Packing for an apartment move in Rockville is different from packing a house. You have less space to stage boxes, shared hallways and elevators to navigate, and building rules that limit your moving window. An organized packing plan saves time on moving day — and time is money when you’re paying movers by the hour.
Pro100Movers offers professional packing services in Rockville — we bring all materials and pack your entire apartment in 2–4 hours. Or use this guide to do it yourself. Call 800-397-7885 for a free estimate.
Packing Supplies You’ll Need
| Item | Studio/1-bed | 2-bedroom | 3-bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small boxes (books, kitchen) | 10–15 | 15–25 | 25–35 |
| Medium boxes (general) | 8–12 | 12–20 | 20–30 |
| Large boxes (linens, pillows) | 3–5 | 5–10 | 10–15 |
| Wardrobe boxes | 1–2 | 2–3 | 3–5 |
| Packing tape (rolls) | 2–3 | 3–5 | 5–7 |
| Bubble wrap (feet) | 25–50 | 50–100 | 100–150 |
| Packing paper (sheets) | 50 | 100 | 150 |
Where to buy in Rockville: Home Depot (Rockville Pike), Lowe’s (Shady Grove Road), U-Haul (near Twinbrook). Or skip the shopping — our packing service includes all materials.
Room-by-Room Packing Guide
Kitchen (Start 5–7 Days Before)
The kitchen is the hardest room to pack and the one most people leave until the last minute. Start early with items you rarely use: baking pans, holiday dishes, specialty appliances, cookbooks. Leave out only essentials for the last few days: one pot, one pan, a few plates, cups, utensils, and your coffee maker.
Dishes: Wrap each plate individually in packing paper. Stack vertically in the box (like records, not like a stack of plates). Fill gaps with crumpled paper. Label box: “Kitchen — Fragile — Dishes.”
Glasses: Wrap each glass in packing paper or bubble wrap. Use cell dividers if available. Place glasses upside-down in the box. Don’t stack without padding between layers.
Appliances: Small appliances (blender, toaster, Instant Pot) go in medium boxes with bubble wrap around them. If you have the original box — even better. Wrap cords with rubber bands so they don’t tangle.
Bedroom (Start 3–5 Days Before)
Clothes: Leave hanging clothes on hangers — use wardrobe boxes. Fold and box everything else. Off-season clothes go first.
Bedding: Large garbage bags work for pillows, comforters, and linens — saves boxes and they’re easy to carry.
Furniture: Strip the bed on moving morning. Our crew disassembles and reassembles bed frames. Remove items from nightstand drawers — tape drawers closed for transport.
Living Room (Start 2–3 Days Before)
Electronics: Take photos of cable connections before disconnecting. Wrap TVs in blankets or bubble wrap — if you have the original box, use it. Controllers, remotes, and cables go in a labeled Ziploc bag.
Books: Small boxes only. Books are heavy — a large box full of books is nearly impossible to carry. Fill half the box with books, half with lighter items.
Decor: Wrap frames and mirrors in bubble wrap. Tape an “X” across glass surfaces with painter’s tape for extra protection. Stand framed items vertically in boxes — never lay flat.
Bathroom (Pack Morning Of)
Last room to pack. Put daily toiletries in your essentials bag the morning of the move. Everything else — cleaning supplies, extra towels, hair dryer, rarely used products — can be boxed 2–3 days before.
Apartment-Specific Packing Tips
Stage boxes near the door. Apartment space is limited. As you finish packing a room, move boxes to the entryway or hallway. On moving day, the crew can load from one central spot instead of searching through rooms.
Label all four sides of each box. In apartment moves, boxes get stacked in the truck — only one side faces out. Label the top AND all four sides so movers can read the destination room from any angle.
Keep an inventory. Number each box (Box 1, Box 2…) and keep a simple list of what’s in each. If something goes missing or a box arrives damaged, you’ll know exactly what was inside.
Don’t overpack boxes. A packed box should be liftable by one person. If you can’t pick it up comfortably, it’s too heavy. Split the contents into two boxes.
What NOT to Pack
Some items shouldn’t go on the moving truck:
Perishable food. Eat it, give it away, or throw it out. Moving trucks aren’t refrigerated.
Cleaning supplies and chemicals. Bleach, ammonia, and aerosol cans can leak or burst in a hot truck. Transport these in your car.
Valuables and documents. Jewelry, cash, passports, birth certificates, and medications travel with you — never on the truck.
Plants. Most movers (including us) won’t transport live plants on long-distance moves. For local Rockville moves, we can carry them in the truck — but they’re your responsibility if they don’t survive the trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to pack a 1-bedroom apartment?
DIY: 4–8 hours over 2–3 days. Professional packing: 1.5–2.5 hours for a 2-person team. We recommend starting DIY packing at least 3 days before the move — rushing leads to broken items and unlabeled boxes.
Should I pack everything or hire packers?
If you have the time, packing non-fragile items yourself (clothes, books, linens) saves money. Hire professionals for the kitchen, artwork, electronics, and any fragile or valuable items. Our partial packing service covers just the hard stuff.
Need Professional Packing in Rockville?
Our Rockville packing team brings all materials and packs your apartment in 2–4 hours. Everything is wrapped, boxed, labeled, and ready for the crew. Or combine packing + moving for a full-service experience — we handle the entire process from empty box to furnished new home.
Call 800-397-7885 for a free estimate. Pro100Movers Rockville — licensed, insured, since 2010.
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Helpful Tips for Moving Families
| Task | Tip | When to Do it |
|---|---|---|
| Use original packaging | Best fit and shock absorption | 1–2 weeks before move |
| Wrap with anti-static material | Prevents static and overheating | During packing |
| Label all electronics boxes | Use “Fragile” and “This Side Up” labels | During packing |
| Use climate-controlled transport | Protects from heat during transit | Moving day |
| Allow devices to cool before plugging in | Prevents condensation damage | After unloading |
