Everyone thinks of moving supplies as boxes. But boxes are the frame, not the whole picture. What you wrap, cushion, and label with determines whether your dishes arrive intact and your art survives the ride. If you are planning a household move in the Twin Cities or Rochester, MN, the right supplies save you from replacing broken items later. Here is what actually matters when you are stocking up.
Boxes: Sizes and Strength
Not all cardboard is equal. A single-wall box works fine for lightweight items like linens and pillows. For heavy things like books, dishes, and tools, use a double-wall box rated for heavier loads. Buying used produce boxes from the corner grocery feels resourceful, but a bottom that gives out on the staircase of a Northeast Minneapolis walkup is a lesson learned too late.
Standard sizes worth stocking:
- Small (1.5 cubic feet): books, dishes, small appliances, canned goods
- Medium (3.0 cubic feet): pots and pans, small electronics, toys
- Large (4.5 cubic feet): linens, pillows, lampshades, light kitchen items
- Extra large (6.0 cubic feet): couch cushions, comforters, seasonal clothes
Buy more small boxes than you think you need. Heavy items in a small box are easier to manage.
Specialty Boxes That Earn Their Keep
Wardrobe boxes carry hanging clothes directly from closet rod to box, wrinkle-free. Dish packs (heavy-duty boxes with dividers) protect glassware and stemware far better than a general box stuffed with paper. Mirror and picture boxes are telescoping cardboard sized for flat, fragile items.
If you own a flat-screen TV, keep the original box. If not, ask your moving company about a specialty TV box or a custom foam solution. A screen cracked in transit is one of the more expensive box-savings mistakes a mover can make.
Pro Tip: For fragile heirlooms and truly one-of-a-kind items, consider a custom crate. Metcalf’s commercial moving team regularly builds and sources custom crating for high-value items; that same option is available for household moves when the piece justifies it.
Cushioning: What Goes Around the Item
Bubble wrap gets the reputation, but packing paper does more work in a typical move. Clean, unprinted paper is perfect for wrapping dishes, glassware, and small decorative items. Skip newspaper. The ink transfers to china, and cleaning it off at your new place in St. Paul or Rochester is not how you want to spend the first day.
Bubble wrap earns its place around electronics, framed art, and mirrors. Use small-bubble for delicate items and large-bubble for flat surfaces. Foam pouches are excellent for glasses and stemware. Moving blankets protect wood and upholstery; your crew brings their own, but a few of your own help during pre-move storage.
Preventing items from moving inside a packed box is essential, as space leads to shifting and potential damage. Use materials like crumpled paper, foam peanuts, or clean towels to plug any gaps. Give the box a shake; if you hear anything rattling inside, add more cushioning until it is firm.
Tape and Labels: The Difference-Makers
Cheap tape is a false economy. Use 2-inch clear packing tape, and reinforce every box bottom with an “H” pattern (one strip down the seam, one across each end). Skip masking tape and duct tape; neither holds up under weight or temperature swings.
Good labels make unpacking much easier. Write the contents and destination room on the top and each side of every box. “Kitchen: glasses, coffee mugs, tea” is much more useful than “kitchen stuff.” You can also use colored tape for each room—red for the kitchen, blue for bedrooms, green for the living room. This helps movers place boxes where they belong without stopping to ask.
Pro Tip: Buy a permanent marker with a chisel tip. Fine tips fade fast on cardboard, and you will label thirty boxes before you finish a single closet. Save the fine-tip pens for detail labeling inside boxes.
What Not to Buy
Some supplies get more attention than they deserve. Vacuum bags shrink clothes for a car trunk but do not help much in a moving truck. Trash bags full of clothes tear on the truck, get mistaken for garbage, and force a re-wash at the other end. Buy extra wardrobe boxes instead. Stretch wrap has its place for dressers with drawers, but one roll is plenty for a two-bedroom move.
The Right Supplies, the Right Move
Great packing supplies help make the move smoother. If you are moving through the Twin Cities or into Rochester, take the time to gather the right materials before you tape up the first box. Better yet, let someone handle it for you. Contact Metcalf Moving & Storage for a free quote from a team that has been moving Minnesota families since 1919- materials, muscle, and know-how all included.