Packing
How to pack plastic moving bins like a pro
Weight limits, room labels, fragile items and the stacking order that keeps moving day fast.
By the MoverBins team · · 6 min read
Plastic bins make packing faster, but a few habits make it a lot faster. Here's how to pack them so moving day is mostly rolling and stacking.
1. Set up a packing station
Pick one spot per floor with a few empty bins, labels, a marker, packing paper and a trash bag. Pack room by room, then stack finished bins near the door.
2. Keep each bin under about 50 pounds
Bins are strong, but you're not. A good rule:
- Heavy items (books, tools, canned food): fill the bin about halfway, then top it off with light things like towels or pillows.
- Medium items (kitchenware, toys, décor): fill to the top.
- Light items (linens, clothes, stuffed animals): fill all the way and press gently so the lid closes flat.
3. Heavy on the bottom, light on top
Inside each bin, put the heaviest things on the bottom. On the dolly, put the heaviest bins on the bottom of the stack too.
4. Pack fragile items with a buffer
Wrap dishes and glasses individually in packing paper. Stand plates on their edges like records, which makes them less likely to break than when they're stacked flat. Fill gaps with towels or crumpled paper so nothing shifts.
5. Close the lids flat
Attached lids interlock when the bin is packed properly. If a lid won't close, take something out. Overstuffed bins don't stack safely.
6. Label two sides
Use the label sleeve or a sticker on the short end and the long side. Write the room in big letters and a short list of contents below. Numbering bins (1 of 35, 2 of 35…) makes it easy to spot a missing one.
7. Seal what matters
Use the included zip ties to close lids on bins with valuables or documents. For office or medical moves, ask about numbered tamper-evident seals.
8. Stack for moving day
Group bins by room and stack them 4–5 high on dollies. On moving day, a single person can roll an entire stack to the truck.
9. Unpack in order
Unpack the kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms first. Empty bins nest inside each other, so they take up almost no space while you finish.
When you're done, stack the empty bins with the lids closed. We'll collect them on your pickup day.