The Recommended Moving Supplies List From America’s #1 Mover®

Now that you’ve closed on your new home and have a quote — and date — in hand, it’s time to assemble the things you’ll need for your upcoming move. It may sound overwhelming, but don’t feel intimidated. The professional movers at United Van Lines are here to help you have a hassle-free move experience.  

A packing plan and the right moving supplies are must-haves. Below is a comprehensive list of the items we recommend if you are self-packing. However, if you don’t have the time or energy to pack, keep in mind that United offers both complete and partial packing services for your move.  

Our comprehensive packing supply checklist has answers to all the most common packing questions. Use it to start packing for your upcoming move today.  

Where Can I Find Moving Supplies?  

You can get free boxes easily and quickly from a supermarket, bookstore or online resources like the Freecycle network. Check out office supply and hardware stores, and online shipping supply companies. You can buy packing tape and packing paper from local supply stores or moving companies. Just be sure the packing paper is ink-free, so nothing rubs off onto your belongings. You can save money by using clothes or linens to cushion your items. And if you’re using a full-service mover like United, they will provide the supplies they need like moving blankets, mattress bags and similar padding materials.  

How Many Moving Boxes Will I Need?

Every household is different, so there’s no exact formula when it comes to deciding the number of boxes you’ll need to prepare for your move. That said, it’s better to overestimate. Keep in mind that — for most people — packing comes down to the wire. You don’t want to have to make a last-minute “box run.”  

Here’s a good baseline: A typical three-bedroom house will require anywhere from 70-150 boxes for a move, depending on your personal packing style and how full your rooms are. Before you go “box shopping,” take a look at six factors that will help you determine the number of boxes you’ll need for your move:  

1. Number of rooms in your home  
The more rooms you have in your home, the more items you will likely need to pack. Pro tip: The number of bedrooms in your home is typically what online moving calculators use for a ballpark estimate.  

2. How long you’ve lived there  
If you’ve lived in your home for 20+ years versus two, you will have accumulated more items, which means more boxes. This might be an excellent time to consider decluttering — see #6.  

3. Number of people  
Again, it’s all about the numbers: The more people living under one roof, the more personal belongings you’ll need to pack.  

4. Square footage  
Consider the amount of space in your home. A three-bedroom apartment probably contains fewer items than the typical three-bedroom house.

5. Your lifestyle  
No judgments here, but the number of moving boxes you’ll need depends on which lifestyle you fall under:  

• Collector: Will you find it hard to part with your dried corsage from Junior Prom? You’ll want plenty of boxes.  
• Modest: Are you modest when it comes to acquiring personal and household belongings? You’ll need the average number of boxes mentioned above. 
• Minimalist: Do you have few material possessions? You’ll probably need fewer boxes than average. 

6. Change of lifestyle  
You can switch from a collector to a minimalist by having a pre-move garage sale or purging items that you no longer use, especially if you’re downsizing to a smaller residence. Decluttering before you move also means fewer cardboard boxes to pack and buy!  

What Types of Moving Boxes Will I Need?  

Getting the right boxes for your upcoming move makes all the difference in how well your belongings will be packed. Here’s a rundown: 

Small Moving Boxes

Small boxes are ideal for heavy items like books as well as fragile items (e.g., collectibles) that must be packed by themselves. Small boxes are also perfect for items like kitchenware and pantry goods.  

Medium Moving Boxes

The most used size, medium moving boxes are ideal for small appliances and are often used with dish pack and glass pack inserts for glassware.  

Dish Pack Kit  

Dish pack kits are compartmentalized to accommodate dinner plates, salad plates, saucers and bowls. Many include cardboard dividers or foam padding to enclose and isolate each piece.  

Glass Pack Kit 

Glass pack kits are designed with compartments to hold glassware, crystal and stemware securely. Most kits feature cardboard dividers or foam padding to separate and protect each item. 

Large Moving Boxes

Large boxes are ideal for lightweight and medium-weight goods like lampshades, throw pillows and clothing.  

X-Large Moving Boxes

X-Large boxes work best for bulky yet lightweight soft goods like comforters, blankets, clothing and pillows.  

Wardrobe Boxes – A wardrobe box has a hanger bar which lets you transfer shirts, blouses and suits directly from the closet without folding them.   

Electronics Boxes  

Electronics boxes are specially sized for home entertainment devices such as streaming media players, surround sound stereos and gaming systems.  

Heavy-Duty Boxes

Heavy-duty boxes have thick walls and are ideal for packing larger electronics, book collections and dishes.  

What Kinds of Tape Will I Need?

When it comes to packing for your move, not all tape is created equal. Choose quality tape that’s durable and has strong adhesive. To make things go quickly, get a tape dispenser. Even better, a tape gun will lay seams straight down and keep your fingers from getting sticky when cutting.  

Here’s a quick overview of the types of tape you’ll want to have available for packing:  

Packing Tape

The most common type of tape used for sealing boxes, packing tape is durable, easy to handle and very adhesive. Pro tip: Aside from labeling your moving boxes, avoid using masking tape. It tears too easily.  

Shipping Tape

Shipping tape is an acceptable substitute for packing tape.  

Masking Tape

Masking tape is often used for labeling boxes. However, it shouldn’t be used in place of packing or shipping tape. 

Painter’s Tape  

Not sure whether your furniture will fit into a room? Use painter’s tape to stage the room and lay out the dimensions. It can also be used for labeling electronics and smaller items.   

How Do I Protect My Items and My Home During the Move?  

Here’s a short list of things you can use to avoid scratches and breakage of your belongings: 

Blank Newsprint Paper 

Clean, unprinted newsprint is an ideal and inexpensive way to wrap fragile items during a move. For a cleaner, ink-free move, be sure it’s unprinted and undyed. 

Bubble Wrap  

A large roll of bubble wrap goes a long way on move day. Use bubble wrap to enclose fragile items and insulate the space between the sides of boxes.  

Stretch Plastic Wrap  

The industrial-strength version of kitchen plastic wrap, stretch plastic wrap is used to bind items like electrical cords, dresser drawers and couch cushions together. Plastic wrap can also protect furniture from scratches, dust and certain types of damage.  

Furniture Pads

Furniture pads are durable, thick blankets used to cover large appliances and furniture and shield them from dirt and scratches. 

Plastic Tarps or Cardboard Sheets 

Use tarps and large cardboard pieces to protect floors in highly trafficked areas.  

What Other Items Will I Need for My Upcoming Move?

Permanent Markers

Use permanent markers to label your boxes and keep track of your belongings. Pro tip: Label boxes on their sides according to room. It will make unpacking much easier.  

Scissors  

A pair or two of sturdy scissors will make your life a lot easier during packing.  

Box Cutter  

When it’s time to unpack, a sharp box cutter is a must-have. Tape, adhesive, and cardboard will dull a knife faster than you think.  

Plastic Zip-Top Baggies  

As you disassemble furniture or electronics, place screws, bolts, washers and small hardware into sandwich-sized plastic zip-top baggies. Ensure they’re labeled well and all in one place. Use gallon-sized bags for larger items like cords and cables.  

Tape Gun

Having tape guns on hand will save you time and frustration. They make taping up your moving boxes easy and fast.  

Toolbox

Keep a wrench, screwdriver, drill and pliers nearby to assemble/and disassemble furniture and electronics.  

Which Cleaning Supplies and Disinfectants Should I Use?

Make sure you have these items handy about six weeks before your scheduled move date: 

• Broom 
• Dustpan 
• Vacuum and handheld vacuum 
• Sponges  
• Paper towels 
• Garbage bags 
• Mop and bucket 
• Multi-purpose and glass cleaners  

When using cleaning and sanitizing products, pay close attention to the safety instructions. For example, never mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleaner; wear rubber gloves and other protective wear; and increase ventilation by opening windows and doors to bring in fresh air.  

If you’ve hired a professional moving company for your upcoming move, be aware that many cleaning supplies may not be permitted on the truck. Familiarize yourself with moving non-allowables.  

Get Packing and Unpacking Services From America’s #1 Mover

Not sure you want to pack yourself? United Van Lines offers professional packing and unpacking services to make your move as hassle-free as possible. Whether you’re moving cross-country or locally, we can take care of the heavy lifting. Learn more about our packing and unpacking services here and get a no-obligation quote today.

For more information about moving supplies and packing, take a look at Packing 101, our Moving & Packing Checklist Library and our packing videos.