From Boxes to Bubble Wrap: The Complete Guide to Essential Moving Supplies

Moving boxes are necessary for any move. If you’re on a budget, you can save all the boxes you get in the mail. Those boxes are designed to be as light as possible to save weight, so they won’t have the strength to hold heavy items like books and plates. Save them for things like pictures or small décor pieces.

A move will go smoother when the majority of the boxes are of a uniform shape and size. It will make them easier to stack so you can maximize the volume of your moving van or trailer.

At a minimum you’ll want three box sizes: small, medium and large. Use the smaller boxes for items like books and tools. Medium boxes can hold small appliances, toys and office supplies, and large boxes can be used to transport pillows, clothing and linens. 

It’s also helpful to color code boxes by room using colored stickers or markers to help the movers know where to place each box.

Bubble wrap, packing tape, and foam are all must haves for dealing with dishes, glass and anything else that can easily get broken or chipped. The best way to keep your items safe is to carefully wrap each one in bubble wrap and make sure there’s enough cushion around it inside the moving box. Secure the top of the box with packing tape and clearly label it as fragile.

If you have too many items to wrap, go with a specialized dish and glass packing kit. They are designed to safely transport fragile kitchenware to avoid them banging against the side of a box or each other.

These wheeled tools will save your arms, legs and back come moving day. Use them to transport multiple boxes, washers and dryers, furniture and anything else that is large and heavy.

Check the weight-rating on your hand truck or dolly before loading it up. Consider one with inflatable wheels as it will roll smoother and do a better job of protecting your floors.

Properly labeling your boxes will make the process of packing and unpacking easier. A label maker will remove the stress of unpacking by allowing you to plan which box to open and when. Avoid the guessing game of opening every box to find that missing item and instead go right to the box you need.

If a label maker is unavailable, then white tape and a marker will get the job done.

A basic tool kit is useful when disassembling and assembling furniture during a move, as well as helping to make small repairs to items after the move. Having a readily available set of Allen keys, screw drivers, wrenches, scissors, a utility knife and a drill driver can prepare you for almost any task on moving day.

Keep these tools close to you so they’re easily accessible and don’t accidentally get packed up.

The extra padding and rip-resistant nylon fabric in a moving blanket make it ideal to prevent damage to surfaces and furniture.

Moving blankets are essential to wrap mirrors, artwork and any other large objects that are susceptible to scratches and tears. They’re also helpful for protecting floors from sliding objects and protecting appliances from getting banged up in a moving van.

Furniture sliders are handy little pads that go under the legs of tables, chairs, sofas and sideboards. They’re meant to help the furniture slide across the floor without leaving scratches as these items are moved into place.

Choose from adhesive or non-adhesive pads. Adhesive pads are great for things like dining room chairs that will be moved daily. Use non-adhesive pads for items that won’t be moved once they’re placed inside their new home like your bed or sofa. These sliders can be reused the next time you move or whenever you want to rearrange the furniture.

If you’re dealing with stairs or uneven ground and need to transport heavy appliances, your best bet is to use moving straps. These ingenious contraptions allow two people to transport heavy appliances by distributing the weight across the shoulders or forearms. This saves your grip and back from the stress of moving something heavy.

Tie downs are superior to bungee cords for securing heavy loads to the bed of a truck or trailer. Bungee cords are solely designed for non-weight bearing use, so save these for something else.

Do not exceed, or even come close to, the weight capacity of your tie downs. This will ensure that your cargo is safely transported, even across bumpy terrain.

For light duty work, cam tie downs are much easier to operate. The simple mechanism allows for a basic pull to tighten and a press of a button to release. But, for heavy loads a ratcheting tie down will provide added strength and security.