Packing is the part of moving that eats your evenings, your weekends and every box in the neighborhood. Some people should absolutely pack themselves. Others will lose three weekends and a few wine glasses to save money they didn’t really save. Here’s an honest way to decide whether to hire packers or pack yourself, from a moving company that’s happy either way.
The Short Answer
Pack it yourself if:
– You have a few weeks before the move
– You’re moving a smaller place without a lot of breakables
– Your budget is tight and your schedule isn’t
– You want to sort and declutter as you go
Hire packers if:
– Your move is coming up fast
– You have a big house, a full kitchen or lots of fragile and valuable things
– You work full time, have little kids, or both
– You’re moving long distance and want things packed to survive days on a truck
– Lifting and bending all day isn’t realistic for you
Split the difference if: you can handle clothes, books and linens but you dread the kitchen. That’s what partial packing is for (more on that below).
Packing Yourself: Pros and Cons
The upside
– It costs less in cash. You pay for materials, not labor.
– You control everything. You know what’s in every box and where it’s going.
– You declutter as you go. Every drawer you empty is a chance to sell, donate or toss.
– You set the pace. A few boxes a night adds up.
The downside
– It takes longer than you think. Almost everyone underestimates it, especially the kitchen, the garage and the closets.
– Materials add up. Boxes, tape, paper and wrap, plus a few extra trips to the store.
– Bad packing breaks things. Half-empty boxes crush, heavy boxes split and loose dishes chip.
– Damage claims get harder. FMCSA warns that if things you packed yourself get damaged, it may be more difficult to establish your claim against the mover. Its moving rights booklet lists improper packing of boxes you pack yourself as something that may limit or reduce the mover’s liability.
– Unfinished packing costs you on moving day. On an hourly move, if the crew is waiting on you or packing your kitchen while the clock runs, you’re paying for it.
Hiring Professional Packers: Pros and Cons
The upside
– It’s fast. People who pack for a living work a lot quicker than you will on a Tuesday night after work.
– Fragile things get packed right. Proper materials, proper wrapping, the right box for the job.
– Boxes come out uniform. Sturdy, full, same-size boxes stack well and load faster.
– You get your time back. Your evenings stay yours.
– Someone else can unpack, too, if you choose a full-service option.
The downside
– It costs more up front. Forbes estimates professional packing adds about $300 to $2,000 to total moving costs (as of 2026), depending on how much you have.
– Packers pack what’s there. Declutter first, or you’ll pay to pack things you meant to toss.
– You give up some control. Good labeling fixes most of this.
What It Really Costs: The Tradeoff
The real comparison isn’t “free vs. paid.” It’s money against time and risk.
| Pack yourself | Hire packers | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash cost | Materials only | Labor plus materials |
| Your time | Days or weekends, spread over weeks | A few hours of answering questions |
| Risk of breakage | Higher, especially for dishes and glass | Lower, with proper materials |
| Moving day | Faster if everything is truly ready, slower if it isn’t | Boxes ready and uniform when the truck arrives |
| Damage claims | Harder for boxes you packed | No question about who packed it |
For many families, the math lands in the middle: pack the easy stuff yourself and pay for help with the hard stuff. For more on what drives the total bill, see our Omaha moving cost guide.
The Middle Option: Partial Packing
You don’t have to choose all or nothing. Easy As Pie’s packing service has no minimum, so you can have us pack just the rooms you dread and handle the rest yourself. The most popular picks:
- The kitchen. Dozens of odd shapes and breakables. It’s the room most people put off until the last night.
- Fragile and valuable pieces. Glassware, china, mirrors, artwork and antiques. We can build custom crates for the most delicate items.
- Big TVs and electronics.
- The stuff you just don’t want to touch. The garage shelves, the basement, the junk drawer.
Materials are included when you book our packing service, so you’re not hunting for dish boxes the night before. Add packing to your estimate request and it’s included in your price range.
Platinum Packing: When You Want It All Handled
With Platinum Packing, we pack up everything and unpack it at your new home. You just tell us where things go. It’s a good fit for long distance moves, busy families, relocations on a short timeline, and anyone downsizing who wants the new place set up without the weeks of boxes. See the details on our packing services page.
If You’re Packing It Yourself: Materials List
- Small boxes for books, canned goods and anything heavy
- Medium boxes for kitchen items, toys, decor and electronics
- Large boxes for light, bulky things like bedding, pillows and lampshades
- Wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes
- Dish pack boxes (extra-thick boxes for kitchen breakables)
- Packing paper (plain, unprinted, so ink doesn’t rub off) and bubble wrap
- Packing tape and a tape gun
- Markers and labels
- Stretch wrap for drawers and odd shapes
- Mattress bags
- Zip-top bags for screws and hardware
- A box cutter and scissors
Don’t want to collect boxes? We offer box and material delivery, with supplies bundled into packages and delivered to your door before your move. Or skip cardboard and rent plastic moving bins through our partner, Monster Totes. (More on eco-friendly moving.)
Packing Tips That Save Time (and Your Dishes)
- Start with the rooms you use least. Guest rooms, off-season clothes, decor and books first. Kitchen and bathrooms last.
- Do one room at a time. Finish a room before you start the next so boxes don’t get mixed.
- Heavy things in small boxes, light things in big ones. If you can’t lift it comfortably, it’s too heavy.
- Fill every box. Empty space lets things shift and boxes crush. Fill gaps with paper or towels.
- Pack plates on their edges, like records, and wrap glasses one at a time.
- Label two sides, not the top. Write the room and a short list of contents. Mark fragile boxes clearly.
- Bag the hardware. Put screws and bolts in a labeled bag and tape it to the furniture it belongs to.
- Lighten your dressers. You don’t have to empty them, but full drawers make dressers heavy and can strain or crack the frame.
- Pack an essentials box with chargers, medications, toiletries, sheets and a change of clothes. It rides with you. Our moving checklist has the full list.
- Leave out the hazardous stuff. Propane, gasoline, paint thinner and other flammables can’t go on the truck.
After the move, flatten your boxes. Omaha’s curbside recycling takes flattened cardboard, but nothing can stick out of the cart, so a whole house of boxes may take a few pickups.
Packing FAQs
Is it cheaper to pack yourself?
In cash, yes. You’re only paying for materials. But count your time, the breakage risk and the extra hours on moving day if you’re not ready when the crew shows up.
Can I pack some rooms and have movers pack the rest?
Yes. Our packing service has no minimum, so you can have us pack just the kitchen or the fragile items and handle everything else yourself.
Will movers move boxes I packed myself?
Of course. Just know that if something inside a box you packed gets damaged, it can be harder to prove the mover was at fault. Pack fragile things carefully or let the crew handle them.
When do professional packers come?
We get the best results packing the day before the move. If your timeline calls for packing and moving on the same day, we can do that too, but a separate packing day usually makes moving day smoother.
Do I need to buy my own boxes if I hire packers?
No. When you book our packing service, the materials are included.
Get Packing Help Your Way
Tell us what you want packed, from one room to the whole house, on our free estimate form. We’ll build the crew and the day around it.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (402) 200-4661.
