How to Pack a Moving Truck: Tips and Tricks | Budget Truck

How to Pack a Moving Truck: Tips and Tricks

Packing a moving truck can be one of the most stressful parts of moving day. But knowing how to pack a moving truck the right way can make the job easier, safer, faster, and actually protect your belongings.

Whether you’re loading the truck by yourself or bribing some friends with pizza, Budget Truck is here to help you determine the best way to load a moving truck.


Preparing Furniture for the Moving Truck

The first step in knowing how to pack a moving truck is knowing how to prepare your furniture. Properly preparing furniture ensures it will fit in the truck—and protects your furniture (and other belongings!).

First, you must disassemble your furniture. While not everything can be disassembled, taking apart what you can makes furniture pieces lighter and much easier to move. Here are some things you can do:

  • Beds: Be sure to separate the mattress, box springs, bed frame, and headboard if you have one. Once you’ve disassembled your bed frame, tape the bed frame pieces together to make them easier to move, and keep them together in the truck.
  • Couches, Chairs, and Loveseats: Remove all cushions. If your sofa comes apart into sections, be sure to disassemble it and load pieces individually.
  • Lamps: Remove all bulbs from lamps and place them in a separate container or bag. Pack lamps in the cab of the moving truck or in unused spaces away from heavier objects.
  • Dressers, Filing Cabinets, Etc.: Remove all drawers and carry them individually to the moving truck. If you prefer to have the drawers in dressers and cabinets while loaded, tape them shut so they don’t open during the move.

We also recommend using furniture pads to protect your furniture from scuffs and scratches. Additionally, adding furniture pads can make these larger items easier to move and prevents their weight from shifting during transit.


Preparing Appliances for the Moving Truck

Appliances are heavy and require several steps in preparing them for a move. We recommend using a dolly and moving straps to protect your back. Here are some extra tips for getting appliances prepared for moving day:

  • Refrigerators and Freezers: You’ll need to unplug refrigerators, deep freezers, and similar appliances at least 24 hours before loading them into the truck so they have time to thaw out. Additionally, empty them of all perishable foods, clean and dry surfaces, disconnect them from the water line, and tape all doors shut to prevent them from opening.
  • Stoves: Thoroughly clean stove surfaces before you move, as grease buildup can transfer to your other belongings and make it difficult to grip the stove. Remember to hire a qualified technician to cap off the gas line after it’s disconnected.
  • Washer and Dryers: You must disconnect hoses and drains, drain any leftover water from your washer, and clean out your dryer’s lint tray before moving. Along with your stove, if you have a gas dryer, be sure to have a qualified technician cap off the gas line to keep everything safe. Finally, tape the doors shut.

Where Heavy Appliances Go in the Truck

The best way to load a moving truck is to begin with heavy appliances, placing them against the back wall of the truck. If you are taking a washer, dryer, and refrigerator, we recommend placing the fridge in the middle of the other appliances.

When loading appliances, consider their weight when placing them in the back of the truck. You want the weight distributed evenly between the driver and passenger sides for a smoother, safer move.


Where Furniture Goes in the Truck

After your appliances are loaded into the truck, your furniture is next. We recommend loading longer pieces of furniture—such as headboards, mattresses, and box springs—against the longest walls of the truck. Keep them upright to save space, and load them against appliances. If you are not taking appliances with you, put longer items on the truck's sides against the cab.

Other furniture should be placed in the middle, as far back as possible (or against appliances). Just like when you load appliances, consider furniture weight when arranging it all inside the moving truck.


Load Boxes from Heaviest to Lightest

Load boxes from heaviest to lightest, with the heaviest boxes as far back into the truck as appliances and furniture allow. Light boxes should be placed towards the end of the truck and at the top of stacks, and we recommend loading anything irreplaceable into the cab with you as space allows.


Fill Empty Spaces and Protect Corners with Blankets and Pillows

After loading all larger items into the truck, you can prevent items from shifting and protect your belongings by filling corners and empty spaces with pillows, blankets, couch cushions, towels, or other similar cloth items. Not only does this important step keep your belongings safe and secure, but it’s cause for celebration because it’s the last step in loading your moving truck!


Moving Day Made Easy with Budget Truck

How long it takes to pack a moving truck will depend on how much furniture, appliances, and boxes you have, how many people can help you load the truck, and how well you load it. Fortunately, packing properly saves time and provides confidence that your belongings are secure—so you can better prepare for the move ahead.

Now that you know how to pack a moving truck, why not review our tips and tricks for every part of your upcoming move? Our Complete Moving Guide will help you save time, reduce moving day stress, and ensure you have everything you need for the big day.

After reviewing our guide, be sure to book a Budget Truck to save more on your next move!


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How to Pack a Moving Truck: Tips and Tricks