How to Pack Clothes for a House Move
Clothes take up more van space than any other single category in an average house move, so packing them well saves both time and box count. Hanging clothes go straight into a wardrobe box on their existing hangers. Folded clothes either stay in their drawers or go into vacuum bags. The method depends on the garment, not on habit.
Move hanging clothes on their hangers inside a wardrobe box. Vacuum-seal bulky items like coats and jumpers.
Leave folded clothes in drawers and wrap the whole unit in stretch film.
Wash everything first.
Sort Before You Pack a Single Item
Packing clothes badly usually starts with skipping this step.
Separate everything into four piles: hanging garments, folded everyday clothes, bulky out-of-season items, and clothes you are donating or binning.
A move is the one point in the year most households actually go through a wardrobe properly, and every item you remove now is one less thing to carry, unpack and store later.
Wash anything that needs it before packing day.
Damp or worn clothes sealed into a box or bag for several days can develop a musty smell that is far harder to shift once it has set into the fabric than it would have been to prevent.
Sorting also tells you how many wardrobe boxes you actually need before moving day, rather than guessing and either running out with half the wardrobe still on the rail or paying for boxes that go back unused.
Hanging Clothes: Use a Wardrobe Box, Not Bin Bags
Folded Clothes: Leave Drawers Packed or Vacuum-Seal
Delicates, Suits and Anything You Cannot Afford to Crease
Suits, formal dresses and anything structured should travel on a hanger inside a wardrobe box, never folded into a general box where weight from other items will crush the shoulders.
Use the original garment bag if you still have it, or a bin bag with a hole cut for the hanger hook as a temporary cover against dust.
Delicate items such as lace, silk or anything with embellishment should be laid flat between sheets of tissue paper rather than hung, because the weight of the fabric itself can distort a fragile garment over the length of a move.
Belts, ties and scarves pack well rolled inside shoes or stuffed into gaps in boxes, using space that would otherwise be wasted.
Knitwear with embroidery or sequins should be wrapped individually rather than stacked against other folded jumpers, since decoration can snag on a neighbouring garment during the drive and pull threads loose.
Shoes, Bags and Accessories Travel Separately
- 01
Keep footwear and handbags out of clothing boxes.
- 02
Shoes have hard edges and buckles that can snag or crush fabric packed against them, and leather bags need their own padding to hold their shape.
- 03
Pack these as their own category with paper stuffing to keep their shape, then load the box on top of, rather than underneath, anything soft.
Labelling Wardrobe Boxes So Unpacking Is Fast
Number each wardrobe box and write on the side which family member and which part of the wardrobe it holds, for example "Sam - work shirts" or "Kids - school uniforms".
Wardrobe boxes all look identical from the outside, so without labelling you will open every single one on moving-in day just to find the one you need first.
If you are short on wardrobe boxes, prioritise them for the clothes that crease the most and put everything else into standard boxes instead, since not every garment needs the hanging treatment.
Packing for Children's Rooms Separately
Children's clothes are usually smaller and less structured than adult clothing, so they rarely need wardrobe boxes of their own.
Fold and pack school uniforms, everyday wear and pyjamas into standard boxes by child and by season, keeping one small bag of the next two or three days of outfits accessible rather than sealed in with everything else.
This matters more than it sounds: a family searching through unlabelled boxes for a school uniform on the first morning in a new home is one of the more avoidable stresses of moving day.
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DIY Clothes Packing vs a Professional Packing Service
Wardrobe boxes are available to buy in advance or supplied as part of a full packing booking.
Either way, packing clothes properly is one of the fastest wins in a house move: nothing needs re-ironing, and a well-packed wardrobe box protects its contents better than any other method.
Giant Van's packing service starts from £150 and covers materials, wrapping and loading.
Man and van bookings and full house removals both include careful handling of wardrobe boxes and furniture as standard, with goods-in-transit insurance included on every job.
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How to Pack Clothes for a House Move — FAQs
Should I take clothes off hangers before a move?
No. Wardrobe boxes are built with a bar specifically so hanging clothes transfer straight from your existing rail without being taken off their hangers, saving time on both ends of the move.
Can I vacuum-seal all of my clothes for moving?
You can vacuum-seal bulky items like coats, jumpers and duvets to save space, but avoid sealing delicate natural fibres such as wool or cashmere for more than a few weeks, since long compression without airflow can encourage moth activity.
How many wardrobe boxes do I need for a house move?
As a guide, allow one wardrobe box per two feet of hanging rail space, which is roughly 15 to 20 garments. A typical three-bedroom household needs four to eight wardrobe boxes in total, though a household with two or more full wardrobes of hanging clothes should count each rail separately rather than estimating from floor space alone.
Can drawers stay full when moving furniture?
Often yes, provided the drawer is not overloaded and the piece of furniture is sturdy enough to carry with weight inside. Wrap the drawer in stretch film so it cannot slide open in transit, and check with your mover first if the piece is antique or veneered.
Is it safe to pack clothes in bin bags?
It is not recommended for anything structured. Bin bags crush fabric, offer no protection against snagging, and are easy to puncture or drop compared with a rigid wardrobe box with a handle.
Should clothes be washed before packing them to move?
Yes. Washing everything before packing day prevents a musty smell developing inside a sealed box or bag, which is far harder to remove once it has set into the fabric during a multi-day move.
Sources and further reading
These are the official UK sources that set the rules for a job like this one. Each link goes straight to the source so you can check it yourself. Links open in a new tab.
- WRAP
WRAP's guidance on reuse and recycling, including what to do with packing materials and bulky items you no longer want.
- HSE — Manual handling at work: a brief guide (INDG143)
The Health and Safety Executive's guide to lifting and carrying heavy loads without injuring yourself.
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, s.49 (reasonable care and skill)
Section 49 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015: a service you pay for must be carried out with reasonable care and skill.
- Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013
The regulations covering what a trader must tell you before you book, and your right to cancel a service booked online or by phone.
All links checked on or after 1 August 2026.
Compiled by the Giant Van editorial team
Giant Van Ltd. Registered in England & Wales.