Packing Checklist for an Apartment Move

The experts in apartment moving at All My Sons Moving & Storage provide a checklist for getting settled into your new apartment home. All My Sons performed roughly 83,100 apartment moves in 2024, which was about 38% of our total moves for the year. 

After you’ve chosen your apartment home, you’ll need to pack everything you need to turn that apartment into a functional living space. If you’re a first-time renter or downsizing after a significant time owning a home, you might be wondering what you need to pack and obtain to put your new apartment in business.

Here are some common household staples you’ll need to pack to live comfortably.

Take a look at these lists and coordinate with any roommates or household members to determine what you might still need for your apartment.

Bedroom Boxes

• Sheets: After your bed is in place, you’ll need to make it.

• Pillows: Somewhere to rest the head at night for every member of your apartment family.

• Extra Blankets: Live somewhere where the winter gets cold? Keep some extra fluffy blankets in the linen closet.

• Alarm Clock: Your phone might wake you up in the morning, but the low-tech solution of a basic alarm clock might be better for your sleep hygiene.

• Bedside Lamp: Useful for late-night reading or study sessions.

Kitchen Boxes

• Coffee Machine: Need a caffeine fix to function? Make sure you have a way to prepare coffee in the morning.

• Kettle: Boil water for tea, coffee, or food.

• Can Opener: Getting stuff out of the pantry will be much harder than it needs to be unless you’ve got one of these.

• Trash Bags: Stock the garbage bins and keep a box of trash bags on hand.

• Kitchen Towels: Dry hands and dishes.

• Microwave: Sometimes included in your apartment appliances, but check to make sure first before you strike this item off your list.

• Dish Detergent: A dish-washing essential if your apartment comes with a working dishwasher.

• Sponges: Clean up kitchen messes and scrub dishes.

• Cough Medicine: One of the medicine cabinet staples for healthy living.

• Pain Relievers: Don’t endure pain, get your medicine cabinet stocked.

• Extra Batteries: Keep AA and AAA batteries on hand plus special extras for any devices you use on a regular basis.

• Extra Lightbulbs: Get some standard bulbs, plus any special bulbs for lights you frequently use.

• Cleaning Supplies: Disinfectant, rags, brooms, mops, and anything else you use to clean.

Bathroom Boxes

• Shower Cady: In case your shower does not come with storage space.

• Shower Curtain: When you move into an apartment with a bath/shower combo, it is likely you will need to purchase this item for yourself.

• Bathroom Towels: One set of bath towels and one set of hand towels to dry off.

• Hairbrush: Long or thick hair requires a regular hairbrush for every member of the apartment household.

• Toilet Paper: Grab a big pack of this to stock your bathroom closet with and put some out as soon as you arrive.

• Tissues: For the sneezes and sniffles. Better for your nose than paper towels.

• Shampoo and Conditioner: Keep hair clean by stocking your shower cady with your preferred hair products.

• Soap: Make sure to wash your hands before returning to work.

• Deodorant: No moving funk here, we came prepared.

• Toothpaste and Toothbrush: Maintain dental hygiene immediately after the move by stocking your bathroom with these.

• Shaving Cream and Razor: If you plan on regular shaving, get these items in your bathroom.

• Air Freshener: Bathroom smells happen. Stock your bathroom with something light and fresh to keep things smelling good.

• Nail Clippers: Keep your nails trimmed by stocking your bathroom with this item.

• Nail File: Smooth out rough nails. You’ll want this item on hand at home.

Laundry Boxes

• Laundry Basket or Hamper: Have somewhere to stash your dirty clothes.

• Laundry Detergent: A household staple even for the apartments with no washer or dryer.

• Dryer Sheets: Run your clothes through the dryer with a few of these.

Office Boxes

• Pencils and Pens: There’s always something to jot down or sign. Keep your office space stocked with something to write with.

• Sticky Notes: Leave yourself or your roommate reminders with these.

• Notebook Paper: Students and obsessive note-takers will want to keep some paper for their note-taking pleasure on hand.

• Highlighters: Whatever bright colors you desire to keep notes organized.

• Planner: If you’re a paper-planner kind of apartment dweller, stay organized by keeping your planner with your office supplies.

• Scissors: Might also be useful in the kitchen to open packages.

• Ruler: Measure items and draw straight lines with your ruler in your office space.

• Desk Lamp: For the late-night study and work sessions.

Your move into apartment living could be a simple, smooth transition if you also pack an essentials and emergencies bag to keep on your person during the move. Packing this bag will ensure you have important items always on hand during your move.

• Medications: Both daily and emergency medicines should always be where you can reach them. 

• Extra Clothes and Shoes: In case of a need for an outfit change.

• Wallet and Keys: You might typically carry these on your person anyway, but double check that you’ve got them as you leave your old place. Make sure you have the correct key if you are performing a major key change.

• Phone Charger: Keep your phone charged. You can also pack a car charger if you’re in for a long ride.

• Book or Tablet: Stay entertained during any moving down-time.

• First Aid Kit: For cuts, scraps, and other minor moving injuries. 

• Water Bottles: Keep hydrated, especially if you are moving during the summer. 

• Perishable Food and Snacks: Professional movers will not move perishable food, but if you’re moving local and have appliances waiting at your new apartment then you may be able to move some food items yourself. Carry snacks as well in case of moving hunger.

• Important Documents: Keep rental contracts and government IDs on hand.

• Boxcutter: Useful for opening your mountain of moving boxes.

• Cash: For tipping movers, snagging vending machine snacks, or for any reason you might need emergency money.

Your moving boxes should now be stocked with all the essential household staples you’ll need to make your apartment a true living space. All you need now is apartment furniture and some movers to load your truck.

Need movers for an apartment move? All My Sons Moving & Storage has 90+ locations nationwide, so we can help you get settled in almost any neighborhood in the US. Call 1-866-726-1579 or click the quote button to get started on your move.