Packing Tips for Moving House (Australia, 2026)

Good packing comes down to four moves: start early, declutter so you pack less, wrap and box each room for protection and easy unpacking, and label every box on the top and two sides. Use butcher's paper for everyday breakables and bubble wrap for anything valuable, keep heavy items in small boxes, and pack one essentials box for the first 48 hours. Never pack dangerous goods or irreplaceable valuables on the truck.

Packing is the part of moving almost everyone dreads, and it is also the part you have the most control over. About 1 in 7 Australians (14%) changed address in the year before the 2021 Census, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, so this is a job millions of us face regularly. Do it well and moving day becomes a smooth handover instead of a scramble.

This guide walks through how to pack every room, what to wrap in what, how many boxes you will need, and the handful of things that should never go on the truck.

Start packing earlier than you think

The single biggest packing tip is to give yourself more time than feels necessary. Packing always takes longer than people expect, and the last day is not the time to discover the garage.

Timing matters for booking, too. Over the past year, roughly four in five of our moves (about 81%) happened on a weekday, with Monday, Thursday and Friday the busiest days. Those slots fill first, so once your date is set, start packing the things you rarely touch straight away.

A gentle pace beats a frantic last-minute panic. Pack a box or two each evening, starting three to four weeks out with books, out-of-season clothes and the good crockery, and leave daily essentials until the final few days.

Declutter first, then gather your supplies

Every box you do not pack is a box you do not wrap, carry, or pay to move. Decluttering before you pack is the cheapest way to shrink your move, so work room by room and be honest about the hall cupboard: if you have not used it in a year and would not buy it again, it does not deserve a spot on the truck.

Once you know roughly what is coming, get your supplies together in one go. You will want:

• Sturdy boxes in two sizes: small for heavy items, large for light and bulky ones.
• Strong packing tape and a dispenser (double up on tape, it is the cheapest insurance there is).
• Butcher's paper for wrapping, and bubble wrap for the valuable and fragile.
• Thick markers for labelling, plus coloured stickers or tape to code by room.
• Zip-lock bags for screws and fittings, and old towels, tea towels and linen for padding.

Skip newspaper for wrapping. The ink smudges onto plates and glassware and can be a nightmare to clean off.

How many boxes will I need?

Most people underestimate, then run out at 9pm the night before. Use the table below as a starting point, then add roughly 10% for breathing room.

Indicative ranges only. The real number depends on how much you own, how well you pack, and how much you declutter first. Boxes are only half the load, so count your furniture too, because that is what your removalist quote is built on.

The golden rules of packing a box

Get the basics right and almost everything survives the trip. The rules are simple and they apply to every room.

• Put heavy items in small boxes and light items in big ones, so no box becomes too heavy to lift safely.
• Fill every box to the top and pad the gaps with linen or paper, because a half-empty box collapses when it is stacked.
• Keep each box to a single room, so unpacking is just carrying boxes to the right doors.
• Reinforce the base of every box with a strip of tape along the seam.
• Snap a quick photo of the back of your TV and any cabling before you unplug it, so reconnecting at the new place is painless.

Bubble wrap or butcher's paper? A quick chooser

The right wrapping depends on the item. As a rule, paper is for everyday breakables and bubble wrap is for anything valuable or impact-sensitive.

How to pack the tricky things

A few categories cause most of the moving-day heartbreak. Handle these with a little extra care and you avoid almost all of it.

Glassware and crockery. Wrap every piece, line the base of a double-taped box with crumpled paper, put the heaviest items at the bottom and stemware upright on top, and mark the box FRAGILE on the top and sides. See the numbered method below.

Food, fridge and freezer. Start eating down the freezer about four weeks out, and only move non-perishables that will survive the trip. Defrost and clean the fridge the week before, and on the day, move any surviving cold items in an esky. A grocery delivery timed to arrive a few hours after you do saves a hungry first night.

Interstate moves. If you are crossing a border, pack even more ruthlessly, because freight is priced by space. Interstate moves are where packing light saves the most, especially if you can flex your dates for a backload.

TV. Unless your TV is packed in its original box, it is often treated as an uninsured item in transit. Either take it carefully in your own car, or keep the box when you buy your next TV so it is protected next time.

Label so you can find anything in five seconds

By day three, every brown box looks identical. Labelling is what saves you from opening six of them to find the coffee plunger.

• Write the room and a short contents summary on the top and on at least two sides, so the label shows however the box is stacked.
• Colour-code each room with a sticker or tape, then direct the crew by colour on the day.
• Mark HEAVY boxes (over 20kg) clearly so nobody gets hurt.
• Put a star or bright sticker on the handful of boxes you will want to open first.
• Tape a zip-lock bag of screws and fittings to any furniture you dismantle.

Pack an essentials box for the first 48 hours

Pack one clearly marked box that gets you through the first two days without opening anything else, and load it onto the truck last so it comes off first (or keep it in your own car).

• Clean bed linen, towels, and toiletries including toilet paper and soap.
• Kettle, mugs, tea, coffee, long-life milk, a few plates, cutlery and a sharp knife.
• Phone chargers, medications and a small first-aid kit.
• Cleaning spray, bin liners and a dustpan for the inevitable first-night tidy.
• Comfort items for children and supplies for pets.
• The TV and its remote control.

What you should never pack

Some things simply cannot go on the truck, and a good removalist will tell you the same. Keeping them separate protects your belongings, your move and your insurance.

• Dangerous goods: gas bottles, petrol and fuels, aerosols, paint, cleaning chemicals and anything flammable or corrosive. Removalists are not permitted to carry these.
• Perishable food and plants, which spoil, leak or attract pests in transit.
• Irreplaceable or urgent items: passports and key documents, jewellery, medications, cash and anything with sentimental weight. Keep these with you in the car.

Packing with kids and pets

A household move is a big emotional event for the little ones, so a few small moves make the day calmer for everyone.

• Pack each child's bedroom last and unpack it first, so they have a familiar space fast.
• Move Lego builds and favourite constructions whole, cushioned between pillows, rather than pulling them apart.
• Be gentle in the declutter. Children bond with their things in ways adults do not, so involve them rather than purging behind their backs.
• Set up a quiet, packed-last space with water, snacks and a lead or carrier for pets, and keep them out of the busy rooms on the day.

How to pack a box of glassware safely

If you follow one method exactly, make it this one. It is the difference between unwrapping your glasses and sweeping them up.

1. Take a quick inventory of what is going in, so you know what should come out at the other end.
2. Double-tape the bottom of a sturdy box so the base cannot give way.
3. Line the base with crumpled paper to cushion the first layer.
4. Wrap every single piece in butcher's paper, with no exceptions.
5. Pack heaviest at the bottom, stemware upright on top, and fill gaps with paper so nothing moves.
6. Label FRAGILE and the room it is going into on the top and at least two sides.

FAQ

When should I start packing to move house?

Start with the things you rarely use around three to four weeks before moving day, such as books, out-of-season clothes and spare crockery, and leave daily essentials until the last few days. Packing a little each evening is far easier than one frantic weekend. Booking your removalist and buying supplies early helps too, because popular dates fill up first.

How many boxes do I need to move house?

As a rough guide, plan for about 20 boxes for a one-bedroom home (a range of 15 to 25), 35 for a two-bedroom (25 to 40), 50 for a three-bedroom (40 to 60), and around 75 for a four-bedroom or larger (60 to 90 or more). Whatever you estimate, add about 10%, because running out the night before is a common and avoidable stress. Decluttering first brings the number down.

Should I use bubble wrap or butcher's paper?

Use butcher's paper for everyday breakables like plates and glasses, because it is cheap, recyclable and stacks well. Use bubble wrap for anything valuable or impact-sensitive, such as appliances, ceramics, artwork and electronics, ideally over a layer of paper. Avoid newspaper, because the ink can smudge onto your things and is hard to remove.

How do I pack glasses and plates so they do not break?

Wrap every piece individually in butcher's paper, double-tape the base of the box, and line it with crumpled paper. Put heavier plates at the bottom, packed on their edges rather than flat, and stand glasses and stemware upright on top. Fill any gaps so nothing shifts, and label the box FRAGILE on the top and sides so it is handled with care.

What should I not pack when moving?

Never pack dangerous goods such as gas bottles, fuel, aerosols, paint and flammable chemicals, because removalists are not permitted to carry them. Leave out perishable food and plants, which spoil or leak in transit. Keep irreplaceable or urgent items with you in the car, including passports, documents, medications, jewellery and valuables, rather than loading them on the truck.

Is it worth paying for professional packing?

It depends on your time, budget and how much you are moving. Professional packing is fast, uses the right materials and can be covered by transit protection, which is handy for large homes, tight timelines or a lot of fragile items. If you would rather do it yourself, this guide covers the method, and you can always ask your removalist to pack just the fragile or bulky items.

How do I pack for an interstate move?

Pack even more ruthlessly for a long-haul move, because interstate freight is priced by the space it takes up, so every box you do not move saves money. Wrap fragile items thoroughly, since they travel further, and keep essentials and valuables with you in the car. If your dates are flexible, ask about a backload, which shares truck space and can cut the cost significantly.

Sources & methodology

• Australians who moved house (about 1 in 7, or 14%, in the year before the 2021 Census). Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 Census population mobility data. Source: abs.gov.au.
• Moving-day pattern (about 81% of moves on a weekday; Monday, Thursday and Friday busiest). Instamove CRM booking-list, day of week of scheduled moves over the trailing 12 months (1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026).
• Removalists and dangerous goods, and use of an accredited removalist. Australian Furniture Removers Association (AFRA), the industry accreditation body; Instamove is a member. Source: afra.com.au.
• Box-quantity ranges and good-planning numbers. Indicative guidance; packing-material guidance is industry rule of thumb.

Each customer-facing figure appears once, anchored to its source. Instamove CRM figures reflect our own booking mix and are indicative, not market-wide averages. Percentages are rounded to whole numbers in the body.