25 Long Distance Moving Packing Tips From Professional Movers

Packing for a long distance move is different from a local move. Your belongings will be on a truck for days, loaded and unloaded multiple times, and subjected to highway vibrations and temperature changes. Here are 25 expert tips to ensure everything arrives safely.

Planning & Supplies

1. Start early — 6-8 weeks out. Pack one room at a time, starting with items you use least.
2. Use quality boxes. Avoid used grocery boxes — they collapse. Buy or borrow heavy-duty moving boxes.
3. Get specialty boxes for mirrors, TVs, wardrobes, and dish packs. These are worth the extra cost.
4. Stock up on supplies: packing tape, bubble wrap, packing paper, markers, box cutters, and stretch wrap for furniture.
5. Create a packing station — a designated area with all your supplies so you're not searching for tape constantly.

Packing Technique

6. Pack heavy items in small boxes. Books, tools, and canned goods in small boxes only. Large boxes are for light items like pillows and linens.
7. Fill boxes completely. Partially filled boxes collapse under weight. Fill gaps with packing paper, towels, or bubble wrap.
8. Never mix rooms. Keep each box's contents from one room only — makes unpacking much easier.
9. Wrap everything individually. Every plate, glass, and fragile item gets its own wrap — even if it seems excessive.
10. Use dish pack boxes for kitchen items. These double-walled boxes are designed to protect dishes and glassware.
11. Pack plates vertically (like records), not flat. Plates are much less likely to crack when standing on edge.
12. Wrap glasses in packing paper, then bundle 4-5 together and wrap again. Place upright in boxes.
13. Use your clothes and linens as padding for fragile items. Wrap picture frames in t-shirts or sweaters.

Labeling

14. Label every box on the top AND all four sides. Boxes get stacked — you need to read labels without moving other boxes.
15. Note the destination room clearly: "MASTER BEDROOM" or "KITCHEN." This helps movers and makes unpacking faster.
16. Mark fragile boxes clearly on all sides and the top. Write "THIS SIDE UP" with an arrow.
17. Number your boxes and keep a master list of what's in each. This is invaluable if something goes missing.
18. Take photos of what's inside boxes before sealing, especially valuable or fragile items.

Specialty Items

19. Disassemble furniture where possible — bed frames, desks, shelving. Keep all screws and hardware in labeled zip-lock bags taped to the furniture.
20. Photograph electronics setups before unplugging everything. You'll thank yourself when reconnecting in your new home.
21. Use wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes. They hang directly from the bar — no folding, no wrinkling.
22. Pack a separate "first night" box. Include: toilet paper, soap, toothbrush, phone charger, coffee maker, a change of clothes, and snacks. Keep this with you — don't put it on the truck.
23. Keep important documents with you, not on the moving truck: passports, birth certificates, financial documents, medical records.

Final Tips

24. Don't pack hazardous materials. Movers won't transport propane tanks, paint, cleaning fluids, or other hazardous items. Use them up or dispose of them properly.
25. Do a final walkthrough of every room, closet, cabinet, drawer, attic, and garage before the truck leaves. It's easy to miss a closet shelf or items behind doors.