Tips for Packing for a Move

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These tips for packing for a move come from my very recent experience — I (and my teenager) have only been in the new place for two months. After my divorce (see my advice on what to do when you file) was finalized in January 2026, and my ex-husband moved out of the home we'd shared for 18 years, I starting preparing to move, too.

I knew this move would be a lot (partly due to the emotional aspect), but it ended up being more work and more stressful than I expected. The last time I moved as a single person, which was for my first “real” job, I didn't have a ton to bring because I hadn't accumulated much yet. (IKEA definitely came in handy for that first apartment!)

That's why I wasn't prepared for the amount of packing I'd have to do this time around. (Fortunately, my mother, who is retired and only lives 10 minutes away from the house we left, did a lot of packing this time for me (huge thanks, Mom!).

Most of us hate moving, and packing can seem never-ending as it eats up most of your free time (ALL of it, by the end). Through my exhausting experience, though, I've come away with lots of packing tips to share.

Tips for Packing and Unpacking When You Move

Start Early — No, Earlier

I cannot emphasize this enough. Start EARLY to save yourself some stress (and panic, chaos, and so on). When you're already busy with work, family, and more (and especially if you're a procrastinator like I am), it's easy to keep telling yourself you have PLENTY of time left. Personally, I should have started packing and decluttering much, much earlier.

The drawback is having to be surrounded by boxes of your stuff for even longer, but if it's feasible, it's worth it. We moved out of a single-family home, but if you have an apartment or other small living space and don't have much room for piles of boxes, just remember that you'll eventually end up living with the same number of them anyway. Plus, you'll improve your Tetris skills!

Disclaimer: I was pretty lucky — I got the keys to our rental a few weeks before moving day, and we didn't put our house on the market until after we moved, so we didn't need to do everything in a single day.

{related: what is your best decluttering advice?}

Get Rid of As Much Stuff As You Can

You know those people who say, long after moving, “Yeah, we still have boxes we haven't even unpacked!” — and they don't even remember what's inside? Don't be them. Be ruthless about getting rid of things you don't need.

I'm in my town's “community giving” Facebook group, and even though I've been getting rid of TONS of stuff through there over the years, plus donating to Goodwill, etc., I never realized how much I could still get rid of. As I was packing, I gave away, donated, and sold (FB Marketplace ftw!) MANY items, but even post-move, I found even more that either wouldn't fit in our new place, a townhouse, or were just unnecessary. (Who needs that many lamps?!) So, I've continued!

Be strict when you ask yourself, “When's the last time I used this? Will I ever use it again?” My three handy questions for purging belongings are: “Do I really need this?”, “Is this sentimental?” (take a photo before ditching it!), and “Could someone else use this?”” Also helpful are: “Could I buy one of these again in the future, or borrow one?” Alternately, try the “poop rule” (ew).

{related: decluttering, selling, donating, Kondoing, and more}

Choose Your Labeling Strategy

If you're hiring a moving company, like I did ($1,700, ouch, but worth it), ask how they prefer you label boxes, as well as the maximum weight of each.

Instead of labeling boxes “dining room,” “living room,” etc., I used tape for color-coding. I made three cardboard signs that showed the color key: one to refer to during packing, and two to post for the movers at the new place. Next to each room name, I stuck a piece of the coordinating color of tape.

I used duct tape and masking tape (also called artists' tape) for color-coding — and for speed's sake, I tore instead of cut it. I placed a tape piece on each side of the box, plus the top. FYI, Michaels has a large selection of tape colors, and if you do need scissors, nonstick ones are perfect for cutting tape! I also bought this roll of 500 (!) “fragile” stickers and later passed on the excess.

On each box, I used a wrote the general contents with a black marker (“mugs,” “tote bags,” etc.), and even though it takes longer, it's ideal to write this not just on the top flaps, but every side. (I ran out of time for this, d'oh!) When boxes are piled up in your new place, it's a pain to search for certain items when you can't see the tops. When I had to hurriedly throw unrelated stuff together in boxes (again, ran out of time), making it tough to summarize, I wrote each lengthy list on a post-it on the top and taped over it with packing tape.

{related: what to consider if you're thinking of moving to the suburbs}

Buy More Supplies Than You Think You Need

It's a giant pain to be in the packing groove and suddenly run out of packing paper, boxes, or tape, or have your last Sharpie dry out (ask me how I know). Gather a lot more supplies than you expect to need — you can get much of it for free, and you can always pass it on later to a grateful person.

Here are the best things to have on hand:

• open-top plastic crates/baskets: These are great for transporting stuff in your car, but clearly not ideal for the moving truck.
  
• large plastic totes with lids: These are nice for sheets, blankets, towels, etc., because they keep things clean, and the totes won't get too heavy. Clear sides are always helpful in general.
  
• LOTS o' moving boxes: Trust me, get FAR more than you need, if you have the space to store them. I ran out at least a few times and had to get more, which was annoying. Check your local free groups, FB Marketplace (some boxes are free, some aren't), and of course, every mover's friend, the liquor store.
  
• packing materials like packing paper, newspaper, and bubble wrap. Rags, towels, clothes, and cloth napkins can do double duty. Again, check Facebook if you're on it — I don't think I had to pay for any packing stuff. (Packing peanuts, even the eco-friendly kind, make a big mess and aren't really worth it.)
  
• misc. supplies like bungee cords, binder clips, zip ties, post-it notes, a pad of paper, plastic wrap or foil for certain kitchen items), giant tote bags (like IKEA bags), and large trash bags, especially for moving clothes.

{related: buying a home: tips and tricks}

Make a Packing Kit

I really don't want to know how many hours I wasted looking for things I “lost” somewhere in the house: tape, scissors, pens, markers, my phone, etc. It was so frustrating! Too late, I realized that a portable “packing kit,” though kinda dorky (I mean, who's watching, anyway?) would have been hugely helpful, especially when I was wearing clothes without pockets. (I did a lot of packing in pajamas!)

So, to avoid wasting time like I did, consider wearing a fanny pack / waist pack containing all the small essentials. Has anyone done this? Do tell.

{related: the Type A guide to moving (our best moving tips!)}

Readers, what are your best packing tips for a move? Do you typically hire professionals? What are your favorite ways to get rid of things pre-move?