How to Pack for a Move: Room-by-Room Guide (2026)

Packing is the part of moving that eats the most time — and the part where things get broken. Do it in the right order, with the right materials, and moving day becomes dramatically easier.

This room-by-room guide is the same approach our professional packers use across Metro Vancouver. Follow it and everything arrives intact.

Start with the right materials

Before you pack a single box, gather your supplies. Trying to source more mid-pack always slows you down.

• Sturdy boxes in small, medium and large sizes (small for heavy items like books)
• Packing paper and bubble wrap for fragiles
• Quality packing tape and a dispenser
• Markers for labelling every box by room and contents

Short on supplies? Our packing service brings professional-grade materials so you don't have to buy a thing.

Pack the least-used rooms first

Begin with storage, spare rooms and out-of-season items weeks ahead. Leave kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms for last since you use them daily. This staged approach keeps your home livable while you pack.

Room-by-room order

1. Storage, garage & closets — earliest; box seasonal and rarely-used items.
2. Living & dining — wrap decor, books and electronics; keep cables in labelled bags.
3. Bedrooms — wardrobe boxes keep clothes on hangers; vacuum-bag bedding.
4. Kitchen — the slowest room; wrap each dish in paper, stand plates vertically, double-box glassware.
5. Bathroom & essentials — last; pack an "open-first" box for night one.

Protect the fragile things

Dishes, glassware, mirrors, TVs and art need extra care. Wrap each piece individually, fill empty space so nothing shifts, and mark boxes Fragile — This Way Up. Flat items (mirrors, art) travel on their edge, never flat.

Label like a pro

Write the destination room and a short contents list on the top and one side of every box. Number your boxes and keep a quick list — it makes unpacking and spotting a missing box effortless.

Frequently asked questions