How to Pack for Moving House: Complete 2025 Guide & Tips

When to Start Packing: Your Complete Timeline

When to start packing for a move? The answer depends on your household size, but most removal experts recommend starting 6-8 weeks before your moving date. This schedule for move preparation allows you to organise systematically without last-minute stress.

8-6 Weeks Before Moving: Start with storage areas, including the attic, garage, shed, and storage cupboards. These contain seasonal items and forgotten treasures that won't be missed during the packing process. Sort systematically, deciding what to take with you and what to leave behind.

6-4 Weeks Before Moving: Focus on spare bedrooms, guest rooms, and occasional-use areas. Pack out-of-season clothes, spare bedding, books, and decorative items. Start using up frozen and tinned foods.

4-2 Weeks Before Moving: Begin packing the main bedrooms (except for daily essentials) and children's rooms, keeping their favourite toys accessible. Pack everything except one set of bedding per person and a week's worth of clothes.

2-1 Weeks Before Moving: Tackle the kitchen properly, leaving only essentials for daily meals. Pack bathrooms, leaving out one set of toiletries per person. Prepare your 'first day' boxes with cleaning supplies, basic tools, and essentials.

Moving Week: Pack remaining clothes, toiletries, and cleaning supplies. Keep important documents, valuables, and your "essentials box" with you during the move. If you expect a smooth move on moving day, proper preparation is essential.

What to Pack First When Moving: Strategic Packing Order

Understanding what to pack first when moving is key to efficient packing. Start with the least disruptive spaces first, ensuring you can continue living normally whilst making steady progress. Pack by room to maintain organisation and pack similar items together for easier unpacking.

Start With Storage Areas: Attics, basements, garages, and storage cupboards should be your first targets. These contain items you won't need during packing, making them ideal starting points for your packing.

Move to Spare Spaces: Guest bedrooms, spare bathrooms, and other areas, such as dens. These rooms are used infrequently, so packing them won't impact your daily routine.

Progress to Personal Spaces: Main bedrooms should be packed systematically, leaving one week's worth of clothes and essentials. Children's rooms require special attention - involve them in deciding which toys to pack first.

Tackle High-Impact Areas Last: Kitchens and main bathrooms should be packed in the final two weeks. The kitchen requires the most time and careful planning, as you'll need to maintain basic cooking facilities.

Final 48 Hours Strategy: Focus on essential items only - daily clothes, toiletries, medications, and cleaning supplies. Everything else should already be packed and ready.

How to Pack Efficiently: Speed vs. Safety

Efficient packing for a house move requires the right supplies, a systematic approach, and clever packing tips that maximise both space and protection. Set up a designated packing station in each room for maximum efficiency.

Essential Packing Supplies Checklist:

• Small boxes (book/wine box size) for heavy items
• Medium boxes for general household items
• Large boxes for lightweight, bulky items
• Wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes
• Bubble wrap for fragile items
• Packing paper or newspaper
• Strong packing tape (at least 48mm wide)
• Permanent markers for labelling
• Scissors and a utility knife
• Labels or coloured stickers for room coding
• Permanent markers

Box Size Strategy: Small boxes (1.5 cubic feet) work perfectly for books, CDs, canned goods, and other heavy items. Never exceed 22kg per box - your back and your movers will thank you. Medium boxes (3 cubic feet) suit general household items like kitchen utensils, ornaments, and folded clothes. Large boxes (4.5 cubic feet or larger) should only contain lightweight items, such as bedding, pillows, and lampshades.

Packing Techniques for Maximum Efficiency: Always pack the heaviest items at the bottom and the lightest at the top. Fill every gap to prevent items from shifting during transport - use clothing, towels, or packing paper. Create a 'mixed weight' system: place a few heavy books at the bottom of a box, then fill with lighter items to maximise space without exceeding weight limits.

Revolutionary Labelling System: Use a two-part labelling system that actually works. First, colour-code each room (such as red for the kitchen, blue for the main bedroom, etc.) using coloured tape or stickers on the box tops and sides. Second, number each box and maintain a master list that describes its contents. Write "FRAGILE - THIS WAY UP" clearly on delicate items.

Speed-Packing Techniques: Pack like items together, but don't obsess over perfection. It's faster to group all bathroom items in one box than to separate them by type. Use original packaging where possible - electronics often fit perfectly back in their original boxes. You can leave lightweight items like linens in drawers, but wrap drawers in plastic to prevent spillage.

Professional Tricks: Fill hollow items like pots and decorative boxes with smaller items to maximise space. Use vacuum storage bags for bulky bedding and out-of-season clothes. Pack a 'first day' box for each main room with essential items you'll need immediately upon arrival.

Decluttering Before You Pack

Moving house provides the perfect opportunity to declutter and downsize, potentially saving hundreds of pounds in removal costs whilst starting fresh in your new home.

The Four-Box Method: Label four boxes: 'Keep', 'Donate', 'Sell', and 'Bin'. As you work through each room, every item must go into one of these boxes. Be ruthless - if you haven't used something in the past year, you probably won't miss it.

Cost-Saving Benefits: Removal companies charge by volume and weight. Reducing your belongings by just 25% can significantly decrease costs. Professional removal services typically charge £25-40 per hour per mover, so less stuff means fewer hours needed.

Quick Decision-Making Rules: For clothes: if you haven't worn it in two years, donate it. For books: keep reference books and favourites, donate the rest. For kitchen gadgets: if you can't remember the last time you used it, you don't need it.

For a comprehensive guide to decluttering before your move, including detailed timelines and room-by-room strategies, read our complete decluttering before moving guide.

Protecting Fragile Items: Professional Techniques

Fragile items require special attention and proper techniques to ensure they arrive at your new home intact.

Best Materials for Different Items: Bubble wrap works best for delicate items, but packing paper is cheaper and equally effective for dishes when used correctly. Tea towels, dishcloths, and socks make excellent padding for smaller, fragile items.

Step-by-Step Wrapping Techniques: For plates, wrap each one individually in paper or place a sheet of cardboard between them, then stack them vertically in boxes, like records - never flat. This distributes weight evenly and reduces breakage. For glasses, stuff inside with paper, wrap individually, then place in divided boxes.

Wine glasses need extra care: Wrap stems separately, then the bowl. Pack in specialised glass boxes with dividers or create compartments using cardboard.

Alternative Packing Materials: Use household items as protective padding. Towels work brilliantly for wrapping mirrors or artwork. Duvets and blankets protect furniture. Clean socks are perfect for delicate ornaments or small electronics.

Professional Tips: Tape an 'X' across glass surfaces using masking tape to prevent shattering. Take photos of cable connections before disconnecting electronics. Pack electronics in original boxes when possible. Remove batteries to prevent corrosion damage.

China and Porcelain: Use cell kits (dividers) for valuable china. For everyday crockery, nest similar items with paper between each piece. Pack cups handle-first to reduce stress points. Fill empty spaces to prevent movement.

How Many Boxes You Actually Need

Calculating the right number of boxes prevents last-minute panic and ensures adequate supplies without overspending.

Average Boxes by Property Size:

• Studio flat: 10-20 boxes
• 1-bedroom flat: 15-25 boxes
• 2-bedroom house: 25-40 boxes
• 3-bedroom house: 40-60 boxes
• 4-bedroom house: 60-80 boxes

These numbers vary based on how long you've lived there, the number of people living there, and your lifestyle. Book lovers and families typically need 25-50% more boxes than average estimates.

Box Type Recommendations:

• Small boxes (1.5 cubic feet): 20-30% of total - for books and heavy items
• Medium boxes (3 cubic feet): 50-60% of total - your main workhorse boxes
• Large boxes (4.5+ cubic feet): 15-20% of total - only for lightweight, bulky items

For detailed guidance on choosing the right boxes for your specific needs, consider the type and quantity of items you're moving.

Money-Saving Strategies: Contact local supermarkets and off-licences for free boxes. Banana boxes are exceptionally sturdy, and wine boxes work excellently for books. Check online marketplaces for discounted used moving boxes.

How to Pack a House Quickly: Last-Minute Moving Strategies

Sometimes life doesn't give you 8 weeks to pack - here's how to move quickly when time is short. These house packing tips will help you manage a last-minute move efficiently.

The 3-Day Packing Timeline:

Day 1: Focus on storage areas and non-essential items. Ask for help from family and friends. Pack everything except absolute essentials.

Day 2: Tackle main living areas, bedrooms (except daily clothes), and most of the kitchen. Use bin bags for soft items - they're faster than boxes. Keep one set of crockery per person.

Day 3: Pack remaining essentials, clean as you go, and prepare 'first day' boxes with cleaning supplies easily accessible.

Emergency Packing Hacks: Leave clothes on hangers in the wardrobe and cover with bin bags - movers can often transport furniture with lightweight contents intact. Use black bags for soft, non-fragile items as they're faster than boxes.

What to Prioritise: Essential documents, valuables, and medications should be packed first and travel with you. Focus protection on genuinely irreplaceable items rather than perfect wrapping. Use towels and bedding as padding instead of buying materials.

Survival Kit for Moving Day: Pack a clearly labelled moving essentials bag with toilet paper, basic toiletries, phone chargers, cleaning supplies, bin bags, basic tools, snacks, and medications. This moving essentials bag travels with you and gets unpacked first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long does it take to pack a 3-bedroom house?

A: A 3-bedroom house typically takes 3-5 days for two people working 6-8 hours daily. This assumes you're packing systematically with proper supplies. Factors like children, extensive collections, or storage areas can extend this timeline.

Q: Should I pack clothes in boxes or bags?

A: For most clothes, wardrobe boxes work best for hanging items as they prevent creasing and are easy to unpack. Folded clothes can go in large boxes or strong bin bags - bags are actually faster and take up less space in removal vans. Avoid overpacking bags as handles can break. For delicate items or suits, always use wardrobe bags to protect them from damage.

Q: Can I leave clothes in drawers when moving?

A: Yes, for lightweight clothing in sturdy furniture. Remove the drawers, wrap them in plastic sheeting or bin bags, and transport them separately from the furniture frame. This prevents damage to both clothes and furniture, and they can be reinserted into the frame in the van to save space in some cases. Avoid leaving heavy items like books or shoes in drawers, as this can damage the furniture and make lifting dangerous. Note that most flat-pack furniture is weaker and may not be able to handle full drawers.

Q: What should I pack in my essentials box?

A: Include toiletries, medications, phone chargers, basic tools (screwdrivers, hammer), cleaning supplies, snacks, drinks, toilet paper, bin bags, and important documents. Pack enough for 2-3 days, as you may not be able to locate other boxes immediately. Keep this box with you during the move rather than loading it on the van.

Q: How do I pack books without making boxes too heavy?

A: Use small boxes and limit the number of books to 20-25 per box to keep the total weight under 22kg. Mix books with lighter items, such as clothing or pillows, to fill the remaining space. Alternatively, use wheeled suitcases for books - they're designed for heavy loads and easier to move. Pack books spine-down to prevent damage to their pages.

Q: What's the fastest way to pack a house?

A: Create a packing checklist for moving and start 6-8 weeks early with storage areas. Pack room by room to maintain organisation, use all available containers, including suitcases and laundry baskets, and enlist help from friends and family. Professional packing services, though expensive, can pack an entire house in 1-2 days. Focus on protection for valuable items and speed for everything else.

Final Thoughts

Packing for a house move doesn't have to be overwhelming when you have the right strategy, timeline, and moving tips in place. Start early, stay organised, and remember that preparation is the key to a successful move.

Whether you're tackling the job yourself or need professional assistance from a moving company, the most important thing is to create a moving-in checklist that works for your timeline and budget. From protecting your most precious belongings to efficiently using every box, these proven packing tips for moving house will help ensure your possessions arrive safely at your new home.

Ready to make your move stress-free? Contact Find My Man and Van today for professional moving and packing services across the UK. Our experienced team can handle everything from delicate china to bulky furniture, giving you peace of mind during your house move.