Moving boxes and packing supplies in Jeddah: choosing the right boxes and packing every room properly
When people start planning a move, a simple question leads to a lot of work: how do I pack everything in my home? Anyone searching for moving boxes and packing supplies in Jeddah usually wants to know which boxes to get, roughly how many, what goes into each one, how to label them, and what should not be packed at all. It sounds simple, but how you pack often decides whether your belongings arrive safe and organised or scattered and broken. This guide draws on many moves and is meant as a practical reference, whether you pack your own home or ask us to help.
As always, we do not invent figures. We will not tell you that every flat needs a certain number of boxes, because it varies from home to home. What we will give you are rules for estimating your own needs and examples of how to pack each room.
Types of boxes and what each is for
No single type of box suits everything, and choosing the right size avoids the most common mistake: filling a big box with heavy items.
- Small boxes: for heavy things such as books, papers, metal kitchen tools and crockery. A full small box stays within what a person can lift.
- Medium boxes: for general use: lighter kitchenware, folded clothes, linens, shoes and mixed items.
- Large boxes: for light, bulky things such as pillows, blankets, curtains and soft toys. Never fill them with books.
- Wardrobe boxes: tall boxes with a hanging rail so clothes travel on hangers without folding, useful for formal clothing.
- Dish boxes with dividers: to protect glasses and plates, or you can make dividers from packing paper and corrugated card.
- Original boxes for appliances: if you kept the cartons from your TV, computer or other devices, they are the best way to move those items.
For large and fragile items such as mirrors and glass tables, we have a dedicated guide to wrapping glass and mirrors.
New or used boxes?
You may be able to get used boxes from shops or friends, which saves money. But used boxes have drawbacks. They can be weakened by earlier use, damp enough to give way under weight, and they may carry dust or small insects into your new home. In a humid city like Jeddah, cardboard can absorb moisture quickly. If you use second-hand boxes, choose ones that are dry, strong and clean, inspect the base carefully, and reinforce the bottom with strong tape. For valuable and heavy items, new boxes are better. You can also ask us about supplying packing materials and boxes when you request a quote, and we will include them in the service.
How to estimate how many boxes you need
Rather than throw out a number that may not fit you, try this: go through each room and estimate the drawers, shelves and cupboards. Each shelf of books will need a small box or more, each clothes cupboard will need several medium boxes or some wardrobe boxes, and each kitchen drawer will need a box for utensils. Then increase your estimate a little, because most people underestimate. Think also about forgotten places: the storeroom, the top of wardrobes, under beds and the balcony. If you are unsure, send us photos of your rooms and we will help you estimate.
General packing rules
These rules apply to every box whatever it holds:
- Heavy at the bottom, light on top, and very heavy things go in small boxes.
- Fill the box without leaving it half empty, so it does not collapse, but do not overfill so the lid bulges.
- Fill the gaps with paper or cloth so items cannot move.
- Tape the bottom in an H pattern: along the central seam and along both edges, so it can take the weight.
- Do not mix rooms: each box belongs to one room.
- Do not pack what must not travel on the truck (see the list below).
- Label the box with the room, the main contents and a priority or "fragile" marking.
Packing room by room
The kitchen
Begin with items you rarely use: large pots, trays and entertaining equipment. Wrap plates in soft paper and stand them on edge rather than stacking them flat, because they withstand vertical pressure better. Wrap glasses one by one and put them in a padded box. Keep essential cooking items until last. Knives should be wrapped in cardboard, fixed with paper tape and put in a clearly marked box. Do not move perishable food.
Bedrooms
Clothes can go in medium boxes or clean bags, with formal clothes in wardrobe boxes. Bedding and blankets go in large boxes or sealed bags. Shoes go in their own box so they do not dirty clothes. Put small personal items such as jewellery and watches in a bag that stays with you.
Living room and majlis
Books go in small boxes with the gaps filled with paper. Ornaments are wrapped one by one, and pictures stand upright between two sheets of card. TVs and electronics go in their own boxes or with special protection, and you should photograph the cable connections.
Children's rooms
Small toys go in boxes that are easy to open from the top, and large toys in big boxes. School books go in a separate box, and a few favourite toys stay with the children. Put a special mark on the children's room box so it is opened early.
Bathrooms and laundry
Close liquid containers tightly and put them in a plastic bag inside the box, away from fabrics. Towels go in their own box. Laundry products travel in boxes that are not placed next to food or clothes.
The office and papers
Important papers and official documents stay with you. Other files go in strong boxes. Computers and printers need protective wrapping and photographs of their connections. If you have a small safe, carry it yourself or tell us its weight.
What not to pack on the truck
Some items should not be packed into boxes going on the truck, for safety reasons or because they spoil:
- Flammable or hazardous materials: such as pesticides, paints, solvents, some fuels and gas cylinders.
- Aerosols and pressurised perfumes: heat inside the truck can affect them.
- Perishable food: it spoils before arrival.
- Heat-sensitive medicines: keep them with you.
- Jewellery, cash and official documents: always stay with you.
- Live plants: they need care and will not tolerate the heat of a truck.
If you are unsure whether something can go, ask us before the day.
A labelling system that works
Good labelling turns unpacking from chaos into organised work. On each box, write on at least two sides: the room it belongs to in the new home, a few words on the contents, the word "fragile" if it holds anything breakable, an arrow for the top if orientation matters, and "first" if you want to open it on day one. You can also use a different coloured tape for each room, so the crew knows the destination at a glance. It is also a good idea to keep a list on paper or on your phone with box numbers and contents, which helps if an item goes missing or you need something before every box is open.
A packing timetable
- Two weeks before: collect boxes and supplies, calculate your needs and start with the things you rarely use.
- Ten days before: pack books, ornaments, seasonal clothes and seasonal items.
- One week before: finish the kitchen except for the essentials, and pack guest rooms and the storeroom.
- Three days before: pack the children's rooms and the living room, and prepare the first-night box.
- The day before: finish the essentials, close the boxes and check the labelling.
- Moving morning: pack the last items: chargers and morning necessities.
Unpacking at the new home
On arrival, open boxes room by room, starting with the bedrooms and kitchen. If the boxes are labelled well, they will go straight to their rooms. Leave less important items for the next few days and do not try to open everything on day one. When you have finished, you can keep a few empty boxes for any near-term need and dispose of the rest according to the waste rules in your area.
Irregular and awkward items
Some things do not fit into an ordinary box: brooms, umbrellas, long tools, floor lamps, ironing boards, small bicycles and large toys. For these, we suggest bundling long items together, tying them with rope or tape and wrapping them in cloth or cardboard, then marking them. Items with sharp edges should have the edges covered with cardboard and paper tape so they do not injure other things or the crew. For bicycles, we may remove the wheels and protect the chain and pedals so oil does not stain other items. Sometimes it is simplest for us to handle these pieces, because we know how to arrange them in the truck.
Using what you already have
You do not have to buy all your packing materials. Towels, blankets and soft clothes protect plates and glasses and fill gaps between items; big bed sheets can cover furniture; bags, baskets and laundry hampers serve as containers; and socks can protect glasses and bottles. This saves money, cuts the number of boxes and combines packing with protection. Just avoid using valuable or favourite items for protection if they might get stained or rubbed.
If your belongings will not move straight away
Sometimes boxes are packed before the new home is ready and have to wait. If so, keep them in a dry place away from damp walls, do not stack more than the bottom box can bear, put the heavier boxes lower and cover them with cloth against dust. If the wait will be long, consider short-term storage with a suitable facility; our storage service page describes it. Avoid storing things that are affected by humidity, such as paper and fabrics, in unventilated places for long periods.
When to leave the packing to us
You can pack general items yourself to save money, but some things are best left to us: fragile and valuable pieces, sensitive appliances, large items, and everything if you do not have time. See our furniture packing services page, and if you would like us to take care of everything, tell us when you book.
What affects the cost
We do not publish a fixed price because the volume of belongings and the packing needed vary. The cost depends on the number of rooms and the quantity of items, who does the packing, the type of materials, dismantling and reassembly, the floor and lift, and the date. Send us details of your home and we will give you a clear quote. For a general overview, see moving prices in Jeddah.
Common packing mistakes
- Filling large boxes with heavy things: they become impossible to carry and burst at the bottom.
- Not filling the gaps: items move and break.
- Relying on weak, damp cartons.
- Not labelling boxes: you end up opening every one.
- Packing valuables and documents for the truck.
- Leaving packing to the last day: it becomes an exhausting race.
A final note: good packing saves money and time
Packing may seem like a tedious task before the move, but it determines a large part of the cost and ease of the whole job. Good boxes reduce breakage, good labels cut unpacking time and getting rid of unnecessary items reduces the load. Every hour spent packing well before the move saves hours on moving day and after. So start early, do not wait for the last days, and ask for our help at any stage that needs experience.
Frequently asked questions about moving boxes and packing
How many boxes do I need for my flat?
It depends on the rooms and belongings. Estimate the drawers, shelves and cupboards in each room, add a margin, or send us photos of the rooms and we will help.
Are used boxes suitable?
They can be used if they are dry, strong and clean, but for valuable and heavy items new boxes are better.
Can you supply packing materials?
Ask us when you request a quote about supplying packing materials and boxes, and we will include them in the service.
What should not be packed on the truck?
Hazardous and flammable materials, perishable food, heat-sensitive medicines, cash, jewellery and documents, and live plants.
How should I label boxes?
Write the room in the new home, a short description of the contents, "fragile" if needed, and an arrow if orientation matters.
How do I get a quote?
Call or message us on WhatsApp with the number of rooms and photos of your belongings, and we will send a clear quote.
Contact us: call 0548204074 or message us on WhatsApp.