Open-First Box Checklist: What To Pack for the First Night
After a long moving day, nobody wants to search 60 boxes for a toothbrush. Pack one clearly marked OPEN FIRST box (or a clear plastic bin) and put it in your car, not on the truck.
Sleep
- ☐ Sheets, pillows and a blanket for each bed
- ☐ Phone chargers and an extension cord
- ☐ Earplugs or a fan, if new places keep you up
Bathroom
- ☐ Toilet paper (two rolls)
- ☐ Hand soap, towels, shower curtain and hooks
- ☐ Toothbrushes, toothpaste, basic toiletries
- ☐ Medications for the next few days
Kitchen
- ☐ Paper plates, cups and utensils
- ☐ A pot, a knife, a cutting board
- ☐ Coffee or tea, snacks, water bottles
- ☐ Dish soap, sponge and trash bags
Tools
- ☐ Box cutter and scissors
- ☐ Screwdriver set and an Allen key set (for furniture)
- ☐ Flashlight and spare batteries
- ☐ Tape measure, a few light bulbs
Cleaning
- ☐ All-purpose spray, paper towels, rags
- ☐ A small vacuum or broom
Paperwork
- ☐ Lease or closing papers, mover's bill of lading and inventory
- ☐ Phone numbers: mover, landlord or agent, utility companies
Kids and pets
- ☐ Favorite toy, night light, a change of clothes
- ☐ Pet food, bowls, leash, litter box, medications
A personal bag for each person
Two days of clothes, a phone charger and anything they'd be upset to lose.
General information.
The Moving Day Binder has a printable open-first box checklist and a moving-day plan.
Moving Day Binder — $14
18-page moving binder: 8-week countdown, mover comparison and interstate rights, change-of-address checklist, packing plan and a 150-box inventory. Instant download: PDF + DOCX + XLSX.
Get the Moving Day BinderAll 10 kits — $59More guides
- Moving Checklist: An 8-Week Countdown That Actually Works
- Change of Address Checklist: Who To Notify When You Move
- How To Choose a Moving Company (and Avoid Moving Scams)
- Moving Budget Checklist: Costs People Forget
- Moving Packing List: Room by Room (Printable)
- Move-Out Cleaning Checklist: Get Your Security Deposit Back
- Setting Up Utilities When You Move: Checklist and Timeline
- Moving With Kids and Pets: A Practical Checklist
- First 30 Days After Moving: The New-Home Checklist