Quick Answer: Here’s how to pack for a move without losing a weekend to it: work room by room, use the right box size for what’s going inside, and protect fragile items with packing paper instead of newspaper (newsprint ink rubs off and stains). Below is a full room-by-room guide — click any item to jump straight to it — plus what you should never pack, and where to get free boxes in South Jersey.
Packing well isn’t complicated, but it is easy to get wrong. This guide covers the same room-by-room approach Aron Movers crews have used since 1958 — condensed into something you can actually use on a Tuesday night with a roll of packing tape in hand.
How to Pack for a Move: Jump to a Section
- What You’ll Need Before You Start
- General Packing Tips
- How to Pack Dishes & Flatware
- How to Pack Glasses, Stemware & Vases
- How to Pack Pictures, Mirrors & Artwork
- How to Pack Lamps & Lampshades
- How to Pack Books & Heavy Items
- How to Pack Clothes Closets & Drawers
- How to Pack the Kitchen & Pantry
- What You Should Never Pack
- Where to Get Free Moving Boxes in South Jersey
- Frequently Asked Questions
What You’ll Need Before You Start
Gather everything up front so you’re not making a supply run mid-pack:
- Boxes in three sizes — small for books and anything heavy, medium for most everyday items, large for lightweight, bulky things like linens and pillows, children’s stuffed animals
- Packing paper — clean, unprinted paper for wrapping dishes, glasses, and anything fragile. Skip the newspaper; the ink transfers to china and light-colored fabric
- Packing tape — a wide dispenser-style roll is worth the extra couple dollars over the thin stuff
- A marker — for labeling contents and the destination room on every box
- Furniture blankets — if you’re moving large or delicate furniture yourself
Where to get all of this without spending a fortune is covered in the free boxes section below.
General Packing Tips
- Start early. Pack the attic, basement, and storage areas at least a month out — those items don’t get used day to day. Save the kitchen for last since you’ll need it until moving day.
- Label every box on the top and at least one side — the room it’s going to, and “FRAGILE” with an arrow pointing up if it needs to stay that way. A box marked on the side only is useless once it’s stacked.
- Fill every box completely. A half-full box collapses when something’s stacked on top of it. Use crumpled packing paper or a towel to fill gaps.
- Don’t overpack heavy items. Books and anything dense belong in small boxes — a large box full of books is too heavy to lift safely, box and all.
- Skip packing in extreme heat if you can avoid it. Attics and un-air-conditioned garages get brutal in South Jersey summers — pack those areas in the cooler morning hours.
- Tape every box with three strips, not one. Run one strip down the center seam, then one along each edge overlapping it — on both the bottom and the top. A single strip down the middle isn’t enough; the corners are usually where a box gives out first, especially once it’s full.
If you’d rather not deal with any of this, our packing services let you hand off as much or as little as you want — from a few fragile items to the entire house.
How to Pack Dishes & Flatware
- Lay two sheets of packing paper flat on the table.
- Place one plate in the center and cover it with two more sheets.
- Stack a second plate on top and repeat — three or four plates per bundle is plenty.
- Fold the extra paper over the top and bottom of the stack, then wrap the whole bundle in one or two more sheets and seal with tape.
- Lay each wrapped bundle on its side in the box, packed snugly against the others — this is how a proper dish-pack box is loaded, and it keeps the weight spread across the whole stack instead of bearing down on any single plate.
- Bowls nest inside each other, two or three at a time, with a sheet of paper between each one. Wrap the nested set together the same way as the plates, and pack it on its side as well.
- Line the bottom of the box with crumpled paper first, and fill any remaining gaps at the top before closing it.
Flatware doesn’t need individual wrapping — keep it in its tray, wrap the whole tray in paper, or bundle it with a rubber band before boxing.
How to Pack Glasses, Stemware & Vases
- Line the inside of a small box with a couple of sheets of packing paper.
- Wrap each glass individually — don’t nest wrapped glasses inside each other, they need to be separate.
- Stand glasses upright in the box; they hold up much better than lying on their side.
- Stemware needs extra padding around the stem specifically, since that’s the weak point.
- Fill gaps with paper so nothing can shift in transit, then close and label the box “FRAGILE — GLASS” with an up arrow.
If you’re using liquor boxes with built-in dividers, they’re ideal for stemware — each piece gets its own compartment.
How to Pack Pictures, Mirrors & Artwork
- Lay out a few sheets of packing paper, overlapping them so they’re wider than the piece.
- Center the picture on the paper and fold the sides in over the front and back, taping down each edge as you go.
- For anything with glass — framed photos, mirrors — tape an “X” across the glass first. It won’t stop a break, but it keeps the glass from scattering if it does.
- Small and medium pieces can go multiple to a box, standing on edge, separated by a piece of cardboard between each one.
- Large mirrors and pictures do best in a specialty mirror/picture box, which is sized to prevent them from shifting or bending.
How to Pack Lamps & Lampshades
- Remove the shade and the bulb, and wrap the cord around the base.
- Wrap the lamp base in a layer of packing paper or a small towel, taping it in place.
- Box the base upright in a medium box with padding on all sides so it can’t shift.
- Pack the shade separately, in its own box that’s just slightly larger than the shade itself. Don’t stuff anything inside it — shades crush easily under any pressure.
- Label the shade box “FRAGILE — DO NOT STACK.”
How to Pack Books & Heavy Items
- Always use small boxes for books — a large box full of books is too heavy to carry safely and tends to fail at the bottom seam.
- Pack books flat, stacked like they’d sit on a shelf, rather than standing on their spines.
- Fill any gaps at the top of the box so books can’t shift during the move.
- Long-handled tools — brooms, mops, garden tools — don’t need boxing at all. Bundle several together and tape them.
How to Pack Clothes Closets & Drawers
- Hanging clothes go straight into a wardrobe box on their hangers — no folding, no wrapping, no removing them from the closet rod.
- Folded clothes can stay in dresser drawers for a short local move, as long as the dresser itself is emptied out enough to move safely and nothing fragile is stored underneath. Also ensure that the dresser is of sturdy construction, newer pressboard/particle board type construction doesn’t hold up well when moved full.
- Shoes and accessories pack well in medium boxes lined with a plastic bag in case of any moisture during the move.
- Don’t overload wardrobe boxes — they should hold clothes loosely enough that nothing wrinkles.
How to Pack the Kitchen & Pantry
Save the kitchen for last — you’ll need it right up until moving day. When you’re ready:
- Small appliances (toasters, blenders, mixers) pack well in their original boxes if you kept them, or wrapped individually in a medium box with padding around each one.
- Spice jars and small bottles should be taped shut at the lid before boxing, standing upright, packed tight enough that they can’t tip over.
- Canned and boxed pantry goods can go straight into a medium box without wrapping — they’re durable and this is a good spot to add extra weight without overloading a fragile-item box.
- Anything liquid (oils, sauces, cleaning supplies) should be sealed, bagged individually, and packed upright and separate from anything else. We request that customers take any liquid or chemical item themselves.
Kitchens tend to be the most time-consuming room in the house to pack, mostly because of the sheer volume of breakables. If it’s more than you want to take on yourself, this is one of the areas our crews handle most often as part of professional packing services.
What You Should Never Pack
A few categories of items shouldn’t go in a moving box or on a moving truck at all — for your safety and because licensed movers are legally restricted from transporting them:
- Flammable or explosive materials — gasoline, kerosene, propane tanks, fireworks
- Paint, paint thinner, and solvents — combined weight and heat inside a closed truck makes these a real hazard
- Aerosol cans — pressure changes and heat can cause them to rupture
- Perishable food and plants — most movers won’t transport these on longer moves due to spoilage and pest risk
- Important documents and valuables — passports, jewelry, cash, and irreplaceable documents should travel with you personally, not on the truck. Best practices are to have them completely removed from the house/apartment before our arrival
A licensed, insured mover will tell you this upfront — it’s one of the easiest ways to tell a legitimate company apart from an unlicensed one.
Where to Get Free Moving Boxes in South Jersey
Boxes add up fast if you’re buying everything new. A few ways to cut that cost:
- Liquor and wine stores — their boxes are heavy-duty, uniform in size, and often still have the internal dividers, which are perfect for glasses and stemware.
- Grocery and retail stores — ask a manager; most are glad to have someone haul away flattened boxes instead of breaking them down for recycling themselves.
- Local Facebook groups and Buy Nothing groups — South Jersey neighborhoods across Camden, Burlington, and Gloucester Counties are active on these, and someone who just moved in usually has a stack to give away.
Start collecting a few weeks ahead of time rather than trying to find everything the week of your move.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best way to pack dishes so they don’t break?
Wrap each plate individually in packing paper, bundle three or four together, and always pack them standing on their edge in the box — never flat. Flat-stacked dishes crack far more easily under weight.
Should I use newspaper or packing paper to wrap items?
Packing paper. Newspaper ink transfers onto dishes, glassware, and light-colored fabric and can be difficult to clean off. Plain packing paper is inexpensive and available at most hardware and shipping stores.
What size box should I use for books?
Small boxes only. Books are dense and heavy — a large box full of books is often too heavy to lift safely and puts a lot of stress on the bottom seam.
What items are movers not allowed to transport?
Flammable and hazardous materials — gasoline, propane, paint, solvents, and aerosol cans — can’t legally go on a moving truck. Perishables and valuables like jewelry, cash, and important documents should also travel with you rather than on the truck.
Where can I get free moving boxes in South Jersey?
Liquor stores are usually the best source — sturdy, uniform boxes, sometimes with dividers built in. Grocery stores and local Buy Nothing groups are good options too.
How far in advance should I start packing?
Start with storage areas — attics, basements, garages — about a month out. Save daily-use rooms like the kitchen for the last few days before your move.
Need Help Packing in South Jersey?
Now that you know how to pack for a move room by room, Aron Movers offers flexible packing services across South Jersey — from a few fragile items to the entire house. We regularly serve Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, Collingswood, and communities throughout Camden County, Burlington County, and Gloucester County. If you’re moving into a South Jersey apartment or condo, our apartment moving guide covers what to know about elevator reservations and building requirements.
Call 856-854-1993, or request a free quote today.
Written by Joe Branco, CEO of Aron Movers — a third-generation, family-owned moving company serving South Jersey since 1958.