Moving is chaos. One day everything’s fine, and the next day you’re standing in a room full of half-packed boxes, wondering why you own so much stuff and why none of your tape will stick to anything.
Here’s the thing: most of that stress isn’t really about the move itself. It’s about being unprepared. Most people jump straight into packing without stopping to think about what they’ll actually need to make the whole thing easier. So they end up making late-night runs to the store, borrowing tape from a neighbor, or realizing halfway through that they have zero idea which box has their phone charger in it.
The good news? A little bit of planning — and a few smart purchases — can save you from almost all of that. Before you tape up a single box, there are five things worth grabbing first. They’re not expensive, and they’re not complicated. But they’ll make the difference between a move that feels manageable and one that feels like a disaster movie.
So before you touch a single box, let’s talk about what you should buy first.
1. Heavy-Duty Packing Supplies
This one might seem obvious, but hear me out — most people get this wrong.
They grab a few boxes from the liquor store, some tape from a drawer, and figure that’s enough. Then two days into packing, they run out of boxes, the tape won’t hold, and they’re wrapping plates in bath towels because they forgot bubble wrap even existed.
Save yourself the headache. Get your supplies sorted before you pack a single thing.
Here’s what you actually need:
Boxes in different sizes. Small boxes for heavy stuff like books (trust me, you don’t want to carry a giant box full of textbooks). Medium boxes for most everyday items. Large boxes for light, bulky things like pillows and blankets. And if you can, grab a few specialty boxes too — wardrobe boxes let you move clothes straight off the hanger, and dish boxes come with dividers so your plates don’t turn into confetti.
Real packing tape. Not the skinny office kind. Get the thick, heavy-duty stuff made for boxes. It’s cheap, and it means your boxes won’t pop open while someone’s carrying them down the stairs.
Bubble wrap and packing paper. For anything breakable — dishes, picture frames, lamps, that mug your aunt got you. Paper is great for wrapping, bubble wrap is great for extra cushioning around fragile stuff.
Why buy it all at once instead of grabbing more as you go?
Because running out of supplies mid-pack is one of the most annoying things that can happen. You’re in the middle of wrapping up your kitchen, you run out of boxes, and now you’re making an emergency store run instead of finishing what you started. Buying everything upfront means you pack in one smooth motion instead of constant stop-and-go trips.
Quick tip: You don’t have to buy every box brand new. Grocery stores, liquor stores, and bookstores often give away sturdy boxes for free if you ask. Just save the money on boxes and spend it on the stuff that actually needs to be new — like tape and bubble wrap, since used ones might not hold up as well.
Read Also: These 12 Genius Dollar Store Packing Hacks Will Save Your Wallet and Sanity
2. Furniture Sliders & Moving Straps
Now let’s talk about the stuff nobody thinks about until their back is killing them — moving your big, heavy furniture.
You know the drill. You and a friend try to lift the couch, someone says “on three,” and by the time you set it down, you’re both breathing heavy and the couch has somehow scratched a line across the floor. There’s a much easier way.
Furniture sliders are small discs you pop under the legs or corners of heavy furniture — couches, dressers, bookshelves, whatever. Once they’re on, you can just push the furniture across the floor instead of lifting it. No more straining your back trying to hoist a dresser off the ground. You just slide it right where it needs to go.
Moving straps work a little differently. They go over your shoulders and hook under whatever you’re carrying, so the weight gets spread across your legs and back instead of just your arms. If you’ve ever tried carrying a couch or a mattress by yourself (or with just one other person), you know how much this helps. It turns “impossible to lift” into “actually doable.”
Why bother with these instead of just muscling through it?
Two reasons: your floors and your body. Dragging heavy furniture without sliders can scratch up hardwood or leave dents in carpet. And lifting heavy stuff the wrong way is a fast track to a sore back — or worse, an injury that makes the rest of your move way harder. Sliders and straps cost way less than paying extra movers to do the heavy lifting for you, and they make the whole process faster too.
Quick tip: Not all sliders are the same. If you’ve got hardwood or tile floors, go with felt sliders — they glide smoothly without scratching. If you’re moving furniture across carpet, plastic sliders work better since felt can get stuck. Grab both if your place has a mix of flooring.
3. Moving or Renters Insurance
Let’s talk about something people almost never think about until it’s too late — what happens if your stuff gets damaged or lost during the move.
Here’s a surprise a lot of people run into: hiring professional movers does NOT mean your stuff is fully protected. Most moving companies only offer something called “basic liability coverage,” and it barely covers anything. We’re talking pennies per pound. So if a mover accidentally drops your 50-inch TV and cracks the screen, that basic coverage might only get you a few bucks — nowhere near what it costs to replace it.
That’s where moving insurance (sometimes called “full value protection”) comes in. It actually covers the real value of your stuff, not just its weight. So if something gets lost, broken, or damaged during the move, you get paid what it’s actually worth.
What does it cost, and is it worth it?
The price depends on how much stuff you’re moving and how far, but it’s usually a small percentage of the total value of your things — often a lot cheaper than you’d expect. And compared to the cost of replacing a couch, a laptop, or grandma’s china if something goes wrong, it’s a pretty easy trade-off.
Quick tip: Before you buy anything extra, check your renters or homeowners insurance first. A lot of policies already cover your belongings while they’re being moved, which means you might not need to pay for separate coverage at all. It only takes a quick call or a look at your policy to find out — and it could save you some money.
(Quick heads up: I’m not an insurance expert, so it’s always smart to double-check the details of your specific policy or ask a professional if you’re unsure what’s covered.)
Read Also: 12 Hidden Costs of Moving People Don’t Know That Will Come Back to Bite Them Later
4. A Labeling System (Label Maker or Color-Coded Labels/Markers)
Have you ever moved into a new place and spent three days digging through boxes just to find your coffee maker? Or your phone charger? Or literally anything you actually need? Yeah, that’s what happens when you skip labeling.
It feels like a small thing while you’re packing. “I’ll remember what’s in this box,” you tell yourself. You will not remember. By the time you’ve packed forty boxes, they all start looking exactly the same.
That’s why a good labeling system is a total game-changer. You can go simple with a marker and some masking tape, or step it up with a label maker and colored stickers — either way works, as long as you actually use it.
Here’s an easy method: color-code by room.
Grab a different color of tape, sticker, or marker for each room — like blue for the kitchen, green for the bathroom, yellow for the bedroom. Slap that color on every box that belongs in that room. Now, instead of reading tiny labels on every single box, you (or anyone helping you carry stuff) can glance at a box and instantly know where it goes. This is especially clutch if you have friends or movers helping you carry things in — they don’t need to ask “wait, where does this go?” every five minutes.
Why does this matter so much?
Because unpacking is way less stressful when you’re not guessing. You walk into your new place, boxes are already color-sorted by room, and setting up feels way more organized instead of total chaos.
Quick tip: Take it a step further by numbering each box and keeping a simple list (or using a notes app) of what’s inside each one. So box #12 might be “kitchen — pots, pans, oven mitts.” That way, if you need something specific fast, you’re not opening ten boxes to find it — you just check your list and grab the right one.
5. A “First Night” Essentials Kit
So, you’ve made it. Every box is in your new place. You’re exhausted, you’re sore, and you just want to relax. But then you realize your toothbrush is somewhere in one of fifty identical boxes, your phone is about to die, and you have no idea where you packed the toilet paper.
This is exactly why you need a “first night” kit — basically a bag or box of everything you’ll need for your first 24 hours in your new place, packed separately from everything else.
What should go in it?
Think about what you’d need if you couldn’t unpack anything else that night:
- Toiletries — toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, whatever your routine needs
- Phone chargers (maybe even a backup one, just in case)
- A change of clothes for the next day
- Any medications you take
- Basic tools — a screwdriver or wrench for putting together furniture or fixing anything small
- Toilet paper (seriously, don’t forget this one)
And don’t stop there — think about comfort too.
Throw in some snacks, paper plates, plastic utensils, and cups. After a full day of moving, the last thing you want to do is dig through boxes just to find a plate to eat dinner on. Having easy snacks and simple dishes on hand means you can eat without stress, even if your kitchen is still a pile of boxes.
Why does this matter so much?
Because your first night in a new place should feel like a relief, not another problem to solve. Having this kit ready means you’re not scrambling around exhausted, trying to find basic stuff you need. You already have everything right there.
Quick tip: Pack this kit last, so it’s the very last thing that goes into the moving truck — that way it’s the first thing you can grab when you arrive. Even better, if you’re driving yourself, just keep it with you in your car instead of putting it on the truck at all. That way, no matter what happens with the rest of your stuff, you’re always covered.
Bonus Quick Tips
Before we wrap up, here are a few extra things worth keeping in mind. They’re not full sections on their own, but they can save you some serious hassle.
Buy your supplies 2–3 weeks before moving day.
Don’t wait until the last minute to grab boxes and tape. Moving always takes longer than you think, and packing early gives you breathing room instead of a mad rush the night before. Plus, if you run out of something, you’ve got time to grab more without it turning into an emergency.
Don’t forget cleaning supplies — for both places.
It’s easy to focus all your energy on the new place and forget about the one you’re leaving. But most rentals expect you to leave things clean, and even if you own your old place, it’s just nice to hand it off (or sell it) looking good. Grab some basics like disinfectant spray, paper towels, and a trash bag or two for both locations so you’re not scrambling to find cleaning supplies packed away in a box somewhere.
Keep your receipts.
If your move is job-related, or if you’re able to claim moving expenses for any reason, hang onto your receipts for boxes, supplies, truck rentals, and anything else you paid for. You might be able to deduct some of it or get reimbursed, and it’s way easier to keep receipts as you go than to try to track them all down later.
Wrapping It Up
Moving is never going to be totally stress-free — let’s be real. But it doesn’t have to be a disaster either.
If you grab these five things before you start packing — solid packing supplies, furniture sliders and straps, moving insurance, a good labeling system, and a first-night essentials kit — you’re already ahead of most people. You’ll save your back, protect your stuff, and skip most of the headaches that turn moving day into a nightmare.
A little bit of prep now means a lot less stress later. So before you tape up your first box, make sure you’ve got these covered.
Looking for more help getting ready? Check out our full moving checklist to make sure you haven’t missed a thing.
Read Also: These 5 Cheap Items Make Moving Day So Much Easier