Written by Move and Care Team
Edited and Fact Checked by Taras Kim
Updated: April 18, 2024
Moving soon? One of the biggest questions you might have is “When should I start packing?” Begin too late and you risk a last-minute scramble; start too early and you could be digging through boxes for your toothbrush. The sweet spot lies in planning ahead weeks in advance – generally, about 3 to 4 weeks before moving day is ideal to begin packing in earnest. That said, every move is a little different. Below, we break down an expert-backed timeline to ensure you’re packed and ready without unnecessary stress.
Why Starting Early Matters
Packing almost always takes more time than expected. You’ll uncover more belongings as you go (attics, closets and “junk drawers” tend to hide a lot!) and careful packing is time-consuming. By giving yourself a good head start, you can sort through your items thoughtfully and avoid tossing things into boxes at the eleventh hour. On the flip side, you don’t want to live out of boxes for too long.
The trick is to start early enough to pace yourself, but not so early that your daily essentials are packed away.
For most people, beginning the packing process about a month out hits that balance. If you have a larger home or many possessions, err on the side of starting a bit earlier (five to six weeks out to tackle decluttering, for example). For a smaller apartment, two to three weeks might suffice for packing, but use any extra time to organize and prepare.
Your Packing Timeline
Use this timeline as a guideline for when to pack what before your move:
-
6–8 Weeks Before Move: Plan and Purge.
It’s typically too soon to pack most items, but it’s the perfect time to prep. Take inventory of your belongings and declutter aggressively. Go through each room and set aside anything you don’t use or need anymore. Sell items of value, donate usable goods, and toss the true junk. Fewer belongings mean less to pack and move, so you’ll save time and money. This is also when you should research and book movers or a moving truck if you haven’t already. Nail down your moving date and make any necessary travel arrangements. By the end of this phase, you should have a leaner household and a clear plan for moving day. -
4 Weeks Before Move: Gather Supplies & Pack Non-Essentials.
One month out, start packing the things you won’t miss for a while. Begin with non-essentials and seasonal items: think books, décor, wall art, out-of-season clothes, spare linens, most of the garage/basement items, and infrequently used kitchenware. Have plenty of boxes, packing paper or bubble wrap, tape, and markers on hand to stay organized. (Pro tip: as you fill boxes, label each one with its destination room and a brief description of contents—this will make unpacking much easier.) At this stage, aim to tackle a couple of boxes a day. Packing little by little over a few weeks is far easier than cramming it all into one marathon session. -
2–3 Weeks Before Move: Pick Up the Pace – Pack Almost Everything.
Around the 3-week mark, it’s time to “kick it into high gear.” By now, a good chunk of your stuff should already be boxed up. In the next week or two, focus on packing the bulk of your household items. Start emptying out each room, one area at a time. You’ll still leave out daily necessities (we’ll get to those), but most other items should be packed by the one-week-to-go point. If you haven’t already, disassemble any furniture that you won’t need in the final days (for example, that spare bed in the guest room or an infrequently used desk). Continue to declutter as you pack – if you find things you missed in the first purge that you clearly don’t want to haul to the new place, set them aside to donate or discard now. With about two weeks left, also take care of administrative tasks: confirm details with your movers or truck rental, notify utility companies of your upcoming move, and arrange any necessary services for the new home. By the end of this phase, your home should look pretty sparse, with mostly just furniture and daily-use items still unpacked. -
1 Week Before Move: Pack Essentials Last.
In the final week before moving, you’ll pack up the remaining odds and ends that you’ve been using up until now. A good rule is to pretend you’re going on a week-long trip: what items would you need to live out of a suitcase for seven days? Pull those essential things aside – a week’s worth of clothes, toiletries, everyday dishes, a few basic cooking tools, important electronics, children’s favorite toys or books, etc. – and keep them accessible. Everything else can be packed. By two or three days before your move, you should be down to bare minimum living: maybe a couple of cooking pots, your current week’s wardrobe, and some toiletries left out. Prepare an “Essentials Box” (or a few) with the items you’ll need immediately upon arrival at your new home. This box might include bedding and pillows, a towel, some toilet paper and cleaning supplies, phone chargers, snacks, and any critical paperwork. Mark this box clearly (and even consider putting it in your car instead of the moving truck). Finish packing all remaining items by the night before moving day – that includes emptying the fridge and freezer, packing up pantry food, and disassembling any last pieces of furniture. -
Moving Day:
By the morning of your move, you should be all packed up and ready to go. The only tasks now are to do a final walkthrough of your old place (check all closets, cabinets, and corners to ensure nothing is left behind) and then help/load the moving vehicle or meet the movers. Keep your essentials box and important personal items with you. Once everything is packed and loaded, take a moment to breathe – you did it! Now it’s off to your new home.
A Note for Last-Minute Movers
Life doesn’t always give a 6-week heads up. If you’re facing a move on short notice (say, within a week or two), don’t panic. The principles above still apply, just in a condensed timeline. Prioritize tasks: focus on packing first, since that’s the most time-consuming. Skip a detailed declutter (you can sort things out at the new place if needed) and grab supplies right away. Enlist friends, family, or even hire packers to help if possible. Start with essential and high-value items to ensure they’re secured, then work through the rest of your home as efficiently as you can. It’ll be hectic, but with a checklist and some helping hands, you can get it done.
Or just be ready to hire movers with professional packing service!
Conclusion
In most cases, start packing about 3 weeks before your move. This gives you ample time to do the job right without living in chaos for too long. Use the weeks before that for planning and purging, so when you do begin boxing things up, you’re only handling the items you truly intend to take with you. Remember, the key to a low-stress move is starting early and tackling a little each day. By following a timeline and staying organized, you’ll walk into moving day prepared and confident rather than frazzled. Every move is unique, so adjust the advice to fit your situation – but whether you have a studio apartment or a five-bedroom house, giving yourself that cushion of time is the best way to ensure a smooth transition to your new home. Happy moving!
Read our full packing guide!
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our team at
info@move-and-care.com.
