Tips on How to Pack a Moving Box

Quality moving boxes will make packing your items faster and lessen the chance that items will get broken or damaged during a move. When choosing a box to place your belongings in, keep in mind that somebody will have to pick up the box once it is fully packed. How easy will the box be to transport? Will items get damaged? A good rule of thumb is that a filled box should not weigh more than about 30 pounds. Follow these helpful tips for packing your moving boxes and keep in mind, you can find a full range of moving supplies including boxes, bubble wrap, tape, and locks at all of our facilities.

Prepare Your Box

Before placing anything in your box, spread a layer of packing peanuts or crumpled newspaper or packing paper on the bottom of the box to add extra shock absorption for fragile or breakable items.

Keep Items Together

Group items of similar size and weight together in the same box. For example, books are heavy and should be packed in sturdy small boxes that are taped together with strong tape.

Use High-Quality Tape

Moving and storage tape is a thin, sturdy tape that is water-resistant and very sticky, which makes it ideal for cardboard boxes. Remember that you will need to secure the tops and the bottoms of all your boxes. A member of our storage team can help you determine how much tape you will need to purchase for your moving or decluttering project.

Purchase Specialty Boxes

Dish pack and glass pack kits are specialty boxes designed for moving fragile items. They come with cardboard dividers or foam pockets for easy packing. Wardrobe boxes are oversized boxes that come with a hanging bar so you can load items from your closet directly into the box. These boxes are suitable for curtains and draperies in addition to linens including comforters, pillows, and large stuffed animals.

Heavier Items on the Bottom

Place heavier items at the bottom of your box and lighter items at the top. Wrap the heaviest items with bubble wrap or packing paper and separate the lighter items with another layer of packing peanuts, foam, or crumpled paper. Before taping your box closed, fill in the empty spaces with crumpled paper or linens to prevent items from shifting while in transit.

The Role of Shrink Wrap

Professional movers use shrink wrap to keep furniture doors and drawers closed during transit. For added protection from scuffs and dings or if you are placing items into a storage unit, drape furniture with a moving blanket and then wrap with shrink wrap. Be sure to prepare your furniture before placing it in a storage unit and to remove shrink wrap if the plastic is in direct contact with furniture.

Furniture Covers

Mattress covers and sofa covers are designed for short-term protection of your furnishings. Do not leave sealed plastic covers in place for long-term storage to avoid moisture that can promote the growth of mold and mildew.

Packing Tips for Commonly Stored Items

When it comes to packing, some items may need more special care than others. Failure to properly wrap and pack your items for storage could lead to a lot of broken and damaged items when you start moving everything into storage. Here are the best packing tips we’ve come up with for the common items we’ve seen our customers pack:

Appliances: A refrigerator or freezer should be thoroughly dry and stored with its door slightly ajar. Some goods can be stored inside large appliances. Boxes can be stacked on top of stoves, refrigerators, and freezers. Make sure that stoves and cooking equipment are cleaned before they are stored.

Bicycles and other metal items: To protect against rust, wipe all metal surfaces with a rag containing a few drops of machine oil.

Books and documents: Pack books flat to protect their spines. Do not place boxes directly on concrete floors, instead use pallets or skids to prevent moisture absorption. Use packing such as newspapers to fill any empty pockets in the boxes. Keep these boxes exclusive to books, do not pack fragile items in the same container.

Bedding, clothing, curtains, drapes, and linens: Store curtains and drapes on hangers as well as certain clothing items such as bulky coats and easily wrinkled shirts and dresses. If hanging cartons are not available, fold and store these items in dresser drawers or cedar chests. Be sure to launder your items before storing to prevent any stains from setting or attracting pests while in storage.

Dishes and glassware: Place a layer of protection inside the bottom and top of boxes containing glassware. All glass items should be individually wrapped to prevent chipping or cracking should they collide in the box. Fill any open pockets with newspaper and stack these boxes at the top of your stack to prevent damage.

Furniture: Place a pallet, cardboard mat, or plastic sheet on the floor and stand sofas and mattresses on end. Disassemble beds and tables and wrap table legs in paper, linens, or towels. If you can’t take apart a table, place padding on the floor and the table on top with the legs pointing up. Use dresser tops for stacking cartons, and dresser drawers to hold linens or small, delicate items. If you’re storing chairs, stack them “seat to seat” or upside down on tables to save space. Avoid using plastic sheets to cover items as they can trap moisture and lead to mold and mildew. Instead, opt for a light, cotton dust cover such as a bedsheet to cover your furniture.

Holiday Decorations: Save the original cartons that contained delicate ornaments for easy, protective storage options. For ornaments without a carton, pad the box with packing paper or newsprint and individually wrap each decoration. Wrap strings of lights around a piece of cardboard before placing it in a carton lined with packing paper to avoid tangles.

Lamps: Wrap large lamps in padding and place small lamps in padded boxes. Pack delicate lampshades separately from the base. Use paper without print to avoid the risk of transferring ink to the fabric of the shades.

Mirrors, windows, and screens: Store these items on edges rather than flat.

Records and photographs: Records should be stored on edges to prevent warping that may occur when laid flat. When moving a record player, be sure to secure the tone arm and turntable to avoid damage.

Tools: Metal tools should be cleaned and wiped with a rag containing a few drops of machine oil to prevent rust. Long-handled tools such as rakes, shovels, and hoes should be cleaned, oiled, and tied in bundles.