Finding the right packing materials for your move always seems to fall second to finding the right moving company. While we agree your moving company will make or break your move using the right supplies can be just as important. You’ll need to evaluate your home, especially things like do I have lots of breakables, larger items, or odd-shaped items that might need unique boxes. Today we will explore some of the vital items for your move and some options if you don’t want to do the work yourself.
Packing Guide for Moving
You have a couple of different options when you start planning your move. You can do it yourself, trust a professional or a hybrid option. You can contact us directly and we can give you an estimate of what you’ll need for the move.
If you decide to do it yourself we urge you to overestimate your needs on boxes, tape, bubble wrap, etc. You don’t want to chance running out of any of your supplies. Also, packing for most people comes down to the wire (i.e. the night before), and you don’t want to have to make a “box run” to 100 different places at 11:00 pm and waste precious time for when you should be packing.
Large items may require large or extra-large boxes, but heavy and/or fragile items should be placed in smaller boxes that can be tightly packed. Conversely, light or bulky items — such as blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals — can be packed in large or extra-large boxes.
There are no two houses the same so for that reason every move is different. This means there is no exact formula to determining how many boxes you’ll need for your move. Later in the article, we will talk about the “typical” number of boxes needed based on the size of your home.
Here are some important things to consider when planning the number of boxes you will need:
- Number of rooms– logically the more rooms you have the more boxes you will need.
- Length of time in house– If you have been in a home for 2 years you will have far fewer things than if you have lived in a home for 20 years.
- Number of people– More people means more belongings to pack.
- Square footage– More square footage means more nooks and crannies for items.
- Kind of lifestyle– Are you a hoarder, minimalist, collector? These all will determine how many belongings you have.
Moving Box Sizes and your home
There are a few types of moving boxes. Here they are as well as what they are commonly used for:
Small Moving Boxes
Small boxes are great for your heavier items such as books and fragile items. These are perfect for packing offices, desks, and a lot of items in your kitchen.
Medium Moving Boxes
Medium boxes will be your most used moving boxes. They can hold small appliances and other household items.
Large Moving Boxes
Large boxes are ideal for lightweight and medium-weight goods like lampshades, throw pillows, and clothing.
X-Large Moving Boxes
X-Large boxes are ideal for bulky yet lightweight soft goods like comforters, blankets, clothing, and pillows.
Here is an idea from Pods Blog on the usual boxes needed based on home size:
| Household Size | Small16 x 10 x 10 | Medium18 x 14 x 12 | Large20 x 20 x 15 | Total #of boxes |
| Studio Apartment | 6 | 12 | 2 | 2 |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | 8 | 20 | 4 | 32 |
| 2-Bedroom Apartment | 14 | 30 | 6 | 50 |
| 3-Bedroom House(with garage) | 26 | 54 | 12 | 92 |
| 4-Bedroom House(with garage) | 40 | 70 | 16 | 126 |
Packing Materials for Fragile Items
For those priceless items like family heirlooms, breakables, and glass items it’s important to remember some packing materials for these fragile items. Here are some necessities that you will need to have to pack with:
- Unprinted Newspaper- This is great for packing in items tightly. It also helps to prevent shifting during the moving process of items in boxes.
- Bubble Wrap- Bubble wrap can be used to wrap fragile items and to insulate along the sides of boxes.
- Plastic Wrap- This is the stretch kind you can buy at moving supply stores and is great for wrapping larger items to keep them safe.
- Furniture pads- These will help to prevent those dings and dents that so often happen during a move.
- Tape and Tape Gun- Having a few tape guns on hand will save both time and frustration. Using a tape gun will make taping up your moving boxes fast and easy.
Recommendation for packing fragile items
Here are some steps on how to safely and securely pack your breakable items:
- Make the bottom of your box secure by taping all open seams and corners.
- Use either packing peanuts or bubble wrap to form a soft cushion base.
- Each item should be wrapped in bubble wrap, unprinted newspaper, or towels. Use tape on the material to keep it tight.
- Place heaviest items at the bottom and then stack lighter items on top.
- Fill empty space in the box with packing peanuts, towels, or paper to prevent shifting while moving. Add an extra layer to the top prior to sealing the box.
Of course, these are great do-it-yourself tips. We always recommend leaving everything to the professionals. Included in our services is not only moving, but also we can do the packing for you. Contact us today so we can get you an estimate on making your next move the easiest one ever.
