Packing and materials

The short answer

Packing well means starting early with rooms you use least, labelling boxes by room rather than contents, and keeping an essentials box separate for the first night. Materials range from free supermarket boxes to purpose-bought double-walled boxes for books and fragile items. Reusable plastic crates, available to hire from some removal firms, cut down on cardboard and are sturdier for heavy loads.

What materials you actually need

Standard cardboard boxes in two or three sizes cover most belongings, but books and other heavy items are better in smaller, sturdier boxes so they remain liftable. Wardrobe boxes with a hanging rail save time on clothes, and bubble wrap or packing paper protects fragile items such as glassware and picture frames.

• Small boxes for books and heavy items
• Medium and large boxes for linens, clothing and kitchenware
• Wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes
• Bubble wrap, packing paper and tape for fragile items
• Furniture blankets or covers for large pieces

A sensible packing order

Start with storage rooms, lofts and items used rarely, weeks before the move. Leave the kitchen, bathroom and children's essentials until the final days, and pack a clearly labelled essentials box with toiletries, chargers, medication and a change of clothes for the first night.

Labelling and inventory

Label each box with the destination room and a brief note of contents, and consider numbering boxes against a written inventory for insurance purposes if anything is lost or damaged in transit.

What it usually costs

Indicative ranges only, to help you judge a quote. They are not an estimate for your property — only the business doing the work can give you that.

• Basic cardboard box bundle for a two-bedroom home: roughly £40–£90
• Wardrobe boxes: typically £8–£15 each to buy, or available to hire
• Reusable plastic crate hire: roughly £1–£2 per crate per week from some removal firms
• Professional packing service if you would rather not do it yourself: typically £150–£400

What to do, in order

1. 1Order or collect boxes and materials at least two weeks ahead
2. 2Pack rarely used rooms first, working towards daily-use rooms last
3. 3Label every box by destination room and a brief contents note
4. 4Pack an essentials box for the first 24 hours in the new home
5. 5Wrap fragile items individually and pad boxes to stop shifting
6. 6Keep important documents and valuables with you rather than in the van

Local detail for the Lothians

• Narrow stairwells in New Town and Old Town tenements make smaller, lighter boxes far easier to carry than a few very large ones
• Reusable crate hire is offered by several removal firms operating around Edinburgh and can be collected the day after the move
• In flats with a shared common stair, packing materials and empty boxes should be cleared promptly to avoid blocking access for neighbours
• For moves to rural parts of East Lothian, extra padding is worth using for fragile items given longer, sometimes uneven, single-track roads

Common questions

Where can I get free boxes?

Supermarkets, off-licences and local shops often have spare boxes, though sizes vary; purpose-bought boxes are sturdier for heavy or fragile items.

Is it worth hiring a professional packer?

It saves time and stress, particularly for larger households, but self-packing is cheaper if you have the time and can start early.

Related pages

• Removal companies

  What removal firms typically charge, what affects the price, and questions worth asking before booking.

• Storage during a move

  What to do when your dates don't align, from short-term self-storage to removal firm holding.

• Moving home checklist

  A week-by-week plan covering everything from instructing a solicitor to collecting the keys.