How to Label Moving Boxes So Unpacking Isn't a Nightmare

Why Labelling Matters More Than You Think

Unpacking takes longer than packing for most people, and the main reason is bad labelling. A box marked "kitchen stuff" tells you nothing at 9 pm on moving day when you are looking for the kettle. A simple system pays off in hours saved.

The Three Things Every Box Needs

Every box should have:

1. Room it is going to (not where it came from)
2. Contents summary (not every item — just the gist)
3. Priority level (open today, this week, or whenever)

Write on two sides of the box, not the top. Once boxes are stacked, you cannot read the top.

A Simple Colour System

Coloured stickers or coloured tape make life easier for everyone — including the removals crew, who can group boxes by room at the new property.

A common system:

• Red — Kitchen
• Blue — Bathroom(s)
• Green — Master bedroom
• Yellow — Children's room(s)
• Orange — Living room
• Purple — Office / spare room
• White — Garage / loft / storage

Stick a colour key on the front door of the new house. The crew can place every box in the right room without asking.

The Priority System

Not all boxes need opening on day one. Mark each one:

• P1 — First night (kettle, bedding, toiletries, chargers)
• P2 — First week (daily clothes, basic kitchen, work essentials)
• P3 — First month (most things)
• P4 — Whenever (loft contents, decorations, books)

You only need to physically unpack P1 on moving day. P2 over the week. The rest can wait.

What to Write on the Side

Keep it short. Examples:

• KITCHEN — P1 — Kettle, toaster, mugs, daily plates
• MASTER BED — P1 — Bedding, pillows, lamp
• BATHROOM — P1 — Towels, toiletries, loo roll
• OFFICE — P2 — Laptop, monitor, daily files
• LOFT — P4 — Christmas decorations

Avoid vague labels like "misc", "stuff", "various". They guarantee a box you will never open.

Fragile and "This Way Up"

Use a red marker for fragile items and big arrows for "this way up". Do not rely on small printed icons — crews scanning a van full of boxes will not see them.

For genuinely fragile items, write what is inside as well:

• FRAGILE — GLASS VASES
• FRAGILE — TV SCREEN

For full packing technique on the fragile items themselves, see our guide on how to pack fragile items and how to pack and move a TV.

Numbering for Security

For higher-value moves, number each box and keep a master list. Two reasons:

1. You can tick boxes off as they are unloaded — handy if anything goes missing
2. For insurance claims, you can identify exactly which box held what

A simple spreadsheet works: box number, room, priority, contents, approximate value.

"Open First" Boxes

Have one box per main room marked OPEN FIRST. This gets unpacked before anything else. Typical contents:

• Kitchen — kettle, mugs, tea, coffee, milk, snacks, dish soap, tea towel
• Bathroom — toilet roll, hand soap, towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste
• Bedroom — sheets, pillows, duvet, alarm clock, phone charger

These boxes go on the van — but they should be clearly marked and findable.

What About the First-Night Box?

Different from "open first" — the first-night box travels with you, not the van. It contains the absolute essentials in case the van is delayed or you do not get to unpack. See our packing room by room guide for the full first-night box contents list.

Labels for the Crew

Stick a printed list on the front door of the new house with:

• Colour key (red = kitchen, etc.)
• Which room is which (some new builds need this — "kids' room is second on the right upstairs")
• Anywhere they should not put boxes (avoid blocking the boiler, fuse box, loft hatch)

A 5-minute briefing at the door saves an hour of "where does this go?" questions.

Tools Worth Having

• Coloured masking tape (one roll per room colour) — quicker than stickers
• Two sharpie markers — one black, one red
• A4 paper and tape for door signs
• A pad for box-number tracking if you are doing that

Total cost: under £15.

Quick Checklist

• Label two sides, not the top
• Room + contents + priority on every box
• Colour code for rooms
• P1/P2/P3/P4 for priority
• "Open first" boxes per main room
• First-night box travels with you
• Door key for the crew at the new house

Want Someone Else to Pack and Label?

A full pack service handles all of this for you. Use our calculator to see what packing typically adds to a UK move.