Checklist
Packing checklist, room by room
Pack the rooms you use least first and the kitchen last. Tick items off as you go - your ticks are saved in this browser - and print the list if that's easier.
Last reviewed
Supplies
- ☐ Strong double-walled boxes in a few sizes
- ☐ Packing tape and a tape dispenser
- ☐ Plain packing paper and bubble wrap
- ☐ Marker pens and labels
- ☐ Covers or old sheets for mattresses and sofas
- ☐ Small zip-lock bags for screws and fittings
Before you start
- ☐ Declutter first so you don't pack things you'll throw away
- ☐ Pack heavy things in small boxes and light things in big ones
- ☐ Label every box with its room and a short list of what's inside
- ☐ Keep a running list of what's packed, room by room
Kitchen
- ☐ Wrap plates individually and stand them on their edges
- ☐ Wrap glasses individually and fill the gaps in the box
- ☐ Wrap sharp knives and mark the box clearly
- ☐ Use up, give away or bin open food
- ☐ Refit the washing machine's transit bolts if you still have them
- ☐ Leave out a kettle, mugs and a few snacks for moving day
Living room
- ☐ Photograph the cables before you unplug the TV and other electronics
- ☐ Pack the TV in its original box if you have it, or ask your mover how they protect TVs
- ☐ Take bulbs and shades off lamps and pack them separately
- ☐ Pack books in small boxes so they stay liftable
- ☐ Wrap pictures and mirrors and mark them fragile
Bedrooms
- ☐ Keep clothes on hangers in wardrobe boxes or bags
- ☐ Pack spare bedding and towels in bags - they make good padding
- ☐ Ask your mover whether drawers need emptying before furniture is carried
- ☐ Keep one set of bedding per bed for the first night
Bathroom
- ☐ Close and tape the lids of toiletries and pack them upright
- ☐ Keep medication with you, not in the van
- ☐ Pack towels last
Home office
- ☐ Back up computers and phones before the move
- ☐ Keep passports, contracts and other important papers with you
- ☐ Bag and label cables and chargers
Loft, garage and garden
- ☐ Clean and dry garden tools and furniture
- ☐ Ask your mover what they won't carry - usually things like petrol, gas bottles and other flammable items
- ☐ Empty and clean the shed and the loft early - they take longer than you think
The open-first box
- ☐ Kettle, mugs, tea, coffee and snacks
- ☐ Phone chargers
- ☐ Toilet roll, soap and a hand towel
- ☐ Scissors, a screwdriver and the bags of screws
- ☐ Bedding for each bed
- ☐ Bin bags and cleaning cloths
Related guides
Compare removal companies - start with your postcode, then list what you're moving online. Prices can change until you book.