Moving advice
How to pack for moving house.
Good packing protects your belongings, makes loading easier and gives you a much more manageable moving day.
Before moving day
Pack with the move in mind.
Packing for a house move is different from packing for storage. Your belongings will be lifted, carried, loaded, transported and unloaded, so the way you pack each box matters.
The aim is not simply to get everything into boxes. It is to make the contents secure, keep boxes manageable to lift and make unpacking straightforward when you arrive at your new home.
Getting started
Start with a simple system.
Work room by room
Keeping each room together makes packing, loading and unpacking much easier. Avoid mixing unrelated belongings between boxes unless there is a good reason to do so.
Pack less
Moving is a useful opportunity to sort through belongings before they are packed. Donate, dispose of or sell things you no longer need rather than paying to move them.
Use the right boxes
Choose strong boxes in sensible sizes. Avoid making large boxes excessively heavy, especially when packing books, records, tools or other dense items.
Do not leave empty space
Fill gaps with suitable packing material, towels, paper or other soft items. Contents that can move around inside a box are more vulnerable to damage.
Label everything
Mark each box with its destination room and a useful description of its contents. If a box needs special handling, make that clear as well.
Packing order
What should you pack first?
Stored belongings
Begin with things you do not use every day, including seasonal clothing, decorations, books and items stored in cupboards or garages.
Less-used rooms
Guest rooms, spare rooms and areas such as home offices can usually be packed before the main living spaces.
Everyday essentials
Keep the things you use every day until closer to moving day so you can continue using your home normally.
Room by room
Pack each space with purpose.
Kitchen
Wrap glassware, crockery and other breakables individually. Do not overload boxes with heavy kitchenware, and keep sharp objects safely protected.
Bedrooms
Pack clothing, linen and personal belongings together where practical. Keep a separate box or bag for the clothes and essentials you will need immediately after arrival.
Living areas
Protect ornaments, electronics, books and other smaller belongings before larger furniture is moved. Keep cables and accessories together where possible.
Garage and storage areas
Sort these areas early. Heavy tools and equipment should be packed securely without making boxes too heavy to safely handle.
Fragile belongings
Give delicate items extra protection.
Wrap items individually
Glassware, ceramics, ornaments and similar belongings should be individually wrapped so they cannot knock against one another.
Cushion the box
Use suitable packing material around and between fragile items. The contents should not be able to move freely inside the box.
Keep boxes manageable
Fragile belongings still need to be practical to lift and carry. Avoid creating boxes that are too heavy or awkward to handle safely.
Mark fragile boxes
Clearly identify boxes containing delicate belongings so they can be handled appropriately during the move.
Moving day
Pack an essentials box for the first night.
Toiletries
Keep basic toiletries, towels and anything you will need when you arrive somewhere accessible rather than buried in the truck.
Clothing
Pack clothes for the first day or two separately so you do not have to unpack everything immediately.
Basic essentials
Include chargers, important documents, medication, basic kitchen items and anything else you know you will need straight away.
Professional packing
You do not have to pack everything yourself.
Packing an entire home takes time and organisation. If you would rather leave the packing to experienced movers, professional packing can take much of that work off your hands.
Fragile Removals offers professional packing as part of its moving services, helping prepare belongings for transport while you focus on the rest of the move.
Before the movers arrive
A final packing check.
Finish the boxes
Aim to have normal household belongings packed before moving day rather than leaving a large amount to be done while the movers are waiting.
Keep walkways clear
Clear access through the house so boxes and furniture can be moved efficiently and safely.
Separate essentials
Keep important documents, valuables, medications and your moving-day essentials somewhere you can access them easily.
Identify anything needing special care
Let your movers know about particularly fragile, valuable, oversized or difficult items before they are moved.
Frequently asked
Packing questions, answered.
When should I start packing for a house move?
Start well before moving day. Begin with things you do not use regularly and work through the house gradually rather than leaving everything until the final few days.
What should I pack first when moving house?
Start with seasonal clothing, decorations, books, stored belongings and other things you rarely use. Leave everyday essentials until closer to moving day.
How should I pack fragile items for moving?
Wrap fragile items individually, cushion them properly and make sure they cannot move around inside the box. Clearly mark boxes containing fragile belongings.
Should I label boxes when moving house?
Yes. Label boxes with their destination room and a brief description of what they contain. This makes unloading and unpacking much easier.
Ready when you are
Planning a move? Let's get it sorted.
Tell us what you're moving, where you're going and when you need to move. We'll prepare a free, no-obligation fixed-price quote.