Closets are deceptively time-consuming to pack — not because any one item is hard to pack, but because there are so many small categories to sort through. Here's a practical order that keeps it moving.
Sort Before You Pack
Pull everything out and make three quick piles: keep, donate, toss. Closets accumulate items nobody's worn in years, and packing less is always faster than packing more. Anything you haven't worn in the last year is a fair candidate for the donate pile.
Folded Clothes and Accessories
Fold clothes in a consistent method (rolled or flat, pick one) and pack by category — shirts together, pants together — rather than mixed randomly, which makes unpacking directly into drawers much faster. Use one tote per category if volume allows, and fill gaps with smaller items like belts, scarves, and folded accessories.
Shoes
Pack shoes sole-to-sole in pairs to save space, and keep them in a separate tote from clothing so nothing gets scuffed or dirtied. Heavier shoes (boots) go on the bottom of the tote, lighter pairs on top.
Hanging Clothes
Totes work well for folded items, but hanging clothes — suits, dresses, coats — are better handled with a dedicated wardrobe box that lets them travel on the hanger without wrinkling. See our comparison of totes vs. wardrobe boxes for when to use each.
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View Residential PricingFrequently Asked Questions
Should I fold or roll clothes when packing a closet?
Either works — rolling saves slightly more space and reduces deep creasing, but the important thing is picking one method and packing consistently so unpacking is predictable.
What's the best way to pack shoes for a move?
Pair them sole-to-sole, keep them in a separate tote from clothing, and put heavier shoes on the bottom of the tote.
Do I need a wardrobe box, or can everything go in totes?
Folded items pack fine in totes. Hanging items like suits and dresses travel better in a wardrobe box, which keeps them on the hanger and wrinkle-free.
The Short Version
Sort before you pack, fold consistently, keep shoes separate from clothes, and use a wardrobe box for hanging items. A closet packs fast once it's broken into these smaller categories.
See Moving Totes vs. Wardrobe Boxes for more on hanging clothes, or How to Pack Moving Totes Efficiently for a full room-by-room order.