Make moving a breeze: Learn how to pack boxes like a pro

Moving day can be a bit of a hassle for many. It’s a time-consuming and stressful process, especially if you’re not getting the help of professional removalists. But don’t stress, as proper packing can make things a lot more efficient and less of a headache. 

That’s why we’ve put together this guide on how to pack your boxes for moving. With this guide, you can rest easy knowing your belongings will be safe and protected during the journey. Whether you’re moving just down the road or across the country, our guide will help you pack like a pro and make your move a breeze.

Tools you’ll need to pack your boxes properly

Preparing items for packing.

Before you begin, gather these materials for a sturdy, damage-free move. 

• Boxes of different sizes

• Packing tape 

• Packing paper

• Bubble wrap

• Markers

• Labels

• Scissors

• Box cutter

• Dolly

• Gloves

How long does it take to pack moving boxes

Taping up a moving box.

Packing can take days, especially for households with multiple bedrooms. For instance, packing a two-bedroom house takes three full days doing it alone and without help. Double that amount of work if you have a larger four-bedroom house. 

That’s why it's best to do it with more people, with each person taking charge of their own room. This will make unpacking easier since they’ll know where everything is later.

If you don’t have enough time to pack by yourself, the best thing would be to hire removalists to do the packing the day before the move, so that everything is well-organised and ready to load onto the truck the next day.

A step-by-step guide to packing moving boxes

Belongings inside a moving box.

Step 1: Make sure you have the right packing materials

Don't leave it to the last minute to run to a store for supplies. Check out the list above to see what you need to pack your boxes properly. It's essential to use quality packing materials to keep your belongings safe during transportation.

Step 2: Sort your belongings

Decluttering before the move helps reduce the amount of packing you need to do. Take a good look around each room in your house and decide which items you’ll keep, donate, or throw away. 

Get your label makers or markers ready for this step. As early as now, you can take out some boxes and label them with “Keep,” “Donate,” or “Throw”. This will help keep things organised from the very beginning.  

Once you’ve done that, you’ll have a better idea of which valuables you’ll take to your new place and the quantity and sizes of boxes you’ll need for the task. Getting organised is important before you start grouping the boxes for loading.

Step 3: Reinforce and pad your boxes

To reinforce the bottom, apply a strip of tape across the centre seam and then one strip on each side perpendicular to it, forming an ‘H’. Next, add extra cushioning at the bottom using crumpled paper or bubble wrap to help protect the items inside from damage. 

Whenever a box is heavy, make sure it’s in good condition and rated for heavy-duty. You don’t want the bottom to break when someone lifts it.

Step 4: Pack room by room

Packing one room at a time is simpler and more logical to avoid items mixing in boxes. This will help you easily arrange your belongings and quickly settle into your new home. 

Here are some other helpful tips for a more efficient and stress-free packing:

•  Label boxes: Create labels to tag each box with its respective room. A brief description of its contents can also help with unpacking later. 

• Save essentials for last: Pack the items you least frequently use first before the essentials. This way, you can easily access your daily necessities, reducing clutter during unpacking. 

• Keep valuables with you: Pack documents, jewellery, and other valuables separately, and bring them with you (ideally, in your car) to avoid losing or damaging them during the move.  

Step 5: Pack heavy items in the bottom

Place heavier items at the bottom of your moving boxes to distribute the weight evenly. This makes carrying the boxes easier and reduces the risk of them breaking or collapsing during the move. 

Then, place lighter items on top. This way, you make good use of the box’s space without making it too heavy to carry. If you put heavy items on top, they would crush the ones underneath.

If you’re still not quite sure about what to do, you may contact reliable packers and movers to help you box up your things, especially fragile items. 

Step 6: Avoid overfilling or underfilling 

The most important thing is to make good use of the box’s space without making it too heavy. Boxes should not weigh more than 25 kilos. 

Overfilling boxes can cause them to deform and collapse, potentially damaging the items inside. Plus, overstuffed boxes are more difficult to lift and fit into moving trucks and storage units, increasing the likelihood of accidents and injuries. 

Underfilling boxes isn’t good either because if a box is half-full, the items will shift and break inside during the move. You’ll need to add extra padding like bubble wrap, packing peanuts, blankets, and towels to fill the empty space.

As a rule of thumb, a properly filled box should allow you to close the lids of a container freely without applying extra pressure from the top. This ensures stability when stacked inside a moving vehicle.

For the kitchen, it’s best to use medium-sized boxes, as fragile items can be stacked well inside without leaving empty space. If you have a lot of books, use medium or small boxes. Large boxes filled with books are very heavy.

Step 7: Seal your boxes properly

Ensuring your boxes are properly sealed is essential for protecting and securing your belongings. It also helps maintain their structural integrity, preventing them from unexpectedly opening and collapsing during the move. 

To seal a moving box properly, use high-quality packing tape along all the seams, applying the ‘H’-pattern method we mentioned earlier. Adding an extra layer of tape also helps secure your boxes better. 

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Step 8: Label your boxes

After packing your boxes, use a marker or label maker to label each box with the room it belongs to and a brief description of its contents. Be sure to label the top and at least one side of each box so that both you and your movers can easily identify its contents. 

Make sure to mark boxes that contain fragile items so the movers handle them with extra care, and also mark boxes that need to stay upright, such as boxes with bottles.

Once your boxes are labelled, ready your boxes for loading. Are you sensing your hands will be full on the big day? You can contact professional house removal experts to assist on your moving day!  

Make packing (and unpacking) easier! 

A smooth move starts with one crucial step: properly packing your belongings. However, if your schedule is already packed, you can always hire an expert to do the packing for you. Just post a task to connect with a professional removalist Tasker who can handle it all.