This room-by-room packing supply guide lists exactly what to buy for the kitchen, bedrooms, living room, and fragile items. Each room needs a different mix of boxes and wrap. Get the mix right and packing goes faster with less damage.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Kitchen Packing Supplies
The kitchen takes the longest and breaks the most. It holds glass, weight, and odd shapes in one room. Start here two weeks out.
Need packing help or a full-service move? Request a LiteMovers estimate or call (610) 755-5535.
Kitchen
- ✓U-Haul Dish Packing Kit — plates, bowls, and saucers each get a cell; no plate touches another.
- ✓U-Haul Glass Packing Kit — stemware and glasses, each in a foam pouch and cell.
- ✓U-Haul Packing Paper, 500 sheets — wrap every item and crumple sheets to fill gaps.
- ✓U-Haul Medium Moving Boxes, 10-pack — pots, pans, small appliances, and pantry goods.
- ✓U-Haul Small Moving Boxes, 10-pack — canned goods, spices, and heavy ceramics.
- ✓U-Haul Paper Box Tape, 3 rolls — tape bottoms with two strips, in an H pattern.
Rather skip the shopping? Request a LiteMovers estimate or call (610) 755-5535.
- ✓Stand plates on edge like records. Flat stacks crack from the bottom.
- ✓Fill every gap with crumpled paper. A box that rattles will break.
- ✓Pack knives in a folded dish towel, then in a small box marked SHARP.
- ✓Use up open food. Liquids and open bottles should not ride on the truck.
Bedroom Packing Supplies
Bedrooms are mostly soft goods, so they pack fast. The two problem items are the mattress and the closet.
Need packing help or a full-service move? Request a LiteMovers estimate or call (610) 755-5535.
Bedrooms
- ✓U-Haul Shorty Wardrobe Boxes, 3-pack — clothes stay on hangers; three boxes for an average adult closet.
- ✓U-Haul Queen Mattress Bag — keeps the mattress clean on the truck; pick the size you own.
- ✓U-Haul Large Moving Boxes, 10-pack — bedding, pillows, and comforters; light and bulky.
- ✓U-Haul Medium Moving Boxes, 10-pack — folded clothes, shoes, and nightstand contents.
- ✓U-Haul Stretch Wrap, 15 in x 1000 ft — wrap dressers so the drawers stay shut and full.
Rather skip the shopping? Request a LiteMovers estimate or call (610) 755-5535.
Living Room and Home Office Supplies
This room mixes screens, glass, art, and books. Each needs its own box type.
Need packing help or a full-service move? Request a LiteMovers estimate or call (610) 755-5535.
Living room and office
- ✓U-Haul Large Bubble Roll, 100 ft — TVs, monitors, framed art, and glass shelves.
- ✓Foam Corner Guards for Frames, 32 pieces — picture frames and mirrors; protects corners in the box.
- ✓U-Haul Small Moving Boxes, 10-pack — books, records, files, and game consoles.
- ✓U-Haul Medium Moving Boxes, 10-pack — lamps without shades, decor, and cables in bags.
- ✓U-Haul Moving Blanket, 68 x 85 in — wrap the TV, then wrap the coffee table glass.
Rather skip the shopping? Request a LiteMovers estimate or call (610) 755-5535.
- ✓Photograph the back of the TV and router before you unplug anything.
- ✓Bag each device’s cords and remote. Tape the bag to the device.
- ✓Lampshades go in a large box by themselves, with paper around them, never on top of the lamp.
Fragile Items: Art, Mirrors, Lamps, and Glass
Fragile items need three things: a hard outer layer, a soft inner layer, and no room to move. Skip any one and the item breaks.
Need packing help or a full-service move? Request a LiteMovers estimate or call (610) 755-5535.
Fragile items
- ✓U-Haul Large Bubble Roll, 100 ft — the soft layer for glass and framed pieces.
- ✓Foam Corner Guards for Frames, 32 pieces — corners are where frames chip; guard all four.
- ✓IDL Cardboard Edge Guards, 20-pack — long cardboard edges for tabletops and glass panels.
- ✓U-Haul Packing Paper, 500 sheets — wrap lamps and figurines; fill the box until nothing shifts.
- ✓U-Haul Moving Blanket, 68 x 85 in — the outer layer for anything too big for a box.
Rather skip the shopping? Request a LiteMovers estimate or call (610) 755-5535.
Very large or valuable art should be crated. Ask about that during your estimate. Our guide to packing pictures and mirrors shows the steps.
Bathroom, Garage, and Basement
- ✓Bathroom: zip bags for every liquid, then a small box. Tape lids first.
- ✓Garage: small boxes for tools, large for sports gear, and stretch wrap for rakes and shovels bundled together.
- ✓Basement: medium boxes for holiday decor and bins only for light items.
- ✓Drain gas from mowers and trimmers. Movers cannot carry fuel, propane, or paint.
See what not to pack for the full list of items that cannot ride on the truck. For a deeper walkthrough of each room, read the room-by-room packing guide and how to pack a kitchen. Then check the box calculator or return to the moving supplies guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What supplies do I need to pack a kitchen?
A kitchen needs a dish kit, a glass kit, 8 to 10 medium boxes, 4 small boxes, 300 sheets of packing paper, and paper tape. Wrap each plate and stand plates on edge, never flat.
How do I pack a TV without its box?
Wrap the screen in a clean blanket or large bubble wrap, then slide it into a TV box or between two flattened boxes. Keep it upright in the truck. Never lay a flat screen face down.
What is the best way to pack clothes for moving?
Hang clothes in wardrobe boxes. Fold the rest into medium boxes or suitcases. Leave dresser drawers full of soft items and wrap the dresser in stretch wrap so the drawers stay shut.
How do I pack pictures and mirrors?
Tape an X across the glass with painter’s tape. Add foam corners, wrap in bubble wrap, and stand the frame upright in a box or between blankets. Large mirrors should go in a mirror box.
Do I need to empty bookshelves and dressers?
Empty bookshelves. Books are heavy and shelves flex. Dressers can stay full of clothes if the frame is solid and the drawers are wrapped shut.
Planning a move in Philadelphia, the Main Line, or beyond?
LiteMovers packs, moves, and stores for families across the Philadelphia suburbs. Get a real estimate from a real local mover.
Call (610) 755-5535 · Toll-free 1-877-798-8989
LiteMovers LLC · 307 East Church Rd, Suites 1 & 2, King of Prussia, PA 19406 · PA PUC A-8916211 · USDOT 2173383 · MC-888055
© 2026 LiteMovers. All rights reserved.
Comments are closed.