Packing nearly always takes longer than you expect. Most people start with good intentions, fill a few neat boxes, then find themselves throwing loose items into bin bags at midnight before the van arrives. The fix is simple: pack in the right order, label consistently and use proper materials. Follow this checklist and you can realistically save a full day of effort, both when you pack and when you unpack at the other end.
Before you pack a single box
Start with a clear-out. Every item you sell, donate or recycle is one less thing to wrap, carry and find a home for later. Go through each room and be honest about what you actually use. Charity shops, local selling apps and council bulky waste collections can all help you lighten the load.
Next, gather your supplies in one place so you are not hunting for tape halfway through a room. You will need:
- Strong double-walled boxes in two or three sizes
- Good quality parcel tape and a tape gun
- Packing paper and bubble wrap
- Thick marker pens in at least two colours
- Coloured stickers or tape for your room system
- Resealable bags for screws and small fittings
The room-by-room order that works
The golden rule is to pack the things you use least first and the things you use most last. That way your home stays liveable until the final day.
Two to three weeks before
- Loft, garage and shed. These spaces hold the most clutter and the fewest daily essentials. Tackle them early, as they always take longer than planned.
- Spare room and guest bedding. Pack spare duvets, linen and anything stored “just in case”.
- Books, DVDs and decorative items. Use small boxes for books, as large ones become too heavy to lift safely.
One to two weeks before
- Living room. Pack pictures, ornaments, games and most of the electronics you can live without. Photograph cable set-ups before unplugging them.
- Out-of-season clothing. Coats in summer or summer clothes in winter can go now.
- Dining room. Pack your best crockery and glassware carefully, wrapping each piece individually.
The final week
- Kitchen. Keep a few plates, mugs, cutlery and one pan back. Pack everything else, using plenty of paper for glassware.
- Bedrooms. Leave a few days of clothes out and pack the rest. Wardrobe boxes are excellent for hanging items.
- Bathroom. Pack spare toiletries and towels, keeping daily items aside.
The last day
Strip beds, pack bedding into labelled bags and fill your essentials box. Defrost the freezer at least a day before if it is moving with you.
A labelling system that actually helps
Labels are where most of your time is saved. A good system means the crew can put boxes straight into the right rooms, and you can find what you need without opening ten cartons.
Use colour by room
Give each room in your new home a colour, then put a matching sticker on every box for that room. Stick a sheet of the same colour on each door at the new property. Removal crews love this, because it takes the guesswork out of unloading.
Write on two sides, never just the top
Once boxes are stacked, you cannot see the lid. Label at least two sides with the room, a short list of contents and a number.
Number your boxes
Keep a simple inventory on your phone or in a notebook. Box 14, kitchen, baking tins and scales. It sounds fussy, but it lets you check everything has arrived and find specific items quickly.
Flag the important ones
- Mark fragile boxes clearly on every side.
- Write “this way up” with arrows where it matters.
- Mark “open first” on the boxes you will need on the first evening.
Your essentials box
This is the one box that should travel with you in the car rather than on the van. Pack it last and keep it somewhere obvious. Include:
- Kettle, mugs, tea, coffee and long-life milk
- Phone chargers and a multi-plug extension lead
- Toilet roll, hand soap and a hand towel
- Basic toolkit, scissors and a box cutter
- Medication and a small first aid kit
- A change of clothes and toiletries for each person
- Bedding for the first night
- Snacks, pet food and any children’s comfort items
- Important documents, keys and your moving paperwork
- Light bulbs and a torch
Boxes worth buying rather than blagging
Free supermarket boxes are tempting, and they are fine for light items such as bedding, soft toys or cushions. For anything heavy or fragile, it pays to buy proper removal boxes. Used supermarket boxes are often single-walled, unevenly sized and already weakened, which means they stack badly and can split when lifted.
- Small double-walled boxes for books, tins, records and anything dense.
- Medium boxes for kitchenware, toys and general household items.
- Large boxes for lightweight bulky items such as duvets and lampshades.
- Wardrobe boxes so clothes can go straight from rail to rail.
- Dish packs or cell boxes for glasses and fragile crockery.
- Picture and mirror boxes to protect glass and frames.
Uniform box sizes stack safely in the van, which protects your belongings and helps the crew load faster. Many removal firms sell or rent boxes, and some offer free collection afterwards.
Small habits that save hours
- Fill gaps in boxes with paper or soft items so contents cannot shift.
- Keep box weight to something you can comfortably lift.
- Tape screws and fittings to the furniture they belong to.
- Pack a room completely before starting the next one.
- Leave drawers of light clothing alone if your remover allows it.
Let the right team do the heavy lifting
Once your boxes are packed and labelled, the right crew will have you moved in no time. Compare removal quotes on removals.com to find trusted firms that can supply materials, offer a packing service or simply turn up ready to load.