Labeling your moving boxes can make all the difference in packing, moving and unpacking during your move. Sure, you can grab a pen and scribble down where each box should go, but there is an art to moving box labels that can’t be underestimated.
As you begin to pack and label your boxes, here are a few key considerations.
How To Label Your Moving Boxes
Moving box labels serve one main purpose: to show you and your movers where bins go in your new place. You can make this easy for everyone with a few simple tips:
- Write in all caps – e.g. “LIVING ROOM”
- Write with a dark marker
- Write in a similar spot on each moving bin
- Don’t flirt with your movers on the boxes
Write Clear Room Names
Writing where each box should go in your new place is one of the more important moving box labels, possibly ever. This will help you unpack, since your stuff will already be in the right room. Moving labels should be clear and easily visible. Give your movers an easier job by letting them look at each box so they can quickly see and know where they’re going.
For example, a moving bin that has staplers, a printer and paper may be labeled with “OFFICE.” Boxes with your old clown college yearbooks or headshots would be labeled “LIVING ROOM,” and the bins packed with all your loose wires, cords, outlets and miscellaneous electronics can be labeled with “TOY ROOM” for your trades school-bound children.
You could stop here and be done with your moving box labels. But you can always do more, and in this case, doing more will actually help you and your movers during the moving process. Let’s see what else we can do with our set of moving supplies and labels!
List the Contents
Labeling your boxes with even generic categories such as “clothes” or “dishes” can give you and your movers a better sense of where things are going and how to handle each bin. This is also nice for when it’s time to unpack, helping you decide what to tackle first and what you can push off for later.
Listing the contents of each moving bin could also give you an opportunity to prank your movers. Sure, this box has plates, bowls and miscellaneous silverware in it, but it also has RADIUM. The box going to the bedroom contains a few nightstand items and an alarm clock, along with a SMALLER BOX WITH SMALLER NIGHTSTAND ITEMS AND ALARM CLOCKS inside!
Not only is writing out the contents of each box helpful for you and your movers as you pack, move and unpack, but it can also provide some unique entertainment for moving day.
Write Messages To Your Movers
Writing messages to your movers is a fun little way to protect your stuff from breaking or making sure it gets moved to where you need it. Things like “Fragile” or “Move Last” help more than you think. We’ve found that if you label something as “Heavy,” you can attract two or three strong movers to this box pretty quickly. So, you know, there’s that.
Also, these messages don’t just have to be moving labels. Think outside the reusable yellow plastic box and write some motivational messages. Here are a few of our favorite messages to write to movers:
- Great Job!
- You’re looking strong today
- The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
- Do not open without holy water nearby
- CAUTION: Wet
- Don’t call me Shirley
- May contain spiders.
Label and Move Like a Pro
Moving labels are an underrated aspect of packing, moving and unpacking. However, when they’re done right, they can make all the difference in your overall moving experience. Moving supplies like dark markers, tape and moving box labels aren’t always the first thing on your mind when getting ready to move, but they are for us.
Banana Box offers moving box labels with every plastic moving box. As a matter of fact, each plastic box has its own label, because they can be written on directly with dry erase markers! Our built-in moving labels, combined with the convenience of the plastic moving box delivery and pickup services, can help you move around the Twin Cities area.
Looking for some boxes to label? Shop our moving bins and start your next move.