Guide My Move
Packing Guide
Room-by-room packing instructions, supply lists, and pro tips from our team — so your belongings arrive safely.
The 5 Golden Rules of Packing
Master these and you'll pack like a professional.
Heavy items in small boxes
A large box full of books will weigh 60+ lbs and is nearly impossible to carry safely.
Fill every box completely
A half-full box will collapse when stacked. Fill void space with packing paper or clothing.
Heavier items on the bottom
When packing mixed items, heavy goes on the bottom, fragile on top.
Never mix rooms
Each box should contain items from one room only — makes unpacking dramatically faster.
Label every side
Label at least two sides of every box. When stacked, you can't see the top label.
Packing Supplies You'll Need
Get these before you pack a single item.
| Supply | Best Used For |
|---|---|
| Small boxes (1.5 cu ft) | Books, tools, canned goods — heavy items |
| Medium boxes (3 cu ft) | Most household goods, kitchen items |
| Large boxes (4.5 cu ft) | Pillows, linens, lightweight bulky items |
| Wardrobe boxes | Hanging clothes — worth every penny |
| Dish pack boxes | Dishes, glasses, fragile kitchen items |
| Mirror/picture boxes | Framed art, mirrors, flat-screen TVs |
| Packing tape + dispenser | At least 2 rolls per room |
| Bubble wrap | Fragile items, electronics, glassware |
| Packing paper (unprinted) | Wrapping dishes, filling void space |
| Stretch wrap | Protecting furniture surfaces, keeping drawers closed |
| Thick black markers | Labeling — at least 2 per person |
| Foam peanuts or air pillows | Filling void space in boxes |
Room-by-Room Packing Tips
Every room has its own challenges. Here's how to handle each one.
🍳Kitchen
- Start 2 weeks before your move — pack items you rarely use first
- Stand plates vertically in dish boxes (like records in a crate) — they're far less likely to break
- Wrap each glass individually starting from the base; pack upright, not upside down
- Use cell dividers for wine glasses and stemware
- Pack heavy appliances in small boxes; wrap cords with rubber bands
- Leave out a "kitchen essentials kit" — one pot, pan, a few utensils, plates, and cups
🛏️Bedroom
- Use wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes — leave clothes on hangers
- Leave folded clothes in dresser drawers; wrap the whole dresser in stretch wrap
- Wrap lamp bases in bubble wrap; pack shades separately in large boxes
- Disassemble bed frames and keep all hardware in a labeled zip-lock bag taped to the frame
- Pack bedding and pillows in large boxes or vacuum storage bags
🛋️Living Room
- Photograph your electronics setup before disconnecting any cables
- Wrap remotes and small electronics in bubble wrap; remove batteries
- Use original boxes for electronics when possible
- Wrap artwork and mirrors in moving blankets or bubble wrap; store vertically
- Disassemble large furniture; keep hardware in labeled bags
🚿Bathroom
- Pack toiletries in a zip-lock bag inside a box to contain any leaks
- Wrap bottles in packing paper or place in a bin with a lid
- Keep medications with you — don't pack them on the truck
- Use towels and linens as padding for fragile bathroom items
💻Home Office
- Back up all computers and external drives before packing
- Photograph cable setups for monitors, printers, and peripherals
- Pack computers in original boxes or wrap in bubble wrap with foam padding
- Keep important documents with you — don't load them on the truck
- Label all cables with masking tape and a marker before disconnecting
What NOT to Pack
These items should never go on the moving truck.
- Hazardous materials — paint, propane tanks, gasoline, pool chemicals
- Perishable food — anything that will spoil in a hot truck
- Important documents — passports, birth certificates, financial records
- Medications — keep these in your personal bag
- Valuables — jewelry, cash, irreplaceable items
- Plants — most movers won't transport them; they don't do well in dark trucks
Want Us to Handle the Packing?
Our professional packing team can pack an entire home in a single day — using the same techniques in this guide.
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