Medium and large boxes for everyday household goods

Most of a move is not books or china. It is the middle: pots, towels, toys, lamps, small appliances and clothes from the drawers. Those things live in medium and large cartons, and the way you fill them decides whether they arrive neat or crushed. This page explains how to sort a house into the right size.

At a glance

• Medium for kitchenware and mixed household goods
• Large for light, bulky things like linens and pillows
• Heavier items always go lower in the box
• A packing calculator turns rooms into box counts

Which size for which room

Use medium boxes for the middle weight: pots and pans, small appliances, shoes, toys, desk contents and folded clothes. Use large boxes for the light and bulky: pillows, comforters, towels, lampshades, stuffed animals and plastic storage items. If a box feels heavy, it is the wrong size, and the fix is a smaller carton, not more tape.

This sizing pattern also helps the truck. Medium cartons stack evenly, and large cartons of light goods ride on top, which keeps heavy weight low and the load stable.

How to fill a medium or large box

Build the box in layers, from the heaviest items at the bottom to the lightest at the top.

1. Tape the bottom seam and run a second strip across it for strength.
2. Place heavy items first, flat on the floor of the box, with paper in the gaps.
3. Add medium items above, and the lightest items last.
4. Wrap fragile pieces on their own, and keep sharp items such as knives in their guards or wrapped in a thick layer of paper.
5. Fill gaps with crumpled paper until nothing moves, and keep the lid flat, never bulging.
6. Tape the top, label it with the room and a short contents line, and mark which side is up.

Label for the other end

Label the top and one side of every carton. A label on the side stays readable when boxes are stacked, and a label that names the room tells the crew where to set the box down. The label guide has a simple system that works for a whole house, and how to pack a moving box properly walks through the box itself.

A first-night box is worth its own carton. It holds the things you will want before the rest is unpacked, and the first-night box guide lists what to include.

Counting boxes before you shop

Estimating the right number of boxes is easier than it sounds. The packing calculator takes the rooms in your home and returns box counts by size. Start with its result, then add a few extra for odd items. Specialty cartons for closets and dishes are counted separately.

Where to find them in Sparks

O'Brien's carries regular and specialty boxes, packing wrap or padding, and tape at the Sparks office, 2277 Glendale Ave, from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. Call 775-359-6683, and ask for the standard or custom supply price sheet. When your estimator visits, 10 free heavy-duty boxes are yours to keep, and they are a strong start for the first few rooms.