How to Pack Boxes for Moving

A big part of moving is getting your belongings packed into moving boxes. But there's a right way to pack your moving boxes and a wrong way. Knowing the difference is a big part of staying organized and keeping your items in good condition during your move. So, before you casually toss your stuff into your boxes, here’s how to effectively pack boxes for your next move.

Not sure where to start?
 

Use our Moving Supplies Calculator to determine your moving supply needs. Or, kick-start the process with one of our Bedroom Kits – designed to include everything you need!

Assemble Your Moving Boxes

If you bought new boxes, assemble them first. Start by unfolding your flat box until it’s in a cube shape. Starting on the bottom, fold the small flaps into the center, then fold the larger flaps on top of those. Apply a strip or two of packing tape where the flaps meet in the center to close the box.

How to Pack Boxes for Moving

  1. Group items of similar size and weight (and try not to mix belongings from different rooms of your home).
  2. Pour a layer of packing peanuts into the bottom of the box.
  3. Wrap the heaviest items first using bubble wrap or packing paper, then place them in the bottom of the box.
  4. Wrap lighter items with bubble wrap or packing paper. Separate them from items in the bottom of the box with cushion foam.
  5. Before closing your box, cushion the entire package. Stuff packing peanuts or crumpled packing paper firmly into unfilled spaces to prevent shifting and damage to your goods.
  6. Before closing your box, cushion the entire package. Stuff packing peanuts or crumpled packing paper firmly in unfilled spaces to prevent shifting or damage to your goods.
  7. Your filled box should not weigh more than about 30 pounds nor more than what you can lift easily. Over-packed boxes can break open and cause damage to your belongings, but even under-packed boxes may collapse in transit.
  8. Close the box and seal it with paper box tape.
  9. Label the box with its contents and destination room. Level up your organization by using the My Belongings Organizer to keep track of what’s in your boxes.
Pro tip:
 

You can save money on boxes when you buy them in bulk. You can return unused boxes to any U-Haul location with a receipt to receive a full refund.

How to Pack Clothes in Wardrobe Boxes

If you’re moving your entire household, you’ll need a lot of wardrobe boxes. This box type includes a metal hanging bar for quickly transferring clothes from the closet to the box in a flash. It's also great for winter clothes storage.

Packing this box is simple. After assembling the box, place small items like shoes, belts, and other accessories in the empty space at the bottom.

Then, set the metal bar in the pre-made inserts. Once the bar is in place, start hanging your clothes. Most bars will hold close to 100 lbs. of clothes depending on the size of the box.

U-Haul offers a variety of different wardrobe box sizes, including:

How to Pack a TV Using a TV Moving Box

One of the most beloved items in your house is your television. We know you made quite the investment to get the best game day and movie night picture. Be sure to protect it on the way to your new home! We recommend using U-Haul TV moving boxes for best protection.

To start packing your TV, remove any stands so that it can fit properly in the box. After removing the stands, put the flat screen cover over your TV. Flatten out the cover as much as possible to avoid it snagging on the box. Your moving kit includes four foam protection pieces that you can adjust for your TV size – place them over each corner.

Wrap the TV and foam blocks with Mover's Wrap to secure the foam protection pieces in place. Your TV is now ready to slide into the box. If there is any additional space, you can fill it with a furniture pad to prevent shifting. If you need any more help packing your television, we’ve created a video explaining the packing process below:

How to Pack a Mirror / Picture for Moving

Fragile items like mirrors and artwork also require extra protection. Luckily, these objects also have their own specialty box. You can pack up pictures, mirrors, paintings, and other framed items for effective protection in just five simple steps.

1. Gather Your Picture Packing Supplies

Recommended Moving Supplies for Packing Mirrors and Pictures:

2. Prep Your Mirror/Picture - Tape over sharp hanging brackets and loose mounting wires. If your item has a glass cover, place an 'X' over the glass using tape.

3. Attach the Foam Corner Protectors - With your mirror/picture lying flat, place a corner protector on each corner.

4. Wrap in Bubble Wrap - Slide the mirror/picture into the box. Add crumbled newspaper or extra sheets of Enviro-Bubble® to the gaps to prevent your item from shifting (if necessary).

5. Pack Your Mirror/Picture in the Mirror Box - Slide the mirror/picture into the box. If there is a lot of empty space, add crumbled newspaper or extra sheets of Enviro-Bubble® to the gaps to prevent your item from shifting.

How to Pack Dishes for Moving

Need to keep those dishes safe? We can guide you through that, too.

Start your dish packing experience with a Dish Saver Kit and Glass Pack Kit. We designed these kits to safely hold dishes and glasses. Each comes with a cell divider and foam poaches for extra protection. Review our guide to see more useful tips on packing dishes for moving.

The cell divider is perfect for packing glass drinkware and plates. Wrap the individual items in foam pouches and place them in a cell so they won't collide. Adding a layer of packing paper between sets of plates can also add protection.

Stack Moving Boxes to Fit Snugly in Your Moving Truck

In addition to packing your moving boxes correctly, we recommend being mindful of how you load them into your moving truck. There are many important things to remember when packing a moving truck, like how you stack your moving boxes.

U-Haul makes transporting moving boxes easy. We've specifically designing boxes to stack and fill out a truck perfectly, leaving no wasted space. Save time, space, and money during your move by using the moving boxes designed for easy stacking and organization.

How It Works

If you remove the cushions from your couch and stand it on its side inside your moving truck, you will create an empty space about 3' wide x 2' deep x 4' high. A stack of seven or more moving boxes can easily fit in that space. View the illustration below to get an idea of how you can stack U-Haul boxes in compact spaces. This is just another way that U-Haul makes packing easier™.

An illustration showing how moving boxes can be stacked in a couch turned on its side.

Packing can be an effortless endeavor when you have the know-how and the correct boxes, which can be found online or at your local U-Haul. Order your moving and packing supplies today and choose from same-day delivery or free in-store pickup from a U-Haul store near you.

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