When it comes to packing for your home move, pack the things that you rarely use first: storage rooms, guest rooms, seasonal items, and home décor like wall art and ornaments.
The last things to be packed should be essential items that you use every day.
About 4–6 weeks before moving day, start packing from the least-used to most-used rooms of your home.
Here is our step-by-step guide for packing in a logical sequence for moving.
Which Rooms to Pack First
You must have a packing strategy, or you will end up reopening boxes trying to find things you need before you move. Pack in this order:
Room Order:
- Garage /packing-tips/pack-garage-for-moving/
- Basement
- Attic
- Storage closets /packing-tips/pack-a-closet-for-moving/
- Guest room
- Dining room
- Living room
- Kitchen /packing-tips/pack-kitchen-for-a-move/
- Children’s rooms /packing-tips/how-to-pack-a-kids-room-for-moving/
- Main bedroom /packing-tips/pack-a-bedroom-for-moving/
- Bathroom /packing-tips/pack-bathroom-items-for-moving/
6-Week Packing Timeline
Packing is always more time-consuming than you think, so the ideal time to start is about 6 weeks before moving day.
6 Weeks Before Moving
- Declutter storage areas
- Sell/donate unused items
- Order packing supplies
- Start packing the attic, basement, and garage
4 Weeks Before Moving
- Pack décor and collectibles
- Pack books, media, and hobby supplies
- Pack off-season clothing
- Disassemble rarely used furniture
2 Weeks Before Moving
- Pack guest rooms
- Pack most kitchen items
- Pack office supplies
- Confirm mover details
1 Week Before Moving
- Pack most of the bedroom
- Prepare appliances
- Separate valuables
- Prepare your moving day essentials box
Moving Day
- Pack bedding
- Pack toiletries
- Load essentials last
You may also like to read: Packing Mistakes to Avoid. In this guide, we look at the most common packing mistakes and how you can avoid them.
What to Pack First
1. Storage Areas
Start with storage areas first because you rarely need those items before moving day.
Pack:
- Old décor
- Tools (but keep back some basic tools for furniture dismantling)
- Seasonal items
- Archived paperwork (never pack things like driver’s license or passports as they may get lost. Ensure irreplaceable paperwork goes in your essentials box)
- Sports equipment
Do NOT pack:
Under federal safety regulations, for health and safety reasons, there are some items that movers cannot transport. These should be disposed of in accordance with local regulations before moving day. Prohibited items include:
- Paint
- Propane tanks
- Fuel
- Chemicals
- Car batteries
Be sure to read the guidance issued by the FMCSA regarding your rights and responsibilities when moving home.
2. Non-Essential Items
These are the items that you are unlikely to need in the run-up to moving day:
Examples:
- Holiday decorations
- Fine china
- Extra linens
- Extra towels
- Collectibles
- Electronics
- DVDs and games
- Rarely used kitchen gadgets
3. Off-Season Clothing
Pack clothing you won’t wear before moving:
- Winter coats (if a summer move)
- Swimwear (if a winter move)
- Formalwear
- Spare shoes
Keep one or two weeks of clothing aside.
4. Books & Heavy Items
Books are heavy and time-consuming to pack.
- Use small boxes
- Don’t overload
- Reinforce the bottoms with packing tape
Professional movers recommend keeping boxes under 50 lbs for health and safety reasons.
You may also like to read: How to Declutter for a Home Move. In this guide, we explain how to declutter each room of your home for a cheaper and easier home move.
What NOT to Pack First
Don’t pack things that you will need before moving day, such as:
- Daily cookware
- Coffee maker
- Work equipment
- Chargers
- Medications
- Bedding
- Toiletries
The Moving Day Essentials Box
Pack one clearly labeled box or suitcase per family member.
Include:
- 2–3 outfits
- Toiletries
- Medications
- Chargers
- Important documents
- Snacks
- Basic tools
- Toilet paper
- Paper towels
- Bedsheets
Keep this with you; never allow this box to be loaded on the moving truck.
Packing Supplies Checklist
You’ll need:
- Small, medium, large boxes
- Wardrobe boxes
- Packing paper
- Bubble wrap
- Heavy-duty tape
- Permanent markers
- Stretch wrap
- Furniture blankets
Always get more supplies than you think you’ll need.
How Long Does Packing Take?
Most people badly underestimate how long it takes to pack. At a minimum, you will need this long to pack your home:
| Home Size | DIY Packing Time |
| Studio | 1–2 days |
| 1–2 bedroom | 3–5 days |
| 3–4 bedroom | 5–8 days |
| 5+ bedroom | 1–2 weeks |
The formula that the big national movers such as Bekins use is given in the example of packing a 3-bedroom home below:
- 3 bedrooms x 10 hours each = 30 hours
- Plus 10 hours for kitchen and living areas = 40 hours
- Plus 10 hours for decluttering = 50 total hours
Should You Hire Professional Packers?
Important: Most insurance will not cover items that you have packed yourself. So if you have high-value items, always leave packing to the pros.
Professional packers are worth their weight in gold. They can:
- Reduce damage risk
- Save time
- Provide insurance coverage
- Handle fragile items
Packing is probably the worst part of moving home; It is time-consuming, you end up living amongst piles of boxes for weeks on end, and packing costs often far exceed what you budgeted for.
With professional packers, you get the optimum protection for your items; they will be covered by insurance, they will pack everything in just a day or two, and you know exactly what the packing costs will be.
The cost-effective option is to pack the non-fragile things yourself and get the professionals in to pack the high-value items.
Biggest Packing Mistakes to Avoid
- Starting too late
- Packing without decluttering
- Mixing rooms in boxes
- Forgetting to label clearly
- Overfilling large boxes
- Packing important paperwork and valuables into the truck
- Not preparing a moving day essentials box
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I pack first when moving?
Start with storage areas and non-essential items you won’t need for several weeks.
What room takes the longest to pack?
The kitchen usually takes the longest due to fragile items and the amount of stuff in there.
When should I start packing?
Begin 4–6 weeks before moving day for a standard home.
Should I pack clothes or the kitchen first?
Pack off-season clothes first. Leave daily kitchen items for the final week.
What kind of paper do I use for packing?
People often think a do-it-yourself move is cheaper, but they forget all the work that’s involved. It is still best to hire a professional to ensure a smooth moving process. Talk to friends who’ve moved themselves and to movers to get the full picture before you decide.
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Hello,
That’s great I was unknown about the moving app thanks for the information. And thanks for making it clear for me to choose from kitchen and living room.
Hi,
Thanks for sharing a valuable information while moving to other place and also hiring a professional mover to be a hassle free move.
By following these guidelines we can easily pack our instrument. for packing and moving we can also hire a moving company that is a nice idea. Keep sharing this type of article.
I love the article! great advice. I cannot stress the importance of preparation prior to a move. Organizing your items will make the transition more seamless. Dividing your items between essential and nonessential is useful because you will know what needs to be with you immediately upon moving.
Thanks for this valuable information. It is always necessary to hire professional movers when moving to other places.
Thanks for sharing information !
Impressive
Thanks for sharing a valuable information. while moving to other place and also hiring a professional mover to be a hassle free move.
Amazing packing tips….very helpful in making a stress-free packing and moving house with entire stuff. Thank you for sharing with us.
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Thanks for all infos!