Packing
Packing is where most moves slow down or go wrong. Getting the right boxes, wrapping fragile items correctly, and knowing what to pack last are the things that separate a smooth move from a stressful one. Giant Van offers packing assistance alongside removals and can advise on supplies before moving day.
Get free packing boxes from supermarkets, Freecycle, or local Facebook groups. Buy double-walled moving boxes from B&Q or Argos from around £1.50 each.
Giant Van can advise on quantities when you book your removal.
The Giant Van Packing Services Service
Balloon box delivery services — where oversized or unusual-shaped boxes arrive ready for packing — are useful for awkward items like lampshades, large artwork, and sports equipment.
Standard removal boxes come in small (1.5 cubic feet), medium (3 cubic feet), and large (4.5 cubic feet) sizes.
For a two-bedroom flat, you will typically need around 30–40 boxes in total.
Specialist supplies worth considering include wardrobe boxes with hanging rails, dish-pack cells for crockery, and mattress bags.
These are available from removal suppliers and large DIY stores.
Giant Van can advise on quantities when you book.
Packing Services: Loading Zones and Permits
Making Packing Services Easier From the Start
What Is Covered in Your Packing Services
Packing for a house move works best in a strict order that minimises disruption to daily life.
Start four to six weeks out with non-essentials: books, seasonal clothing, decorative items, spare crockery, hobby equipment, and anything stored in the loft or garage.
These are items you will not miss for weeks.
At the two-week mark, pack out-of-season items, spare bedding, and anything in the spare bedroom.
One week before the move, pack the study, home office, and any collections.
In the final three days, pack the main bedroom — leaving out only what you need for the last few nights — and the living room, keeping only the TV and essential seating.
The kitchen is packed last, the morning of the move, leaving out the kettle, mugs, and breakfast items.
Label every box on the side with room and contents.
Do not label the top — when boxes are stacked you cannot see it.
For a two-bedroom move, 40–60 boxes in total is a reasonable estimate.
Giant Van can supply double-walled removal boxes when you book.
The Giant Van Packing Services Guide
- 01
Fragile item packing accounts for most of the damage that occurs during house moves.
- 02
The common mistakes: using single-walled boxes that collapse under stacking weight, wrapping in newspaper alone without a cushioning layer underneath, and leaving air space inside boxes that allows contents to shift.
- 03
The correct approach: start with a layer of crumpled paper at the box base.
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Wrap each fragile item individually in tissue or bubble wrap, then in newspaper as a secondary layer.
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Place the heaviest items at the base and the lightest at the top.
- 06
Fill gaps between items with crumpled paper — no air space.
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Close and tape the box, then press the top: it should not flex inward.
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Mark FRAGILE on three sides.
Our Packing Services Operating Area
Packing for storage requires different decisions to packing for a house move.
Items going into storage may sit in a unit for months — sometimes years.
Cardboard boxes are not ideal for long-term storage because they absorb moisture and eventually collapse under stacking weight.
For items stored longer than four weeks, use lidded plastic crates.
These resist damp, stack securely without compressing, and can be reused indefinitely.
Use moisture absorber sachets inside boxes or crates that contain clothing, soft furnishings, or papers.
Avoid storing items in black bin bags — they trap condensation and encourage mould.
Wrap wooden furniture in breathable cotton dust sheets, not plastic wrap, which prevents airflow.
Keep a room-by-room inventory list of what is in storage.
When Giant Van collects for a removal-plus-storage job, the crew can photograph each loaded item and provide a basic inventory on request.
Experience You Can Count On for Packing Services
A professional packing service is worth the cost for fragile rooms — kitchens, china collections, artwork, and electronics — where DIY packing frequently results in transit damage.
It is less necessary for rooms with soft contents — bedrooms of clothing, spare bedding, garden equipment — where the risk of damage is low and packing skill adds little.
The most efficient approach: hire professional packing for the kitchen and any rooms containing fragile or valuable items, and pack the low-risk rooms yourself.
Giant Van offers packing as a full-service addition to any removal booking or as a kitchen-and-fragiles-only option.
Ask for kitchen packing specifically when messaging us in the live chat.
The crew arrives with the correct materials — dish-pack cells, mirror boxes, TV cartons — and packs and labels each box before it goes on the van.
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Off-Peak Packing Services Savings
DIY Packing vs Professional Packing: Where the Risk Lies
If you are asking where can I get free packing boxes, try local Facebook groups, Freecycle, and supermarket service desks.
Liquor stores and bookshops often discard sturdy boxes that work well for removals.
For large moves, a mix of free boxes for soft furnishings and bought double-walled boxes for heavy or fragile items keeps costs down without compromising protection.
Giant Van provides packing assistance alongside every house removal booking.
The crew brings double-walled boxes, bubble wrap, dish-pack cells, wardrobe cartons, and mirror boxes to every packing job.
Packing can be added to any removal booking for an extra fixed cost, or booked as a standalone packing-only visit the day before your move.
Message us in the live chat to discuss packing requirements.
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Packing — FAQs
Where can I find inexpensive storage boxes for a move?
Inexpensive storage boxes for moving are available from Argos, B&Q, and Wilko for under £2 per box. Supermarkets often have spare cardboard boxes at the customer service desk — ask early in the week when deliveries have just arrived. Online removal box bundles (20–40 boxes plus tape and labels) typically cost £25–£45 and work out cheaper than buying individually.
What are the best moving storage boxes to buy?
The best moving storage boxes are double-walled cardboard in medium size (3 cubic feet) for general household items. For heavier contents, use a small book box. For items going into storage for more than four weeks, lidded plastic crates are more practical — they stack securely, resist damp, and can be reused indefinitely.
Prices start around £4–£8 per plastic crate from major UK retailers.
How many packing boxes do I need for a three-bedroom house?
A three-bedroom house typically requires 60–90 boxes depending on how much is in the kitchen, loft, and garage. Use small boxes (1.5 cubic feet) for books and heavy items, medium boxes (3 cubic feet) for general kitchen and bedroom contents, and large boxes (4.5 cubic feet) for bedding and light items only.
Giant Van can supply boxes in the right mix when you book your removal.
Is bubble wrap or newspaper better for packing fragile items?
Both have a role. Use tissue paper or bubble wrap as the primary wrap directly touching the item — newspaper ink can transfer to ceramics and glassware. Use crumpled newspaper as secondary padding between wrapped items and to fill gaps inside the box. Bubble wrap is better for items with irregular surfaces or significant value.
Dish-pack cells are the most effective solution for crockery sets.
Can I pack my own boxes and still use Giant Van?
Yes. Giant Van's crews load pre-packed boxes and handle all furniture regardless of if you did your own packing. The crew will flag any boxes that appear over-packed or under-supported before loading them. If you pack your own boxes, use double-walled cardboard, fill gaps to prevent shifting, and label every box on the side with its destination room.
What should I not pack when moving house?
Do not pack hazardous materials — paint, solvents, gas canisters, aerosols, or bleach — in removal boxes on the van. These are not covered by goods-in-transit insurance and create a safety risk. Dispose of them before moving day. Medications, valuables, and important documents should travel with you personally rather than on the van.
Defrost the fridge and freezer 24 hours before the move — they cannot go on the van with food inside.
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 is registered in England and Wales, company number 16071027.