**UPDATE! Scroll down for a printable .PDF checklist to make your pack-up even easier!***
When faced with the daunting task of packing up every single one of your belongings in order to move (across town, across country, doesn’t matter), it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and have no idea where to start. I’ve moved a few times; I know the feeling! You have no idea when to pack what when you’re moving.
This past move, I had less than 3 weeks to get everything we owned packed up and ready to go, and I do believe I did a decent job of it. My DH felt like we had a few too many odds and ends that were moved as-is (by which I mean, not packed into boxes) when it came right down to it, but honestly, I’m not sure how most of that could have been packed in a box anyway. And I will freely admit that packing up the random stuff in the kitchen was down to the wire! But hey, I was working on a super-tight deadline, so I’m thinking I did pretty well.
A little de-cluttering might be helpful before you get started on your packing. Check out my inexpensive guide to de-cluttering all the hot spots in your house in just 10 minutes a day! Dedicate an entire morning to working through the guide and you’ll get halfway through your packing before you’re even started. Read more about it here.
When to Pack What When Moving
I’m figuring most people have about a month to move, maybe more, maybe less. I’ve come up with a 4-week schedule to help you focus your packing so you can have everything ready to go come moving day without stressing yourself out or feeling overwhelmed in the meantime.
FOUR WEEKS OUT
- Pictures and Other Wall Decorations - Although those are the things that make a house a lovely place to live, the truth is you can live for a few weeks without them. Into the box they go, first thing!
- Storage Closets - If it’s already packed in a box, then you’re in luck! Job’s already done. If not, though, this is the time to pack ’em up.
- Photo Albums & Scrapbooks - Nobody looks at these anyway except on special occasions, so this is an easy one to get out of the way.
- Books - Chances are you won’t be doing a lot of reading in the next few weeks. Just sayin’.
- Cookbooks - Any recipe you need is online anyway. (Plus you won’t be doing a lot of cooking either.) (Just sayin’.)
- Off-Season Clothes - Hopefully, these are boxed up already, but if not, now’s the time to do it.
THREE WEEKS OUT
- Table Linens & Fine China - Really, dining on fine china and table linens is the last thing you need to be doing about this time in your life. Stick to the bare table and the everyday stuff.
- Vases, Decorative Bowls, and Other Assorted Fragile KnickKnacks - Take the time to pack these carefully, and get started now!
- DVD’s/CD’s/Video Games - You might want to keep a few out if there are some that your clan plays on a regular basis and simply cannot live without. But chances are, their entertainment needs can be satisfied by the various digital options out there for the next few weeks.
- Coat Closet - Keep one in-season coat and one set of accessories (hats, gloves, scarves, sun glasses, etc.) for each person, but pack up the rest. Choose wisely, though. I wrongly assumed that my lighter jacket would suffice since it was the beginning of March. WRONG!
- Board Games/Puzzles/Toys - Don’t pack up the bulk of the toys yet, especially if your kids are little. But definitely pack up the board games and puzzles and anything they don’t use on a regular basis.
- Craft & Sewing Supplies - I promise, you’re not going to have time to use them until you’re settled in your new place.
TWO WEEKS OUT
- Jewelry - Keep out a few key pieces that you can wear with just about anything, and pack the rest.
- Toiletries - Leave out the bare essentials for the entire family to use for the next two weeks (current tube of toothpaste, bottle of shampoo, etc.), and pack up the rest.
- Knick-Knacks - Do you still have any knick-knacks out? Time to pack them up!
- Clothes Closets - Go through all the closets and pack up anything you don’t use on a daily basis: dress clothes, accessories, fancy shoes, extra purses, etc., etc.
- Linen Closet - Pack up everything except one set of sheets and towels per person. (You might want to leave out some blankets to serve as padding for the furniture on moving day.)
- Kitchen - Pack up as much as you can that you do not use on a daily basis. We’re getting down to the wire here, so start simplifying your daily cooking life if you haven’t already. Forget about baking bread, roasting meat, and cultivating yogurt for now. Pack all those supplies up!
- Office Supplies - Paper, envelopes, pens, pencils, stapler, hole puncher, etc., etc. Only leave out the absolute essentials (like a few pens or pencils).
ONE WEEK OUT
- Clothes - It’s time to start packing them up. Start by filling a suitcase with items you’ll need when you’re actually moving and before you’re settled in your new place. Then make sure you have enough clothes to last the next few days (consider adding some extra wash cycles in there), and then pack the rest. Leave a box open for each person in the family to pack clothes in as they come out of the wash (and as they come out of the woodwork during the move).
- Kitchen - Break out the paper supplies and pack up every single thing. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and order takeout. You’ll survive.
- Medicines/Remedies - Keep the essential ones handy and with you during the move. Pack the rest.
- Electronics - If you can’t quite bear to pack it all up just yet, downsize to one or two items (i.e., use your laptop for everything - gaming, watching TV, surfing the internet, listening to music, etc., and pack up all the other fun stuff).
- Miscellaneous - Trust me, there’s going to be a LOT of miscellaneous junk that just appears out of nowhere when you start packing. You’re going to have a lot of it,no doubt, at this point, so just pack it as you come across it.
- Toys - Have your kids each choose one set of toys they want to keep out for the next few days, and pack the rest. Keep a bag handy to pack up the toys they chose to save on moving day.
TWO DAYS OUT
- Curtains/Draperies - Run these through the washer and dryer. If you don’t have blinds, some of them might need to wait until the last day for privacy’s sake, but try to do this ahead of time if you can. Don’t forget to pack up the rods and other hardware.
- Food - Especially all the cooking/baking supplies. Anything that can be eaten as it is can stay around for another day or two, but the rest has got to be packed up. Give away frozen and refrigerated items if you are moving too far away to bring them with you in a cooler.
- Clothes - Put the last of the clothes through the washer and dryer and pack up everything but what you’ll need for the next couple days. (Make sure you have some grungy outfits set aside for moving day!) Keep a hamper or mesh bag handy to dump in dirty clothes to wash as soon as you’ve relocated.
- Laundry Room - Pack up everything but what you need to wash a few more loads and/or clean up the place.
MOVING DAY
- Food - It’s time for the rest of the food to be either packed up, thrown out, or given away. Refrigerated, frozen, all of it!
- Sheets & Blankets & Towels - First thing in the morning, start washing all your sheets and blankets and towels and pack them up as they come out of the dryer (or use them as padding for furniture and stuff).
- Random Assorted Junk - Trust me; it’s gonna be there. Have a few bags or boxes handy and chuck stuff in them as you find it.
- Furniture - Take apart the furniture so it can be easily moved.
- Cleaning Supplies - Clean the house so that the new residents can move right in, and then put all the cleaning supplies in buckets or caddies for moving.
- Clothes - Put the last of the clothes in those open boxes, then tape them shut. If you don’t have time to do another load, put the dirty clothes in the hamper or mesh bag as I mentioned earlier.
A note for moving day: keep personal items like important files, your suitcases, your purse, and anything else that you want to keep close, in your vehicle. Pack that up first so that those helping you move don’t accidentally put it in the moving truck. Also, leave a little space in your vehicle for those other random things that just don’t end up in the truck like they’re supposed to!
And that’s it! I’m sure I’ve missed something (knowing me, something major!), but this list should get you started if you - like me - are staring in dismay at all the stuff crammed into your living space.
If you want to keep this list handy, here’s a FREE printable .PDF file for you! Print it out, check off each item as you finish packing it up, and don’t miss a thing. I only put basic categories on this file, though, so keep this blog post pinned or bookmarked so you can get more detailed instructions as you work.
Need More Help With Your DIY Move?
Check out my other posts:
The one thing I would strongly suggests is that you have everything you’ll need at least for 24 hours. I plan for a pallet on the floor just in case. Shower curtain, hooks, towels, soap and trail size shampoo. Clothes, shoes and a light jacket. Meds and pet needs
Thanks so much for posting this! I found it on Pinterest. We are moving out of state in a little over a month and the hubs will definitely appreciate me having a plan of action!
Good luck with your move! Your hubs will be so impressed 😉
Thank you SO MUCH for this! I HATE moving with a passion, which is why we’re building a house next summer (2014). Hopefully it’ll be the house we live in forever… hopefully. This helps so much - I’m one of those that starts in a room and does that room… which never works out real well. I really like the organizing by stuff idea instead of by room since it gives you a chance to see just how much you have, and might want to get rid of, instead of limiting yourself to a single room. Thanks again!!
you’re welcome! How exciting to be building a house!
I wish I would have found this a month ago! We’re moving in three days and still have so much to do!!
Moving is a chore no matter what! Hope your move is successful!
Love this! Mom and I have moved once a Year since I was 7. You’d think we’d.Be better at it by now, but when I leave for college next year, I want.to do.it FAST
Every time, you learn something new!
So glad I found this! I was on track so far but with 2 weeks to go this will be a great help. Thanks!
Glad I could help!
For a previous move, I packed up the bathroom early on. Including the first aid kit. You can see where I’m going with this, yes?
Day of the move, I burned my finger pretty good cleaning the oven. The first aid kit was already at our shipping container across town about 4 boxes deep. An extra detour to a drug store to buy another kit and another bottle of burn gel made a stressful day extra stressful. But hey! Now we’ve got a kit in the car and the bathroom.
Oh yikes! Yeah, packing up the bathroom first thing is probably a bad idea! But at least it all turned out well
Thanks SO Much were moving in 3 weeks! This will be our second move. With our first the military packed and moved everything for us! Now were just moving to a new house and I’m 7 months pregnant this will definitely be a big help!!!
I’m moving in five weeks. I just stumbled upon your blog on Pinterest under home decor. I will be using this! Thank you so much for posting it! Now I’m off to get some boxes…
This list is great! And will help us greatly on our next move. I have other suggestion. I suggest making an open first box. Put everything that you will need to make your first night in your house enjoyable.
Great idea, Kristie! And glad I could be helpful.
LOVE this list! I plan to UNPACK in REVERSE!! Thank you!!
Great idea!
I’ve moved 4 times in 3 years because of work transfers and promotions and the #1 “trick” I use. Strip your bed first thing on moving day and wash your sheets. Leave them in the dryer. When it’s 7 pm in the new house and your life is in scattered boxes, you 1) know where your sheets are 2) know they are clean 3) know you will have somewhere to sleep
love this idea!
I found this at the perfect time! I’m moving in a month and started packing using your plan, I feel like I’ve already accomplished so much! This will get a lot of use the next few weeks
This list does my Type A heart good. Thanks for a helpful compilation!
-Kelsey
I have read lots of these Pinterest packing-to-move lists and this is the first time I have ever felt like I really COULD pack up a 2500 sq ft house packed to the gills with stuff and a garage even MORE stuffed and lots and lots of yard /garden/pets/pool/RV stuff…oh and a large storage unit too….. this actually seems do-able. Thank you for that.
I’m so glad it was helpful!
I agree. This article is big helper! Same situation as you.
thanks for the great list - now if I can just figure out What to do with all the ‘stuff” I don’t need or want to move.
I am SO glad I found this blog on Pinterest. Hubby and I will be moving at the end of March and I am already desperate. We have very few things and live in a very tiny 1BR apartment, but none of us is experienced in this moving “thing”. We moved basically twice and both the times we had very few things, including furniture, and also we had help (thankfully!). This time we will be doing everything by ourselves, since we have no friends or family around to help out, and won’t be hiring a moving company because we just don’t want to spend more than what we have to (I am very budget oriented). Having a concrete plan that I can start putting to practice soon will help immensely. Thanks for all the tips, I loved it!
We’re building our dream house and moving in June 2015….so glad I found this! I’m more than a month out, but that gives me time to plan and organize :). Thanks!!
Yhanks for the tips!..I am moving in three months..all bf sees is how much stuff I have….didnt say that when he moved into my two bedroom bungalow a yr ago …need to downsize to apt…empty nesters…so thanks again
Hey. I know this is an old post, but I wanted you to know it is so awesome! I am moving in just a few weeks and your list has helped me so much!!!! I look at it everyday almost to make sure I’m on track. This is the only packing time line I have found and it totally rocks! You are a rock star!!!!
Ahhhh! I’m sooooo glad I found this on Pinterest! I pinned it and saved it so I could look at it when I got to the 4 week mark. I’m now at that 4 weeks out and I’m feeling so much better about the process after creating a plan. I made a list of all the boxing categories so I am planning to number boxes and totes as I go and write down the numbers under each boxing category. Plus, I’ll be numbering them on color-coded labels to designate where the boxes are put in the new place. Yes, I’m that big of a freak!
This might just be the least stressful move yet!
Oh my this is the most useful list I have seen! Love it! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I used this last year when preparing to move across the country with my young family for my husband’s internship. The weekend before the move (on a Tuesday) we were able to take our kids and their grandparents to the zoo instead of frantically packing. This is an awesome list. I’m using it again now as we prepare to move to another state for his residency.
I used this the first time I moved, and I just wrote it down again for my second move! The best plan on the internet!
DIY move is may be the cheapest way to move and if you have the possibility and the time you better do it! As professionals (Man with Van Eltham Ltd.) in this sphere we can recommend you to make checklists of all the things you need to do and to organize everything from early! Thanks for the post!
Thank you so much for taking time to help others. This is a great list to have. The days are counting down to our move and most days I feel so overwhelmed I don’t get much done. Thank you for giving me a place to start.
Save money on moving boxes by asking local school janitors to hold boxes for you before they are discarded. Boxes from schools typically have not been used to ship perishables.
Thank you a thousand times for all of this info and the lovely printable cheat sheet. I’m moving in early September and although I’m excited to be closer to family I’m DREADING the actual move!
The last time I moved was prior to my MS diagnosis. I am lucky to be doing fairly well but fatigue and decision-making are both huge problems for me. I’m so grateful for life hacks like this one that lay out a good amount of detail along a very specific timeline.
With your help I’m hoping packing and moving will go a lot more smoothly than it would have if I’d just toughed it out on my own. Lord only knows what the movers would have rolled up to on moving day lol. I’m sure my apartment (and I) would surely have been scrambled, bedraggled and hugely disorganized.
The schedule is great! I am moving in 3 weeks with a two kids and a dog. I am a bit concerned how is everything going to happen but I’ve moved before also so I guess it will go just fine. The kids are positive about the move so I am relaxed. My problem is that I am very chaotic person and it is very hard for me to organize something. I will definitely take advantage of your wonderful schedule! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for this post, even if it is older! I received notice that my apartment building needs major renovations before it can be declared rentable - the entire building, not just my suite! Like thirty families have to move with less than a month’s notice so it’s very stressful! I will follow these instructions, thank you so much!
Thank you for the checklist and for the great tips! I’m planning a move for the beginning of the next year and your article is great, full of helpful advices and detailed information. It’s good to have an accurate plan, because well organized move goes smooth. Thank you again!