Packing calculator
How many boxes, how much tape, and how many hours, plus a week-by-week plan so you're not packing at midnight before the van arrives.
28
Small boxes
books, tins, heavy items
36
Medium boxes
the workhorse, most things
23
Large boxes
bedding, lampshades, light bulky items
4
Wardrobe boxes
hanging clothes
91
Total
≈ 36 hours of packing
Plus roughly 8 rolls of tape, 25m of bubble wrap, and a thick marker per packer. At a sustainable 2 hours per evening, that's 18 packing sessions, which is why the plan below starts four weeks out.
Your packing plan
4 weeks before
~19 boxesRarely-used rooms: loft, garage, shed, spare room, books, out-of-season clothes, decorations
2 weeks before
~32 boxesNon-essentials: most kitchenware, ornaments, pictures (leave walls up for viewings if selling), games, most wardrobes
1 week before
~28 boxesMost remaining items: spare bedding, towels, small appliances, half the kitchen, live simply this week
Day before
~14 boxesEverything except the essentials box: last kitchen items, bathroom, tech. Beds stay up until morning
The essentials box (pack last, unpack first)
- ☐Kettle, mugs, tea/coffee, milk
- ☐Phone chargers and an extension lead
- ☐Toilet roll, soap, hand towel
- ☐Basic tools: screwdriver, Allen keys, scissors, tape
- ☐Bedding for the first night (made-up duvet bag per bed)
- ☐Medications, glasses, contact lenses
- ☐Kids' comfort items / pet food and bowls
- ☐Cleaning spray, cloths, bin bags
- ☐Snacks and a bottle opener
- ☐Important documents folder (kept with you, not in the van)
Packing is Chapter 4. HouseChapter tracks all six chapters of your move, with a checklist for each.
Estimates based on typical UK household contents. Every home differs , hoarders and minimalists, adjust accordingly.
Keep this packing plan
Saved with your move, counted down against your completion date, and turned into the room-by-room list for the week itself.
Free, and the answer above is yours either way.