Short answer: to pack for a house move in the UK, start about four weeks ahead, pack the things you will not need first, work room by room, label every box by its destination room, and keep a first night box of essentials. If time or strength is short, a packing service can do it for you.
What you need
- Strong boxes in a few sizes, with small boxes for heavy items such as books.
- Packing paper or bubble wrap for fragile items.
- Parcel tape, marker pens and labels.
- Bags or wardrobe boxes for clothes on hangers.
- Dust sheets or blankets for furniture, if you are moving it yourself.
When to start
Begin about four weeks before moving day with things you will not miss: out-of-season clothes, books, decorations, spare kitchenware and anything in the loft or garage. Our UK house moving checklist sets out the full timeline.
Room by room
Kitchen. Pack last among the main rooms, because you will use it until the end. Wrap plates on their edge and glasses individually, and keep a few items out for the final days.
Living room. Pack books in small boxes so they stay liftable. Wrap ornaments and frames, and protect the screen of a TV if you have the original box.
Bedrooms. Use wardrobe boxes or bags for hanging clothes, and keep bedding for the first night box. Take drawers' contents out only if your removals firm asks you to.
Bathroom. Pack toiletries in sealed bags to prevent leaks, and keep what you need for the first morning separate.
Loft, garage and shed. These take longer than you expect. Sort as you pack, and check with your removals company before packing tools with fuel or anything flammable.
Label everything
Write the destination room on the top and side of every box, and number them. A short note of what is inside helps when you unpack. Mark fragile boxes clearly.
The first night box
Pack a box you will open first: kettle, mugs, tea and coffee, chargers, medication, toiletries, a change of clothes, bedding, basic tools and important documents. Keep it with you, not in the van.
What removals firms cannot carry
Most firms will not take hazardous items such as paint, aerosols, gas bottles, flammable liquids or chemicals, and they may not carry plants or perishable food. Ask your removals company for its list well before moving day.
When to get help with packing
Packing a whole home is tiring, and it can be hard if you are short of time, live far from the new home or find lifting difficult. A packing service takes the work on and labels boxes by room. See our packing service for house moves, or our guide to what a full-service removals company does. If you are downsizing, sort before you pack with our downsizing checklist.
Where Chayce fits
Chayce provides packing, a fully insured removal and settling-in support across the UK, with one coordinator for the whole move. Packing is included from Bronze Essentials at £995. Our service is designed with older people in mind and is open to anyone. A Discovery Consultation, £150, gives you a plan, timeline and budget. To talk it over, get in touch.
