REMOVAL PACKING SERVICE
Professional Packing Service for House Removals
A carefully packed home is the foundation of a smooth move. At Gentlevan Removals, we believe the packing stage is just as important as the move itself — rushed or careless packing leads to damaged belongings, wasted time, and unnecessary stress on an already demanding day. That's why we offer a full range of professional packing services for local Oxfordshire moves, long-distance UK removals, and European relocations to Spain, France, Italy and beyond.
Whether you want our team to handle everything from start to finish, or you just need help with the fragile and time-consuming items, we have a packing option to suit. All packing services are carried out by our own trained staff — we don't use subcontractors — using high-quality materials throughout.
Packing is discussed and agreed during your home survey or video survey, so there are no surprises on moving day. Request a free quote to get started.
Our Packing Options
We offer four main packing options, from a complete hands-off service to supplying materials for those who prefer to pack themselves. All options can be combined and tailored to your specific needs.
📦 1. Full Packing Service
Our most comprehensive option — our team arrives before moving day and packs every item in your home, from the kitchen to the loft. Everything is carefully wrapped, boxed and labelled, so that on the day itself your home is ready to load straight onto the vehicle. Ideal if you have a large home, a busy schedule, or simply don't want the stress of packing yourself.
🧸 2. Partial or Fragile Packing
You've made a start on the packing but want help with the harder parts — kitchenware, ornaments, pictures, mirrors, and other delicate items. Our team takes care of everything fragile while you handle the rest. Alternatively, if time or energy is running short in the days before your move, one or two members of our packing team can work alongside you to get everything finished efficiently.
📚 3. Owner Packed — Materials Supplied
The most cost-effective option — you pack your belongings yourself using high-quality materials we supply and deliver to your door a couple of weeks before moving day. Boxes, packing paper, tape and bubble wrap are all available. On moving day, we provide reusable plastic wardrobe boxes with built-in rails for your hanging clothes. These are collected from your new address at the end of the day.
Note: wardrobe box quantities are confirmed during your home survey. Please ensure they can be retrieved on the day.
🔄 4. Unpacking Service
Once everything arrives at your new home, the work isn't over. Unpacking a full household is time-consuming and exhausting. Our unpacking service removes all packaging materials and places contents on flat surfaces so you can arrange everything at your own pace. For those who want more support, our maid service goes further — placing items in their designated locations under your guidance.
- Unpack specific rooms only (e.g. kitchen, bedroom)
- Full unpacking of the entire house
- Maid service — items placed exactly where you want them
Full Pad-Wrapping Service
Every Gentlevan removal includes sofa covers, mattress covers, and padded blankets as standard — protecting your furniture throughout the move. For an additional level of assurance, we also offer our full pad-wrapping service, where every single piece of furniture is individually wrapped in quilted covers and pads before it leaves the room.
This is particularly recommended for:
- Antique furniture, fine wood or lacquered pieces
- Long-distance UK moves where furniture spends more time in transit
- European moves to Spain, France, Italy or Germany — longer journeys require more protection
- Properties with narrow staircases, tight corners or difficult access
- Any move where you want complete peace of mind
The pad-wrapping service is discussed and included in your quotation during the pre-move survey.
Export Packing
For items where bubble wrap or padded blankets alone aren't sufficient — particularly for international moves — export packing provides a superior level of protection. Our export wrap material is a three-layer system designed for furniture, ornaments and artwork that needs to withstand a longer or more demanding journey.
Inner soft cushioning layer — contacts the item directly, protecting surfaces and finishes
Middle bubble layer — large-cell bubble wrap integrated into the material for cushioning impact
Outer puncture-resistant layer — robust outer shell providing strength against external hazards
Throughout the export wrapping process we also incorporate cardboard layers beneath the export-packed layers for maximum rigidity and protection. Export packing is a standard recommendation for removals to Spain, removals to France, removals to Italy, and any other long-distance international move.
Bespoke Crating
When standard packing methods aren't enough — particularly for international removals or exceptionally valuable or fragile pieces — custom-built wooden crates offer the highest level of protection available. We build crates to fit the specific item, providing a rigid, completely enclosed shell that protects against impact, moisture and movement throughout transit.
Crating is suitable for:
- Paintings and artwork
- Chandeliers and light fittings
- Grandfather clocks
- Pianos
- Statues and sculptures
- Glass and marble tops
- Motorbikes
- Any unusually shaped, very heavy or extremely high-value items
Crating requirements are discussed and agreed during your pre-move survey — we'll assess each item and recommend the right level of protection. Crates are particularly common on European removals where items travel greater distances.
How We Pack Your Belongings
Every item type has its own packing method — here's how we handle the most common categories:
Reusable plastic wardrobe boxes with built-in hanging rails — clothes travel hanging and arrive ready to go straight into your new wardrobe.
Dedicated sofa covers protect fabric and leather throughout the move. Blankets and quilted pads over the top for additional protection during loading and transit.
Specialist mattress covers used as standard on every move — keeping your mattresses clean, dry and undamaged.
Where original packaging is available we use it. Otherwise, depending on size and type, we use quilted pads, pre-ordered TV boxes, export wrap or a custom wooden crate — assessed during the pre-move survey.
Dishes, glassware and crockery packed in purpose-made boxes with packing paper between each item. Fragile items double-wrapped and clearly marked.
Each piece individually wrapped in packing paper or bubble wrap, boxed with additional void fill. Large pictures and mirrors wrapped in cardboard and bubble wrap, stored upright.
Packed in small, manageable boxes to keep weight reasonable. Files and important documents kept separate and accessible, never buried in the load.
White goods disconnected and prepared as required. Where original packaging isn't available, wrapped in blankets and quilted pads with internal void fill where needed.
Packing for European Removals
Moving to Spain, France, Italy or Germany demands a higher standard of packing than a typical domestic move. Your belongings may be in transit for several days, may go through storage at our Banbury facility while awaiting delivery, and will travel further on European roads. The stakes are higher — and packing quality matters more.
For all European removals we recommend as a minimum:
- Full or partial packing service by our trained team
- Export packing for furniture, ornaments and artwork
- Full pad-wrapping for all furniture items
- Bespoke crating for high-value or unusually shaped pieces
- Sofa and mattress covers as standard on every European job
These recommendations are built into your quotation following the pre-move survey — nothing is added unexpectedly on the day. Our experienced European team knows exactly what level of protection is needed for each route and destination.
See also: Removals to Spain · Removals to France · Removals to Italy · All European removals
Frequently Asked Questions — Packing Service
You can absolutely pack yourself — our owner-packed option is the most cost-effective route, and we can supply all the materials you need delivered to your door. On moving day we provide reusable plastic wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes. The only thing to bear in mind is that if items are damaged due to inadequate packing by the customer, this may affect insurance claims.
For a full packing service, our team typically arrives the day before moving day to pack the entire home, so everything is ready to load first thing the following morning. For partial packing, we work alongside you in the days leading up to the move. Packing timings are confirmed and agreed as part of your moving plan, which we prepare after the pre-move survey.
We use high-quality double-walled boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, tape, sofa covers, mattress covers, quilted blankets and pads, export wrap material and — where required — custom-built wooden crates. We can supply new boxes or, where agreed, recycled boxes to reduce cost and environmental impact.
We strongly recommend it. European moves involve longer transit times, sometimes storage periods, and more handling than a domestic move. Export packing's three-layer system — soft inner cushioning, bubble mid-layer, and puncture-resistant outer — provides a level of protection that standard materials can't match. It's included in our recommendation for all European removals and priced transparently in your quotation.
Crating is recommended for items where standard packing isn't adequate — typically very large, fragile, awkwardly shaped or high-value pieces such as chandeliers, grandfather clocks, large paintings, glass or marble tops, pianos and statues. We assess crating requirements during the pre-move survey and include the cost in your quotation. See our piano removals page for specialist piano handling.
Yes, absolutely. Many customers pack bedrooms, books and non-fragile items themselves while asking us to handle the kitchen, dining room and any ornaments or pictures. We can discuss any combination during the survey and build it into your quotation accordingly.
Yes. We offer unpacking at your new home — from unpacking specific rooms to a full unpacking service where we remove all packaging and lay out contents on flat surfaces. Our maid service goes further, placing items in their designated positions under your guidance. This can be added to any move, including long-distance UK moves and European removals.
Packing is discussed and agreed during your home survey or video survey. We assess your home, the volume of items, and any pieces requiring special attention, then build packing into your quotation as a clear line item. There are no surprises on moving day — everything is confirmed in advance in writing.
Get a Packing Service Quote
Whether you're moving locally in Oxfordshire, heading to London or Manchester, or relocating to Europe — request a free quote online or call our team to discuss your requirements.
Call us on +44 7861 930 529
Or book a home survey — the best way to get a precise, accurate quotation including packing.
Our Own Team, Always
We never use subcontractors for packing. The team that packs your belongings is the same team that loads them onto the vehicle and delivers them to your new home. That continuity matters — it means care and accountability throughout, and no handover between strangers mid-move.
See why customers recommend us: read our reviews.
Eco-Friendly Options
We actively offer box recycling — reusing boxes from previous moves to reduce waste and lower your packing material costs. If you choose this option, we collect the boxes from your new home a few weeks after the move. A small step, but one we take seriously as a family business that cares about more than just profit.
Accredited & Insured
As members of Move Assured and AIM, our packing practices meet the industry's highest standards. Combined with our optional Move Protect insurance, your belongings are covered from packing through to delivery.