Key Takeaways
- Your moving company will pack almost everything in your home, but there is a specific list of items you should always pack and transport yourself, not put on the truck.
- Personal documents, medications, jewellery, and anything irreplaceable should travel with you, never in the moving truck.
- Most full value protection policies exclude items that you packed yourself, so if you want certain valuables covered, let the movers pack them.
- Match box size to weight. Small boxes for heavy items like books, large boxes for light items like pillows and linens.
- Label every box on at least two sides with the destination room, so it is readable even when boxes are stacked.
- An open first box for each room, with the few things you will need immediately, makes the first night in your new home much easier.
One of the most common questions we get, right after how much will this cost, is what should I actually pack myself? People assume that hiring movers means handing over everything and not thinking about it again until the truck shows up at the other end. That is mostly true, but there is an important list of exceptions.
This guide covers exactly what to pack yourself and why, plus the practical tips that make packing the rest of your home faster and safer, whether you are doing it yourself or your movers are.
What You Should Always Pack Yourself
These are the items that should never go on the moving truck packed by anyone but you, regardless of how much you trust your moving company. Some of this is about practicality, some of it is about insurance, and some of it is just common sense.
1. Personal documents
Passports, birth certificates, social insurance cards, property deeds, wills, marriage certificates, and any legal paperwork should travel with you personally. These are difficult or impossible to replace quickly if lost, and the inconvenience of being without them for even a few days during a move can be significant.
2. Medications
Keep all prescription medications with you, not packed away. You may need access to them during the trip, and a delayed delivery should never mean a delayed dose of something you need daily.
3. Jewellery and small valuables
Rings, watches, heirloom pieces, and anything with high sentimental or monetary value relative to its size should travel with you. Most moving company valuation policies exclude jewellery from coverage entirely, which means there is often no insurance backstop if something goes missing.
4. Cash and financial instruments
Cash, cheques, and anything else that functions like currency should never go in a moving box. This is excluded from virtually every moving insurance policy and is also just common sense.
5. A few days of clothing and toiletries
Pack a bag like you are going on a short trip. Enough clothing, toiletries, and basic supplies for a few days in case your delivery is delayed or you simply have not unpacked yet by the time you need them.
6. Electronics you use daily
Laptops, tablets, chargers, and anything you need for work or daily life are worth keeping with you. Beyond convenience, electronics are sensitive to temperature extremes, which a moving truck can experience in both summer and winter.
7. Irreplaceable photographs and sentimental items
Physical photographs that are not backed up digitally, and any item that simply cannot be replaced no matter what an insurance payout might offer, belong with you. Insurance can give you money. It cannot give you back your grandfather’s watch or the only copy of an old family photo.
8. Keys and remotes
Spare keys for your new home, your vehicle, mailbox keys, and any garage door remotes. These are small and easy to lose track of in a box, and you will need them the moment you walk in the door.
9. A basic toolkit
A screwdriver, an Allen key set, and a few basics for reassembling furniture or handling small fixes when you arrive. Keep this accessible rather than buried in a box marked Garage.
10. Pet supplies and pet documents
If you are moving with a pet, their food, medications, and any required documentation should stay with you, along with a familiar item like their bed or a favourite toy to help them feel settled sooner.
Moving with a pet? Read our complete guide to moving with pets, covers vet prep, keeping pets calm, and tips by species.
What Your Moving Company Will Handle
Everything else in your home, the furniture, the kitchen, the books, the closets, is typically handled by your moving company if you have booked a full pack service. Even if you are doing a partial move and packing your own boxes, movers will still handle loading, transport, and placement of everything at the other end.
If you are getting full value protection on your move, having the movers pack fragile and valuable items (rather than packing them yourself) often means better coverage if anything goes wrong. It is worth asking your mover directly which items they recommend they pack versus which ones you should handle.
Smart Packing Tips for Everything Else
Whether you are packing the rest of your home yourself or just want to understand what good packing looks like, these are the habits that make the biggest difference.
Match box size to weight
Heavy items like books and tools go in small boxes. Light items like linens and pillows go in large boxes. A large box stuffed with books becomes nearly impossible to lift safely and is more likely to fail in transit. This single habit prevents more injuries and broken boxes than almost anything else.
Label on two sides, not just the top
Write the destination room and a short description of the contents on at least two sides of each box. Boxes get stacked, and a label only on top becomes useless the moment something is placed on it or in front of it.
Wrap fragile items individually
Dishes, glasses, and anything breakable should be wrapped individually in packing paper, not just nestled together. Pack them vertically rather than flat where possible (plates on their edge, like records, hold up much better than stacked flat) and fill empty space in the box with crumpled paper so nothing can shift.
Pack an open first box for every room
Identify the five or so things you will want immediately in each room, the coffee maker, the phone charger, the shower curtain, and pack them in a clearly marked box that travels somewhere accessible, not buried at the bottom of the truck. Arriving and being able to find your coffee maker without opening twelve boxes is worth the extra few minutes of planning.
Do not leave empty space in a box
Boxes with empty space shift during transit, which increases the chance that something inside gets damaged. Fill gaps with packing paper, towels, or other soft items so the contents stay put.
Take photos before you disassemble anything
Before taking apart a bed frame, a desk, or an entertainment unit, snap a quick photo on your phone. It takes a few seconds and saves a lot of guesswork when you are reassembling at the other end.
Want a full packing schedule and room by room time estimates? Read our guide on how long it takes to pack for a move, with timelines by home size and a week by week packing plan you can actually follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do movers pack everything, or do I need to pack some things myself?
If you book a full pack service, your movers will pack the vast majority of your home. Regardless of which service you book, there is a specific list of items, documents, medications, valuables, and anything irreplaceable, that you should always pack and carry yourself rather than putting on the truck.
What happens if I pack something myself and it gets damaged?
Most moving company valuation policies exclude items that the owner packed from full coverage, or cover them only for total loss rather than damage. If you want full coverage on a valuable item, it is generally better to have the moving crew pack it themselves.
How do I pack fragile items so they survive a long move?
Wrap each fragile item individually in packing paper, use a properly sized box (not too large), fill any empty space so nothing shifts, and pack plates and similar flat items vertically rather than stacked flat. For a long distance move where the box will be in transit for days, this extra care matters more than it would for a short local move.
Should I pack my own boxes or let the movers do it?
Either works, and many people choose a partial pack where they handle their own boxes and let movers handle the loading, transport, and large furniture. If insurance coverage on specific valuable items matters to you, ask your mover whether having them pack those specific items affects your coverage.
Need help with your upcoming move? Get a free estimate from Great Canadian Van Lines and ask us about full pack and partial pack options.
