What the calculator assumes
The shopping list is built from a handful of transparent rules. Tape is estimated at one roll for every 12 boxes, plus one for every 10 furniture pieces to secure drawers and wrapping. Packing paper scales with fragility: around 5 sheets per box for low, 10 for medium and 18 for high. Bubble wrap adds a little per box by fragility, 1.5 metres for each framed picture or mirror, and 3 metres for every screen. You get one blanket per furniture piece and screen, a roll of stretch wrap per eight furniture pieces, one bag per mattress, two labels per box so it can be read from either side, and enough marker pens that two people can work at once.
Rules like these are deliberately cautious, because running out halfway through the kitchen costs you time on the busiest day. Leftover tape and paper are easy to use up later; a missing roll at 11 pm is not.
Packing materials compared
| Material | Best at | Weakness | Reuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packing paper | Wrapping glasses and plates, filling gaps | Limited shock absorption on its own | Reusable as filler; widely recyclable |
| Bubble wrap | Screens, framed glass, ceramics | Bulky to store; plastic waste | Reusable several times if not taped heavily |
| Foam pouches and sheets | Plates, glasses, scratch protection | Less corner protection | Reusable |
| Moving blankets | Furniture surfaces and appliances | Need tape or wrap to stay in place | Highly reusable; some movers supply them |
| Stretch wrap | Holding drawers and doors shut, bundling | Can trap moisture against wood | Mostly single-use |
| Towels, linens, clothing | Padding and filler | Less structured protection | No extra waste |
Plastic tape or paper tape?
Plastic (polypropylene) tape
- Pro: cheap, widely available and quick with a dispenser
- Pro: moisture resistant
- Con: harder to recycle with cardboard
- Con: low-grade rolls can lose grip in the cold
Paper tape
- Pro: can usually be recycled with the box
- Pro: easy to write on
- Con: often costs more per roll
- Con: some types need water activation and a special dispenser
Packing fragile items, step by step
- Line the base of a small or medium box with crumpled paper.
- Wrap plates individually and stand them on edge, like records, rather than stacking them flat.
- Stuff glasses and mugs with paper, wrap them, and place the heaviest items lowest.
- Fill every gap until nothing moves when you gently shake the box.
- Add a final layer of paper, seal with an H-pattern of tape, and mark “Fragile” and “This way up” on two sides.
Where people usually run short
Kitchens consume far more paper than any other room, so start there when judging whether your supply is enough. Pictures and mirrors are the next surprise: every frame needs corner protection and a rigid backing. The final evening is the third — bedding, toiletries and chargers all need packing after everything else has gone. Hold back a roll of tape, a marker and a few boxes specifically for that last hour.
Waste less without risking breakages
Pad with the towels, blankets and jumpers you have to move anyway, reuse clean paper from deliveries, and pass boxes and wrap on to someone else who is moving afterwards. For screens and glass, though, do not economise: proper wrap is cheaper than a replacement.