For a typical move you'll need: small, medium, and large moving boxes; packing tape and a dispenser; bubble wrap and packing paper for fragile items; furniture blankets; stretch wrap; mattress bags; permanent markers; and a box cutter. Pack an essentials box with items you'll need on move-in night, and keep it separate from the rest of the load.
Two supply mistakes catch almost everyone: not buying enough boxes, and badly underestimating how much tape a move actually takes. This moving supplies checklist walks through every item you need before you pack a single box, with a quick note on how much of each to get. Start shopping three to four weeks before your move date so you're not making a panic run to the store the night before.
This post covers the supplies side only. If you'd rather skip the supply run entirely, our packing team brings everything and does the packing for you. Otherwise, here's the full list.
Boxes: Your Moving Boxes Checklist
Boxes do most of the work, and the right mix matters more than the total count. Match the box to what goes inside it.
- Small boxes: books, dishes, canned goods, and anything heavy. Small boxes keep the weight manageable so nobody throws out their back.
- Medium boxes: kitchen gadgets, toys, small appliances, and everyday household items. This is your workhorse size.
- Large boxes: pillows, linens, and lampshades. Light and bulky only. Never load a large box with heavy items, or it won't survive the lift.
- Wardrobe boxes: hanging clothes go straight in on the built-in bar, no folding required.
- Dish pack or china barrel: reinforced boxes built for glassware and fragile kitchen items.
- Mirror and picture boxes: flat and adjustable, made for artwork and large framed pieces.
How many boxes do I need to move?
Use this as a starting estimate, then add a few:
- 1-bedroom apartment: 20–30 boxes
- 2-bedroom home: 30–45 boxes
- 3-bedroom home: 45–70 boxes
- 4+ bedrooms: 70+ boxes
Kitchens and storage rooms almost always need more boxes than the formula suggests, so buy past your estimate. Stores take back unused flat boxes; nobody enjoys repacking a half-full closet at midnight because they ran short.
One Winnipeg note: use new or gently used boxes for anything heavy or fragile. Used grocery boxes soak up moisture fast once snow and slush start getting tracked through the doorway, and a damp box bottom gives way without warning.
Tape and Sealing
Tape is the item people underestimate most. Buy more than you think you need.
- Packing tape: real packing tape, not scotch tape, masking tape, or duct tape. Plan on at least one roll of quality tape per 30 boxes.
- Tape dispenser: this speeds up packing more than any other single tool. Don't skip it.
- Reinforced or strapping tape: optional, but handy for oversized or very heavy boxes.
The bottom seam is the weakest point of any box, and it's where failures happen. Always double-tape the bottom seam before you load a thing into the box. That one habit prevents the classic "everything fell out in the driveway" disaster.
Rough tape quantities by home size:
- 1-bedroom: 3–4 rolls
- 2-bedroom: 6–8 rolls
- 3-bedroom: 10–12 rolls
Packing Materials for Moving: Protecting Fragile Items
This is the part of the essential moving supplies list that decides whether your dishes arrive in one piece.
- Bubble wrap: small bubbles for glassware and electronics, larger bubbles for heavier items.
- Packing paper (unprinted newsprint): for wrapping dishes, lining box bottoms, and filling gaps. It's cheaper than bubble wrap and leaves no ink on your things.
- Furniture blankets or moving pads: cover tables, dressers, and upholstered pieces so they don't scuff in transit.
- Stretch wrap: keeps drawers shut, wraps furniture legs, and bundles loose items together.
- Mattress bags: keep the mattress clean on the truck.
- Foam peanuts or foam rolls: good for filling voids in boxes packed with fragile items.
Clean towels, clothing, and linens can stand in for packing paper on non-fragile items, which saves a bit of money and doubles as a way to pack your soft goods. For anything that can actually break, use real packing materials. A wine glass wrapped in a dish towel is a gamble.
Labelling and Organization
Good labelling is what turns unloading from chaos into a smooth afternoon.
- Permanent markers: buy two or more. They run out at the worst possible moment.
- Coloured labels or coloured tape: assign one colour per room. It makes unloading dramatically faster because everyone knows where each box goes at a glance.
- Inventory notebook or app: optional, but worth it for tracking high-value items.
- "FRAGILE" stickers: or make your own. They tell movers which boxes need a gentle hand.
Label every box on the top and on at least one side. Boxes get stacked sideways constantly, and a top-only label disappears the moment that happens.
Tools and Moving Day Extras
These are the small items that get forgotten until you need them.
- Box cutter or utility knife: for unpacking. Keep one somewhere you can find it on moving day.
- Furniture dolly or hand truck: essential if you're doing any of the lifting yourself. Renting one for the day is perfectly fine.
- Plastic zip bags: for screws, bolts, and hardware from disassembled furniture. Tape the bag to the piece it came from so you're not hunting for parts later.
- Heavy-duty garbage bags: for last-minute throwaways and for packing soft goods like pillows and stuffed animals.
- Rope or cargo straps: for securing the load in a rented truck.
- Moving totes or reusable bins: optional, but they work well for clothes and linens.
The First-Night Essentials Box
This is the single most overlooked part of moving supplies prep. Everything else goes in the truck. This one box rides in the car with you, because it's what you'll need before the truck is unloaded.
Pack a separate "open first" box with:
- Toilet paper
- Phone charger and a power strip
- Basic cleaning supplies: all-purpose spray and paper towels
- Scissors and a box cutter
- Snacks and bottled water
- Medications and a first aid kit
- A change of clothes and toiletries
- Kids' and pets' essential items
- Important documents: ID, lease, insurance papers
Pack this box last and load it last, so it's the first thing out at the new place.
Winnipeg Winter and Spring Move Supplies
A Winnipeg move comes with a couple of seasonal extras that out-of-town checklists skip.
For a winter move, add ice melt or sand for the front steps at both addresses, and put down extra floor protection like a cardboard runner or plastic sheeting, because slush gets tracked through the doorway within minutes. Keep boxes off the ground during loading, since cardboard pulls moisture out of snow and slush almost immediately. And remember that electronics, houseplants, and candles can't sit in an unheated truck, so plan who carries those and when.
Spring moves carry the same moisture caution during thaw season. Keep boxes off wet garage floors and wet porches, and the rest of this packing supplies checklist stays the same.
Where to Get Moving Supplies in Winnipeg
You have a few options locally. Canadian Tire and U-Haul both stock boxes and packing materials, and most moving companies, including us, carry supplies too. If you'd rather buy everything in one place from the people doing your move, our moving supplies page lists what we stock. Pricing varies, so it's worth asking when you get your quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use free boxes from the grocery store?
Free boxes work fine for non-fragile, lightweight items like linens, pillows, and clothing. The catch is quality: grocery boxes vary in strength, often have weak seams, and may carry food residue or pests. For heavy items and anything breakable, use new or sturdy used boxes you can trust.
What kind of tape should I use for moving boxes?
Use proper packing tape, the wide, clear, pressure-sensitive kind. Skip scotch tape, masking tape, and duct tape, which either don't hold or peel off cardboard over time. Double-tape the bottom seam of every box, since that's where most box failures happen.
Do I need bubble wrap, or is packing paper enough?
Packing paper handles most dishes and everyday fragile items well, and it's cheaper. Save bubble wrap for glassware, electronics, and anything with delicate corners or screens. Many moves use both: paper for wrapping and gap-filling, bubble wrap for the most fragile pieces.
What should I pack last when moving?
Pack daily essentials last: the kitchen items you use until the final morning, toiletries, chargers, and your first-night box. These should be the last things into the truck and among the first things out at the new place.
What goes in the first box you unpack?
Your first-night essentials box: toilet paper, phone chargers, basic cleaning supplies, a box cutter, snacks, water, medications, toiletries, a change of clothes, and important documents. Keep it in your car rather than on the truck so it's never buried under everything else.
Need Help With Your Move?
If packing this whole list sounds like more work than you want to take on, we offer full and partial packing services that include all the supplies: boxes, bubble wrap, mattress bags, and every protective material above. Our team brings over 55 years of combined moving experience. Call (204) 296-2223 for a free quote, or request an estimate online.