Packing can be a daunting task. There are so many sizes and types of packing materials to choose from. Where do you start?! Here are a few helpful tips about boxes and packing to keep your move going smoothly!

Small boxes are also called book boxes, for good reason. They are well suited to holding books! Filling boxes larger than the small/book box size with books is a recipe for disaster! They are difficult to lift, hard to stack in the truck, unwieldy to maneuver up and down stairs, and most importantly, very difficult for you, the customer, to move should you need to do so before or after your Austin moving company relocates you.

Use book boxes for books, CDs, DVDs, files, office supplies and anything else that will fit in the box! If there is space left over at the top fill it with some crushed packing paper so the top does not cave in when it is stacked in the truck. Your Austin movers do their best to put heavy boxes on the bottom and lighter boxes on top. Always label fragile items so that they are stacked on top and treated with extra care.

Medium boxes are good for clothing, small pillows and bedding, shoes, non-fragile kitchen items, small appliances, bathroom items (always be sure that fragile or liquid items are separated from everything else!), toys, games, oversized books that do not fit in the smaller box (but try not to fill the whole box with those unabridged dictionaries!), garage items and anything else that is not extremely heavy. Once again, fill unused space with crushed packing paper and label any fragile items to help your Austin movers keep your things in tip top shape!

Large boxes can be filled with linens, towels, pillows, clothing, shoes, plastic kitchen items, small appliances, board games, toys and other lightweight items. As always, fill any unused space with crushed packing paper so that your Austin movers can stack the truck most efficiently and be sure to label fragile items so they do not get crushed or broken.

If you have any questions or concerns about packing feel free to call the friendly office staff at Elephant Moving Company in Austin. Stay tuned for additional tips on dish packs and wardrobe boxes!

Get a fast, free Austin moving estimate now!

Here at Elephant Moving, your friendly Austin movers have noticed that everyone underestimates the number of boxes they will need when packing! So, below are some guidelines to help you prepare the supplies you need, as well as give you an idea of how many boxes you should have moving companies add to your estimate to give you the most accurate quote possible.

Remember, it is always better to overestimate! This ensures that the quote you get is truly a high end estimate. It will also help you when you shop for packing materials. If you are buying them yourself it is a good idea to take more than you think you need. That way you will not have to make runs to the store in the middle of packing. If you have extra boxes, many moving supply stores will buy back your unused boxes if you end up having leftovers. If you buy your supplies from a moving company, be sure to ask if they will take back unused materials.

Buying your materials from a moving company is also a great way to avoid having to lug the materials around yourself. Here at Elephant Moving we offer competitive prices and FREE DELIVERY! We can also deliver additional materials if you run out. If you have extra supplies, we will gladly take back unused materials when we come to move you. The cost of the packing materials you used is added to the final bill for your move.

1 bedroom: 15 small, 10 medium, 10 large + wardrobe and dish
2 bedroom: 20 small, 20 medium, 10 large + wardrobe and dish
3 bedroom: 30 small, 20 medium, 20 large + wardrobe and dish
4 bedroom: 35 small, 25 medium, 20 large + wardrobe and dish
5 bedroom: 35 small, 30 medium, 25 large + wardrobe and dish

Wardrobe boxes have a 24 inch metal bar that can accomodate up to 2 feet of hanging clothes. Elephant Moving sells these boxes and also rents them for the day. If you decide to rent wardrobe boxes, leave your hanging clothes in your closets until the day of your move. When your movers arrive they will hang the clothes in boxes, load them in the truck, and hang the clothes in the closets when they arrive at your destination!

Dish packs are heavy duty boxes that offer superior protection for your fragile items. Most standard kitchens need 5-7 dish packs and 1-2 bundles of packing paper. If you have a china cabinet or a lot of extra dishes/breakables you will need more of these.

Don’t forget the tape, markers and packing paper!

Get an Austin residential or commercial moving estimate now!