Pack Smart, Move Safe with the Right Packaging Materials
March 11, 2024 3 min read
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Quick answer: For a long-distance move, use sturdy double-walled boxes, quality packing tape, bubble wrap and packing paper, furniture blankets, and specialty boxes for fragile or awkward items. The right packing materials protect your belongings over long distances far better than reused or flimsy supplies.
When embarking on a long-distance move, selecting the right packaging materials is just as crucial as choosing the best long-distance movers. Over a cross-province haul — say Vancouver to Toronto, or Calgary to Montreal — your boxes are stacked, re-handled at transfer points, and exposed to temperature swings, so flimsy or reused supplies are far more likely to fail than on a short local move.
The guide below walks through each material so you can choose the right one for your long-distance move.
What packaging materials do you need for a long-distance move?
The materials below cover the vast majority of household items. As a rough planning guide, a one-bedroom home usually needs around 15–30 boxes, a two-bedroom 30–50, and a three-bedroom 50–80, plus the specialty boxes, wraps, and covers listed here. Dimensions are given in inches with approximate centimetre equivalents for convenience.
- Approx. size
- 16 x 12 x 12 in (≈41 x 30 x 30 cm)
- Best for
- Books, DVDs, tools, canned goods and other heavy or fragile items packed in small quantities; the compact size keeps contents from shifting in transit
- Approx. size
- 18 x 18 x 16 in (≈46 x 46 x 41 cm)
- Best for
- Kitchenware, toys, small appliances and clothing; balanced loads that are easy to carry and stack
- Approx. size
- 24 x 24 x 40 in (≈61 x 61 x 102 cm)
- Best for
- Hanging garments such as dresses, coats and suits; a built-in metal hanger bar keeps clothes organized and wrinkle-free
- Approx. size
- Telescoping / adjustable
- Best for
- Framed artwork and mirrors; the telescoping structure fits snugly around various frame sizes to prevent movement
- Approx. size
- Various sizes
- Best for
- Flat-screen TVs; padded with foam inserts or paired with bubble wrap, with a sturdy corrugated exterior to prevent scratches
- Approx. size
- Double-walled, with cell dividers
- Best for
- Plates, bowls and glasses; the extra cushioning and dividers keep each piece separated and reduce breakage
- Approx. size
- Twin / full / queen / king
- Best for
- Protecting a mattress from water, dirt and dust in transit or storage
- Approx. size
- Large plastic sheet
- Best for
- Shielding sofas from moisture, dust, dirt and snags when loaded onto the truck
- Approx. size
- At least 2 in (≈5 cm) wide
- Best for
- Sealing and binding boxes; choose thicker, stronger tape for the heaviest boxes
- Approx. size
- Sold by the foot
- Best for
- Cushioning electronics, collectibles, glassware and other delicate valuables
- Approx. size
- Corrugated sleeves + foam pockets
- Best for
- Mirrors and glass tabletops; envelops edges and surfaces to prevent cracks or breaks
Which boxes break most often without the right supplies?
In our experience the items that suffer most on long hauls are dishes and glassware packed in ordinary single-walled boxes. A double-walled dish box with cell dividers, plus packing paper around each piece, prevents the great majority of breakages. A few practical tips that come up on almost every move:
- Pack the heaviest items (books, canned goods) in small boxes only, so no single box becomes too heavy to handle safely.
- Load boxes onto the truck heaviest on the bottom, lightest on top, and fill every void with packing paper so nothing shifts over hundreds of kilometres.
- Wrap framed art and mirrors in a picture box or mirror/glass pack — these are the items most often damaged when packed flat among other boxes.
- For winter relocations, keep electronics and candles out of an unheated truck overnight where you can, and let cold items reach room temperature before unpacking.
How big is a wardrobe box?
A standard wardrobe box measures roughly 24 x 24 x 40 inches (about 61 x 61 x 102 centimetres) and works like a portable closet, with a built-in metal hanger bar so clothes travel on their hangers and arrive wrinkle-free.
Ready to Make Your Move?
When it’s time to take that big step and relocate, you want to be sure your possessions are in the best hands. MTS Moving is not just about getting you from point A to point B; we’re about ensuring your belongings are as cared for as if they were our own. With our top-notch packaging materials and expert packing and unpacking services, your long-distance move will be nothing short of smooth sailing.
Don’t leave anything to chance. Contact MTS Moving today, and let’s get packing! Your peace of mind is just a call or click away.
Mete Kalfa
Director, MTS Moving
Mete Kalfa is the Director of MTS Moving and a second-generation long-distance relocation expert. Specializing in inter-provincial moves across Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, he leverages decades of family legacy and active Canadian Association of Movers (CAM) membership to provide transparent insights that protect consumers from industry scams.