Professional Packing Services
Coastal Moving Services coordinates full-service and partial packing through licensed carriers whose crews pack homes the same way every time: the right materials, the right box sizes, and every item labeled and inventoried before the truck is loaded. Whether you need one room packed or an entire house, we match you to the right crew and manage the process from first call to final box.
FMCSA-Licensed Broker · USDOT# 4090919 · MC# 1558401 · Verify on FMCSA SAFER
Free Packing Quote
No obligation. We respond within 1 business hour.
What Packing Services Do Professional Movers Offer?
Not every household needs the same level of packing help. Some people want the crew to handle everything from the kitchen to the closets. Others just need their fragile items and artwork handled professionally while they pack the rest themselves. We offer both, and everything in between.
Full-Service Packing
The crew arrives with all packing materials and handles every room in your home. Dishes, glassware, kitchen items, clothing, books, electronics, furniture, and everything else is packed, labeled by room, and inventoried before loading begins. You do not touch a single box unless you want to. This option is ideal for large homes, long-distance moves, and households where time is the primary constraint.
Partial Packing
You pack what you are comfortable handling and we take care of the rooms or item types that need professional attention. Partial packing is commonly used for kitchens, fragile collections, artwork, mirrors, and electronics. It reduces the total cost while making sure the items most likely to be damaged in transit are handled correctly.
Fragile and Specialty Items
Antiques, fine art, sculptures, mirrors, flat-screen televisions, chandeliers, and other high-value or unusually shaped items require materials and techniques beyond standard packing. We match specialty packing jobs to crews with direct experience in custom wrapping, foam padding, and custom crating for pieces that cannot go into a standard box.
Unpacking at the New Home
Yes. We coordinate unpacking services at your new home so you are not living out of boxes for the first two weeks. The crew places items in the rooms you designate, breaks down all packing materials, and removes boxes from the home. Combined with full-service packing, this turns a move into a complete hands-off experience from your current address to your new one.
Custom Crating
Items that cannot be safely transported in standard boxes, such as large paintings, sculptures, marble tabletops, wine collections, and oversized mirrors, are protected using custom-built wooden crates. Crating is priced per item based on dimensions and weight and is arranged during the pre-move scope call so materials are ready on packing day.
Packing Materials
Yes. If you prefer to pack yourself but want professional-grade materials, we can arrange delivery of moving boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, mattress bags, dish packs, and wardrobe boxes ahead of your move date. Using the right materials significantly reduces the chance of damage in transit compared to improvised packing with whatever boxes are on hand.
How Does a Professional Packing Service Work?
From the first call to the last box sealed and labeled, here is exactly how we coordinate a professional packing job so nothing is left unprotected, unlabeled, or unaccounted for before the truck is loaded.
Scope Assessment
We gather the details that determine how many crew members and how much material your pack requires: number of rooms, item types, any specialty or fragile pieces, your move date, and whether you want full-service packing, partial packing, or fragile-only. The more specific you are at this stage, the more accurate your written estimate.
Written Estimate and Booking
You receive a written estimate covering the packing crew, all materials, and any specialty handling required before anything is confirmed. Packing materials including dish packs, wardrobe boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, mattress bags, and furniture pads are factored into the quote. Nothing is scheduled until you approve the estimate in writing.
Packing Day
The crew arrives with all materials and works through your home systematically, room by room. Every item is wrapped using the appropriate material for its fragility and size, placed in the correct box type, and labeled with its contents and destination room. Fragile items are marked clearly. An inventory sheet is completed before the truck is loaded so every box is accounted for from your current address to your new one.
Delivery and Unpacking
At your new home, boxes are placed in the rooms matching their labels. If you have booked unpacking service, the crew opens boxes, places items where you direct, breaks down all packing materials, and removes them from the home before leaving. If you are unpacking yourself, everything is labeled clearly enough that you know exactly what is in every box without opening it first.
What Household Items and Rooms Do We Pack?
Every room in a home presents different packing challenges. The materials and techniques used for a kitchen full of glassware are completely different from what is needed for a bedroom, a home office, or a wall of framed artwork. Here is how each area of your home gets handled.
Kitchen and Dining
Kitchens are the most time-intensive room in any home to pack. Dishes are wrapped individually in packing paper and loaded into dish pack boxes with cardboard dividers. Glassware gets double-wrapped and packed upright. Small appliances are boxed with padding on all sides. Pots, pans, and bakeware are layered with packing paper between each piece to prevent scratching.
Living Room
Flat-screen televisions are packed in TV boxes or wrapped in furniture pads and shrink wrap if a box is not available. Lamps are disassembled and packed with shades in separate boxes. Framed artwork and mirrors receive corner protectors, layered bubble wrap, and flat packing in picture boxes or custom crates for oversized pieces. Decorative items are individually wrapped in packing paper.
Bedrooms
Clothing on hangers is transferred directly into wardrobe boxes so nothing gets folded or wrinkled during the move. Folded clothing, linens, and bedding fill standard boxes and double as cushioning for lighter fragile items. Mattresses are sealed in mattress bags before loading to protect against moisture, dust, and tears during transit.
Home Office
Computers and monitors are packed in their original boxes where available or wrapped in anti-static bubble wrap and boxed with foam padding. Cables and peripherals are bagged, labeled, and packed with their corresponding equipment. Filing cabinets can be moved with documents inside for local moves. For long-distance moves, hanging files are transferred to file boxes to prevent shifting in transit.
Artwork and Antiques
Fine art and antiques receive individual assessments before packing begins. Canvas paintings are covered in glassine paper before any other material touches the surface. Wood antiques are wrapped in furniture pads and shrink wrap to prevent scratching. Sculptures and three-dimensional pieces are nested in foam and packed in boxes with no room for movement. Pieces too large or valuable for standard boxes are custom crated.
Garage and Storage Areas
Garage and storage contents are sorted during the scope call into what is being moved and what is not. Tools are wrapped and packed in heavy-duty boxes. Power tools are secured with padding to prevent damage to moving parts. Items with fuel, propane, or flammable contents cannot be transported and are flagged during the assessment so you can dispose of them properly before move day.
Should You Pack Yourself or Hire Professional Packers?
Self-packing saves money upfront but comes with real risks that most people do not account for until something arrives broken. Here is an honest comparison of both approaches so you can make the right decision for your move.
Professional Packing
- ✓ All materials supplied by the crew including dish packs, wardrobe boxes, mattress bags, bubble wrap, and packing paper
- ✓ Fragile items packed using proven techniques that reduce breakage risk significantly compared to self-packing
- ✓ Every box labeled by room and contents so unpacking is organized from the first day in your new home
- ✓ Carrier liability for damage is stronger when the carrier packed the items, which simplifies the claims process
- ✓ Saves significant time in the days before a move when most people are already managing dozens of other tasks
- ✓ Specialty items such as artwork, antiques, and electronics handled by crews with direct experience in those item types.
Self-Packing
- ✓ Lower upfront cost if you already have boxes and basic materials available
- ✓ Full control over how personal and sentimental items are handled and packed
- ✓ Can be done gradually over days or weeks before the move rather than all at once
- ⚠ Carrier liability is reduced for items you packed yourself if damage occurs during transit
- ⚠ Improper box selection and insufficient padding are the leading causes of residential moving damage
- ⚠ Fragile items packed without professional materials are at significantly higher risk of breakage regardless of how careful you are.
Partial Packing
For households where budget is a consideration but damage risk is still a concern, partial packing is the practical solution. You pack the straightforward rooms including books, linens, clothing, and non-fragile items while the professional crew handles the kitchen, artwork, electronics, and anything else that carries real replacement cost if it breaks.
Most damage claims from residential moves involve kitchens, living rooms, and home offices. Covering those three areas with professional packing eliminates the highest-risk items from the equation while keeping your total packing cost significantly lower than a full-service pack.
Partial packing is quoted by room or by item type. Tell us which areas you want covered during the scope call and we build the estimate around exactly what you need, nothing more.
Ready to Have Your Home Packed by Professionals?
Tell us about your home and what you need packed. We match you to a licensed carrier with the right crew size, materials, and experience for your specific job. Written estimate provided before anything is confirmed.
- Full-service, partial, and fragile-only packing available
- All packing materials included in the estimate
- Specialty and high-value item handling available
- Unpacking service available at your new home
- Written estimate before anything is scheduled
- FMCSA-registered carriers. USDOT# 4090919
Request a Free Packing Quote
No obligation. We respond within 1 business hour during operating hours.
How Long Does It Take to Pack a Home for a Move?
Packing time depends on home size, the volume of belongings, how much decluttering needs to happen first, and whether you are self-packing or using a professional crew. The estimates below are based on a professional two to three person packing crew working at a steady pace with all materials on hand.
Studio or 1 Bedroom
A studio or one-bedroom apartment with standard furnishings and a modest number of boxes can typically be fully packed by a two-person crew in two to four hours. This assumes clothing goes into wardrobe boxes, kitchenware is wrapped and dish-packed, and no large specialty items are present.
Self-packing the same space over evenings and weekends typically takes three to five days when done around a work schedule.
2 Bedroom Home
A two-bedroom home with a full kitchen, living room, and two bedrooms of furniture and personal belongings typically takes a two-person crew four to six hours to pack completely. An additional crew member reduces this to three to four hours for households with a higher volume of items.
Self-packing this size home usually requires five to seven days of consistent effort spread across evenings and a full weekend.
3 Bedroom Home
A three-bedroom home is the most common full-service packing job we coordinate. A three-person crew working through a standard family home with a full kitchen, multiple living areas, and three furnished bedrooms typically completes the pack in six to nine hours in a single day.
Homes with large collections, extensive garage storage, or multiple fragile item categories may require a second packing day or a larger crew. We factor this in during the scope assessment.
4 Bedroom or Larger
Large homes with four or more bedrooms, multiple living areas, a full kitchen, home office, and garage storage typically require a full day or two days of packing with a three to four person crew. Packing and moving are usually scheduled on separate days for homes of this size to keep both processes from overlapping.
We schedule the packing crew one to two days before the moving crew arrives so everything is boxed, labeled, and ready for loading without rushing either process.
Partial Packing Only
If you only need the kitchen, fragile items, or artwork packed professionally, a partial packing service for those specific areas typically takes one to three hours depending on volume. This is the most efficient option for people who have already packed most of the home themselves.
Partial packing can be scheduled the day before your move or on the morning of move day before the loading crew arrives. We coordinate the timing during the scope call.
Specialty and Custom Crating
Custom crating for artwork, sculptures, and oversized fragile items is arranged two to five business days before your move date so the crates are built to the correct dimensions and materials are ready on packing day. This lead time is factored into your booking when you request the quote.
Piano packing and specialty furniture wrapping is typically done on move day by the moving crew immediately before loading. These items do not require a separate packing appointment in most cases.
When Should You Schedule the Packing Crew?
For full-service packing on homes up to three bedrooms, packing and moving can usually be completed on the same day with the packing crew starting in the morning and the moving crew following immediately after. For larger homes or households with a high volume of items, we recommend scheduling the packing crew one day before the moving crew to avoid a rushed single-day process.
Book your packing service at the same time as your move so both crews are coordinated on timing, truck access, and building requirements from the start. Call us at 888-316-8329 or request a written estimate below and we will build the schedule around your move date.
Frequently Asked Questions About Professional Packing Services
If you have a question that is not answered below, call us directly at 888-316-8329 and we will walk you through anything specific to your move.
Do I need to supply any packing materials if I hire professional packers?
No. When you book a full-service or partial packing service through Coastal, the crew arrives with everything needed for the job. That includes dish pack boxes, wardrobe boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, mattress bags, furniture pads, shrink wrap, and packing tape. All materials are factored into your written estimate upfront so there are no surprise charges on packing day.
How is my liability affected if the movers pack my belongings?
When a carrier packs your items, their liability for damage is significantly stronger than if you had packed them yourself. Under FMCSA regulations, carriers can limit or deny liability for damage to items packed by the owner if the damage is attributed to improper packing. Items packed by the carrier's crew fall under the carrier's full liability coverage, which makes the claims process considerably simpler if something arrives damaged.
Can I be present during the packing?
Yes, and we recommend it. Being present during packing allows you to direct the crew on how specific items should be handled, point out anything that requires special attention, and confirm items are going into the correct boxes for the right destination rooms. If you cannot be present for the full pack, arrange for a trusted person to be there in your place.
What items will professional packers not pack?
Professional packers will not pack hazardous materials including propane tanks, paint cans, cleaning solvents, ammunition, and flammable liquids. Perishable food, plants, and live animals also cannot be packed or transported. Medications, important documents, jewelry, and irreplaceable personal items should be packed by you personally and transported in your own vehicle rather than placed on the moving truck. For a full list of items carriers will not transport, see our guide on what movers will not move.
How far in advance should I book a packing service?
We recommend booking your packing service at the same time as your move, ideally two to four weeks before your move date for local moves and four to six weeks out for long-distance moves. Booking both services together ensures the packing crew and the moving crew are coordinated on timing and that any custom crating for specialty items can be arranged with enough lead time. Last-minute packing requests are subject to crew availability in your area.
Can packers disassemble and reassemble furniture?
Yes. Furniture disassembly is part of the standard packing and moving process for pieces that cannot fit through doorways or down stairwells fully assembled. Bed frames, large sectionals, wardrobe units, and modular shelving are commonly disassembled before packing. Hardware is bagged, labeled, and kept with the piece it belongs to. Reassembly at the destination is included as part of the moving service.
What is the difference between packing for a local move and a long-distance move?
For a local move, items may spend only a few hours on the truck so packing standards are slightly less intensive for everyday items. For a long-distance move, everything spends significantly more time in transit and is subject to more vibration, temperature changes, and handling at multiple points along the route. This means more padding inside boxes, tighter packing to prevent shifting, and more rigorous wrapping on fragile items. Our carriers adjust their packing standards based on the distance and route of your specific move.
Is Coastal Moving Services a packing company or a broker?
Coastal Moving Services is a licensed moving broker registered with the FMCSA under USDOT# 4090919 and MC# 1558401. We coordinate packing and moving services by matching your job to licensed and insured carriers in our vetted network. We manage the estimate, the carrier matching, the scheduling, and the coordination from start to finish. You can verify our license at any time through the FMCSA SAFER database.
