How to Pack and Label Moving Boxes

Label the moving boxes on all four sides and the top so you don’t have to rotate them to see where they go. Use label packing tape that's preprinted with words such as "kitchen," "bedroom 1," "storage," "dining room," and so on. The advantage: you seal and label moving boxes in one step. The disadvantage: the tape is expensive.

You can use unprinted labels instead of labeling tape and mark the boxes with a thick felt-tipped marker. But then you need packing tape to secure the boxes. Buy a couple of extra markers because they can get lost easily during packing. Use colored labels and designate a different color for each room; then you can mark the label with the specific contents of each box to save even more time when unpacking.

Label boxes for organization within rooms when necessary. For instance, if a bedroom has two closets, label some boxes for “bedroom 1A” and others for “bedroom 1B.” Kitchen boxes can be packed and labeled according to numbered cabinets in a similar fashion.

Pack the moving boxes one room at a time if possible; avoid placing items from two rooms in the same box. This may mean that some boxes will not be full, but unpacking will be more efficient. Load the moving boxes into the truck room by room if possible to save time unloading the truck.

Label moving boxes "open first" that contain items you need right away at the new home, such as tools for unpacking, cleaning supplies, favorite toys and the TV remote.

Mark boxes "fragile" that have easily breakable items so they're get placed on top of other boxes in the moving truck and treated gently at the other end. To prevent the possibility of theft, don't mark boxes with words like "china," "silver," "antiques" or "jewelry."

Unload and place the boxes in their designated rooms according to your map. Make sure they're easily accessible yet out of the way of furniture placement and foot traffic. Give your helpers a copy of the map so they know where all the rooms are located and where the boxes go in each room.