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Packing services are professional labor and materials used to prepare your household goods for transport. They range from full-service packing (the crew handles everything) to partial and fragile-only options. Who packs your boxes directly affects your ability to file damage claims, a critical detail most people miss. Costs typically range from $280 to $2,200, depending on home size and service level.
Moving is stressful enough without trying to decode industry jargon. What’s the difference between “carrier packed” and “packed by owner”? What does “released value” actually mean for your grandmother’s china? And why does your estimate list something called “accessorial charges”?
This glossary breaks down every packing-related term you’re likely to encounter during a move. Each definition includes practical context, cost ranges where applicable, and warnings about common pitfalls. Whether you’re planning a long-distance move or a local relocation, knowing these terms puts you in a stronger position to protect your belongings and your wallet.
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Types of Packing Services
Full-Service Packing
A full-service packing arrangement means the moving crew handles everything: supplying materials, wrapping each item, boxing it, labeling it, and loading it. You don’t touch a roll of tape. This option is ideal for large households, people with physical limitations, and anyone on a tight timeline. It’s also especially popular for senior moves, where the physical demands of packing a whole house simply aren’t realistic.
Full-service packing for a 2- or 3-bedroom home typically costs $600 to $2,500, including labor and materials. Labor rates average $25 to $40 per hour per packer, and most homes need at least two packers.
One important note from forum discussions: professional packers pack everything. Practitioners on MetaFilter report that crews will box dirty dishes, items staged for donation, and even trash. If you don’t declutter before the packing date, you’ll pay to move things you planned to throw away.
Partial Packing
Partial packing lets you hire professionals for specific rooms or categories while you handle the rest yourself. The kitchen is the most commonly requested room for partial packing, which makes sense given how many fragile, oddly shaped items live there.
Partial packing services generally cost $200 to $500, depending on scope. It’s a smart middle ground for people who want to save money but don’t trust themselves with the wine glasses.
Fragile-Only Packing
Fragile-only packing is exactly what it sounds like: the crew handles only fragile items. Think glassware, electronics, framed artwork, and ceramics. You pack the books, clothes, and towels. They pack the things that shatter.
This option splits the difference between DIY and full-service. You do the easy work, and the pros apply their expertise where it matters most.
Unpacking Services
Unpacking is the reverse of packing: the crew opens boxes, removes packing materials, and places items on surfaces or in rooms you designate. It’s typically offered as a flat rate or an hourly add-on. Costs range from $100 to $1,400 depending on the volume of belongings.
Unpacking doesn’t mean the crew organizes your kitchen drawers or hangs your curtains. They remove items from boxes and break down the cardboard. Organization is still your job.
Custom Crating
Custom crating involves building a wooden crate specifically shaped for an oversized, fragile, or irreplaceable item. Grand pianos, large sculptures, antique mirrors, and valuable paintings are common candidates.
Costs vary widely. Piano crating can run $250 to $1,000+, while custom crating for large artwork typically adds $200 to $800+ per piece. Grandfather clocks, which need disassembly and reassembly, usually cost $300 to $700 for the full treatment. If you have items that fall into this category, AmeriSafe’s special services cover specialty handling needs.
Packing Materials and Equipment
Packing Supplies / Packing Materials
This is the umbrella term for everything used to protect your belongings during transit: boxes, tape, paper, bubble wrap, blankets, and stretch wrap. Materials costs scale with home size. Expect around $180 for a one-bedroom home and up to $750 for a three-bedroom home.
One thing most people don’t realize is that movers typically mark up packing supplies by 50 to 100% compared to retail prices. Buying your own boxes and tape from a home improvement store can save real money, especially if you’re doing partial packing. AmeriSafe offers moving supplies for customers who want the convenience of one-stop sourcing.
Dish Pack Box
A dish pack (sometimes called a “dish barrel”) is a double-walled, extra-sturdy box designed specifically for kitchen items. The thicker cardboard absorbs impacts that would crush a standard box. Packers use cell dividers inside to separate glasses and bowls. If you’re packing your own kitchen, these boxes are worth every penny.
Wardrobe Box
A tall box with a built-in metal hanging bar at the top. You transfer clothes directly from your closet rod to the wardrobe box, still on their hangers. This eliminates wrinkles and makes unpacking closets almost effortless. Wardrobe boxes are bulky, though, and take up significant space on the truck.
Packing Paper
Unprinted newsprint paper is used to wrap individual items before boxing them. It’s the workhorse material for most packing jobs. Unlike newspaper, packing paper won’t transfer ink to your dishes or linens. Packers go through enormous amounts of it, typically 5 to 10 pounds per room.
Bubble Wrap
Air-filled plastic sheeting is used for extra cushioning around fragile items. It’s the go-to for electronics, picture frames, and anything with a glass surface. Bubble wrap is more expensive than packing paper, so most packers use paper as the base layer and bubble wrap only where the item demands it.
Stretch Wrap
A clingy plastic film (think heavy-duty kitchen wrap) used to hold drawers shut, bundle items together, or protect upholstered furniture from dirt and tears. Stretch wrap doesn’t leave adhesive residue the way tape does, making it safe for wood finishes and fabric. You’ll also hear it called “shrink wrap,” though technically the two materials are different.
Moving Blankets / Packing Blankets
Thick, padded blankets are used to wrap furniture, appliances, and large items. They prevent scratches, dents, and surface damage during loading and transit. Most moving crews bring their own supply, but the blankets sometimes appear as a line item on your estimate.
Packing Tape
Pressure-sensitive tape is used to seal boxes. Professional-grade packing tape is wider and stickier than what you’d find at an office supply store. Good tape is a surprisingly important variable. Cheap tape fails in humid conditions, and boxes that pop open in transit cause damage.
Liability and Documentation Terms
This section matters more than any other in this glossary. Who packs your boxes has a direct, legally significant effect on your ability to recover money if something breaks.
PBO (Packed By Owner)
PBO stands for “packed by owner,” meaning you packed the box yourself rather than having the moving crew do it. The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) defines PBO as articles packed into cartons or crates by the shipper, not the carrier.
Here’s the critical part: if you pack your own boxes and the contents arrive damaged, it is significantly harder to file a successful claim against the mover. According to FMCSA guidance, self-packed boxes with no visible external damage to the carton are often subject to internal damage claims being denied or reduced. The logic is simple from the carrier’s perspective: they can’t verify how well you packed.
This is the single most important thing to understand about packing services. Many consumers pack their own boxes to save money, not knowing they’re also giving up their strongest protection against loss. Forum users on MetaFilter frequently cite this as something they wish they’d known before moving.
CP (Carrier Packed)
CP means “carrier packed,” articles packed into cartons or crates by the moving company. When a carrier packs a box, they assume liability for the quality of the packing. If the contents arrive damaged, you have a much stronger claim because the carrier can’t blame your packing technique.
This distinction between PBO and CP is the core financial argument for professional packing services, especially for interstate moves where federal regulations apply.
Valuation Coverage
Under federal law, interstate movers must offer two liability options called “valuation coverage.” This is not insurance in the traditional sense. It’s the carrier’s liability for loss or damage.
Full Value Protection
The higher tier of valuation coverage. Under Full Value Protection, the mover is liable for the replacement value of lost or damaged items. They can either repair the item, replace it with a similar one, or provide a cash settlement equal to the current market value. This option costs extra (usually a percentage of your declared shipment value), but it provides meaningful protection.
Released Value
The basic, no-additional-cost liability option. Under released value, the mover’s liability is capped at 60 cents per pound per article. That means if your 10-pound laptop is destroyed, the maximum payout is $6.00. The released value offers essentially no protection at all for anything valuable.
Most people don’t realize how little value they have released until they need to file a claim. For a deeper understanding of what your moving estimate should include, check out this guide to accurate moving estimates.
Bill of Lading
The bill of lading is the contract between you and the mover. It lists the shipment details, pickup and delivery dates, charges, selected valuation coverage, and the terms of the agreement. In the packing context, the bill of lading should note which items were carrier packed (CP) and which were packed by the owner (PBO). Review this document carefully before signing, because it’s the document you’ll reference if you file a claim.
For tips on spotting red flags in moving documents, read about how to avoid moving scams.
Non-Allowables / Prohibited Items
Items that movers are legally prohibited from transporting. The list typically includes hazardous materials (paint, propane, cleaning chemicals), perishable food, ammunition, and certain flammable liquids. Your packer will skip these during a full-service pack. One common recommendation from experienced movers and forum users: move jewelry, medications, and firearms yourself regardless of legality, because personal control over high-value, irreplaceable items matters more than convenience.
High-Value Items / Items of Extraordinary Value
The FMCSA uses a threshold of $100 per pound to define “articles of extraordinary value.” If any single item exceeds this (a small painting worth $5,000, for instance), you must declare it on your inventory. Failure to declare high-value items can limit the carrier’s liability for them, even under Full Value Protection.
Estimates, Costs, and Timing
Binding Estimate
A binding estimate locks in the total price for your move based on the items and services listed. As long as the actual shipment matches what was surveyed, you pay the quoted amount, no more. Packing services should be explicitly itemized in a binding estimate. If they aren’t listed, they aren’t included.
Non-Binding Estimate
A non-binding estimate is the mover’s best guess at the final cost. The actual price can go up (or down) based on the actual weight or volume of your shipment. Packing charges, in particular, tend to increase on non-binding estimates because the estimated box count often falls short of reality. Always ask how the mover calculated the packing materials portion.
Accessorial Charges
Accessorial charges are fees for services beyond basic transportation. Packing is one of the most common accessorial services. Others include long carry charges (if the truck can’t park close to your door), stair carries, elevator usage, and shuttle service for locations that can’t accommodate a full-size moving truck. These charges should be disclosed in your estimate.
Line Haul Charges
The line haul charge is the cost of transporting your shipment from origin to destination. It’s calculated by weight and distance for interstate moves. Line haul is separate from packing, and the two should be broken out as distinct line items on your estimate.
Peak Season / Off-Peak Season
More than 60% of moves happen between May and September, with the busiest single days being June 30, July 31, and August 1. During peak season, moving and packing costs jump 20% to 30%. If your timeline is flexible, booking your move for October through April can result in significant savings on both transportation and packing services.
Packing Date
The packing date is the day the crew arrives to pack your home. It’s almost always scheduled one day before the loading date. On a long-distance move, this separation is standard because packing a full household takes a full day (or more). Make sure you’ve finished decluttering before the packing date, because, as discussed earlier, packers will box everything they see.
Move Types That Affect Packing
Full-Service Move
A full-service move bundles packing, loading, transportation, unloading, and unpacking into one package. It’s the most hands-off option. For residential moves involving families with young children, demanding jobs, or tight timelines, full-service is often the only realistic choice.
White Glove Service
White-glove service goes beyond standard full-service. It typically includes custom crating for fragile items, furniture disassembly and reassembly, placement of items in specific rooms (not just inside the front door), and sometimes debris removal. The term isn’t standardized across the industry, so always ask exactly what “white glove” includes with your specific mover.
Storage-in-Transit (SIT)
Storage-in-transit refers to temporary warehouse storage during the gap between your move-out and move-in dates. Packing quality matters even more for SIT because your belongings may sit in storage for weeks or months. Items need to be packed to withstand stacking, temperature changes, and extended time without supervision. If you need temporary storage, AmeriSafe arranges short- and long-term storage through its partner network.
What Packing Services Actually Cost: A Quick Summary
Here’s a consolidated view of the cost data covered throughout this glossary:
Service | Typical Cost Range |
|---|---|
Full-service packing (2-3 BR home) | $600 to $2,500 |
Partial packing | $200 to $500 |
Packing labor rate (per packer/hour) | $25 to $40 |
Unpacking services | $100 to $1,400 |
Packing materials (1 BR home) | ~$180 |
Packing materials (3 BR home) | Up to $750 |
Piano packing/crating | $250 to $1,000+ |
Artwork custom crating | $200 to $800+ per piece |
Peak season surcharge | 20% to 30% higher |
All cost data sourced from This Old House, HomeGuide, and National Van Lines.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What’s included in professional packing services?
Professional packing services include labor (a team of packers), all packing materials (boxes, tape, paper, bubble wrap), wrapping and boxing of your belongings, labeling, and in many cases, loading the packed boxes onto the truck. Unpacking at your destination is usually a separate add-on service.
Is it worth paying for packing services?
For most people, yes. Beyond the time savings, professional packing provides stronger legal protection against damage claims. Boxes packed by the carrier (CP) carry full carrier liability, while boxes you pack yourself (PBO) make claims significantly harder to win. One MetaFilter user summed up a common sentiment: “Paying for the packing was completely worth it, and nothing they packed arrived damaged.”
Can I pack some boxes myself and have movers pack the rest?
Absolutely. This is partial packing. Most people handle easy rooms (bedrooms, closets) and hire packers for the kitchen, garage, or rooms with fragile items. Just be aware that any box marked PBO on the inventory won’t carry the same damage protection as carrier-packed boxes.
How far in advance should I book packing services?
During peak season (May through September), book at least 4 to 6 weeks ahead. During off-peak months, 2 to 3 weeks is usually sufficient. Last-minute bookings during summer often come with premium pricing or limited availability.
Do movers charge extra for packing materials?
Typically, yes. Packing materials are either included in the packing service fee or billed separately. Movers often charge 50% to 100% more for boxes and supplies than retail stores. If you’re on a budget and doing partial packing, buying your own materials can cut costs.
What items won’t movers pack?
Movers will not pack hazardous materials (paint, aerosols, propane), perishable food, plants (for long-distance moves), ammunition, and certain liquids. These are classified as “non-allowables.” Check your mover’s specific list of prohibited items before packing day.
Does packing affect my moving estimate?
Yes, significantly. Packing is classified as an accessorial charge, meaning it’s added on top of the base transportation (line haul) cost. On a non-binding estimate, the packing portion can increase if the actual number of boxes exceeds the initial projection. Always verify that packing is explicitly included in your written estimate.
What’s the difference between released value and full value protection?
Released value is free but covers only 60 cents per pound per item. A 50-pound TV would be covered for just $30. Full Value Protection costs extra but covers the actual replacement value or current market value of damaged items. For any move involving valuable belongings, Full Value Protection is the better choice.
Understanding packing terminology isn’t just academic. It directly affects how much you pay, how well your belongings are protected, and how strong your legal position is if something goes wrong. AmeriSafe Van Lines offers full and partial packing services with a coordinator-led approach that walks you through every step.
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