Moving in 5 steps:
- Pack what you use the least first, and take the opportunity to throw away or donate items.
- Prepare a box for the first day.
- Books and heavy things go in small boxes; fill any gaps.
- Label every box on several sides with its destination room.
- Dismantle furniture and store the screws in small bags taped to each piece of furniture.
Moving on your own can be intimidating: boxes everywhere, the feeling that you’ll never finish packing… We know it well. We have been selling moving supplies for over ten years and have supported thousands of customers in the middle of their relocation.
These 15 tips come from all that experience. They aren't theory — they are what works when you move without a moving company. And if you want to get your materials sorted in one go, here you have our complete moving packs with boxes, tape, and bubble wrap included.
Before packing: plan a little
Half of the chaos of a move is decided before assembling the first box. Three things that change everything:
1. Pack what you use the least first
Off-season clothes, attic storage, decorations, the food processor used for special occasions. All of that can be in boxes weeks before the move. Leave only the essentials for last: a few plates, two pans, your toiletries.
This way, you spread the effort over several days, rather than one heroic night.
2. Take the opportunity to declutter (and donate)
Moving is the best filter: what you haven't used in a year is probably unnecessary. NGOs and associations collect clothing, furniture, and toys in good condition. Between throwing away and donating, choose to donate — you move lighter and someone else gets to use them.
Fewer things mean fewer boxes, fewer trips, and less to unpack upon arrival.
3. Prepare a first-day box
A box or suitcase with the essentials for the first 24 hours: sheets, a towel, chargers, toilet paper, some dishes, coffee. The classic mistake is having everything perfectly packed… and not knowing which box the coffee maker is in.
Label it clearly and keep it with you, not at the bottom of the van.
Packing like a pro
4. Books, in small boxes
Paper weighs a lot: a medium box full of books can easily exceed 20 kg. Use small boxes and label them by topic ("kitchen", "novels"…). Your back — and whoever comes to help you — will thank you. Here we explain how much weight a box can hold depending on its cardboard.
5. Fill the gaps in each box
A box with air inside will dent and let the contents shift. Crumpled kraft paper, bubble wrap, or even towels and bedding serve as cushioning. We have materials for filling and protection, and if you prefer to avoid plastic, here are some eco-friendly alternatives to bubble wrap.
6. Don't seal boxes too early
Finish the category before sealing: if you pack the kitchen, pack all the kitchenware. Closing boxes halfway leads to three "misc. kitchen" boxes that are impossible to unpack. And when you do seal them, use an H-taping pattern — we show you how in how to seal a box so it holds more weight.
7. Label on multiple sides
Use a thick marker, write the contents and the destination room on at least two sides and the top. When stacked, you only see the sides, so labeling only the lid is useless.
If something is delicate, add "FRAGILE" and upward-pointing arrows — here are all the packaging symbols that any transporter understands.
8. Mirrors, paintings, and glass, handle with care
X-tape over the glass, protected corners, a layer of bubble wrap, and a fitted flat box. This is the classic item that arrives broken when improvisation is involved. We have a step-by-step guide for packing paintings and mirrors and specific telescopic boxes.
9. Hanging clothes go in wardrobe boxes
Wardrobe boxes come with a bar: clothes go from the old closet to the new one without folding or ironing. For everything else, use large boxes or vacuum bags — clothes take up a lot of space but weigh very little.
The 60×40×40 cm box with handles is good for clothes; hanging clothes go in the cardboard wardrobe.
10. Stack everything in one space
Reserve a room or a corner as the "box zone": heavy on the bottom, light on top, corners aligned. The house remains livable, and when it comes time to load, everything is together. More tips on how to organize boxes for a move.
Furniture and appliances
11. Dismantle everything you can
Table legs, bed bases, shelving units. Dismantled, they take up half the space and are less likely to be hit. Take photos of the process: you’ll be the one reading the assembly tutorial in a week.
12. Store screws in bags attached to the furniture
Every piece of furniture gets its own bag of screws and Allen keys, taped to the furniture itself in a non-visible area. The drama of "the bed base screws" is 100% avoidable.
13. Never put tape directly on furniture
The adhesive leaves marks or peels off the varnish. First apply a layer of film or cardboard, and then put the tape over that layer. For large surfaces, corrugated cardboard in a roll works very well: it protects and is easy to secure.
D-Day and arrival
14. Each box, straight to its room
When unloading, each box goes to its destination room — that’s why we labeled them in tip 7. And unpack by priority: kitchen and beds on the first day; paintings can wait a week without taking offense.
15. Celebrate the finish
An improvised dinner on boxes, a toast, your favorite takeout food. Seriously: end the day with something pleasant. A move you did yourself deserves its own little tribute.
Infographic with the 15 moving tips
A visual summary of the above, to save or share:
How many boxes and what material do you need?
It depends on the size of the house. Our moving box calculator gives you the number in a minute; our moving packs already have boxes, tape, and bubble wrap combined. If you prefer to look around, we also cover where to find free cardboard boxes.
If you hire transport and something arrives damaged: guide to filing a claim for moving damages.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to pack a house?
For a two-bedroom apartment, allow two or three days working at intervals, or one intense weekend, starting with what you use least. The kitchen is always the slowest part: plates, glasses, and "drawer stuff."
How many boxes do I need for a move?
Between 20 and 40 for a two-bedroom apartment, depending on how much you have accumulated. With the TeleCajas box calculator, you can fine-tune it by room in a minute.
Which box size is best for moving?
A combination: small for dense items (books, tableware), medium for general items, and large only for light things, like clothes or duvets. No box should exceed 15-20 kg. Here is the box size guide.
Where do I buy moving supplies?
At TeleCajas, we offer complete packs and over 40 sizes of boxes. Free shipping from €50 in the peninsula (ES+PT), flat rate of €50 for the Balearic Islands, VAT included, and no minimum order.
Your move, with the material sorted
If you have any questions about which boxes or how many to get, message us on WhatsApp at +34 665 53 23 58 with an idea of your house size and we’ll get it sorted for you in a moment.
