Everyone who had an opportunity to move overseas knows how stressful and complicated this process is. There are many things to do and organize, but the number one thing that makes overseas moving so difficult is packing. Of course, there are overseas moving companies that can help you with their packing services. However, if you decided to pack on your own it can be very complicated. Because, when you are moving internationally, your belongings will probably change means of transportation several times.

If they are moving by ship, for example, there can be much moving and bumping around the container.  So, you should pay close attention to how you pack your items. Of course, the most important part of the packing process is using the right packing materials. That is why we have prepared the ultimate checklist of packing supplies for an international move, to help you with your task.

The ultimate checklist of Packing supplies for an international move

Of course, not everyone will need the same packing supplies for an international move. Therefore, it would be smart to make a moving inventory list to help you determine how much and what packing supplies you will need. Download this ultimate checklist and make modifications according to your needs.

• Corrugated carton boxes are one of the essential packing supplies for an international move.
• Water-activated packing tape (WAT)
• Plastic moving containers
• Trash bags
• Ziploc bags
• Mattress bags
• Bubble plastic sheeting
• Foam wrap sheets
• Stretch wrap
• Packing paper
• Padded wrapping paper
• Packing peanuts
• Heavy-duty packaging tape with a tape gun
• Moving blankets or furniture pads
• Furniture covers
• Permanent markers and labels
• Toolset
• Cargo straps or rope
• Wearable moving straps
• Dollie or hand truck is something that you can easily rent from moving company

Cardboard boxes are essential packing supplies for an international move

As mentioned above, an international move can be very stressful for your items. They will be jumping from a truck to a ship and back and repacked in a cfs bonded warehouse who knows how many times before they reach their destination. And in most cases, your cardboard boxes are the thing that will be protecting your items. They usually come in three or four standard sizes. If you can’t figure out how many boxes to prepare, there are few online moving boxes calculators that can help you with that.

But when you are moving internationally you need to pay attention to the quality and durability of boxes you are getting. You can’t hope that regular cardboard boxes will protect your items properly. Luckily most moving boxes are made from the corrugated carton. And, you can choose the durability that you need.  But, triple wall boxes are your best solution in this case.

Different types of specialized cardboard moving boxes

There are also a few specialized types of moving boxes. And you can get those as well if you want. Here are some ideas:

• Wardrobe boxes
• Mirror boxes
• Mattress boxes
• Dish boxes

Use WAT as a part of your packing supplies for an international move

When you are preparing cardboard boxes for moving internationally, you should immediately think about how to seal them properly. Regular packing tape might be a good solution. But there is a much better one. Water-activated packing tape (WAT) is a specially designed tape for sealing corrugated carton boxes. Regular tape could easily fall off in humid conditions or become brittle and snap in cold.

But if you are using WAT for your cargo export, there are no such worries. WAT will bond with the cardboard and is resistant to all conditions, including rain. One of the advantages of using this packing tape for your international move is that this tape cannot be removed without leaving a trace on a box. So, you can easily see if someone has been tampering with your items, for example.

Padding and packing supplies for an international move

Besides boxes and tapes, you should make sure that you get enough padding materials to fill all empty spaces in your boxes. And there are many different solutions that you can utilize for this purpose. Besides bubble plastic, that probably comes to everyone’s mind, you can get also use foam frap wrap sheets, stretch wrap, different kinds of packing paper, packing peanuts or even some old cloths.

The most important thing to do when packing your boxes is to make sure that your boxes are full. If you leave some room inside, your items will move around the box and could be easily damaged. Of course, filling the box to the top with your item is rarely possible, that is why you will be using one of those solutions to fill all remaining voids.

How to protect your furniture during an international move

When it comes to preparing your furniture for an international transportation, cardboard boxes are not much of a help. But, besides the length of your move, consider that your cargo could also be stored in a warehouse. So, it would be best if you could disassemble your pieces. That way they will be easier to pack, maneuver and store. If not, some solutions could help you to protect your furniture during harsh travel. Of course, moving blankets are one of the essentials.

But furniture pads and furniture covers could make a difference. Even though blankets are great for keeping your furniture safe, you can also add additional protection with furniture pads. And, instead of wrapping it with a stretch wrap and packing tapes, you can simply put furniture cover and zip-lock it for the road.

Use best packing supplies when it comes to an international move

Naturally, everyone has different requirements when it comes to packing supplies for an international move. And you should get them according to your needs. But the most important part is to use the materials of the best quality.