Packing Tips for Moving House: The Complete Room-by-Room Guide From Shellharbour Removalists (2026)
By the Shellharbour Removals team | Updated 4 November 2026 | 12 min read
What are the best packing tips for moving house?
Start 3 to 4 weeks ahead. Declutter first, then pack the rooms you use least and finish with the kitchen and bathroom. Use small boxes for heavy items, wrap fragile items in butcher’s paper, fill every gap, label each box on the top and sides, and keep an essentials box and your valuables with you. Never pack dangerous goods, and book packers if time runs short.
Key takeaways
- Most homes need 15 to 90 boxes, from about 20 for a one-bedroom to about 75 for a four-bedroom.
- Declutter before you pack. Every item you remove saves a box, packing time and money.
- Heavy goes in small boxes, light goes in big boxes. Fill every gap so nothing moves.
- Pack room by room, from the garage and spare rooms through to the kitchen and bathroom last.
- Keep with you: valuables, documents, medications and a first-48-hours box.
Packing tips for moving house: how long does it take and how many boxes do you need?
Short answer: a typical three-bedroom house needs 40 to 60 boxes and 3 to 4 days of packing. These ranges match published estimates from Australian removalists, and they assume one or two adults packing in evenings and weekends.
| Home size | Typical boxes | Planning number | Packing time (DIY) | Start packing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio or 1 bedroom | 15 to 25 | 20 | 8 to 16 hours | 2 to 3 weeks out |
| 2 bedrooms | 25 to 40 | 35 | About 2 days | 3 weeks out |
| 3 bedrooms | 40 to 60 | 50 | 3 to 4 days | 3 to 4 weeks out |
| 4 or more bedrooms | 60 to 90 | 75 | 5 to 7 days | 4 weeks out |
Add about 10% to your box estimate so you do not run out the night before. Decluttering first brings the number down. Your furniture is separate from the box count, and it is what your removalist quote is built on.
Packing tips for moving house: the 4-week timeline
Pack the rooms you use least first and the rooms you use daily last. This timeline suits a three-bedroom house. Shorten it for a smaller home or stretch it for a larger one.
Packing tips for a 4-week house move
4 weeks out: declutter and plan
Walk through every room and sort items into keep, donate and bin. If you have not used something in a year and it is not seasonal or sentimental, let it go. Book your removalist and order boxes.
3 weeks out: pack the rarely used rooms
Pack the garage, shed, spare room, linen cupboard, books, decorations and out-of-season clothes. Start eating down the freezer.
2 weeks out: pack living areas and non-essentials
Pack the lounge, home office, wall art, photo frames and the good crockery. Take apart furniture and bag every screw, taped to the piece it belongs to.
1 week out: pack bedrooms and the kitchen
Pack the kitchen except for daily items and keep clothes for the week in a bag. Label every box. Confirm your move time with us.
The last 48 hours: finish and prepare
Switch off, empty and dry the fridge 24 hours before the move. Pack the bathroom, bedding and your essentials box, then clean out cupboards and drawers.
House packing tips for a last-minute move (one weekend)
If your move is days away, work in this order:
- Friday evening: bin and donate fast, and collect boxes and tape.
- Saturday: pack the garage, spare rooms, living areas, books and wall art.
- Sunday: pack bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen, and set aside the essentials box.
- Consider packers: a professional crew can pack most homes in about a day.
What packing supplies do you need for moving house?
| Supply | What it is for | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Small boxes (about 41 x 30 x 44 cm) | Books, tins, tools, files | Anything dense goes here |
| Standard boxes (about 44 x 42 x 62 cm) | Kitchenware, linen, small appliances, toys | Most of your boxes |
| Wardrobe or lay-flat boxes | Hanging and folded clothes | Or use bags (see bedrooms) |
| Picture boxes and TV boxes | Art, mirrors, flat-screen TVs | Keep original TV boxes |
| Butcher’s paper | Wrapping dishes and filling gaps | Not newspaper |
| Bubble wrap | Glass, ceramics, electronics, artwork | Use over a layer of paper |
| Strong packing tape and a dispenser | Sealing every box | Buy more than you think |
| Markers and coloured stickers | Labelling and colour-coding by room | Wide tip |
| Zip-lock bags | Screws, fittings, small parts | Tape to the furniture |
| Old towels and linen | Padding | Pack them as you go |
Want the right boxes and paper delivered? Ask our team about packing materials.
Packing tips for moving house: how to pack a box properly
The golden box rules
- Heavy items in small boxes, light items in big boxes, so no box is too heavy to lift.
- Tape the base seam and side seams with proper packing tape before you fill it.
- Cushion the bottom with crumpled paper or linen.
- Fill every gap and leave no empty space, because half-empty boxes collapse and items shift.
- One room per box, and like items together.
- Do not overfill. The lid should close flat so boxes stack safely.
- Keep boxes liftable. Aim for under about 15 to 20 kg and mark heavy boxes clearly.
Safe Work Australia identifies manual handling as a common cause of strains and back injuries, which is why box weight matters.
Paper or bubble wrap?
| What you are packing | Best wrap |
|---|---|
| Plates, everyday glasses, crockery | Butcher’s paper, each piece wrapped |
| Stemware and fine glass | Paper first, packed upright |
| Ceramics, ornaments, appliances | Bubble wrap over paper |
| Electronics | Original box, or bubble wrap and tight padding |
| Mirrors and framed art | Cardboard sleeve or picture box, with bubble wrap |
Avoid newspaper for anything you wrap, because the ink can transfer onto plates and glass. Use it only to fill gaps where it will not touch your belongings.
Should you use plastic tubs for moving?
Use them with care. Some removalists advise against plastic tubs because they can crack under load and do not stack well in a truck. Tubs are fine for light, non-breakable items and for liquids kept upright. Ask us before you pack, and use cardboard for anything that will be stacked.
Moving house packing tips for each room
Kitchen packing tips for moving house
The kitchen is the hardest room to pack. Stand plates on their edges, wrap every glass, seal liquids and keep a first-night box. For the full method, read our guide on how to pack a kitchen for moving and our guide to moving a fridge safely.
Bedroom and wardrobe packing tips
Hanging clothes
Group five to ten hangers, slip a garbage bag over them with the hooks poking through and tie off the bottom. It works as a free wardrobe box.
Bedding, pillows and drawers
Pack doonas and pillows in large bags or vacuum bags rather than wasting box space. Light clothes can stay in solid drawers if you wrap the drawer front, but ask your crew first because many removalists prefer drawers emptied for stairs and tight corners. Never leave heavy items or breakables in drawers.
Living room and electronics packing tips for moving house
Take a photo of the back of your TV and any cables before you unplug anything. Pack flat-screen TVs upright in their original box if you have it, or wrapped in a blanket with cardboard protection. Wrap ornaments and photo frames individually, roll up rugs and tie them, and remove loose items from shelves. Some removalists treat TVs differently for insurance if they are not boxed, so ask us before moving day.
Bathroom and laundry packing tips
Seal bottles and put them in zip-lock bags, then in a plastic tub or a box marked “liquids”. Keep medications, toiletries and cleaning supplies for the first days in your essentials box. Run the washing machine empty, drain the hoses, and check the manual for transit bolts on front-loaders.
Garage and shed packing tips for moving house
Pack tools in small boxes and bundle long items like rakes and brooms. Drain fuel from mowers and trimmers, and disconnect and empty hoses. Gas bottles, petrol, paint and solvents cannot go on the truck, so use them up or dispose of them properly.
Kids’ room and pet packing tips
Pack the children’s rooms last and unpack them first so they have a familiar space quickly. Move Lego builds and favourite toys carefully, and involve children in deciding what to keep. On moving day, keep pets in a quiet room or with a friend, with water and a lead or carrier ready.
Books, art and valuables
Pack books in small boxes only, since a large box of books is too heavy to lift. Keep passports, documents, jewellery, medications and cash with you in the car.
What should you never pack when moving house?
Most removalists cannot carry:
- Gas bottles, petrol, diesel, paint, solvents and flammable liquids
- Aerosols and strong cleaning chemicals
- Fireworks, ammunition and loose lithium batteries
- Perishable food, and usually plants and pets
Keep passports, documents, medications, jewellery and cash with you. Confirm the full restricted list with us before packing day. If you move interstate, check each state’s food and plant rules at the interstate quarantine website.
Packing tips for moving house in an Illawarra summer
Many moves happen between November and February, and a closed truck can get very hot.
- Keep out of the truck: candles, chocolate, medications, vinyl records and plants. Carry them in your air-conditioned car.
- Book an early start, so loading and unloading happen before the afternoon heat.
- Carry water, sunscreen and an esky for your crew and your family.
- Seal liquids and toiletries tightly, since heat increases the risk of leaks.
What are the most common packing mistakes?
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Starting too late | Start 3 to 4 weeks out |
| Heavy items in big boxes | Heavy goes in small boxes |
| Half-empty boxes | Fill every gap with paper, towels or linen |
| Labels only on top | Label the top and sides, and add a room colour |
| Packing dangerous goods | Check the restricted list first |
| Packing daily essentials too early | Keep an essentials box |
| Not decluttering | Sort first, pack second |
How do you pack an essentials box for the first 48 hours?
Pack one clearly marked box or bag per person, and carry them in your own car:
- Clean bed linen, towels and toiletries, including toilet paper
- Kettle, mugs, tea, coffee, a few plates, cutlery and a knife
- Phone chargers, medications and a small first-aid kit
- Cleaning spray, bin liners and a dustpan
- Comfort items for children and supplies for pets
DIY or professional packing: what does it cost?
What does DIY packing cost?
Boxes, paper, tape and bubble wrap are the main costs, and you can lower them by collecting free boxes and flattening and reusing them. Your biggest cost is time. Allow several evenings and weekends, and more if you wrap everything.
When are professional packers worth it?
- Your move is within two weeks.
- You work full time or have young children.
- You own fragile or high-value items such as art or instruments.
- You are moving interstate or have stairs and tight access.
- You want packing and moving handled by one team.
One Sydney removalist publishes a range of roughly $400 to $1,200 for packing a three-bedroom home. Prices vary by area and home size.
Does moving insurance cover boxes you pack yourself?
Cover can differ for boxes packed by the owner and boxes packed by the removalist. Ask us and your contents insurer before moving day. You can also check whether your removalist belongs to the Australian Furniture Removers Association.
Packing services and removalists in Shellharbour
What our team can do
Our house removalists can pack, load, transport and unload your home. Our furniture removalists protect fragile and bulky items with blankets, trolleys and straps. For moves within the Illawarra, our local removalists work door to door, and our interstate removalists and long-distance moving service cover moves further away. Moving an office? See our office removalists.
For planning help, use our moving house checklist for Wollongong and the Illawarra. You can also read how to choose the best removalist in Wollongong, our furniture protection tips and about us.
Where we work
We move homes in Shellharbour, Shell Cove, Albion Park, Oak Flats, Warilla, Kiama and Wollongong. Call 0449 994 831 to ask about packing help or short-notice moves.
Frequently asked questions about packing tips for moving house
What is the best way to pack a house for moving?
Declutter first, then pack room by room from the least-used rooms to the most-used. Use small boxes for heavy items, wrap fragile items in butcher’s paper, fill every gap and label each box.
When should you start packing to move house?
Start 3 to 4 weeks before moving day for a three-bedroom home. Pack rarely used items first and leave daily essentials until the last few days.
How many boxes do you need to move house?
Plan for about 20 boxes for a one-bedroom home, 35 for two bedrooms, 50 for three bedrooms and 75 for four or more. Add about 10% extra.
How long does it take to pack a house?
DIY packing typically takes 8 to 16 hours for a studio or one-bedroom home, about 2 days for two bedrooms, 3 to 4 days for three bedrooms and 5 to 7 days for four. A professional crew can pack most homes in about a day.
What should you pack first when moving house?
Pack the garage, shed, spare rooms, books, decorations and out-of-season items first. Leave the kitchen, bathroom and your bed until last.
What should you not pack when moving house?
Do not pack gas bottles, fuel, paint, solvents, aerosols, fireworks, loose lithium batteries or perishable food. Keep documents, medications and valuables with you.
Is it better to use paper or bubble wrap?
Use butcher’s paper for everyday dishes and bubble wrap over paper for valuable or impact-sensitive items. Avoid newspaper because the ink can transfer onto your belongings.
Is it worth hiring packers to move house?
It is worth it when time is short, you have fragile items, or you are moving interstate. A professional crew is faster and may be covered differently by insurance, so ask your removalist.
Do Shellharbour removalists offer packing?
Shellharbour Removals can help with packing as part of a house move. Call 0449 994 831 or request a quote to discuss what you need.
Get packing help in Shellharbour
Shellharbour Removals has 11 years of experience moving homes, offices and furniture across the Illawarra. Call 0449 994 831 or request a free quote.