How to Pack Moving Boxes Like a Pro

So, you have booked your moving day, and now what stands before you are the endless pieces of cutlery, a stack of beloved books, and a heap of clothing. "But what am I going to pack them all in?" you say. The most straightforward answer is a box. Yes, but not just any box... the humble, sturdy, durable double-walled moving box! 

 

Sure, you may be able to throw many of your items into black sacks, but is there any need to take that risk of potentially damaging your personal belongings? Here at Finest Van, we understand that moving can be exciting and daunting, and packing up all your belongings can often be the most laborious and time-consuming part of this process. After all, you are packing up your life... 

 

In this article, we will provide some handy tips on how to pack your household items efficiently. Here's our step-by-step guide to help you pack a box that packs a punch!
 

GATHER THE ESSENTIAL PACKING MATERIALS
Before the packing commences, you must equip yourself with the correct materials and tools. Here's an inventory of what you will need: 

Boxes - Invest in a variety of box sizes. As a rule of thumb, this would generally entail a selection of Medium, Large, Tall, and Wardrobe boxes. Ideally, these should be professional-grade quality (double-walled) as they are sturdy, hard-wearing and can be reused. These may be found online at moving supplies, secure storage facilities, and local retail stores. 
 

Packing Tape - Heavy-duty brown packing tape and shipping tape both provide extra strength as they adhere well to the cardboard boxes. For boxes containing fragile items, it is a good idea to tape them up using ‘Fragile’ tape , as this visually reminds the handler to take that extra care.

Markers & Labels - A permanent marker pen is handy for labelling your boxes, including their contents and where the items belong. Additionally, coloured sticky labels are a fantastic way to assign boxes to particular rooms, making box allocation more efficient, ready for unpacking.

Bubble Wrap - High-quality bubble wrap, which can be acquired in various lengths and grade qualities, is excellent for wrapping more delicate items.

Shrink Wrap - Although not necessarily essential, shrink wrap is great for covering and preventing marks and scratches on your items and can also be used to keep items with multiple parts together.

Packing Paper - Packing paper provides a base lining and cushioning for fragile items within your boxes, keeping them compact and secure. 

Scissors/Tape Gun/Box Cutter - These items will undeniably come in handy when cutting tape, bubble wrap, and opening and breaking down boxes.

Black Sacks - Great for lightweight soft items and cushions.

 

FINEST TIP: 
1. Many essential packing materials listed can be found online and at your local self-storage company. 

CHOOSING SUITABLE BOX SIZES
The most efficient way to pack is by selecting the most suitable box sizes for different categories of items. Here we have compiled a list of the most common box sizes, and examples of general items that could be suited to each of them:

Small / Medium Boxes:

• Kitchenware
• Ceramics
• Glassware
• Bottles
• Utensils
• Food
• Personal Keepsakes
• Documents
• Books
• Toiletries

 

Large Boxes: 

• Plants 
• Toys
• Printer
• Folded clothing
• Boxed items

 

Tall Boxes: 

• Cushions
• Bed Linen 
• Tall items 

 

Wardrobe Boxes: 

• Shirts
• Jackets
• Trousers
• Dresses

 

PREPARE THE BOX
Reinforce The Bottom
The easiest way to start building your box is to turn it upside down, fully open it to its square or rectangular shape, and fold the shorter sides. Then fold the longer sides in and attach a piece of tape along the seam from one side of the box to the other to reinforce the bottom, allowing for a few inches of tape to stick to the vertical sides of the box. A tried-and-tested taping method is the “H” technique: place your tape along the seams and run an additional piece along the middle to strengthen the bottom.
 

Create A Base Layer
Using packing paper, bubble wrap or foam as a base layer in your box is an excellent way of cushioning fragile items, such as glassware, from impact.

 

PACK ITEMS STRATEGICALLY
Group Similar Items
Organise your items by category (e.g., kitchenware, books, clothing) and place them together in the same box. For example, you can pack your office books together, put kitchen utensils in another box, and put bed linen in a separate one. This way, you know where best to place the boxes in the new home, assuming you label them. 
 

Padding & Wrapping Fragile Items
Wrap particularly fragile items, such as glassware, ceramics, or delicate mantelpiece items, in bubble wrap or wrapping paper and add a layer of tape, if necessary. For glassware and ceramic items from your kitchen cupboards, such as wine glasses and mugs, it is good practice to individually wrap them in a layer of paper, pack them in an upright position with others of similar shape and size, and minimise any spaces between them. If enough height remains in the box, you can add another tier. To do this, secure and cover the bottom layer with wrapping paper and continue packing on top, permitting enough headroom between the top layer and box ceiling (to avoid potentially crushing any items should the box be stacked upon). Add a final top layer of packing paper. Similarly, wine bottles, plates, bowls, and small picture frames should be wrapped and packed securely, standing vertically. 
 

Fill Empty Spaces
If items can shift during transit, they could break. It’s crucial to fill the empty voids within the box using removal blankets. These are thick, padded blankets specifically designed for moving and can be used to cushion and secure items within the box.  
 

Weight Distribution
To keep your box stable and avoid capsizing (from being top-heavy), it's advisable to place heavier items at the bottom and lighter items on top and keep the overall weight of the box contents on each side about the same. This means distributing the weight evenly throughout the box, with heavier items at the bottom and lighter items on top, to ensure the box is balanced and less likely to tip over during transit. 
 

Avoid Over-packing
Be mindful of the weight of your boxes and pack them so they are comfortable to lift, and not on the verge of splitting open and breaking.

 

SEAL THE BOX
Close It Up
Once you have packed everything nicely and securely, it’s time to seal the box. Fold in the shorter flaps first, followed by the longer flaps. Keep these tight and place the packing tape along the top seam so it overlaps a few inches on either side of the box. If the box is on the heavy side, ensure the box can withstand some movement and place an extra piece of tape for additional strength.
 

Labeling
Marking and labelling your boxes, listing the contents and the room they belong to, will make everything much easier to find and speed up the unpacking process tenfold. We recommend immediately labelling essential items you'll want, such as your coffee machine! Labelling your boxes with "fragile" or using fragile-labelled tape is also a good visual aid for taking extra care.

 

ADDITIONAL TIPS & CONSIDERATIONS
Keep an Inventory
A great way to keep on top of things and stay organised is by maintaining an inventory of the contents of each box. This way, you can quickly locate items once you have moved into your new property. 
 

Declutter and Dispose of Unwanted Items
During the packing process, you are likely to come across many household items you’ve accumulated that you no longer have any need for or space for. Having a clear out of unwanted goods is a great way to create space and reduce the baggage to think about and pack.
 

Create Space
Stacking boxes on top of each other and in rows in an area with less traffic is a great way to create space for other tasks that may need to be done, such as dismantling or reassembling a bed frame. It can also psychologically make you feel less overwhelmed if your packed boxes are neatly organised to one side. Remember to stack the heavier items at the bottom and the lightweight and fragile items on top.
 

Mind Your Back & Knees
The ideal positioning for packing a box is to place it on top of something sturdy, such as a table or even another box (using it as a base), so it is at a comfortable height. This will ease the amount of strenuous activity placed on your knees and back, especially if there are many boxes to be packed.

 

CONCLUSION
Packing your life into boxes doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With the right techniques and ‘know-how’, materials, and positive mindset, you are already well-equipped for a straightforward packing experience from the get-go. So, the next time you find yourself with a pile of things to pack, remember these Finest packing tips! Happy Packing!

 

CONSIDER A PACK & MOVE SERVICE?
If you hire a removals company for a full or partial pack and move service, they can offer tailored advice and develop a plan catered to your specific packing and moving requirements, including supplying the necessary materials and manpower. Below are several variables to consider which can affect a quote for a pack and move service:
 

Type of Service - Partial or Full-packing Service. 
 

Property Size & Number of Bedrooms.
 

Volume of Items - The total amount and size of items.
 

Labour Costs - The number of movers and total service hours needed for packing and moving.
 

Packing Materials Costs.
 

Special Items - Handling fragile, heavy or oversized items (e.g. pianos).
 

Insurance (Optional).

Timing - The time and day of the week, with peak times potentially increasing costs.
 

Distance - The mileage between the current location and the delivery destination.
 

Accessibility - The ease of access to both the pick-up and delivery destination.

Moving specialists are well-versed in the art and science of diligently and securely packing items within a given space. It's what we do. If you have any questions regarding your pack and move, why not contact us today for a free, no-obligation quote? A member of our team will be happy to assist you.

 

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