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 accompanied thousands of customers right in the middle of their relocation.
From all that experience come these 15 tips. They aren't theory—they are what actually works when you move without a moving company. And if you want to get your supplies sorted at once, here are the complete moving packs with boxes, tape, and bubble wrap included.
Before you pack: do a little planning
Half of the chaos of a move is decided before you assemble the first box. Three actions that change everything:
1. Pack what you use least first
Off-season clothes, attic items, decor, the specialty kitchen appliance. All of that can be in boxes weeks before the move. Leave only your day-to-day items for the end: some dishes, two pots, 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 it.
Fewer things mean fewer boxes, fewer trips, and less to put away when you arrive.
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 tableware, 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 professional
4. Books go in small boxes
Paper is incredibly heavy: a medium-sized box full of books can easily exceed 20 kg. Use small boxes and label them by topic ("kitchen," "novels"…). Your back—and anyone helping 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 empty space dents and allows the contents to shift. Crumpled kraft paper, bubble wrap, or even towels and bedding serve as cushioning. We have materials in 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 utensils. By half-closing them, you end up with three "miscellaneous kitchen" boxes that are impossible to unpack. And when you seal them, do it in an H-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 to note the content and destination room on at least two sides and the top. When stacked, you only see the side, 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 mover understands.
8. Mirrors, paintings, and glass, handle with care
X-pattern 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 improvised. We have a step-by-step guide to packing paintings and mirrors and specific telescopic boxes.
9. Hanging clothes go in wardrobe boxes
Wardrobe boxes include a bar: clothes go from the old closet to the new one without folding or ironing. For the rest, 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 great for clothes; hanging clothes go in the cardboard wardrobe.
10. Stack everything in a single space
Reserve a room or a corner as a "box zone": heavy items on the bottom, light ones on top, corners aligned. The house remains livable, and when it's time to load, everything is in one place. More tips in how to organize moving boxes.
Furniture and appliances
11. Disassemble everything you can
Table legs, bed frames, shelving units. Disassembled, they take up half the space and are less likely to get banged up. Take photos of the process: you will be your own assembly manual in a week.
12. Keep hardware in bags attached to the furniture
Each piece of furniture gets its own little bag of screws and Allen keys, taped to the furniture itself in a non-visible area. The drama of "missing bed frame screws" is 100% avoidable.
13. Never apply tape directly to furniture
The adhesive leaves a mark or pulls off the finish. Use a layer of film or cardboard first, and then apply the tape over that layer. For large surfaces, corrugated cardboard rolls work very well: they protect and are easy to attach.
D-Day and arrival
14. Each box, direct to its room
When unloading, take each box to its destination room—that’s what we labeled them for 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 enjoyable. A move you did yourself deserves its own little tribute.
Infographic with the 15 moving tips
The visual summary of everything above, to save or share:
How many boxes and what supplies do you need?
It depends on the size of the house. The moving box calculator gives you the number in a minute; the moving packs come with boxes, tape, and bubble wrap already combined. If you prefer to hunt around, we also tell you where to get free boxes.
If you hire transport and something arrives damaged: guide to filing a damage claim for a move.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to pack a house?
For a two-bedroom apartment, allow two or three days bit by bit, or one intense weekend, starting with what you use least. The kitchen is always the slowest: dishes, glasses, and "junk drawer" items.
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 calculator, you can refine it by room in a minute.
Which box size is best for a move?
A combination: small for dense items (books, tableware), medium for general items, and large only for light things, like clothes or quilts. No box should exceed 15-20 kg. Here is the guide to box sizes.
Where do I buy moving supplies?
At TeleCajas, you have complete packs and more than 40 box sizes. Free shipping from €50 on the mainland (ES+PT), flat rate of €50 for the Balearic Islands, VAT included, and no minimum order.
Your move, with your supplies sorted
If you have any questions about which boxes or how many, write to us on WhatsApp at +34 665 53 23 58 with an idea of your home layout, and we will get you set up in a moment.
