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[ Moving guide ]

How to pack boxes for moving.

Packing a box well is not really about the tape. Most of the pain in a move lands on the other end: the boxes you cannot tell apart and the thing you know you packed but cannot find. These ten habits fix that, whether you track it on paper or in an app.

  1. 01

    Number every box, not just the room

    Writing “Kitchen” on eight boxes tells you nothing when you’re looking for the one with the kettle. Give each box a number (or a short name) so it’s a specific thing you can point to, and note the room separately.

  2. 02

    Keep a list of what’s in each box

    This is the habit that saves the unpack. If you know box 12 holds the kettle, you open box 12, not the other seven. A running list beats memory every time, especially a week later.

  3. 03

    Pack one room at a time

    Finish a room before you start the next. Boxes stay themed, the list stays clean, and unpacking follows the same order in reverse.

  4. 04

    Pack a first-night box

    One box you can find instantly with the things you’ll need before you unpack anything: chargers, toiletries, a change of clothes, the kettle and two mugs, medication, phone chargers. Load it last so it comes off first.

  5. 05

    Heavy things in small boxes

    Books and tools in a big box means a box no one can lift and a bottom that gives out. Keep heavy items in small boxes and light, bulky things in big ones.

  6. 06

    Mark fragile and which way is up

    A clear “Fragile” and an up-arrow on the actual box does more than a mental note. Pad the gaps so nothing shifts in the truck.

  7. 07

    Photograph the tricky setups

    Before you unplug the TV or the desk, take a photo of the cables. Future you, staring at a bag of identical black cords, will be grateful.

  8. 08

    Keep the essentials off the truck

    Documents, keys, jewellery, medication, and anything irreplaceable travel with you, not in the load. If it can’t be replaced, it doesn’t go in a box.

  9. 09

    Fill every box to the top

    Half-empty boxes crush when stacked. Fill gaps with towels, linen, or paper so the box holds its shape and its contents don’t rattle.

  10. 10

    Update the list as you pack

    Write it down as the item goes in, not from memory afterwards. The list is only as good as the moment you last told the truth to it.

Read next

Tips one, two, and ten, done for you.

Numbering boxes, keeping a list of what’s inside, and updating it as you pack is exactly what BoxLister is for. Add an item to a box and later just search it: the box and room come straight back, even offline.

Try it free, five boxes