More than just about anything else, packing well is essential for an overall successful move.

Certainly a moving company can take care of this for you – but sometimes, you want to do it yourself. See our packing guide below for tips on a DIY move.

At North American Van Lines, we want to make your moving experience as painless as possible. While we offer packing services, we understand that some customers prefer to do the packing themselves. That’s why we’ve provided the following packing guide to help ensure you have a smooth cross country moving experience. Pick a room, and our packing guide will explain how to best pack what you’re likely to find there.

Simply click on each room for a step-by-step guide on getting it packed up correctly!

Garage/Hobby Room/Storage

Garages and storage sheds typically take the longest to prepare for moving, as they are filled with odd-shaped, sharp or heavy items that require special care to pack correctly.

Home Office/Den

Label cords and cables so you’ll know which goes where, and pack them in the same box as the electronic equipment they go with.

Bedroom/Nursery/Bathroom

Start packing your bedrooms for moving by tackling less-used guest rooms first. Children can help by setting aside the toys and books they want to take with them and packing the rest in boxes.

Dining Room

The dining room will generally include your most fragile china and crystal stemware. Moving professionals recommend that each item should be carefully wrapped in paper and placed in dish-pack moving cartons; cellular dividers are recommended for stemware.

Kitchen/Laundry Room

Once you know you’re moving, you can begin packing your kitchen almost immediately. Start with your less-used serving dishes, seasonal items, and small appliances.

Moving Appliances

When preparing large appliances for moving, it is important that they be clean and dry to avoid the buildup of mildew and mold.

Non-transportable Items

You should transport valuable and irreplaceable items with you rather than on the truck.

Types of Boxes

No matter what you’re trying to pack, we have the box. Our boxes come in all different strengths and sizes to help ensure safe and efficient moving.