Full service packing is worth it when your time, your back or your breakables matter more to you than the extra line on the moving bill. For many households the best value is somewhere in the middle: a crew packs the kitchen and fragile rooms, and you pack the easy things yourself.
This guide explains what full service packing includes, how it compares with partial packing and doing it all yourself, what drives the cost, and what changes when you’re moving in and around Pittsburgh and Washington County. If you already know you want help, our packing services can cover your whole home or just the rooms you pick. Tell us what you’d like packed when you ask for a quote.
Short answer: Full service packing is usually worth it for larger homes, tight timelines, fragile collections and long distance moves. Partial packing is a strong middle option when you have some time but want the hardest rooms done right.
What Full Service Packing Includes
With full service packing, a professional crew packs your home before the truck is loaded. You don’t shop for supplies, tape a single box, or spend your evenings wrapping plates. Our packing service includes the packing materials, so the crew arrives with boxes, paper, bubble wrap and tape, works room by room, and leaves the boxes labeled and ready to load.
A typical full pack covers:
- Boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap and tape
- Kitchens, dishes, glassware and small appliances
- Lamps, mirrors, framed art and electronics
- Closets, linens, books and décor
- Labeling each box by room and contents
Furniture is wrapped in moving blankets at loading time so it travels without scuffs or scratches.
A mover in a 1st Step hoodie wrapping furniture.
Full packing vs partial packing
Partial packing means the crew packs only the rooms or items you choose. Most people hand over the kitchen, the china cabinet, art and electronics, then pack clothes, books and linens on their own. You still get professional protection where breakage is most likely, and the crew spends less time in your home.
A third option is buying packing supplies only and doing the work yourself. Each option is a real choice, and the right one depends on your home, your schedule and what you own.
Is Full Service Packing Worth It? The Pros and Cons
Here’s an honest look at both sides, so you can decide with clear eyes.
Why people choose full service packing
- Time back. A crew that packs every day works much faster than a family packing after work. A job that could take you several weekends often goes much faster with a crew.
- Better protection for fragile items. Dishes stood on edge, glasses wrapped one by one, and boxes filled tight so nothing shifts on the truck.
- Less physical strain. No bending over boxes for hours or carrying heavy cartons down basement stairs.
- A simpler moving day. Boxes are built to stack, sealed and labeled, so loading goes faster.
- Fewer surprises. Professional packers know which boxes to use for which items and how heavy a box should be.
What to weigh before you book
- Cost. Packing adds to the total, though our packing service includes the materials, so there’s no separate supply run. It’s money well spent for many people.
- Control. The crew packs what’s in the room. If you want to sort, purge or donate as you go, do that first.
- People in your home. Some homeowners like to set aside personal papers and private items before packing day, and that’s a smart habit either way.
None of these are reasons to avoid professional packing. They’re reasons to plan for it, and partial packing answers most of them.
The kitchen is the tipping point
If you only hire help for one room, make it the kitchen. It holds the most fragile items, the most odd shapes and the most small pieces. It’s also the room people underestimate most, which is why it tops our list in the hardest room to pack when moving.
Plates, stemware, knives, spices and small appliances all need different handling, and a crew can pack a full kitchen far faster than most families.
A kitchen with packed moving boxes (stock photo).
Full, Partial or DIY: A Side by Side Look
This table compares the three options so you can see where each one fits.
| Factor | Full service packing | Partial packing | Pack it yourself |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your time | Very little | Some evenings for the easy rooms | Several weeks of evenings and weekends |
| Fragile items | Packed by the crew | Packed by the crew | Packed by you |
| Supplies | Included, brought by the crew | Included for the rooms the crew packs | You buy or gather them |
| Physical effort | Lowest | Moderate | Highest |
| Control over sorting | Sort before packing day | Full control of your rooms | Full control |
| Best for | Large homes, busy schedules, long moves | Most households | Small homes with time to spare |
When Full Service Packing Makes the Most Sense
Full packing earns its keep in these situations:
- You have a large home with a full basement, attic or garage. Those areas take the longest to pack.
- Your timeline is short. A new job, a quick closing or an emergency move leaves no time for weeks of packing.
- You own a lot of breakables: china, glassware, art, mirrors or collections.
- You’re moving a long way. Boxes ride longer and get handled more on a move across Pennsylvania or to another state.
- Lifting is hard for you. Seniors, new parents, and anyone recovering from an injury benefit most.
- You work long hours and would rather not spend every night for a month in boxes.
When packing it yourself can work
Packing on your own can work for a studio or small apartment, when you have several weeks of free time, few fragile items, and enjoy organizing as you go.
Even then, many people book a crew for the kitchen or for a china cabinet. Start early with our guide on when to start packing for a move, and pack the easy rooms first.
Packing for a Pittsburgh Area Move
Where you live changes how boxes should be packed and how much packing help is worth.
Stairs and older homes
Row houses and older homes in the city often have steep, narrow stairs and tight turns. Furniture like a tall dresser has to be carried carefully around every railing and landing.
Boxes packed to a sensible weight with sturdy bottoms are safer to carry too, and that matters more when every box goes up or down a flight. Heavy items like books belong in small boxes, light items like linens in larger ones.
Two movers carrying a wooden dresser up a staircase.
- Hills and parking. On steep streets the truck can’t always park at the door, so boxes may travel farther by hand truck. Well sealed, evenly packed boxes hold up better on that trip.
- Winter weather. Snow and slush mean wet walkways. Tight, taped boxes and wrapped furniture keep moisture out on the way to the truck.
- Basements. Older homes in the region often have basements full of stored items. A crowded basement can be one of the biggest packing jobs in the house, so sort it early.
How packing affects loading
Uniform, well packed boxes stack like bricks. That lets a crew build a tight, stable load, with furniture wrapped in blankets and boxes filling the gaps so nothing shifts on the way.
Loose, overfilled or half empty boxes are harder to stack and slower to load. That’s one reason professional packing can make moving day itself go more smoothly.
A truck load tightly packed with blanket wrapped furniture.
What Drives the Cost of Packing
We don’t publish packing prices, because every home is different. Your free quote is built from these factors:
- How many rooms you want packed, and whether it’s a full or partial pack
- How much is in each room, especially kitchens, basements and closets
- How many fragile or specialty items you have
- The materials needed, such as dish packs, wardrobe boxes and mirror cartons
- Access at the home: stairs, elevators, parking and distance to the truck
For local moves, our minimum is 3 hours, travel time included, under our PA PUC tariff. You can look up licensed household goods carriers on the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission site. For a broader view of total moving costs, read is it cheaper to DIY or hire movers.
Ask how damage claims work
Before you decide who packs, ask any mover how claims are handled for boxes the crew packed versus boxes you packed. Movers can see how items were wrapped when their own crew packed them, so the answer may differ. For interstate moves, the FMCSA explains your liability and valuation options at Protect Your Move.
What Packers Won’t Pack
Some items stay out of the boxes no matter who packs. Plan for these before packing day:
- Flammables and hazardous materials: paint, propane tanks, gasoline, aerosols and pool chemicals. The EPA explains how to dispose of household hazardous waste.
- Perishable and open food
- Cash, jewelry, medications and important papers, which should ride with you
- Ammunition and fireworks
Set aside a clearly marked box or bag of items that should not be packed, and keep it in your car.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do movers actually pack your things?
Yes, if you book packing. With our full service packing, the crew packs every room, brings the boxes and packing materials as part of the service, and labels each box. With partial packing, they pack only the rooms or items you choose, such as the kitchen and fragile pieces. If you book moving only, you pack everything yourself and the crew loads it.
How much does it cost to pack a 2000 sq ft house?
Square footage alone doesn’t set the cost. Two homes the same size can hold very different amounts. When you request a quote, mention the number of rooms to pack, whether the basement, attic or garage is full, and any china, art or other specialty items. That detail lets us give you a free quote that fits your home before packing day.
How do I get ready for a partial pack?
Decide which rooms or items the crew will handle and tell us when you book. Finish your own boxes before the crew arrives, seal and label them, and stack them away from the rooms being packed. Mark anything that should not be packed, like items riding in your car, so nothing ends up in the wrong box.
How long does professional packing take?
It depends on the size of the home and how full it is. A small apartment can often be packed in part of a day, while larger homes take longer. Basements, garages and big kitchens add the most time. Packing is often scheduled close to loading day, so you aren’t living out of boxes for weeks.
Should I unpack drawers or empty closets before packers arrive?
Clear out anything that’s breakable, liquid or valuable from drawers, and take out important papers, medications and jewelry. Do your sorting and donating before packing day so the crew packs only what you’re keeping. Ask us how clothes on hangers will be handled so you know whether to leave them in the closet.
Want help with all of your packing or just the hardest rooms? Request a free quote and tell us what you’d like packed.
