How to pack for a move: DIY or hire a pro?

When preparing for a move, packing is half the battle. All that “stuff” you’ve accumulated over the years makes moving stressful and time consuming. And, randomly throwing things in boxes at the last minute makes unpacking at your new home a nightmare.

Hiring a professional packing service is one way to reduce the burden of a big move. Wonder why it takes professional movers just an hour to pack the same room you sweated over for a whole day? It’s a tightly choreographed dance that relies on quick, focused movements, high-quality packing materials, smart labeling, and advance planning.

Even if you do it yourself, it’s possible to avoid moving-day hassles, stress, and surprises by packing like a pro. The following ninja packing tips can help ease the burden.

To get organized and prevent unwanted surprises, it’s important to start the packing process at least one month in advance, preferably earlier. But don’t worry. You won’t be living out of a suitcase that whole time. You’ll be getting rid of things you don’t want to take, organizing the items your movers will ship (if you’re using a pro), and identifying the valuables you’ll need to move yourself.

Making separate piles or boxes for giveaways can reduce your packing load and save on moving costs.

First, throw out or give away anything you don’t want to bring to your new home. It’s frustrating to move things you don’t really want just because you didn’t make time to get rid of them before the move. Decluttering will not only help you get organized , it’ll also save on moving costs. You’ll use fewer packing supplies, movers, and moving truck space.

Go one room at a time, tossing “discards” into a large garbage bag. At the same time, create a donation pile for a thrift store near you. Some shops even offer free pickups, which can be useful for couches, desks, and other oversized or heavy items. Any items that will stay behind (such as an oven) can be left in place.

Though policies vary, moving companies typically won’t take:

From this group, decide what to toss, ship to your new house, or take in your car. Also, make sure to safely and legally dispose of hazardous items, such as motor oil, batteries, electronics, and medication.

With a lightened load, you’re ready to create a moving checklist—ideally, in the form of a spreadsheet. Here’s how to use it:

Pro tip: Taking inventory (and photographing) priority items can help you keep track of valuables and protect against theft when using professional movers for packing.

Long-distance moving companies often load several households on one truck, and may unload and reload your belongings at each stop. More reason to use sturdy, high-quality packing materials and extra padding.

Packing for a long-distance move can differ from packing for a local move. You won’t be able to easily turn around for forgotten items—and if you use professional movers, it may take days or even weeks to get your belongings—so everything must be properly organized and packed.

When moving long-distance, decluttering becomes even more important. It’ll help you calculate the moving truck size you’ll need. It’s also important to know exactly how much room you’ll have in the truck plus your personal vehicle(s)—and how much more you can squeeze in after priority items have been loaded.

A lot can happen during a long-distance move, so don’t fill every box to the brim. Breakables, for example, will need a large amount of padding. And if you’re shipping your car rather than driving it to your new location, those valuables won’t be able to ride with you. Plus, some items can only be loaded in certain positions or can’t be stacked—a fridge, for example, must be stored upright—which may affect the amount of storage space you have in the truck.

Pro tip: Long-distance moving companies frequently haul boxes from several households in a single truck for moves. So, your boxes may be taken on and off trucks en route to your new place. It’s worth asking the moving company if your items will be unloaded and reloaded in transit, so you’ll know if extra packing precautions are needed.

Because there’s greater potential for damages with long-distance moves, you’ll also want to consider:

Using heavy-duty packing materials is the key to preventing or minimizing damages.

Hiring a professional packing service eliminates the headache of sourcing moving supplies. Many moving companies include the cost of packing materials in their quote—or provide the add-on cost upfront.

Plus, professional packers use high-quality packing supplies that pad and protect your belongings—they don’t want the hassle and expense of dealing with an unhappy customer if something is damaged or broken. Learn about the benefits of hiring a professional moving company.

Using industrial-grade materials is the key to minimizing or eliminating damages, according to Lotem Benshimon, senior client loyalty team member at NorthStar Moving Company. High-end bubble wrap and corrugated boxes—especially those custom-fit for specialty items, such as dish-pack boxes and lamp boxes—ensure “not a scratch” is left on your precious items.

Of course, many consumers may not be able to afford gold-standard packing supplies. If you’re packing everything yourself and want to limit damage, the following supplies are recommended by the pros:

Pro tip: Don’t skimp on heavy-duty packing tape. It’s the “glue” that’ll keep all your boxes intact and is well worth the investment. Good-quality packing tape can run as low as $4-6 per roll.

You can save money on moving boxes by:

Padding supplies are harder to find at a discount. Three great hacks:

To minimize theft, self-pack valuables in unmarked boxes and avoid clear packing tape.

Most professional movers offer theft protection, but if you’re worried about sticky fingers, use colored packing tape. The standard mover won’t be able to open and reseal your boxes without detection, since they typically only carry clear packing tape.

If you’re hiring packers, you can further prevent theft by pre-packing some of your valuables in newspaper or small boxes before they arrive (and don’t disclose what’s in those boxes).

Remember: Cash, passports and other important valuables should stay with you throughout the move. It’s also required by many movers.

Doing all the packing yourself? Set aside more time than you think. Even for moderately sized homes or apartments, packing can take several full days. To avoid stress and exhaustion, space out your packing schedule. Allocate several weekends—or schedule time off work—to pack at a comfortable pace. And always have good music blasting in the background.

Skill level: Beginner

Cost: $50-400

DIY time: 12-40 hours (depending on size of home)

Tools required:

Packing one room at a time keeps related belongings together and makes unpacking much easier. You can also group together related items (all your glassware or hangers, for example) during the prep phase.

Professional movers often start with the kitchen—the most time-intensive room to pack—before moving on to bedrooms and bathrooms. Common spaces are usually tackled last.

As you disassemble large items, keep track of screws, bolts, and other parts in labeled, resealable plastic bags.

Some items must be disassembled before you start packing. This includes tables, bed frames, and other items that don’t fit through doorways—as well as those with parts that could shift around, such as lamps and refrigerator shelving.

Keep screws, bolts, washers, and small parts of every item you disassemble in labeled, resealable plastic bags.

As a rule of thumb, don’t fill cardboard boxes with more than 50 pounds of items, even if they claim to handle more. This will prevent boxes from breaking or wearing out.

For added support, reinforce the bottom of the boxes (before filling them) with a few strips of packing tape. And when packing and stacking boxes, always put lighter items on top.

The basics: On all sides of the box, write the name of the room where the contents belong, so they end up in the right location. For example: kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom closet.

Advanced labeling tips:

Professionals can pack a studio or one-bedroom apartment in as little as 1.5 hours.

While DIY packing can save money, hiring professional movers for the packing process also saves time (and energy). If you have a last-minute move, can’t take time off work, or simply want to spend more time with friends and family, it pays to outsource your packing.

Professionals have “packing skills [that] are way faster than the average person’s,” and can pack a studio or one-bedroom apartment in as little as 1.5 hours, according to Benshimon.

How much is the cost of convenience? Expect to spend at least $300 on packing services for any home that’s larger than a studio apartment. Packing a two-bedroom house will usually cost between $450 to $600, while packing a three-bedroom home can exceed $700.

You’ll pay by the hour per packer you hire, with some possible extra costs for supplies. If you need any specialty or oversized items packed, you may need to pay an additional fee.

The good news is, moving companies typically provide estimates before you book. Plus, if full-service packing is out of your budget, you can always do some of it yourself.

If, for example, you packed the kitchen yourself—which often takes movers the longest time—you could knock off an hour of paid work, easily saving $100 or more. Although you’d need to pay for packing supplies for that one room, it’ll set you back just $15-30 (or less, if you get discount boxes).

Pro tip: Beware of hidden fees. Some professional packers charge extra for disassembling furniture. Another hidden packing cost: travel fees—especially if you’re not hiring the same company for moving services. Ask about these fees upfront.

Many moving companies offer damage protection; if they break anything during the packing process, they’ll reimburse you.

No matter how much you learn about packing for a move, amateur packers tend to make more mistakes than professionals. Movers have packing down to a science, and know exactly which items need special attention or care.

What’s more, many moving companies offer damage protection; if they break anything during the packing process, they’ll reimburse you.

Find a packing professional in your area.