How to Pack for a House Move

Packing is the part of moving that everyone underestimates. You think you can do it in a weekend. You can't. This guide goes room by room so you know exactly what to pack, what to leave out, and what not to bother packing at all.

Before you start: supplies you actually need

• Small boxes — for books, tins, anything heavy. Do not put heavy things in large boxes. Your mover will tell you the same thing.
• Medium boxes — the workhorse. Kitchen items, toys, clothes, misc.
• Large boxes — bedding, pillows, lampshades, anything light and bulky.
• Wardrobe boxes — if you have suits or dresses that crease easily, worth the extra cost.
• Packing paper — for wrapping crockery and glass. Newspaper leaves ink marks.
• Bubble wrap — for anything fragile or valuable.
• Strong tape — buy the proper stuff. Cheap tape splits when you lift the box.
• Marker pens — two minimum. They always go missing.

Kitchen

The kitchen takes longer than any other room. Start it a full week before moving day.

• Plates and bowls — wrap each one in packing paper and stack vertically, like records. Never stack them flat — the bottom ones crack under the weight.
• Glasses and mugs — roll each glass in paper, stuff the inside with paper too. Mugs are tougher but the handles snap if packed loose.
• Pots and pans — nest them. Put a piece of paper between each one so they don't scratch. Lids can go in separately.
• Food — use up what you can in the week before. Tins are heavy — only move what you actually need. Open packets and jars go in a separate box sealed in a bag in case they leak.
• Appliances — if you're taking the washing machine, it needs a transit bolt. If you've still got the original box, use it. If not, wrap it in blankets and stand it upright.

Label every kitchen box with what's inside and which room it goes to. "Kitchen — plates and bowls" is a lot more useful than "Kitchen stuff" when you're unpacking at 10pm.

Living room

• TV — if you kept the box, use it. If not, wrap the screen in a blanket and stand it upright in the van. Never lay a TV flat — the screen can crack from pressure.
• Sofa — measure it before moving day. If it won't fit through the door at the other end, you need to know that now, not when the van is waiting. Some sofas have removable legs or arms.
• Bookshelves — empty them completely before the movers arrive. The shelves themselves are heavy enough without books in them, and a loaded bookshelf is awkward and risky to carry.
• Books — pack in small boxes. Books are deceptively heavy. A large box of books is a back injury waiting to happen.
• Cables and remotes — put them in a labelled sandwich bag and tape it to the device they belong to. You will thank yourself later.

Bedrooms

• Clothes on hangers — if you've got wardrobe boxes, just transfer them straight across. If not, lay a bin bag over a group of hanging clothes and tie the bottom. Quickest packing method there is.
• Folded clothes — leave them in the drawers if the drawers are coming with you. Just take out anything fragile or heavy from the top drawers to make the unit lighter.
• Bedding — pack duvets and pillows last. They're light and you'll want them first at the other end. Use large boxes or vacuum bags if you've got them.
• Mattress — a mattress bag costs a few pounds and keeps it clean in the van. Worth doing, especially if the van has carried other people's furniture before yours.
• Wardrobes — empty them completely before the mover tries to lift them. A half-full wardrobe is heavier than you think and the doors fly open at the worst moment.

Bathroom

• Toiletries — put anything that could leak (shampoo, shower gel, cleaning products) in a sealed plastic bag before it goes in the box. Leaks ruin everything around them.
• Towels — useful as padding for fragile items in other boxes. Wrap a towel around a vase or a picture frame and it does double duty.
• Medicine — pack this separately and keep it with you. You don't want to be hunting through boxes for paracetamol at midnight.

What not to pack

Some things shouldn't go in the van at all. Your mover will usually flag these, but it's worth knowing in advance:

• Paint, solvents, petrol — flammable items can't go in most vans. It's an insurance issue.
• Perishable food — frozen food won't stay frozen. Fridges and freezers need to be defrosted 24 hours before moving.
• Important documents — passports, deeds, birth certificates, driving licences. Keep these with you.
• Valuables — jewellery, cash, small electronics. Carry them yourself. Insurance policies have limits on items in transit.

The overnight bag

Pack a bag as if you were going away for a night or two. Toiletries, phone charger, change of clothes, pyjamas, kettle, mugs, teabags, milk, snacks, toilet roll. The first evening in a new place is always chaotic — having the basics to hand makes it bearable.

Labelling that actually works

Write three things on every box: the room it goes to, the contents, and whether it's fragile. If you want to be really organised, number each box and keep a quick list on your phone — "Box 1: Kitchen — plates and bowls". When you've got 40 boxes stacked in the new living room, that list saves you opening every one to find the kettle.

Making it easier for your mover

If you're using a man and van service, the more organised your packing is, the faster the move goes — and faster means cheaper. Stack all boxes in one room near the front door if you can. Disassemble furniture before the mover arrives. Make sure there's somewhere for the van to park. These small things can shave an hour off a full house move.

When you submit a move request, add your packing status — the mover can plan the job more accurately if they know whether everything is boxed and ready or whether they'll need to help with last-minute packing.