# The Ultimate Moving Supplies Checklist for a Chicago Move > A complete moving supplies checklist for Chicago and Illinois — boxes, bubble wrap, tape, stretch film, and everything else you need to pack a home without damage. - Type: post - URL: https://moonmovers.net/blog/the-ultimate-moving-supplies-checklist-for-a-chicago-move/ - Updated: 2026-09-15T17:07:02+00:00 ## About this page A complete moving supplies checklist for Chicago and Illinois — boxes, bubble wrap, tape, stretch film, and everything else you need to pack a home without damage. ## Key facts - Phone: +1 (708) 815-4747 - Email: info@moonmovers.net - Location: Chicago, IL - Map: 41.8778483, -87.6855646 - Price range: $$ - Serving: Chicago · Evanston · Skokie · Des Plaines · Palatine · Schaumburg · Naperville · Aurora · Elgin · Bolingbrook · Joliet · Orland Park · Tinley Park · Waukegan · Rockford · Springfield · Peoria · Champaign · Bloomington · Decatur - Social: https://www.facebook.com/moon.movers.2025/ · https://www.instagram.com/moonmovers/ · https://www.tiktok.com/@moon.movers · https://www.google.com/maps?cid=3300875412407038330 - Logo: https://moonmovers.net/storage/projects/39/files/images/logo-dark-512.png - Hours: Monday 08:00–21:00 - Hours: Tuesday 08:00–21:00 - Hours: Wednesday 08:00–21:00 - Hours: Thursday 08:00–21:00 - Hours: Friday 08:00–21:00 - Hours: Saturday 08:00–21:00 - Hours: Sunday 08:00–21:00 ## Page content ## The Ultimate Moving Supplies Checklist for a Chicago Move A move is always stressful, and most of the trouble is tied directly to preparation: you need to figure out what to buy ahead of time and what can wait until the last moment without risking damage. Mistakes at this stage are costly — you run out of boxes right in the thick of packing, or fragile items travel without… ## Start Here: Sort Before You Shop Before buying a single roll of tape, divide your belongings into three groups. This speeds up packing itself and makes unpacking at the new address far less chaotic. Not sure whether to pack yourself? Read professional packing vs DIY. ### Three Categories of Belongings - Fragile. Dishes, glassware, mirrors, décor, lamps, artwork, small electronics. - Bulky. Furniture, large appliances, sports equipment. - Small items and documents. Clothing, books, papers, medicine cabinet contents, office supplies. This breakdown tells you what kind of packaging each group actually requires — and lets you buy materials based on real volume rather than guesswork. It also helps to set aside a separate "go bag" with first-day essentials: chargers, toiletries, a change of clothes, apartment paperwork, and keys. You will want that bag in your own car, not buried inside box number thirty-seven. ## The Full Moving Supplies Checklist Once your belongings are sorted by category, the next question is what exactly to buy so that each group arrives at your new home undamaged. Below is every material you will need — whether you are handling the packing yourself or just want to know what the process involves. ### 1. Cardboard Boxes The foundation of any move and the first thing to purchase when you start packing. For books, dishes, and other heavy but compact items, smaller boxes work better — heavy objects do not tear through the bottom, and the box is easier to carry by hand. For clothing, bedding, pillows, and other light but bulky things… Most universal corrugated boxes hold roughly 33 to 44 pounds of contents. If you do not know the rated weight of a box, it is safer not to use it for anything heavy — an overloaded box can simply rip apart during loading or unloading. ### 2. Bubble Wrap Essential for fragile items: dishes, glass, mirrors, electronics, lamps with glass shades. The wrap cushions impacts during loading, transit, and unloading — those three stages are exactly when unprotected breakables get damaged most often. For smaller objects, pre-made bubble-wrap pouches save time compared to… ### 3. Stretch Film Stretch film is used for furniture and large appliances — washing machines, refrigerators, televisions — that are too big for bubble wrap and boxes. The film locks cabinet doors, secures drawers, and holds stacked items in place so nothing shifts or swings open during loading and transit. 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