How to Label Storage Boxes and Moving Boxes

Labeling moving boxes and storage boxes may seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised at the little details that get overlooked— and these details can make all the difference between you being able to easily locate a box and tearing out your hair in frustration. Anyone who’s moved to a new home knows the gratifying feeling of unpacking your favorite mug, blanket, book, etcetera, and relaxing into the new place. The moving process can be exhausting, and the last thing you’ll want to do is go through box after box trying to locate your things. Whether you’re using cardboard moving boxes or reusable plastic boxes, implementing the following steps will turn you into a box labeling pro.

Step 1: Gather your supplies

Properly labeling a box will require a black permanent marker and plain, colored stickers (like those used for price tags). You will, of course, also need labels. If using cardboard boxes, choose labels that stick well to surfaces. If you are using reusable plastic boxes, be sure to choose labels that you can peel off after. Another option is renting moving boxes, and if that’s the case, ask the moving box company if they provide labels for you.

Step 2: Pack your moving boxes like a pro

Having an efficient labeling system won’t count for anything if the contents of your boxes are in disarray. While it may be tempting to just throw all your stuff into some moving boxes and worry about sorting out the mess later, you’ll save yourself a whole lot of time, money, and stress if you organize your packing. Pack heavy items first, wrap valuables and place lighter and more fragile items at the top. In order for the labeling system to work, it is necessary to not mix rooms. Keep bathroom stuff with bathroom stuff, kitchen stuff with kitchen stuff, et cetera.

Step 3: Assign colors to the rooms

Make moving day easier by color-coding the moving boxes with stickers on or beside the labels. Each colored sticker will denote a specific room. Place the corresponding stickers on the door frames in your new home (make sure the stickers are easy to peel off first), so that you simply have to glance at the label to know which room the box belongs in.

Step 4: What to include on the label

Labeling a moving box or storage box might seem as simple as writing “bedroom” or “kitchen” and leaving it at that, but just a few more details can save you time and headache. Include the following on your labels for easily locating your belongings: • the type of room (bathroom, kitchen, etc.) • brief description of the contents (linens, tupperware, fragile dishes, books, etc.) • a colored sticker that denotes the type of room • name of the person to whom the contents of the box belong (this is especially important for multi-person households) Be sure to write out the full name of the room and not just the first letter, which sometimes is the trend. How would you know which is “bedroom” and which is “bathroom”, for example, if you just wrote the letter B on your label?

Step 5: Color code for storage

Denote an additional colored sticker to represent boxes that will be put into storage. Black is usually a good color for this since it is neutral in comparison to the other stickers. Even if you are not moving and are just packing boxes for storage, labeling the storage boxes in this manner will save you time if you end up moving in the future and for when you take your items out of storage.

Bonus Step 1: Use a rentable moving box service

If you truly want to save yourself time and money, renting moving boxes is the way to go. A service like Boxbee will deliver the moving boxes right to your door, and will also pick them up from your new location and clean them. All rental packages from Boxbee include reusable plastic moving boxes, a rolling moving dolly, packing labels and cable ties to secure each of the moving boxes. You can check out the Boxbee rental moving box packages here: Rental Packages.

Bonus Step 2: Use on-demand storage

On-demand storage is like a valet service for items you want to store; your belongings will be picked up and delivered at your convenience. Both pickup and delivery are easy to schedule, and you can even get help with packing. On-demand storage is particularly handy if you realize after you’ve moved to your new place that there isn’t quite enough room for all your stuff. It’s also a convenient service if you simply want to reduce the clutter in your home, but aren’t ready to let go of the belongings. Either way, use the above labeling steps as an efficient way to keep track of the contents of your storage boxes. By following the steps outlined above, you’ll make your moving process easier. If you’re interested in renting moving boxes or using an on-demand storage service, contact Boxbee and we can help you choose the best plan to suit your needs. Bonus Step 3? The Boxbee team are pros at labeling moving boxes and can pass their tricks of the trade onto you.