Packing materials for moving house: what you need
To pack a home you need five things: strong boxes in two or three sizes, packing tape, packing paper, bubble wrap and a marker pen. Wardrobe boxes, plate and glass dividers, mattress bags and furniture blankets are worth adding for the jobs that need them. Here's what each one is for and roughly how much to buy.
The essentials
- Boxes: mostly medium removal boxes (18 x 13 x 13 in) for heavy things like books and kitchenware, and large removal boxes (18 x 18 x 20 in) for light, bulky things like bedding and cushions. About two medium for every large one suits most homes. Double-wall boxes are much stiffer than most single-wall supermarket boxes, so they stack in the van without crushing.
- Packing tape: brown packing tape to seal the top and bottom of every box. One 66 m roll does roughly 20 to 25 boxes. A tape gun dispenser makes it much quicker.
- Packing paper: clean white packing paper, 5 kg for wrapping plates, glasses, mugs and ornaments and filling gaps. Unlike newspaper, it won't leave ink on your things.
- Bubble wrap: for pictures, mirrors, screens and anything that could chip. A bubble wrap roll, 25 m covers most small homes; bigger homes are better off with a 100 m roll.
- Fragile tape and a marker: fragile tape marks the boxes that need care, and a thick marker is all you need to label the rest.
How much to buy
A rough guide for a typical home. Lots of books, a big kitchen or a full loft push it up.
| Home | Boxes | Tape | Packing paper | Bubble wrap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio or 1 bed | 20–25 | 2 rolls | 5 kg | 25 m |
| 2 bed | 30–40 | 2–3 rolls | 5 kg | 25 m |
| 3 bed | 50–70 | 3–4 rolls | 5–10 kg | 25–100 m |
| 4 bed | 80–110 | 4–6 rolls | 10 kg | 100 m |
| 5 bed | 120+ | 6–7 rolls | 10–15 kg | 100 m |
For a number based on your own rooms, use the box calculator. Our guide to how many boxes you need breaks it down room by room.
Packing tip: Buy a little more tape than you think. It runs out faster than anything else, because a properly taped box uses three strips on the bottom and three on top.
Useful extras
- Wardrobe boxes: a wardrobe box with hanging rail lets clothes travel on their hangers. Allow about one per full wardrobe. See how to pack clothes for moving.
- Plate and glass dividers: a plate divider or bottle and glass divider turns a medium box into a safe carrier for 15 plates or glasses.
- Mattress bags: a mattress bag, double or king keeps a mattress clean and dry between the house and the van.
- Furniture protection: a padded transit blanket, cardboard edge protectors and carpet protection film stop scratches on furniture and dirty footprints on carpets.
- Odd-shaped things: a adjustable tv and picture box for a flat-screen TV, and a tall removal box for lamps, rugs and curtain poles.
What you can use from home
Towels, tea towels and bedding make good padding around pans and between pictures. Suitcases are ideal for heavy things because they have wheels. Bin bags work for soft items like duvets, but they tear and get mistaken for rubbish, so label them clearly.
Kit or separate items?
If you need most of the list above, a moving kit costs less than buying each item. Our 3 bedroom moving kit has 60 boxes plus wardrobe boxes, tape, a tape gun, packing paper, bubble wrap, mattress bags, a TV box and dividers. If you only need a few things, or want different quantities, build your own kit and pick exactly what you want. Everything is delivered flat-packed, free on orders over £65.
Questions
What packing materials do I need to move house?
Medium and large double-wall boxes, packing tape, packing paper, bubble wrap, fragile tape and a marker pen. Wardrobe boxes, plate and glass dividers, mattress bags and furniture blankets are useful extras.
How many rolls of tape do I need to move house?
One 66 m roll seals roughly 20 to 25 boxes, so a 3 bed home with 50 to 70 boxes needs about 3 or 4 rolls.
How much packing paper do I need to move?
A 5 kg pack (280 sheets) usually wraps the crockery and glasses from an average kitchen. Larger homes or lots of ornaments may need two or three packs.
Is it cheaper to buy a moving kit?
Usually, yes, if you need most of what is in it. Each of our kits costs less than buying the same items separately, and the saving is shown on every kit.