The Ultimate List of Moving Supplies for an Easy Move

While finding a moving company is important before a move, so is tracking down things like cardboard boxes and packing material. We’ve created a list of popular moving supplies to make packing easier. This expert-reviewed checklist has helped thousands of movers avoid common mistakes.

You’ll find everything from packing material and plastic wrap to accessories to help move large and small appliances on our moving supplies checklist:

• Basic packing supplies for moving
• Furniture and appliances
• Cleaning supplies
• Other small supplies

Putting together a list of essentials will help lessen the anxiety about what packing supplies to get. These are the essential items you can’t do without.

Boxes are pretty much the most important moving supply you’ll use. We recommend getting a variety of box sizes and types to make packing easier. 

• Get small boxes for heavy items like books.
• Get large boxes for light, bulky items like pillows or blankets.
• Get medium boxes with box dividers for fragile items like dishes.
• Get reusable boxes for things you'll store long-term, like seasonal decorations.

You can also find free moving boxes in places like grocery stores, recycling centers, and office supply companies. You can even post a request for boxes on social media. Keep in mind that used boxes might not have the structural integrity of new boxes, so pack carefully if you go this route.

Of course, you don’t want to just throw everything in a box. Use packing paper sheets to protect fragile items like your dishes. Bubble wrap works well for wrapping up larger or oddly shaped breakables.

Newspaper also provides a frugal, if less effective, option. Just hold on to your newspaper for a few weeks, or even ask your neighbors for their papers after they’re done reading. Just remember that newspaper won’t have nearly the cushioning ability of proper packing supplies, so avoid using it for really delicate items.

The cheapest option is reusing what you already own (clothes, towels, paper). If you have to buy something, look for packing paper and secondhand boxes on local community pages to get the best value for the cost.

• Household items: Towels, blankets, sheets, and clothes double as padding for fragile items.

• Newspapers and junk mail: Great for wrapping dishes and filling empty spaces (though ink may smudge).

• Cardboard scraps: Flattened boxes can be cut into dividers or extra protection.

• Plastic grocery bags: Work as lightweight cushioning for odd-shaped items.

Label your boxes as you pack. Everyone has their own method: some people prefer the simplicity of writing on a box, while others prefer to develop a color code using colored stickers. For a highly visible and clear solution, consider using colored box labels. Whatever you use, be sure to label the boxes on multiple sides.

While you might be tempted to get the cheapest packing tape you find, we recommend spending a few dollars more on quality tape. Cheap tape is often too thin to use easily, and it doesn’t have great sticking power. Stick to brands you’ve heard of. Use a tape gun to dispense tape quickly, and buy your packing tape in bulk rolls to save on the overall cost. You might not think you need much tape, but you’ll use more than you’d expect. And this nifty tape edge finder will save your sanity as the packing goes on and on (I wish I'd had it for my last move!).

As you load your moving truck, use cargo straps or rope to keep your items from shifting around. Unsecured items can move and cause damage. Cargo straps let you secure your items to the side of the moving truck or to each other. Just make sure your straps are thick enough to secure heavy furniture without breaking.

If you’re transporting furniture, you’ll want these supplies. These supplies help you move heavy items like couches and dressers without damage or strain.

Use furniture pads to protect your big pieces. Throwing a pad over your dresser can mean the difference between good-as-new and a huge gouge on top that you see every time you go to get socks.

While you can buy furniture pads, we recommend renting them. You can usually get a dozen pads for between $10 and $20 from a moving company—about the same cost as buying a single pad. Alternatively, you can use blankets as a thrifty replacement. Just don’t expect your blankets to survive the move unscathed.

Protect your mattress or couch with covers to keep warranties valid and prevent dust or mold buildup. These plastic covers slide on over your furniture to protect it. While these covers don’t offer much in the way of padding, they help keep your items clean and can prevent surface damage. Covers can also preserve your warranty on expensive items like mattresses. At a minimum, get mattress bags and couch covers. Just slide the covers over your mattress or couch, then tape them shut.

We recommend renting handtrucks and dollies from a moving company rather than buying them, unless you plan to move lots of furniture on a regular basis and have plenty of storage room. You can rent a dolly or hand truck for less than $20—far cheaper than it would be to purchase one.

If you’ll have to move bulky items up and down lots of stairs, consider using wearable moving straps instead of a dolly. These straps make it easier for you and a friend to move heavy items. Make sure you read the instructions to avoid injury from misuse.

Though you might not intend to dismantle your dining table, you may change your mind when you’re trying to fit everything in the moving truck. A simple tool set makes it easy to disassemble your table or any other furniture you need to deal with. Keep your tools handy for reassembly at your new place.

Stretch wrap has various useful applications in moving. We suggest using it to keep drawers closed on items like dressers and nightstands. You can also use it to protect furniture, especially wood pieces, from scratches and other surface damage.

Get your deposit back with these items. Don’t pack these too early—you’ll need them for final clean-up before turning over the keys.

Keep plenty of garbage bags on hand as you move. Use them to throw away trash or pack last-minute items. (They’re great for protecting pillows, for example.) Plus, if you have extras, they won’t go to waste. You can use your garbage bags at your new place.

A bucket is invaluable for deep cleaning. Most hardware stores carry inexpensive five-gallon buckets that you can use to clean. Make sure you get a bucket with a lid—after you clean, you can pack items inside.

You probably already have a broom, so just keep it handy during your move. You’ll want it to clean your old place and your new home. You should also use it to sweep out your rental truck after your move to ensure you get your deposit back.

These small, inexpensive items can make a big difference.

A utility knife makes opening boxes a breeze. Just be careful as you use your knife—if you’ve packed your boxes to the top, it’s easy to accidentally cut your belongings as you slice through the tape holding the box shut.

Your moving truck will hold almost all of your earthly possessions. Protect them with a sturdy padlock. While you can pick up cheap padlocks at any supermarket, we recommend splurging a little on a hefty padlock that resists picking and cutting. It costs a little more, but it’s still much (much!) cheaper than replacing everything you own.

What’s harder than carrying all your boxes and furniture to and from a moving truck? Carrying all your boxes and furniture with an injured hand. Invest in some work gloves to protect yourself from scrapes, cuts, and punctures. Your hands will thank you.

As you disassemble furniture, put screws, bolts, or washers in small plastic bags, then label the bag so you know what the hardware goes to. Keep all these bags in one convenient place so you can quickly find the hardware you need when it’s time to reassemble. Snack- or sandwich-sized bags work best for this.

You can also use gallon-sized bags to hold cords and cables. As you pack your entertainment center, for example, put your console cords in one bag and your receiver cables in another. As always, don’t forget to label.

Any well-organized move requires lots of labeling. Keep a permanent marker or two (or three or four) on hand to easily label anything. We suggest getting a Sharpie multipack, so you can leave a marker in each room. After all, you have better things to do than search for a writing utensil.

For the best moving experience, prepare for your move by gathering the proper supplies. Use our list to figure out what you have and what you need. Be sure to get your moving supplies ahead of time so you can be fully ready for your movers and enjoy a safe, well-organized move.

• Boxes (various sizes)
• Cushioning materials
• Labels and markers
• Tool kit
• Padlocks
• Gloves
• Cleaning supplies

Want to skip the shopping? Grab a pre-bundled packing kit on Amazon.

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