Eight to six weeks before
Declutter, compare mover options if needed, estimate boxes, and list specialty supplies. Pack rarely used storage, seasonal decor, archive items, guest room decor, spare linens, and hobby overflow first. This is also the right window to identify items that need specialty boxes, such as mirrors, framed art, TVs, or hanging clothes.
Five to four weeks before
Run the calculator with your current home size and a realistic stuff level, then write down the low, normal, and high range. Walk every room and mark add-ons that can change the estimate: kitchen, closets, books, office, garage, basement, toys, fragile items, and storage bins. If the high range feels surprising, start packing storage zones before buying every box at once.
Four to two weeks before
Pack books, decor, extra linens, storage closets, and nonessential kitchen goods. Recalculate after decluttering so the final supply run stays realistic. This is the best time to correct the box mix: add small boxes for dense items, dish boxes for fragile kitchenware, and medium boxes for the broad middle of household goods.
One week before
Pack most rooms, label boxes on the top and at least one side, and prepare open-first boxes. Keep medicine, documents, chargers, basic tools, pet supplies, and first-night bathroom items separate. If movers are helping, confirm any restricted items and make sure fragile boxes are easy to identify.
Moving week
Pack daily-use items last, verify fragile labels, keep the open-first kit visible, and avoid sealing critical paperwork into general boxes. Walk through closets, bathroom cabinets, refrigerator doors, laundry areas, and entryway storage before the truck is loaded; these small zones often create the last few unplanned boxes.
After arrival
Open the first-night box before unpacking decorative or storage boxes. Place boxes in their destination rooms, then unpack bathroom, bedding, kitchen basics, and chargers before low-priority storage. If a room has too many mixed boxes, sort by label priority before opening everything.