How much packing paper does a whole house need?

Count by room. The kitchen usually takes most of it; a kitchen like the one above needs about 179 sheets, and other rooms add décor and cushioning.

Can I use newspaper instead?

It works, but the ink can transfer to dishes, which then need washing. Plain newsprint packing paper doesn’t have that problem.

Is it better to buy too much packing paper?

A little extra is better than running out mid-kitchen. Leftover paper is useful for storage and the next move.

How many sheets go in the bottom of a box?

Enough crumpled paper to make a soft layer an inch or two deep; a few sheets for a small box, more for large ones.

Should glasses be stuffed with paper?

Yes. A sheet inside a glass supports its walls; then wrap the outside.

Illustration of a kitchen’s plates, bowls, and glasses adding up to 179 sheets of packing paper

Home, moving & space

How Much Packing Paper Do You Need for a Move?

Packing paper is easy to underbuy because it disappears in the kitchen, where every plate, bowl, and glass gets its own wrap and every box needs crumpled paper top and bottom. Estimating it item by item is quicker than it sounds. This guide gives starting figures per item, works through a kitchen, and explains when to plan for more.

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Starting figures per item

Starting figures per item comparison
Item	Sheets of 24 × 36 in paper
Dinner plates	2
Small plates and saucers	1
Bowls	2
Glasses and mugs	2
Stemware	3
Other fragile items (vases, decor)	3

Starting assumptions, not a standard. Wrap one or two of each and adjust.

A kitchen, worked through

Twelve dinner plates, twelve small plates, eight bowls, sixteen glasses and mugs, eight stemware, and ten other fragile pieces take 138 sheets at those figures. Four crumpled sheets in each of six boxes adds 24, for 162. With 10% for torn and re-wrapped sheets, buy 179 — one 500-sheet package, with plenty left for the rest of the house.

Double wrapping everything takes it to 330 sheets: the item sheets double, the cushioning doesn’t.

Beyond the kitchen

Décor and lamps: often 3 or more sheets each, plus a box of cushioning.
Picture frames: paper protects glass from scratches, but corners need cardboard or bubble wrap.
Books and clothes don’t need paper; leave them out of the count.
Filling gaps: crumpled paper in every box stops things shifting, and it adds up — count it per box.

Sheets, packages, and pounds

Moving paper is sold in packs by sheet count and size, or by weight. A sheet count is what you can plan with; how many sheets make a pound depends on the paper’s weight and size, which vary by brand. If a package only gives a weight, check whether it also lists a sheet count before converting.

How Much Packing Paper FAQ

How much packing paper does a whole house need?: Count by room. The kitchen usually takes most of it; a kitchen like the one above needs about 179 sheets, and other rooms add décor and cushioning.
Can I use newspaper instead?: It works, but the ink can transfer to dishes, which then need washing. Plain newsprint packing paper doesn’t have that problem.
Is it better to buy too much packing paper?: A little extra is better than running out mid-kitchen. Leftover paper is useful for storage and the next move.
How many sheets go in the bottom of a box?: Enough crumpled paper to make a soft layer an inch or two deep; a few sheets for a small box, more for large ones.
Should glasses be stuffed with paper?: Yes. A sheet inside a glass supports its walls; then wrap the outside.