9 min read
Wondering how to pack for moving house? Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned mover, this guide will show you how to pack for moving house efficiently, save time, and make moving day as stress-free as possible.
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Packing to move house can be overwhelming, but with the right strategy and a clear plan, it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re wondering where to start when packing or looking for the best way to pack for a house move, we’ve got you covered. Below we share expert packing tips for moving house, including when to start, how to stay organised, and what to keep handy for moving day.
In this guide:
Before you start filling boxes, spend some time planning your approach. Walk through each room of your home, making notes of what needs to be packed. This will give you a clear idea of everything you need to pack up and helps you estimate how many boxes you’ll need in order to prevent last-minute chaos.
If you’d like step-by-step guidance on planning your move, explore our moving house checklist guide for expert tips and a downloadable checklist to keep you on track.
You should aim to start packing around six to eight weeks before moving day to give yourself plenty of time. If you have a larger home or lots of belongings, you may need even longer - and the truth is, the earlier, the better. Packing little and often helps spread the workload, keeps you organised, and avoids the stress of doing everything at once.
Not everything in your home needs to be packed at the same time. Learning how to prioritise what to pack creates structure, saves time, reduces stress, and ensures you have easy access to the items you’ll need right up until moving day.
Wondering what to pack first? Going from top to bottom, moving your way down through the floors of your home, is a good way to help you prioritise. Doing this, also helps to create order when it comes to unpacking the items in your new home.
First, prioritise packing the rooms and belongings you use least often, such as the loft, spare room, or seasonal decorations. Save everyday essentials like kitchenware, toiletries and clothing for the final week before your move.
| Room | When to start packing | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Storage & rarely used spaces e.g. attic/ loft, cellar, garage, outhouse | 8-6 weeks before move | ||
| Spare rooms | 6-4 weeks before move | ||
| Main & children’s bedrooms | 4-2 weeks before move | ||
| Dining room, living room and entertainment spaces | 3-2 weeks before move | ||
| Kitchen, utility room and bathrooms | 2-1 week before move | ||
| Essentials box (moving day) | 2-1 day before move |
Once you’ve realised what’s integral to your daily life, you may realise how much stuff you have which never actually gets used and a move is the perfect time for a ruthless clear-out. Decluttering before you pack means you have fewer belongings to pack, move and unpack. Sell unwanted items online to earn a bit of extra cash, recycle where possible, or donate to charity to make your move lighter and greener.
Read our eco-friendly moving guide for sustainable packing ideas
Now you have an idea of the size of your packing task, you can start stocking up on packing materials. Cardboard boxes are integral to packing for a house move and it’s a good idea to get a variety of sizes. You’ll also need materials such as strong tape, bubble wrap or paper for wrapping and a marker pen for labelling.
There are lots of eco-friendly alternatives to make your move more sustainable, including:
Reuse old boxes: Friends or family may have some cardboard stored away, or you can ask local supermarkets or removal companies.
Look for biodegradable packing materials: You can get biodegradable versions of things like tape, which is still strong and reliable and can be recycled after it’s been used.
Use alternatives to bubble wrap: You can use things from around your home such as towels, bedding and clothes to help protect fragile items.
Find more sustainable packing ideas in our guide to eco-friendly moving.
There’s nothing worse than having to sift through boxes and boxes of your things looking for something. Labelling your boxes as you pack will save you hours of frustration when you’re unpacking in your new home. Clearly label each box with the room it belongs to and a short summary of what’s inside - for example, Kitchen: pots and pans. Try to keep boxes from the same room together, and label things like wires for appliances by wrapping some masking tape around them and writing on what they’re for.
If you’re taking furniture apart, make reassembly easier by labelling every piece, from the largest parts to the smallest screws. Use masking tape to note which part belongs where and to attach the small fittings in a labelled bag.
If you’re dismantling something complex you could even write a set of instructions as you work backwards or take photos on your phone of each stage. And remember to wrap delicate or sharp parts (like table legs or corners) with bubble wrap or blankets to prevent damage during transport.
Pack all essential items you may need for the first 24 hours in your new home in the same box. Using a clear plastic box and keeping it in a separate location, such as your car, helps make these items easy to find. Include essentials like:
Toiletries and medications
Chargers and small electronics
Children’s necessities
Kitchen essentials (kettle, mugs, tea, snacks, etc.)
Bedding, pyjamas and a change of clothes
Important documents (passports, birth certificates, contracts, etc.)
Use these clever packing hacks to save space and protect your belongings:
It might seem like a good idea at the time to keep filling up a box, but overfilled boxes or more likely to break or cause injury. To avoid this, don’t pack heavy items in large boxes. Keep it manageable by using smaller boxes for heavier things such as books and plates. Label any heavy boxes clearly and put them at the bottom of any piles to avoid damage to lighter, breakable things.
Keep your clothes on hangers and group them in bunches. Slide a bin bag over the clothes from the bottom up so the hangers poke through the top — then simply hang them up again in your new wardrobe.
Avoid any unwanted spillages by unscrewing lids of shampoos, creams and makeup, placing cling film over the openings, and then screwing them back on. Pop toiletries into sealed plastic bags before boxing them up.
It’s always a good idea to remove drawers from furniture before you move. You can pack fragile items like glassware, crockery, and lamps in them, using clothes or towels for extra protection. Wrap some cling film around each drawer and you’re all set. For things like mirrors, artwork, crockery and pots and pans, use paper to wrap them and then tape on a layer of cardboard if necessary. Label all fragile boxes clearly so they can be handled with care.
If possible, use the original boxes for TVs, computers and consoles. Otherwise, wrap them in thick blankets and secure with tape. Use masking tape to wrap up and label each wire.
Big items like washing machines, fridge-freezers and sofas can be the hardest to move safely. Start defrosting your freezer at least 24 hours before moving to give yourself plenty of time, and empty and clean all appliances in advance. You may be comfortable with disconnecting your washing machine yourself, but you’ll need a qualified gas engineer if you’re taking a gas oven with you.
A jack can be useful for moving big appliances and furniture, while a tool kit can also prove valuable on moving day.
Using a professional house removals service can help reduce stress and save you time on moving day. They’ll have the right equipment, handle the heavy lifting, and ensure your belongings are transported safely and efficiently. Get a house removals quote for your move.
For a full breakdown of what to do before, during, and after your move, explore our moving house checklist guide, or download our printable checklist to keep on hand for moving day.
Start packing and sorting your belongings around 6-8 weeks before moving day. This gives you enough time to declutter, organise and pack gradually.
Get in touch with one of the team
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If you would like to discuss a quotation you have received please call our Move Specialists on
0333 234 4425Monday - Friday
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If you would like to email us, please send it to the following email address:
quotations@myhomemoveconveyancing.co.ukMonday - Friday
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