. The kitchen and bathroom come last.
If you want to see how packing fits alongside the admin, utilities and booking tasks, our eight week moving house timeline sets everything out week by week.
What Packing Materials Do You Need?
Good materials protect your belongings far better than supermarket boxes that have already done a few journeys. You will need:
- Double walled boxes in small, medium and large sizes
- Wardrobe cartons so hanging clothes can travel on the rail
- Packing paper for crockery and glassware (it is cleaner than newspaper, which leaves ink on everything)
- Bubble wrap for electronics, pictures and anything with a delicate finish
- Strong parcel tape and a tape gun if you have one
- Mattress and sofa covers to keep upholstery clean
- Thick marker pens and small sealable bags for screws and fittings
We can supply quality packing materials for you to use yourself, or our team can pack some or all of your home for you through our professional packing service.
What Are the Golden Rules of Packing?
Whatever the room, the same few rules prevent most breakages and back strain.
- Heavy items go in small boxes. Books, tins and tools quickly make a large box too heavy to lift safely. The Health and Safety Executive’s manual handling guidance is a good reminder of why keeping loads manageable matters.
- Light items go in large boxes. Bedding, cushions and soft toys fill space without adding weight.
- Fill every box properly. Half empty boxes collapse when stacked. Fill gaps with towels, tea towels or scrunched paper.
- Wrap fragile items one at a time. Nothing breakable should touch anything else breakable.
- Label on the side, not the top. Stacked boxes hide their lids. Write the destination room and a short description of the contents on two sides.
- Mark fragile boxes clearly and tell the crew which ones they are.
- Seal the bottom with a cross of tape, not a single strip.
How Do You Pack Each Room?
How should you pack the kitchen?
The kitchen holds more fragile items than any other room, so give it the most time. Wrap plates individually and stand them on their edge in the box, like records in a crate, rather than stacking them flat. Wrap glasses individually, stuff the inside with paper and pack them rim down. Place the heaviest items at the bottom and the lightest at the top.
Use up opened food in the weeks before you move. Opened jars, bottles and liquids are the most common cause of spoilt boxes, and some items should not travel on a removal lorry at all. Our guide to items removal companies cannot move explains which ones and what to do with them instead.
Remember the fridge freezer. Empty and defrost it a day or two before the move so it travels clean, dry and lighter. For local moves, a freezer holding a few frozen items can sometimes be loaded last and unloaded first, but for longer journeys it should be fully emptied.
How should you pack the living room?
Take a photo of the back of your television and other electronics before unplugging them, so reconnecting the cables is simple. Use the original boxes if you still have them. If not, wrap screens in a blanket or bubble wrap and keep them upright.
Pictures and mirrors should be wrapped in bubble wrap, with a cross of masking tape on mirror glass to hold it together if it cracks. Books go in small boxes, packed flat or with spines down.
How should you pack bedrooms and wardrobes?
Wardrobe cartons save a great deal of time. Hanging clothes go straight from rail to rail, and they come out uncreased. Chests of drawers holding light clothing and bedding can usually be left filled, but remove anything heavy or fragile, and always empty flat pack furniture completely because it is more likely to weaken in transit.
If beds or wardrobes need dismantling, put every screw and bolt in a sealable bag, label it and tape it securely to the furniture it belongs to. Dismantling and reassembly can be included in your move, but it needs agreeing when you are quoted.
How should you pack the bathroom?
Pack most of the bathroom early and leave a small box of toiletries, towels and medicines for the final days. Tighten lids and put liquids in sealed bags before boxing them. Keep prescription medicines with you rather than in the lorry.
How should you pack the loft, garage and garden?
These areas take the longest, so start with them. Lofts are best emptied in advance. Our team can only work in a loft that has a fitted ladder or staircase, solid boarding and proper lighting, for safety and insurance reasons. Drain fuel and oil from lawnmowers and other machinery, and set aside paint, chemicals and gas bottles for safe disposal, since these cannot go on the vehicle.
Garden furniture should be cleaned and dried before packing. Pots and ornaments are heavier than they look, so move them in small quantities.
What Goes in an Essentials Box?
An essentials box travels with you in the car, not in the lorry. It carries everything you need for the first night and morning, so you are not searching through forty boxes for the kettle. Include:
- Kettle, mugs, tea, coffee, milk and a few snacks
- Phone chargers and a multi plug adaptor
- Toilet roll, hand soap, a towel and basic toiletries
- Bedding for each bed and a change of clothes for everyone
- Medication, important documents, keys and valuables
- A basic toolkit, scissors, torch and bin bags
- Anything children or pets need to feel settled, which our guide to moving house with children and pets covers in more detail
Should You Pack Yourself or Use a Professional Packing Service?
Packing yourself saves money, and plenty of our customers do an excellent job. It makes sense when you have time, a fairly small home or mostly robust belongings. A professional service makes more sense when you are short of time, have lots of fragile or valuable items, or simply want your evenings back. Many customers choose a middle route, packing books, clothes and toys themselves while we pack the kitchen, glassware and pictures.
Our article on why so many house moves end in damage explains where most breakages happen and how professional packing prevents them. The option you choose will also shape your quote, which is one reason the home removal survey is worth doing properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many boxes do I need to move house?
It depends on how much you own, but as a rough guide a one bedroom flat often needs around 20 to 30 boxes and a three bedroom house can need 60 or more. Your surveyor can give you a much closer figure for your home. - Do I need to empty drawers before moving?
Not always. Drawers holding lightweight clothing or bedding can usually stay full, but take out anything heavy or fragile and completely empty flat pack furniture. - What should I pack first when moving house?
Pack the rooms and items you use least first, such as the loft, spare room, out of season clothes, books and ornaments. Leave the kitchen and bathroom until the final few days. - What should I not pack in a removal box?
Do not pack flammable liquids, gas bottles, paint, chemicals or opened food. Keep passports, jewellery, cash, keys and medication with you rather than in the lorry. - Can I leave clothes on hangers when moving?
Yes. Wardrobe cartons let hanging clothes travel on a rail, so they go from one wardrobe to the next without folding.
Need a Hand With Packing?
Whether you want packing materials delivered, a hand with the kitchen or a full packing service, our Wirral based team will fit around what you need. Call us on 0151 343 1264 or request your free moving quote.
