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Packing Supplies

Whether you are moving house on your own or are hiring a company to deal with the intricacies of moving, you’ll need packing supplies. Learn about the costs, types, and alternatives on this page.

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes



How Much Do Packing Supplies Cost?

Packing supplies are available in several places so prices can vary greatly depending on where you purchase them. For example, you can easily find boxes for moving from supermarkets or office supply shops, which tend to be cheaper than those that removal companies offer.

Packing Supplies Cost

The following table shows the average prices for packing supplies.

Packing Material
Price
Large Box (45cm x 45cm x 52cm)
£3.50 each
Medium Box (43cm x 43cm x 48cm)
£3.00 each
Small Box (30cm x 30cm x 48cm)
£2.50 each
Wardrobe box with hanging bar (51cm x 45cm x 122cm)
£10.00 each
Packing Tape (48mm x 66mm)
£1.50 per roll
Bubble Wrap (100m x 50cm)
£20.00 each
Packing Paper (500 sheets per ream)
£12.00 each
Moving Blanket/Cover (200cm x 150cm)
£5.00 each

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Assessing Packing Quality

Keep in mind, not all packing materials are created equal. Grabbing your supplies from a professional moving company guarantees you’re getting the real deal—packing supplies that are made to keep your things safe and sound throughout their journey to your new home. Sure, it might cost a bit more, but those top-notch boxes and cushy blankets can be worth it to make sure your favourite things get through the move without a scratch. Sometimes, investing a bit more in superior materials pays off in the long run.

Key Packing Supplies: What Do You Really Need?

Making sure your stuff is packed right is super important. There are all kinds of packing goods out there meant to keep your belongings snug and damage-free while they’re on the road.

So, let’s explore what kinds of packing materials are your best bet for a worry-free move:

#1. Moving Boxes

Boxes are the most ubiquitous of moving supplies, and the most important. Needless to say, you can’t finish packing if you don’t have any containers to hold your items (duh!). Anyway, in most cases, you’ll probably use corrugated cardboard boxes. However, depending on what you’re transporting, you might also want to consider using sturdier non-cardboard options such as plastic crates.

– Variety in Moving Crates

Moving boxes and crates come in a myriad of shapes and sizes, all designed to stack neatly, making them ideal when relocating. Quite likely you have a diversity in your belongings, which means you’ll need a range of box sizes—from large ones for bulky items to several smaller ones for miscellaneous goods.

– Specialty Boxes for Fragile Items

For those special items, there are boxes designed with their needs in mind. To name a few: Wardrobe boxes, for instance, let you transport clothes easily by hanging them inside (just like, well, in a wardrobe…!). Dish packs have compartments for securely moving cups, plates and glassware. And for artwork or mirrors, there are boxes equipped with foam pads to ensure they arrive without a scratch.

Q: How Much Are Moving Boxes?

The table below gives a fair indication of what you should expect to pay for packing supplies for an average house move.

Type of PackagingLikely Cost
Small box£2.50 each
Medium box£3.50 each
Large box £4.00 each
Clothes box with bar£11.00 each
High-quality tape£2.00 per roll
Bubble wrap£10.00 per large roll
Packing paper£12.00 per 500 sheet ream
Moving cover£4.50 each

Q: How Many Moving Boxes Will I Need?

First off, how much stuff you need to pack really depends on how big your place is. Living in a shared house with just your room to pack up? Then you might only need a few crates and a wardrobe box for your clothes. But if you’re coming from a bigger family house, like four or five bedrooms, you’re definitely looking at needing a whole bunch of boxes and protective covers.

#2. Wrapping Materials

You might think that placing your items inside your boxes is enough. However, without covering things with a protective layer, you’ll likely find that your items may be damaged or broken. This is where wrapping materials come in. Let’s check them out:

– Variety of Wrapping Materials

There are several types of wrapping materials to protect your fragile belongings. Packing paper is great for wrapping small items or crumpled up as padding. The paper won’t leave any marks so you can use it for even delicate items. Bubble wrap is another way of adding padding to protect your prized possessions. Plastic or shrink wrap, on the other hand, don’t technically offer any protection but are great for preventing items from moving around in the boxes. They also keep dust and dirt away from your things.

Q: How to Wrap Larger Furniture?

Finally, moving blankets are the most effective way to protect larger items such as furniture and appliances. Once your items are completely and properly wrapped, these blankets will prevent scratches or dents.

#3. Additional Key Materials

Other items you’ll need on hand are packing tape, labels, scissors or packing knife, and pens and markers. Good quality tape is incredibly useful since you should tape all boxes shut. Also, consider reinforcing the bottom of your boxes with tape to make sure nothing is broken.

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Packing can be a real drag, especially if you’ve got a ton of stuff to deal with. But don’t sweat it! Let the pros handle the heavy lifting and free up your time for more fun stuff. Be it for a few items or everything—you can trust removal firms to expertly handle the job.

Packing Supplies and Packing Tips for Removals

How to Make the Most Out of Packing Supplies

1. Why Label Moving Boxes?

Labelling your moving boxes might seem unnecessary. However, by labelling everything, it’ll be much easier to keep track of your items. You’ll know which room each box goes into as well as the contents of each box, helping you stay more organised and efficient during your move.

2. Can I Use Alternatives to Packing Supplies?

Moving house, with the price of a removal company and the actual cost of your new home, is very expensive. So much so that you’re probably looking for ways to save money anywhere you can. Luckily, there are savings available if you look for packing supplies from alternative sources. Here are a few tips on alternative packing materials.

3. Ask Friends and Family

If you need extra packing supplies, ask friends, family, and neighbours. They will probably have unused boxes lying around so be sure to ask them if they have any spare. If they have recently moved, they might even have leftover moving boxes, packing paper, or packing tape.

4. Source Free Packing Supplies from Shops or Work

Another great source of free packing supplies is shops and businesses in your area. Instead of purchasing boxes from moving companies or office supply shops, go to local shops or supermarkets and ask for any cardboard boxes they aren’t using. Usually, these just get tossed into the bin, so they should be more than happy to offload some boxes to you.

Also, try asking your workplace if you can take a few boxes for your move. Chances are, a few empty boxes are lying around that you can use.

5. Are there Environmentally Friendly Packing Options?

The big downside to packing supplies is that they are quite wasteful. Once you have moved into your new home, you’ll most likely throw away all the cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, wrapping paper, and packing tape.

– Reusable Boxes or Containers

Because of the large amount of rubbish, it’s better to choose packing supplies that you can reuse. Find plastic containers that also act as additional storage later on. If you have boxes made of recycled materials, even better.

– Blankets and Household Linen

For wrapping materials, use blankets, bed sheets, towels, and clothing. They are just as effective as wrapping paper or bubble wrap, just without the waste. Finally, a cheaper alternative to wrapping paper is old newspapers and magazines that are recyclable.

Packing Supplies Tips for a Smooth Removal

10 Smart Packing Tips for Your Removal

Discover our essential tips for staying organised while packing to move house:

1. Start Early

You might think that you can pack everything 2 or 3 weeks before your moving day. However, unless you have only very few items, this is probably unlikely. Instead of leaving the packing to the last minute, it’s better to start early. In general, begin packing around 2 months before your moving date. This should leave you enough time to complete the packing as well as other important tasks.

2. Make a Detailed Inventory

Before you actually start packing, you should go through each room one at a time and take stock of all your items. This is the time to go through each item and decide whether you’ll need it at your new place. You’ll need to determine whether you will keep, sell, donate, or discard each item. Group your belongings by room so that when you do pack and move, you’ll know where each box goes. In your inventory, also consider keeping track of the condition of each item. This will act as proof against your removal company if any items are damaged. Better to be safe than sorry!

3. Get Rid of Clutter

As part of creating your inventory, you’ll need to declutter. This involves selling, donating, or throwing away the items that you have previously identified. When going through your belongings, really think about whether you need an item. When was the last time you used it? Does it successfully serve its purpose? Is it worth it to keep the item?

This is one of the most difficult tasks of packing your belongings and you need to be strict about your choices. It is always tough to get rid of your items, especially if you have kept them for a long time. However, once you do declutter, you’ll likely be able to lower your moving costs due to lower volume!

4. Start With Non-Essentials

Since packing won’t be completed in 1 day, it makes sense to start with rooms you don’t use daily, to avoid disruptions in your daily routine. For example, start with packing your garden shed, garage, and storage rooms. In particular, seasonal items such as surfboards, skis, bicycles, and Christmas decorations can be packed up first. From there, move on to your living room, kitchen, and bathrooms, and then leave your bedroom for last.

5. Go Room-by-Room

When you look at all of the items to pack, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. The trick is to pack one room at a time. By taking your time and going through each room separately, it is easier to handle all the packing than tackling everything at once. This helps you stay organised and will make your packing go by much more quickly. Don’t rush and properly pack each room one at a time.

6. Don’t Overpack Your Boxes

On your moving day, there will be a lot of lifting and carrying. As such, it’s important to pack your boxes so that they aren’t too heavy. Don’t pack your boxes so that they are over 15 kilos—doing so will lower your chances of hurting yourself. The last thing you want on your moving day is an injury!

7. Label Everything

When it comes to packing, labels are your friends. You need to label your boxes with their contents and designated room so you can keep on top of all your things. Not only will the labels help you, but they also notify your movers about what they will be carrying.

8. Pack Important Items Together

Gather important documents and pack them somewhere that you can easily access. These documents include your passports, birth and marriage certificates, insurance papers, bank details, driving licenses, medical records, as well as lease and mortgage documents.

9. Packing Tips for Your First Few Nights 

Your first couple of nights at your new place won’t be the most comfortable. You’ll need a bit of time to settle in and have everything ready. That’s why you need to pack a survival kit containing items you’ll immediately need at your new house. This box might contain bedding and linen, toiletries, toilet paper, phone chargers, and tea and coffee—anything you need to survive the first few nights. Also, don’t forget to include box cutters and scissors so you won’t have trouble unpacking!

10. Source Quality Packing Supplies from the Right Moving Firm 

Ready to kick off your packing? Then it’s time to find the right supplies for your move. Rather than settling for the first removal company’s offer, explore various options, each one tailored to your needs.

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