First Night Box Checklist: What to Pack (Free)

How to pack it

Use a clear plastic bin if you have one, or write OPEN FIRST big on every side of a box.
Pack it last, the night before, so nothing ends up on top of it.
Take it in your car if you can. If it goes on the truck, load it last so it comes off first.
Keep medicines, documents, keys and chargers in a bag you carry, not in the box.

Keep with you, not on the truck

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Medicines. A few days’ worth of everything you take, and anything you might need in the night.
Documents. IDs and passports, the lease or closing papers, and the moving paperwork.
Keys. For the new place, the car, the mailbox and any storage unit.
Phones, chargers and a power bank. In case the power isn’t on when you arrive.
Jewelry, cash and small valuables
Laptops and tablets. With their chargers.

To sleep

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Sheets, pillows and blankets. For each bed.
Clothes for a day or two. For each person, and pajamas.
A flashlight or a lamp. Some rooms have no ceiling light, and bulbs can be missing.
Something to cover the windows. A sheet or a towel will do until the curtains are up.

To wash

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Toilet paper
Hand soap and towels. A towel for each person.
Toothbrushes and toiletries. Toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, and glasses or contact lens things.
A shower curtain and its rings
A small first aid kit. Bandages and pain relief, for the cuts and bumps of moving day.

To eat and drink

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Water and snacks. For you and anyone helping.
A kettle or coffee maker. With coffee or tea for the first morning.
A few plates, cups and cutlery. Paper plates are fine for a night or two.
A can opener, a sharp knife and a cutting board
Dish soap and a sponge
Trash bags

To open and fix things

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A box cutter or scissors. In your pocket, not in a box.
A screwdriver and an Allen key. To put the beds back together. Keep the bags of screws with this box.
Packing tape and a marker
An extension cord or power strip

To clean

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Cleaning spray and paper towels. To wipe down the kitchen and the bathroom before you unpack.
Rubber gloves and wipes

Kids and pets

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A favorite toy and a bedtime book. Something familiar helps them sleep in a new room.
Diapers, wipes and baby food. If you need them.
Pet food, bowls and a leash. And the litter box, litter and any medicine they take.
Your pet’s bed or blanket

OPEN FIRST labels

The PDF ends with a page of six big OPEN FIRST labels, with a line for whose box it is. Print them on plain paper and tape them on, or on 6-per-sheet shipping labels (3 1/3 x 4 inches).

Download the PDF and labels

Questions

What is a first night box?

A box with everything you’ll need for the first night and morning in the new place: bedding, toiletries, medicine, chargers, a change of clothes, and something to eat and drink. It’s the first box you open, so you don’t have to dig through the rest at the end of a long day.

What should go with me instead of on the truck?

Medicines, documents, keys, phones and chargers, laptops, and jewelry, cash and other small valuables. Things you’d struggle to replace, or need before the truck arrives, are safer in your car or your bag.

How do I make sure it comes off the truck first?

Load it last, and write OPEN FIRST on every side. Better still, take it in your car if it fits: movers don’t always unload in the order you’d like.

Do I need one for each person?

It helps. A small bag each with clothes, pajamas and a toothbrush, and one shared box for the kitchen, the bathroom and the tools. Children sleep better with their own bedding and a favorite toy on the first night.

More help: What to unpack first after a move, room by room · Moving with kids: how to make it easier on everyone

First night box checklist