Packing Materials for Moving You Can’t Do Without

When moving, there are a number of essential things you can’t do without:

# When researching your future area and your moving options, you can’t do without reliable information and access to the Internet.

# When budgeting for your move, you can’t do without a good financial plan and a calculator.

# When organizing your move and planning your relocation tasks, you can’t do without an efficient moving strategy and a detailed moving checklist.

# When packing for your move, you can’t do without adequate packing materials.

# When moving house, you can’t do without trustworthy movers.

And considering the magnitude of the moving process, you’re advised to get hold of all those must-haves as early as possible so you have enough time to prepare for your move and complete all the necessary relocation tasks by moving day.

This is especially true for packing – the most laborious and time-consuming moving task of them all. To be able to pack your entire household on time, you need to start the process well in advance. To be able to start packing, however, you need to have packing materials.

Contrary to the popular belief, moving boxes and bubble wrap are not all you need to pack up your home and ensure the safety of your belongings during shipment. Using proper packing supplies can mean the difference between receiving your cherished possessions intact and finding them badly damaged upon arrival at your new place.

To provide the best possible protection to your items and ensure your peace of mind, you have to figure out what specific moving packing supplies you need and make sure you have them all when packing for your move.

List of Packing Materials for Moving

First things first – before you start packing up your home, you need to find out what packing supplies are needed to ensure the safety of your items during a house move. Here is a list of the most essential packing materials for moving that will help guarantee your smooth and successful relocation experience:

Moving Boxes and Other Moving Containers

A large pile of packing boxes is certainly the first image that comes to your mind when you hear the word “moving”. And there is a good reason for it to be so – corrugated cardboard boxes are absolutely indispensable for moving house. You need something to transport your items in – and cardboard boxes definitely top the list of the most convenient, most efficient, and most affordable moving containers for shipping goods across the country.

Related: The history of cardboard boxes and bubble wrap

Standard Packing Boxes for Moving

It is absolutely impossible to perform a residential move without plenty of clean and sturdy boxes of various sizes. The exact number of moving boxes you’ll need depends on how large your household is, how well you can optimize the space in the boxes and how far you’re going (when moving across town you can make several trips to your new place and use the same boxes every time). In most cases, 8-10 small boxes, 7-8 medium ones and 5 large ones will be enough to pack the contents of one room.

• Small packing boxes should be reserved for small, heavy things like books and tools and for fragile items that should be packed separately (such as glassware, souvenirs, etc.);
• Medium-sized cardboard boxes are good for clothes, toys, small appliances and electronics, and other similar items;
• Large moving boxes should be used for bedding, curtains, and other bulky, lightweight pieces.

When packing your belongings, remember to reinforce the bottoms and the corners of the moving boxes with plenty of packing tape and to provide adequate padding inside (it’s always a good idea to line the bottom of a box with several layers of corrugated packing paper). Be careful not to make the boxes too heavy as they may break under their own weight.

See also: How to pack moving boxes the right way

Specialty Boxes

Standard cardboard boxes may not be sturdy enough or may not have the required shape, or the necessary lining to provide adequate protection to your breakables and valuables. You will need specialty boxes, designed for special purposes:

• Wardrobe boxes – The best way to move fine garments is to ship them in wardrobe boxes as your clothes will be perfectly protected from dust, dirt, and moisture and won’t crease during the transportation. Besides, wardrobe boxes save a lot of time when packing your clothes – you can transfer them directly from your wardrobe, still on their hangers;
• Dish pack boxes – Also known as dish barrels, dish boxes are heavyweight boxes, specially designed to protect fragile items. Dish pack inserts can be placed within the boxes to create individual cells for each item in the box (for extra protection);
• Picture boxes – Picture boxes (or mirror boxes) are stronger than standard cardboard boxes and are shaped to fit framed artwork or large mirrors. Most of them come with special frame protectors that can be secured to the corners of the items you put inside the box to prevent damage during shipment;
• File boxes – These sturdy boxes will keep your documents safely stored and well organized during the move. Of course, you can use them in your new home as well;
• Lamp boxes, boxes for musical instruments, boxes for sports equipment, and other specialized boxes are also available.

See also: Types of moving boxes

Bags of Different Types and Sizes  

Bags aren’t quite as practical as moving boxes, but sometimes they may come very handy:

• Suitcases and travel bags are meant to hold your clothes and personal items during a trip, so they are very convenient when moving house as well. This is especially true for wheeled suitcases that are very easy to move around – perfect for packing books and other heavy items;
• Sealable bags can keep various small items together and help you organize your odds and ends;
• Vacuum bags allow you to save lots of space, especially when packing soft bulky items, such as pillows, blankets, winter clothes, etc.;
• Mattress bags will protect your mattresses and keep them dry and clean during the move;
• Trash bags can be used for packing lightweight items that cannot be easily damaged. However, have in mind that garbage bags are slippery and difficult to carry around, to be stacked one over the other, and to be secured in the moving truck. Besides, they tear easily, so they don’t provide good protection to the items inside them.

Other Moving Containers

When you think out of the box, you can find various other moving containers, as well:

• Custom-made wooden crates – your best option for packing and moving delicate pieces of art, antiques, family heirlooms and other delicate valuables;
• Baskets – laundry hampers and various other baskets you have at home can be used to hold toiletries, small toys, miscellaneous items;
• Buckets – those are ideal for packing and moving cleaning supplies and bathroom items.

You can find many other alternative moving containers in your home – beer boxes, paper bins, glasses cases, etc. – and think of creative ways to better organize and transport your belongings in them. Just make sure all your items are as well protected as possible.

See also: Alternative packing materials

Wrapping and Cushioning Materials

Proper packing is all about ensuring the safety of your possessions – and your belongings will stay safe and sound during the move only if they are well cushioned and perfectly immobilized in their packing containers.

Therefore, you need quality wrapping and padding materials that will absorb any potential vibrations and shocks during transportation, will prevent shifting inside the boxes, and will keep items from bumping into one another:

• Bubble wrap – Bubble wrap is crucial for protecting fragile items during a move. The air-filled material will provide perfect protection to your plates, glasses, sensitive electronics, and other breakables – it will prevent breaking and scratching, will absorb any undesirable shocks during transit, and will keep your delicate possessions intact. Bubble wrap can also be used to wrap protruding furniture parts (legs, handles, etc.) and awkwardly shaped pieces to ensure their safety during the move (See also: How to pack with bubble wrap);
• Packing paper – Packing paper is soft and smooth and provides excellent protection to glass surfaces and delicate items. In addition to wrapping, it can also be used to create cushioning layers between the items in a box or can be crumpled and wedged in the empty spaces in a moving container to prevent shifting during transit;
• Moving blankets (furniture pads) – Large, soft, and thick, moving blankets can be wrapped around furniture pieces, appliances, and other larger items to protect them from scratching and denting during the relocation (just remember to secure them in place with stretch wrap or packing tape). Furniture blankets are also very useful for providing additional cushioning and protection to the items in the moving truck and can even be wrapped around banisters to prevent damage when taking bulky pieces down the stairs;
• Plastic wrap – When wrapped around an item, stretch wrap keeps dirt, dust, and moisture away. It sticks only to itself and leaves no residues on the surfaces, which makes it extremely practical. Besides plastic warp is rather thick and strong, so it can be used for bundling oddly-shaped items together, for securing paper padding or moving blankets around furniture, for keeping drawers and cabinet doors in place, for packing entire drawers without emptying their contents, etc.;
• Packing peanuts – Packing peanuts can provide excellent padding and protection even to very delicate items, such as artwork and sensitive electronics. All you need to do is cover the bottom of a box with a layer of peanuts, place your safely wrapped item inside, and add another layer over it. Shake the box to let the peanuts fill any gaps and top off the moving container with packing peanuts before sealing it. Keep in mind though that styrofoam peanuts are not biodegradable and are quite difficult to clean up and dispose of. Starch peanuts are more eco-friendly but they’re also more expensive (and they decompose when in contact with water, so you need to be extra careful if you’re moving in humid conditions);
• Foam cushioning – Foam sheets are very practical for protecting heavy items that may crush packing peanuts and bubble wrap and can create a fitting cushioning for irregularly shaped items. All foam materials, however, are very expensive.

Related: How to pack furniture for moving; How to pack fragile items for moving

Securing Materials

The last thing to do when packing your items for moving is to secure the packaging – seal the boxes, fix the wrappings in place, etc. To achieve this you’re going to need:

• Plenty of quality packing tape – Reinforcing and sealing your boxes is as important for the safety of your items as providing sufficient padding. If a box opens or breaks during the move, the amount or quality of the cushioning materials you have used will not matter at all. And if the moving blankets and other protective coverings don’t stay in place, they will be of no good to your furniture and other larger items. So, make sure you use lots of quality packing tape to seal and reinforce your boxes and to secure the wrapping around your larger household pieces (be careful not to tape directly on painted or polished surfaces though);
• Ropes and straps – You can tie the moving blankets and other wrapping materials around your furniture instead of taping them. You can also use ropes and straps to bundle your moving boxes or to keep furniture doors and drawers tightly closed. Most important of all, you will need those moving supplies to secure your items on the dolly and inside the moving truck, so don’t fail to provide enough of them as well.

Packing Accessories

Your packing endeavor will be rendered easier if you have some practical accessories at hand:

• Packing tape dispenser – This simple tool will considerably speed your work – instead of looking for the end of the packing tape every time you need it, or accidentally taping your fingers, or getting the tape stuck to itself, you will be able to get the job done quickly and effortlessly;
• Scissors, utility knife, or box cutter – You will need something to cut the bubble wrap, packing paper, cardboard pieces, cords, packing tape, etc. with;
• Permanent markers – Even if you have printed all the labels you need, you may need to write handling instructions or additional information on your boxes. (See also: How to label boxes for moving)

Make sure you have a tool set as well – especially if you need to disassemble some of your larger furniture pieces when packing them for moving.

How to Determine What Packing Materials for Moving You Need

It’s a good idea to determine the type and amount of packing supplies you’re going to need well in advance – and to get them at the earliest opportunity – so you have enough time to pack your belongings with utmost care and at your own pace.

To figure out what packing materials – and how many of them – will be necessary for your packing job, you need to know which of your possessions you’re going to take to your new home.

1. Sort out your belongings and assess the value of each individual item. Discard damaged and worn out items and set aside everything in good condition that you no longer need or like (to be sold or given away). Make sure you relocate only items of high practical and sentimental value. (See also: How to decide what to keep and what to throw away when moving)

2. Create a floor plan of your new home to find out which of your old furniture pieces and other larger household items will fit in – no matter how practical, comfortable, durable, and well-preserved an item is, there will be no point in moving it if it won’t fit in the available space or won’t match the interior design. (See also: How to create a floor plan of your new home)

3. Consider the cost of moving an item to decide if it is worth taking to your new home – sometimes, it may be more cost-effective to sell an item before the move and buy a new one from your new area. (See also: Move it or sell it – what to sell before moving)

Once you’ve made your final decision and know the number and the type of the household items you’re going to move to your new home, you’ll be able to assess the amount and type of the necessary packing materials.

To find an accurate answer to the essential question “What packing supplies do I need?”, you’re recommended to:

• Make a moving inventory – when you have a detailed list of all the items you’re going to relocate, you’ll be able to determine exactly what kind of packing supplies and how many of them you’re going to need;
• Use state-of-the-art moving apps – once you input the type and number of household items you’re moving to your new place, an advanced moving app can actually calculate the needed packing materials.

When you know what moving and packing supplies you’re going to need, be sure to get them ahead of time. This way, you’ll have everything necessary when you start packing up your home and won’t waste time going back and forth to the store for more boxes, wrapping materials, packing tape, etc.

Where to Get Packing Supplies for Moving

When looking for boxes and packing supplies, you have several options – and you can come up with resourceful ways to combine them in order to obtain the moving and packing materials you need for as little money as possible.

Where to buy packing supplies

You can purchase brand new packing materials from a local moving company, at a home improvement store, a mail service store, an office supply outlet, etc. You will be able to find not only cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, and packing paper, but also specialized packing supplies such as specialty boxes, mattress bags, furniture covers, foam paddings, anti-static packing peanuts, etc.

If you don’t have the time to go shopping for packing supplies, you can just order everything you need online. There is a great variety to choose from and you will be able to compare the prices and to search for special offers in order to purchase the materials that best suit your needs and your budget.

Where to find cheap packing supplies

Packing supplies may not be overly expensive, but you need A LOT of them – so your packing expenses will add up quickly. To keep them reasonable and reduce the overall cost of your move, you need to find efficient ways to get cheap packing materials:

1. Find discount packing supplies:
   • buy packing supplies from the moving company you’ve hired for your move;
   • look for ongoing sales, promotions, and special deals;
   • use coupons and promo codes – if you change your address through the official USP website, for example, you may get promotional coupons for packing supplies from their stores;
2. Buy packing supplies in bulk – you’re going to need lots of packing materials and it’s always cheaper when you’re shopping in bulk;
3. Ask around in your neighborhood or via the social networks if someone is selling used packing materials in good condition – used moving supplies will cost a fraction of the price of new ones, of course (but using them hides many risks);
4. Get free packing materials:
   • Ask friends, neighbors, and coworkers if they have any packing materials left from previous moves that they want to get rid of;
   • Ask at local retail stores if you can have the empty boxes and other packaging materials they don’t need;
   • Check websites like Freecycle and Craigslist to see if anyone in your area is offering free packing supplies;
   • Use the containers you already have in your home (suitcases, bags, baskets, buckets, crates, etc.) and find resourceful ways to substitute professional wrapping and cushioning materials with old newspapers, towels, sheets, blankets, etc. Have in mind though that none of these improvised packing materials will provide as good protection as quality packing boxes, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, cushioning foam, and other specialized packing supplies.

Bonus tips:

1. Make sure you buy top quality packing materials for your more delicate and/or more valuable items. Every extra penny you spend on professional packing supplies will be worth it, as it will guarantee the safety of your cherished belongings and will save you lots of headaches (as well as time and money!) for repairing or replacing accidentally damaged articles, not to mention lost items of high sentimental value.
2. Purchase some extra packing materials, just in case. You may change your mind and decide to pack more items in the last minute or you may damage some of the materials in the packing process, or you may need to repack a piece for safety considerations – it’s always better to have more packing supplies than you need instead of not having enough (so you won’t be forced to pay exorbitant costs for last minute packing supplies).
3. Consider the environmental aspect of your moving adventure – use green packing materials and find eco-friendly ways to dispose of all the boxes and cushioning after your move. (See also: What to do with packing materials after a move)

If you find the packing process too overwhelming (or don’t have enough time to pack up your entire home, or don’t want to risk the safety of your items), consider hiring professional packers – the experts will provide the necessary moving supplies and packing materials and will pack your belongings in the safest and most efficient way possible.

If you have enough time and prefer to pack your belongings to your own liking, get hold of adequate packing supplies, roll up your sleeves, and get down to work as early as possible! Good luck with your packing and your move!