The Ultimate DMV Packing Guide (Room by Room)

A three-week schedule

Packing a one-bedroom takes most people several evenings and a weekend. Spread it out.

• 3 weeks out. Buy supplies. Sell, donate, or throw out what is not coming with you.
• 2 weeks out. Pack what you will not miss, such as books, decor, off-season clothes, and spare linens.
• 1 week out. Pack most of the kitchen, the closets, and the bathroom cabinet.
• 2 days out. Finish everything except what you need for two days. Stack boxes near the door.
• The night before. Pack the essentials bag, take apart the bed if you are doing it yourself, and charge your phone.

Supplies for a one-bedroom

These amounts are a starting point for a typical one-bedroom. Buy a few extra boxes, since many stores take unused ones back.

• 30 to 45 boxes, roughly a third each of small, medium, and large
• 2 to 4 dish boxes or wardrobe boxes
• 3 or 4 rolls of packing tape
• A large bundle of plain packing paper
• A roll of bubble wrap for the most fragile things
• A thick marker and a box of zip bags

Rules for every box

These five habits prevent most damage.

• Heavy things go in small boxes. Keep every box at about 40 pounds or less.
• Fill each box to the top, with paper in the gaps. A half-empty box gets crushed in a stack.
• Tape the bottom seam twice.
• Label the side, with the room it goes to and what is inside. Labels on top disappear once boxes are stacked.
• Write FRAGILE on all four sides of any box that needs it.

Kitchen

The kitchen takes the longest and holds the most breakable things. Start it a week out.

• Wrap each plate in paper and stand the plates on edge in the box, like records. Plates packed flat crack more easily.
• Stuff glasses and mugs with paper, wrap each one, and pack them upright.
• Nest pots and pans with paper between them.
• Wrap knives in a towel, tape the towel, and label it.
• Throw out opened liquids and anything that will leak. Tape the lids of what you keep and bag it.
• If you are moving a refrigerator, empty it and defrost it the day before.

Bedroom and closets

Clothes are light and bulky, so they go in the largest boxes.

• Hanging clothes go in wardrobe boxes, or stay on their hangers inside a trash bag with the hooks sticking out the top.
• Folded clothes and bedding go in large boxes or bags.
• Ask your mover whether light clothes can stay in the dresser drawers. Take out anything heavy or breakable either way.
• Shoes go in a medium box, in pairs.
• Keep jewelry with you.

Living room and desk

Books and electronics are the two things to get right here.

• Books go in small boxes, packed flat or spine down.
• Take the shade and the bulb off each lamp. Pack shades by themselves with nothing on top.
• Photograph the cables behind the TV and the computer before you unplug them. Bag each device's cables and label the bag.
• Back up your computer before move day.
• TVs, mirrors, and framed art have their own guide. Our crew wraps them as part of the move.

Bathroom

Pack this room last and unpack it first.

• Put every liquid in a zip bag before it goes in a box.
• Throw out nearly empty bottles.
• Keep medication with you, never in the truck.

What not to pack

Movers cannot carry hazardous or flammable materials, and a few things should stay with you.

• Movers will not take propane tanks, gasoline, paint, aerosols, fireworks, or ammunition.
• Perishable food and live plants are not suited to longer trips.
• Carry these yourself: passports, cash, jewelry, medication, hard drives, and important documents.

What you can leave for the crew

You do not need to wrap furniture. Blankets, shrink wrap, and protection for TVs and mirrors come with the move, and the crew takes apart and reassembles standard furniture. Your time is better spent on boxes.

The essentials bag and the night before

Pack one bag or box that rides with you, with what you need for the first night and morning.

• Chargers, medication, toiletries, and a change of clothes
• Toilet paper, a towel, soap, and a shower curtain
• A box cutter, scissors, and a basic screwdriver
• Keys, IDs, and your lease
• Snacks, water, and anything your pet needs
• Before bed, check that every box is taped and labeled and that the path to the door is clear.