How to Pack Your 1-800-PACK-RAT Container

Pack Your Portable Storage Unit Like a Pro

The 1-800-PACK-RAT Team is excited to be a part of your upcoming move and happy you chose to partner with us! Our goal is to make your move as simple and stress-free as possible, so to help with your move, we have put together the following guide that will give you some tips on how to pack your portable storage container.

Before You Begin the Move

Before you start packing your container, make sure you have all the supplies you’ll need to pack your belongings properly. This includes plenty of boxes, bubble wrap, furniture blankets, labels, tape, and so on. To make this easier for you, we now offer moving supplies that can be shipped directly to your door in as fast as 48 hours! Check out our website to see all that we offer and how we can make the moving process even easier.

For more information on packing and other moving tips, check out our how-to-guide section on our website. Don’t forget to have some bottled water and snacks set aside for the day of as well, especially in the Summertime. Now, let’s get started on packing your container and maximizing your space efficiently!

Planning Out Your Move

Once you have everything packed and ready to go, take some time to get organized before you start loading your portable storage container. This includes making a list of what you have and where you will be putting items once you arrive at your new home – we recommend your list is categorized somehow, such as by room name. For instance, you may wish to pack the kitchen items in first, or the living room. Keep in mind that whatever you pack first at your departure location, you will be unpacking last at your arrival location! We also recommend that you clearly label all of your boxes, so you know what is in them and what room they will be going to in your new home. If you are using more than one of our portable storage containers for your move, be sure to create a list of what will be going in each container so that your move can be more organized.

Preparing Your Container for Packing

Once you have your list made and everything categorized, it is time to prepare for your move. Start by breaking down large and small items. This can be anything from a bed frame and dresser to lamps and small pieces of furniture. If you can break down a large item such as a bed frame, it will save you a lot of space later on. For smaller items such as lamps, be sure to remove the light bulbs from them before wrapping them in shrink or bubble wrap. Do not use shrink wrap on leather or suede, as condensation can form on the inside of the wrapping, damaging the contents. Use furniture blankets or pad wrap them instead.

Now you can begin preparing your old home for the move. It is a good idea to protect any walls, flooring, banisters, etc. that could get damaged when moving bulky or heavy items. Use floor mats that won’t slide if you have wood or laminate floors to protect them from scratching. Painters tape can be used to keep your rugs, blankets, and mats in place to further protect your walls and other surfaces. You can also use floor or furniture mats or blankets to protect walls and banisters from being damaged during your move.

When preparing the rest of your belongings, we recommend that you pack as much as you can into boxes and not leave items loose. Boxes can easily be stacked to make sure you are making the most of the space inside the container. Make sure you have plenty of boxes, protective bubble or shrink wrap, and a sturdy, weight tested dolly on hand (wrap a furniture blanket around your dolly or hand cart to keep it from scratching or damaging any furniture your place on it). Use the wrap on larger furniture items and blankets to keep the items from shifting or getting damaged. Be sure to mark any boxes or containers that contain breakable items as “fragile,” and be mindful of what you place on top of them!

Once you have secured all of your larger and more fragile items in protective wrap, boxed all of your other belongings, and have safeguarded your walls, floors, and other parts of your old home from damage during the move, you are ready to pack your container.

Packing Your Moving Container

No matter which size container you are using, the packing principles are the same. When strategizing the packing process, remember that heavier items should be placed on the floor of the container and spread evenly throughout so you do not overload one side. Before you begin to pack, download our handy weight calculator so that you know exactly how much you can put into your 1-800-PACK-RAT container. Be sure to use the chart below on our three container sizes so that you know an estimate of the items you can place in a container as well as the weight rating.

Start the packing by loading any mattresses you are moving in the back of the container by laying them down on the floor against the back wall then flip them so they lay flat against the wall, filling the space between the floor to the ceiling.

After the mattresses are loaded, begin placing your heavier furniture in the container (desks, drawers, etc.) to act as a base for lighter boxes and other items to be placed on top. If you are having problems carrying bulky boxes, consider cutting hand holds out near the top to make it easier to carry.

If you have more fragile items, place them in spots where they will not be prone to shifting. For example, you can place a lamp in between some desk chairs, or a boxed mirror flush between two boxes. This will keep the item safe and maximize the space.

Never stack boxes from the floor to the ceiling unless you have a very sturdy box as a base. Always have a heavier item act as a base for your box stacking and always try to stack boxes of a similar shape on top of each other.

If you need extra padding to fill some open spaces or to keep contents from shifting, you can either wrap these items in more furniture pads or blankets or you can wrap sofa cushions and pillows in pads or blankets to further protect contents from shifting.

If you have both a love seat and sofa, try stacking the love seat on the sofa by removing the cushions from both. Placing them in an interlocking fashion will form a squared off space where you can further fit more items.

Finishing Touches for Container Packing

We highly recommend that you use ropes or straps at different intervals during the packing process to further prevent your items and boxes from shifting. Our portable storage units have steel cut-outs that allow you to attach straps, bungee cords, and netting to anchor your belongings and give you added protection. Be sure to rope off each line of boxes to avoid them coming loose.

Do your best to fill up as much open space as possible and use bungee cords and straps to keep your items stable during your move. This will further protect your items from shifting during transit to your new home. Please keep in mind that while our trucks do gently lift and load your belongings, they will still shift slightly during transit as they would in your vehicle. Use any leftover blankets, rugs, or bubble wrap to help fill in space between boxes, furniture, etc., in your container before closing it up.

Once you have finished packing and securing your items, place a lock on the portable storage container. If you’re making a long-distance move with 1-800-PACK-RAT, this will be provided at no charge, and if you’re making a local move, you can ask your moving coordinator for one to be added to your order. If you prefer to supply your own lock, we recommend using a round, no-cut disc lock to ensure the security of your belongings in the container.

We hope we have provided you with some helpful information on how to pack your portable storage container. Be sure to check out our other how-to guides and helpful resources if you need more information about how 1-800-PACK-RAT makes moving and storage simple for you!