Room-by-Room Packing Checklist

Packing room by room, rather than trying to do the whole house at once, is what actually keeps a move manageable — here's a practical checklist and the order that works for most homes.

Room-by-room checklist

• Storage areas (garage, shed, attic) — pack first; these items are used least and won't disrupt daily life while boxed.
• Spare rooms and rarely-used spaces — guest rooms, home office overflow, anything you haven't touched in months.
• Living areas — pack out-of-season items and anything you won't need before moving day, keeping day-to-day essentials out until closer to the end.
• Bedrooms — pack out-of-season clothing early, everyday clothing last; strip and pack bedding the morning of the move.
• Bathroom — pack spare toiletries and towels early, keep one day's worth of essentials out until moving-day morning.
• Kitchen — pack last, since it's used daily; leave out one set of plates, cutlery, and a pot until the final day.

What to pack first, and what to pack last

1. Storage and rarely-used spaces first, spare rooms next, living areas after that.
2. Kitchen and bathroom last — pack everything except what you need for daily meals and basic hygiene, then do a final box on moving-day morning.
3. An "open first" box, packed last, with the kettle, a few mugs, toilet paper, basic tools, and phone chargers — anything you'll want within the first hour at the new place.

Packing technique that actually helps

1. Label boxes by room, not by contents — "Kitchen" is more useful to a mover, or a tired version of yourself, than a vague description of what's inside.
2. Number your boxes and keep a simple list — even a phone note of "Box 1: kitchen, plates and glasses" saves real time if something goes missing.
3. Pack heavy items in small boxes, light items in big boxes — an oversized box full of books is a genuine injury risk, not just an inconvenience.
4. Wrap fragile items in plain paper or bubble wrap, not newspaper — newspaper ink can transfer onto light-coloured dishware.

Items that should travel with you, not in the truck

Keep these out of the moving truck entirely, and with you or in your own vehicle instead:

• Passports, ID, and other essential documents
• Medications
• Jewellery and other small valuables
• Laptops and external hard drives
• House and car keys for both properties

These shouldn't be out of your control during the move, and they're also the items most awkward to replace quickly if a box genuinely goes missing.

Easy to forget

• Items left in the fridge or freezer until the last possible day
• Curtains, curtain rods, and any wall-mounted shelves or TV brackets, plus the screws that go with them
• Anything in a safety deposit box or off-site storage
• Cleaning supplies — keep some out for the final clean rather than packing every bottle
• Outdoor items: garden tools, pot plants, anything in the letterbox

Your moving-day open-first box

Pack this last, keep it with you, and don't let it go on the truck: kettle, a few mugs, toilet paper, basic tools, phone chargers, and a day's worth of medication and snacks. It's the difference between a functional first evening and rummaging through a dozen boxes to find a teaspoon.

Pair this with booking your movers early — see our guide on removalist costs for typical pricing and timing.