The Complete Moving Supplies List You Didn’t Know You Needed
Make your moving day effortless by preparing you supplies
Is there anything more stressful than moving? All of those boxes. All of those memories packed into bins. Make moving easier by following this moving supplies list so you can gather your essential equipment and related supplies ahead of time, no matter if you handle the move yourself or if you hire a local moving service. Here are essential packing supplies to help your move run smoothly and efficiently.
1. Moving Boxes
It may seem obvious, but keep plenty of heavy-duty moving boxes on hand. Movers recommend 20 to 30 boxes for a studio or one-bedroom apartment, and up to 120 boxes for a four-bedroom house with a garage. Keep in mind that boxes are not a “one size fits all” affair. There are plenty of different-shaped boxes to suit almost any item in your home.
| Box Type | 2–3-Bedroom Home | 4-Bedroom Home |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 15–30 | 40–50 |
| Medium | 30–55 | 60–70 |
| Large | 6–12 | 15–20 |
| Wardrobe | 2–4 | 3–6 |
| Telescope | 0–6 | 0–10 |
| Flat-panel TV | 2–5 | 2–7 |
| Mattress | 2–4 | 2–6 |
| Dishware/Glassware | 4–10 | 5–15 |
| Lamp | 5–10 | 7–15 |
Here are some of the most useful box types:
Small, Medium, and Large Boxes
These are the standard moving boxes that are available in different sizes to fit various items throughout your home.
Wardrobe Boxes
These tall and thin boxes come with integrated metal bars, making them a must-have for transporting delicate clothing items like suits and dresses.
Telescope Boxes
Telescope boxes come with a detachable top and bottom piece that fit together to offer a snug and secure fit.
Flat-panel TV Boxes
A dedicated flat-panel TV box is also a great choice for packing a TV for moving to avoid damage during transit.
Mattress Boxes
These boxes are designed to protect a mattress during transit, going beyond a standard mattress bag. It sure beats tying the bed to the top of your car.
Dishes and Glassware Boxes
These boxes come with built-in dividers that can house plenty of dishes and glassware pieces at the same time.
Lamp Boxes
Lamps and other lighting fixtures are notoriously delicate. Keep these fragile items safe during the move by investing in tall and narrow lamp boxes that fit lamps to a tee.
2. Packing Tape
Now it’s time to close up your boxes and containers. Choose a reliable and sticky tape for this job, such as packing tape or shipping tape. Duct tape is a good choice for reinforcing heavier-than-average boxes.
For the best results, stick to tape brands you trust, and buy in bulk. You’ll always need more tape than you originally anticipated. Invest in a tape dispenser or a tape gun to save time while packing. The latter allows for straight seams, which makes short work out of opening up boxes post-move.
3. Painter’s Tape
Painter’s tape is a handy tool to use when you need to attach items without any leftover gunk or damage. It also works well for keeping furniture drawers closed, labeling items, and securing nuts, bolts, and screws to their original pieces for easy retrieval during unpacking.
4. Labeling Materials
Moving creates a new level of fatigue and tiredness, especially if you move across the country. Start the unpacking process early by clearly labeling all of your boxes, bags, and containers.
Everyone has their own labeling method, with some people preferring permanent markers to write directly on the box and others using color-coded stickers to indicate type and location. Regardless of your chosen method, be consistent and label multiple sides of the box.
5. Stretch Wrap
It’s easy to forget about stretch wrap when it comes time to move, but it serves a crucial purpose. This film is industrial-grade and, therefore, extremely durable. It takes a lot to tear this stuff, so use it to keep drawers closed on dressers and nightstands instead of removing every drawer as you pack. Stretch wrap can also protect delicate pieces of wood furniture from scratches and related surface damage.
6. Plastic Bags
Plastic bags are great for transporting small, precious items like jewelry. Also, if you disassemble furniture, you’ll need to place all the screws, washers, and bolts in a plastic baggie to ensure everything stays together during the move—make sure to label each bag properly and keep them in a safe place.
7. Packing Paper, Cushioning, and Insulation
Before sealing up those moving boxes, ensure everything is properly cushioned and insulated. The future version of you who unpacks all of these boxes will thank you. Here are some of the best choices for keeping your objects safe during the move:
Packing paper, Newspaper or unprinted news wrapping paper: This option is by far the most frugal cushioning choice. Use pieces of newspaper to wrap your belongings before packing. Worried about ink rubbing onto your belongings? Invest in some unprinted news wrapping paper. It’s the same stuff but without the, you know, news.
Bubble wrap: The iconic bubble wrap is perfect for protecting oddly-shaped breakables. Bubble wrap is also useful for filling in voids within moving boxes.
Foam wrap sheets: These protective sheets are great for plates, picture frames, and other stackable items. Additionally, extra-large foam wrap sheets are great for wrapping TVs and computer monitors.
Towels and linens: Save money by putting some old towels and linens to work. Towels, linens, and even certain items of clothing make great protection in a pinch.
8. Tool Set
You may not plan on disassembling any large furniture items to squeeze them into the moving truck or through the doorway of your new home, but reality scoffs in the face of plans. Keep a high-quality tool set on-hand to disassemble and later reassemble any large appliances. At the very least, purchase a screwdriver and a wrench with various heads. A tape measure is also useful to keep track of doorway sizes, appliance sizes, stairwells, and more.
9. Pen and Paper
It’s crucial to have a full moving inventory sheet that includes every box that you pack. So, grab a pen and paper, make sure each box is labeled sequentially–starting from one, and write down all the contents in each box.
After you move, you can count each box and line it up with your inventory sheet to ensure nothing is missing. Having an inventory list will also be helpful during the unpacking process so you know which boxes to unpack first.
10. Heavy-Duty Trash Bags and Plastic Bags
You are likely moving many things that you’ll need as soon as you reach your destination, such as toothbrushes, electronic gadgets, and clothing. Heavy-duty trash bags are handy for transporting hanging clothes and work in a pinch when you run out of boxes.
Plus, moving creates a ton of clutter, and trash bags are useful when performing a last-minute clean-up. As for small plastic bags, they are great for protecting jewelry, smartphones, and items with sentimental value during transit.
11. Scissors
You’ll need a strong pair of scissors on hand during moving day. Scissors are great for cutting tape, bubble wrap, and packing paper. They’re also great for re-opening boxes (when you realize you forgot to add an item to an already sealed box).
12. Padlock or Disc Lock
If you are moving on your own with a rented moving truck, protect your belongings with a heavy-duty padlock. This padlock, after all, is the first and last line of defense for your valuables when you spend time away from the truck. For surefire protection, use a durable disc lock, which is nearly impossible to pick using shims and other popular lock-picking tools.
13. Ramp
If you use a friend’s van or truck instead of hiring a moving company near you or renting a moving van, you should rent a loading ramp to safely move your belongings and heavy objects. You can rent a ramp and other moving day supplies at a local home improvement retailer.
14. Furniture Blankets and Pads
Furniture blankets (also known as moving blankets), covers, and pads don’t offer much by way of cushioning, but they help keep your large furniture items clean during the move. They also decrease the chances of the pieces of furniture bumping into something, causing a scuff or a scratch—which works great for protecting your floors when moving. Furniture pads are also great for finicky items like bookshelves and armoires.
15. Dollies and Hand Trucks
Your boxes, furniture, and appliances are heavy and have to get inside the moving truck somehow. Luckily, dollies and hand trucks were made for this exact purpose. These two- or four-wheeled tools can transport almost anything you throw at it, though we recommend renting instead of buying to save money. If you are moving into a multi-story walkup, consider using wearable moving straps instead of a dolly or hand truck. These straps are a better fit for tight spaces, such as stairways.
16. Rope and Cargo Straps
You can use cargo straps, ropes, and other tie-downs when the truck is moving and to protect your valuables as you complete the loading process. Quality cargo straps allow you to secure items to the side of the truck and one another, minimizing sliding and tilting during transit. Choose heavy-duty straps or ropes thick enough to secure the largest of items without breaking. Check in on these straps at regular intervals throughout the trip, retying if necessary.
17. Cleaning Supplies
Prepare a full range of cleaning supplies to tidy up your space upon leaving, especially if you rent and want your security deposit back. You could also hire a move-out cleaning service, which costs between $200 and $500. Plus, you never know what kind of mess awaits you at your new home.
Pick whatever supplies you prefer, but we recommend:
Broom
Dustpan
Portable vacuum
Sponges
Paper towels
Mop
Bucket
Gloves
Multi-purpose and glass cleaners.
We recommend keeping all basic cleaning supplies with you during the move—this way, you can quickly start wiping surfaces in your new home before putting away dishes, towels, linens, and other essential items.
18. Box Cutter
Box cutters are a quick and efficient way to open sealed boxes and break down used boxes after the move. Keep them on hand to use through your moving weekend, but be sure to store them safely and keep them out of children’s hands to reduce risk of injury.
19. First-Aid Kit
With all of the unpacking going on, you could end up with a cut or other small injury. Keep a first-aid kit handy to quickly and efficiently treat an open wound. Be sure to let your professional movers know that you have a first-aid kit so they know who to ask in case of an accident.
20. Disposable Kitchenwares
Buy paper plates, cups, and plastic utensils so you don’t need to worry about doing the dishes while unpacking. This additional set of supplies will come in handy during your first meal in your new home, especially if the moving truck is delayed and you’re separated from your dishes and glassware.
21. Pet Food
You don’t want to search through tons of boxes for your furry friend's food. So, set aside a few days' worth of food to make unpacking easier. If your pet takes any daily medications or supplements, be sure to pack those in the same protected bags as their food.
22. Medication
Besides packing your necessary, daily medications separately, you’ll also want to keep pain relief medicines nearby as unpacking can be stressful on the body. Keep additional headache and pain relief medicines in your first-aid kit for easy access.
23. Toiletries
Make toilet paper, hand soap, toothpaste, and other personal care items readily available so you can focus on unpacking the most important boxes first. That way, you aren’t digging through moving boxes to find your essential daily care items.
Elisa Greenberg contributed to this article.