Guide
Does everything have to be in boxes for movers?
No, but anything small or loose does. Removalists move furniture, whiteware, beds and boxed items, and wrap furniture themselves. Everything that can fall out of a drawer, off a shelf or out of a cupboard should be boxed and taped before the truck arrives. Unboxed loose items slow the crew down, and on an hourly rate that is your money.
Last checked 19 October 2026
What do removalists expect you to pack?
The working rule most crews use: if they can carry it in one piece and it does not rattle, they move it as it is. If it is small, loose, fragile or in a cupboard, it needs to be in a box that is taped shut and labelled. That covers the kitchen, the bathroom, books, ornaments, the contents of the garage shelves and anything on a bench.
If you have not booked a packing service, assume the crew will not pack for you on the day. Most will finish boxing a few stragglers, but it comes off the clock at the hourly rate, and it is the slowest way to spend money on a move.
- Kitchen: crockery, glasses, pots, pantry food, utensils, small appliances
- Bathroom: toiletries, towels, medicine, cleaning products (sealed and upright)
- Living room: books, ornaments, photo frames, games, cables
- Bedrooms: clothes not on hangers, shoes, bedside drawers, toys
- Garage and shed: hand tools, garden tools in bundles, anything on shelves
What can movers take without boxing?
Furniture, beds, whiteware, large appliances and items that are already their own container. Crews bring blankets and wrap for furniture, and they usually take beds apart and put them back together if you ask when you book. Some things can stay where they are, which saves boxes.
| Item | Box it? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Clothes in a chest of drawers | Usually not | Many crews move light drawers full; ask yours first |
| Clothes on hangers | Wardrobe box | Moved on the hanger, hung straight back up |
| Bedding and pillows | Large box or bags | Light and bulky, so it suits the largest box |
| TV | Original box, or wrapped | Ask if the crew wraps screens; many do |
| Fridge and washing machine | No | Empty, defrosted and dry, with hoses secured |
| Lamps | Shade in a box | The base can travel wrapped; the shade crushes |
| Plants | Not in a box | Many removalists will not guarantee them; consider moving them yourself |
What will removalists not move at all?
Most will refuse anything flammable or dangerous: petrol and LPG bottles, paint thinners, garden chemicals, fireworks and ammunition. Many also ask you to carry cash, jewellery, passports and important documents yourself, because they are not covered by the mover's insurance. Check your removalist's terms, because the exact list differs between companies.
- LPG bottles, petrol, lawnmower fuel and anything pressurised
- Paint, solvents, pool chemicals and garden sprays
- Cash, jewellery, passports, wills and other documents
- Prescription medicine you will need on the day
How should boxes be ready for the crew?
Taped on the top and bottom, labelled on the side with the room and a few words on contents, and stacked near the door rather than spread through the house. Heavy small boxes go on the bottom of the stack and light large boxes on top. A crew that can walk straight in and start loading is a cheaper crew.
Moving soon? Tell us your house and we will size one kit for it, or ask for a removalist quote if you would rather not pack at all.