MOVING & PACKING RESOURCES
Moving Boxes, Carton Sizes
& Packing Materials
Different belongings need different protection during a move. Palmers uses purpose-made three-ply moving cartons, specialist cartons and protective packing materials selected for the item and the journey.
This guide explains the carton sizes we use, what they are designed for and how household belongings are protected for local, interstate and international moves.
Moving Carton Sizes & Uses
Different cartons are used for different weights, shapes and types of belongings. Choosing the right size helps keep cartons manageable to lift, reduces unnecessary movement inside the box and makes loads easier to stack securely during transport.
Tea Chest Carton
A larger carton for lighter, bulkier household items such as linen, pillows, toys and general household belongings.
Book Carton
A smaller carton for dense or heavier items such as books and other compact belongings that become heavy quickly when packed together.
Priority Carton
Used for items you may want easy access to at destination, such as chargers, toiletries and other everyday essentials.
Port-a-Robe Carton
A tall wardrobe carton with a hanging rail, allowing clothing to remain hanging rather than being folded into a standard box.
Flat Lay Carton
A wide, shallow carton for belongings that are better packed flat, including folded clothing, linen and other lightweight household items.
Wine Carton
A compact carton designed for packing wine bottles securely during a move.
Specialist Cartons & Custom Crating
Some belongings are too large, fragile or awkwardly shaped for a standard moving carton. Specialist cartons and custom-made protection allow the packaging to be matched more closely to the item being moved.
TV Cartons
Purpose-made TV cartons provide a better fit and more structured protection than trying to place a television into an ordinary household box. Different sizes are available to suit a range of television dimensions.
41–65″: 1700 × 300 × 1060 mm
66–85″: 2140 × 300 × 1310 mm
Art & Mirror Cartons
Framed artwork and mirrors need protection around their faces, edges and corners and are better packed in a format designed for flat, fragile items rather than a deep general-purpose carton.
Custom-Made Crates
When a standard carton does not provide the right fit or level of protection, a crate can be made to suit the item. This can be useful for valuable, fragile or unusually shaped belongings where movement inside the packaging needs to be kept to a minimum.
Packing Materials That Control Movement & Protect Surfaces
A strong carton is only part of good packing. What happens inside the carton matters too. Palmers uses wrapping and cushioning materials to reduce movement, vibration, rubbing and impact while belongings are being handled and transported.
Acid-Free Butcher Paper
Acid-free butcher paper is used to wrap household items, separate surfaces and fill spaces inside cartons. It helps reduce rubbing, movement and vibration while belongings are being handled and transported.
Bubble Wrap & Additional Cushioning
Where an item needs additional impact protection, bubble wrap or other cushioning can be used around vulnerable surfaces, edges and fragile components before the item is packed or wrapped.
Furniture Pads
Reusable furniture pads provide a protective layer around larger pieces such as tables, cabinets and other furniture. They help protect finished surfaces from rubbing and contact during handling and transport.
Mattress Protection Bags
Mattresses are placed into protective plastic bags to help keep them clean during handling, loading and transport. These bags are single-use for hygiene reasons and the plastic is recyclable after use.
Specialist Wrapping
Awkward-shaped, fragile or exposed items may need a combination of wrapping, cushioning and additional protection rather than a standard carton alone. The packing method is matched to the item and how it will travel.
Why Removalist Cartons Are Built Differently
A moving carton may be stacked under other boxes, handled several times and remain packed for weeks during an interstate or international move. That demands more from the carton than everyday storage or delivery use.
Made for Handling, Stacking & Transit
Palmers moving cartons use three-ply construction for greater strength and rigidity than a typical lightweight single-ply box.
Stronger carton construction helps the box retain its shape when cartons are packed and stacked together during transport.
A carton may be lifted, moved, stacked and repositioned several times between packing and final delivery.
Interstate and overseas shipments can remain packed considerably longer than a local move, so the carton needs to continue performing throughout the journey.
Not All Cartons Are Made for Moving
Many everyday delivery or storage boxes are designed for shorter, lighter-duty use rather than a household relocation.
A softer, weakened or lightly constructed carton can be more vulnerable when weight is placed above it.
Previously used boxes may already have creases, softened panels or damage that reduces their strength before the move even begins.
A box can be physically large enough for an item but still be the wrong choice once weight, protection and stacking are considered.
Packing for Interstate & International Transit
Longer-distance moves place different demands on both the packing materials and the way belongings are prepared. The packing service itself also works differently for interstate and international moves.
Professional Packing Is Optional
For an interstate move, you can pack your own belongings or add professional packing to your move. If you choose the packing service, Palmers can prepare the household goods using the appropriate moving cartons and protective materials.
Professional Packing Is Included
For an international move, professional packing and the required packing materials are included in the moving price. Palmers prepares the household goods for the longer journey using moving cartons, wrapping and specialist protection suited to the shipment.
Why Does Longer-Distance Packing Matter?
An interstate or overseas shipment may remain packed considerably longer than a local move. Cartons can also be handled, stacked and repositioned at different stages before the shipment reaches its destination.
That is why carton strength, internal cushioning and the way belongings are packed together all matter. Items need to be supported so they cannot move unnecessarily, while cartons need to retain their shape when stacked as part of a larger load.
Environmental conditions can change during transit too. Temperature and humidity may vary over a longer journey and, in containerised transport, those changes can contribute to condensation. Packing and container condition therefore both play a part in protecting the shipment.
Before We Load a Shipping Container
Good packing is only part of protecting a containerised shipment. Before household goods are loaded, the container itself needs to be suitable for the journey.
Check for Visible Damage
The container is inspected for obvious damage to the walls, roof, floor and doors that could affect the shipment once it is loaded.
Make Sure It Is Clean & Dry
The interior is checked before loading so household goods are not placed into a container with visible moisture, contamination or other unsuitable conditions.
Inspect the Doors & Seals
Door condition and closing points are checked so the container can close properly and provide suitable protection during transit.
Check for Light Coming Through
With the doors closed, the interior can be checked for daylight coming through holes, gaps or damaged areas that should not be open to the outside.
Load Only Once the Container Is Suitable
Once the container has passed the inspection, the household shipment can be loaded, secured and prepared for transport.
Packing Yourself? A Few Things Make a Big Difference
For an interstate move, professional packing is optional. If you choose to pack your own belongings, the way cartons are filled, weighted and labelled can make a real difference once they are being handled, stacked and transported.
Use Smaller Cartons for Heavy Items
Books, files and other dense belongings become heavy quickly. Smaller cartons help keep the finished box practical to lift and reduce the temptation to overload it.
Fill Empty Space Inside the Carton
Belongings should not be able to shift freely during transport. Wrapping and cushioning can be used to fill voids, separate items and reduce movement and vibration inside the box.
Protect Fragile Surfaces Individually
Fragile pieces should be wrapped and separated rather than packed directly against one another. Edges, corners and exposed surfaces often need particular attention.
Label Cartons Clearly
Mark the room and a brief description of the contents. Clear labelling makes unloading easier and helps identify cartons that may need particular care.
Keep Priority Items Easy to Identify
Chargers, toiletries and other everyday items you may need soon after arrival are easier to find when they are packed and labelled separately from the rest of the shipment.
Don’t Fill a Box Just Because There Is Space
A carton that is becoming difficult to lift is already telling you something. Split the contents between two boxes rather than making one carton unnecessarily heavy.
What Happens to Packing Materials After a Move?
Packing materials have to protect belongings properly first. Where it makes sense, Palmers also looks at how materials can be reused or recycled rather than automatically becoming waste after one move.
Start With Materials Made for the Job
Palmers moving cartons contain approximately 70–75% recycled material while still providing the strength needed for handling, stacking and transport. Furniture pads, wrapping, tape and other protection are selected according to what is being moved and how it will travel.
Reuse What Is Still Fit for Purpose
On local moves, cartons that return in good condition may be inspected and reused for another move or two. They are not reused simply because they still look like a box — their condition needs to be suitable for moving household goods again.
Recycle Materials After Use
Moving cartons, export packing tape and the plastic used for mattress protection are recyclable after use. Mattress bags themselves remain single-use for hygiene reasons rather than being reused between customers.
Approximate recycled content in Palmers moving cartons.
Suitable cartons may be used again if they remain in good condition.
Furniture pads can protect household goods across multiple moves.
Used once for hygiene, with the plastic recyclable after use.
Prefer Palmers to Do the Packing?
For interstate moves, professional packing can be added as an additional service if you would rather not pack the household yourself. Palmers can pack all or part of the move using the cartons and protective materials suited to the belongings being transported.
For international moves, professional packing and the required packing materials are already included in the moving price.
Let’s Work Out What Your Move Needs
The right cartons, packing materials and level of protection depend on what you’re moving, where it’s going and how it will travel. Palmers can review the details of your move and prepare a quote based on the service you need.
Quality Standards & Accreditations
When you book a removal with Palmers Relocations, we make sure that we go above and beyond to make your relocation as stress-free as possible.
Trust The Palmers difference