What Packing Supplies Do You Need for a Move?

Getting your packing supplies sorted before you start is one of the easiest ways to reduce moving day stress. Here's what our Allied experts recommend to get:

Boxes are the foundation of any move, and variety matters. Using one size for everything increases the risk of damage and makes loading less efficient.

• Small boxes for heavy items like books, tools, and pantry goods. Heavy items in large boxes become impossible to lift safely.

• Medium boxes for the bulk of your household items: kitchenware, toys, ornaments, folded clothing.

• Large boxes for light but bulky items like pillows, duvets, and soft furnishings.

Allied tip: Allied supplies professional-grade moving boxes in all sizes, including specialty boxes for TVs, wardrobes, wine, artwork, and more. Using purpose-built boxes significantly reduces the risk of damage to specific items.

The first layer of protection for most items. Use it to wrap individual pieces before adding further protection. Avoid newspaper, as the ink transfers and can stain.

Essential for anything fragile: glassware, crockery, electronics, and ornaments. Wrap each item individually and secure with tape.

For larger items like furniture, timber pieces, and appliances. Moving blankets protect surfaces from scratches and dents during loading and transit. Avoid plastic wrapping directly on timber as it traps moisture.

Useful for filling void space inside boxes containing fragile items. Movement inside a box is one of the most common causes of damage in transit.

Invest in quality packing tape, it's not the place to cut costs, since flimsy tape often fails under the weight of a fully loaded box.

A good rule of thumb is to tape the bottom of every box in a cross pattern before loading, and the top the same way once packed. For fragile boxes, add an extra layer.

A tape gun makes the process significantly faster and is worth picking up if you're packing a whole house.

Clear labelling saves significant time at the other end.

• A thick permanent marker for writing room names and basic contents on every side of each box

• Fragile labels or printed tape for boxes containing breakables

• Coloured stickers or coloured tape if you want a room-by-room colour coding system, which makes directing removalists much faster on moving day

Some items need more than a standard carton. Worth considering:

• Wardrobe boxes with a hanging rail, so clothes move without being folded or creased

• Mirror and picture boxes for framed artwork, mirrors, and glass tabletops

• TV boxes with foam inserts to keep screens protected upright during transit

• Wine cartons with individual bottle sleeves for horizontal storage during transport

• Book cartons; smaller and sturdier than standard boxes, designed to keep weight manageable

These are easy to forget until it's too late. You'll probably need to clean your old property before handing back the keys, and most people want to wipe down the new place before unpacking into it.

Keep a basic cleaning kit accessible on moving day rather than packed away in a box: all-purpose spray, cloths, a mop, bin bags, and paper towel.

Allied tip: Your Personal Moving Consultant may be able to connect you with professional cleaning services if you'd rather not add the extra task to an already full day.

Allied can deliver professional packing materials directly to your door ahead of your move. If you'd prefer to skip the packing entirely, our full-service packing team handles everything using the same materials our removalists use every day.

Get in touch to find out what's available for your move.