Now that Federica Pozzuoli has changed addresses three times in the last three years, she’s quite the skilled mover, even when four months pregnant like during her most recent relocation. By then, Pozzuoli thankfully had developed plenty of moving tips and tricks for packing different-size boxes to make her moves a little easier.

“Our family is growing, so we needed to move from a one-bedroom apartment to a two bedroom,”; she said. “We only packed about 15 boxes, so we were able to finish unpacking in two days.”

If you’re preparing to move and looking for some moving tips and tricks for picking and packing the perfect-size moving box, keep reading for tips from Pozzuoli and a professional mover with more than a decade of experience.

Pack Heavy Items in Small Boxes

The general rule of packing moving boxes is: The heavier the items, the smaller the box should be, said John Piccone, owner of Altitude Movers Denver in Colorado.

“You don’t want to kill your movers with a large box full of books that weighs 200 pounds,” he said.

Even if it means separating your alphabetized collection of Encyclopedia Britannica.

In addition to taking care of her active toddler, Pozzuoli’s job at home was to pack and prepare all of the moving boxes since she couldn’t lift any during the move while pregnant.

“I started packing three weeks before we moved,” she said. “I started with things we don’t need every day, like (vinyl) records and books.”

In addition to packing heavy items in the small boxes, Pozzuoli also used small boxes for fragile, decorative items, adding plenty of padding to protect them.

“Anything that was breakable went in the small boxes,” she said.

Pick Medium Boxes to Pack Pots and Pans

Mid-size boxes are great for household items that are not heavy, but would be a burden if packed in a large box.

“Pots and pans are good for medium-size boxes, as well as household electronics,” said Piccone.

He recommends movers secure the bottoms of these boxes by folding the small flaps of a box in first and then folding the larger ones on top.

“Slightly overlap the tape on the crease,” he said. “If you plan to overload a box, like filling it with tall or heavy items, interlock the tabs and overlap the tape three or four times at the bottom.”

In order to have plenty of supplies for family dinners, Pozzuoli suggests packing kitchen supplies in medium boxes the night before you move.

“I double-taped the bottom and taped the sides of the boxes, too,” she said.

Load Linens and Lightweight Items in Large Boxes

To save your back or the backs of your movers, pack light items – like sheets and towels – in large boxes so they can be easily moved by one person.

“Pillows and lampshades are good items to pack in large boxes,” said Piccone.

Big boxes can be filled early on in the packing process, which should at least start two weeks before a move, he added.

“You don’t want to rush on moving day,” Piccone said. “Pack up your boxes in one room at a time, so everything stays organized.”

Pozzuoli emptied out her linen closets weeks before the moving truck arrived, and she packed her shoes in leftover large boxes. And although this move was a relatively easy one, considering her bun in the oven, she said she’ll be even more organized the next time the family moves house.

“I’m going to label the boxes a little better,” she said. “There were too many ‘miscellaneous’ boxes.”