How to Pack Shoes For Moving House

Written by Martha Lott Reviewed by Dave Sayce

16th Aug 2018 (Last updated on 21st Jul 2022) 6 minute read

Before Packing Your Shoes

As with any packing process, it’s important that you get organised in advance before starting. Packing your shoes doesn’t have to be difficult - the more you plan and prepare your shoes and packing materials, the easier it will be. Below, we’ve listed a few steps to take before packing shoes.

Declutter

Most people will have a fairly big collection of shoes and only wear the same few pairs. You should take some time to sort through your shoes and decide which pairs are coming with you to your new house. By decluttering your clothing, it'll make the packing process a lot easier for you and the removals team as you will require fewer boxes to be moved.

If you have a pair that's in good condition but you never wear, take them to a charity shop or consider selling them on a website such as eBay. If the shoes are very worn and damaged, you should either try to fix or recycle them. Decluttering your shoes before moving house will also help to save on your house removal costs as you’ll be taking fewer items with you. Don't forget to keep 1 or 2 pairs of shoes out for the remaining days before your moving date and the actual day of the move.

Clean Your Shoes

Once you’ve decided which shoes you’re taking, you should clean them before packing as you may spread the dirt onto other items. The shoes must be dry before being wrapped as they could tear the packing paper and make the box feel heavier. If you don’t ensure your shoes are thoroughly dried before packing, then the moisture could lead to mould, especially if the boxes are going straight into storage.

If you're using second-hand wrapping paper or moving boxes, make sure there's no grease or dirt on there that could transfer onto your shoes during the move.

Have Your Packing Materials Ready

Some of the packing materials you need you could receive from your friends or family, especially if they’ve just gone through a move themself. Alternatively, there's plenty of places that will be more than happy to give away their cardboard boxes for free, such as local supermarkets, bars and cafes. If you have any spare shoe boxes leftover from a recent purchase, then this would be an ideal moving box for your shoes.

When packing shoes, you will need:

• Moving boxes
• Original shoeboxes (if present)
• Packing paper
• Bubble wrap
• Brown tape
• A tape Dispenser
• Labels
• A pen or marker

To save an extra 10% on packing boxes, use code CMM10 when you buy moving boxes.

Prepare Your Labels

Once you’ve securely wrapped and packed your shoes, you’ll need to correctly label the boxes to ensure a more efficient unpacking process. You could use a colour coded or number-based system where you create a list of the shoes that are in specified cardboard boxes. Alternatively, use free labels for moving house and jot down the shoes you’re packing as they go in the box.

What is the Best Way to Pack Shoes When Moving?

Follow our quick and easy instructions on how to correctly pack your shoes for moving house. This method is commonly known as the "burrito method" should you need to research it further.

Step 1 – Place one shoe in half of a sheet of wrapping or tissue paper and fold halfway.

Step 2 – Place the other shoe in the remaining half of the paper and neatly fold it together.

Step 3 – Secure it with plenty of brown tape.

Step 4 – Place neatly in a cardboard box with the other wrapped shoes and boxes.

Step 5 - Place the heaviest shoes into the bigger cardboard box first, then load the lighter pairs on top.

Step 6 - Fill any gaps with tissue and wrapping paper before taping the box closed. Label the box accordingly.

How to Pack Shoes in a Suitcase

To save space in the removals van, you can also use your suitcase to pack your shoes. Carefully calculate how many shoes you’ll need during the move and pack them in your suitcase so they are easier to grab. Make sure you pack a variety of types to ensure the suitcase isn’t overloaded or too heavy. Whichever shoes you think you’ll need first, pack them last so they’re easier to grab.

If you’re packing your boots into a suitcase, don’t forget to stuff them with other items to keep their shape and to maximise space. You could use socks, clothing, makeup, anything that will fit.

Tips for Packing Shoes

We've put together 5 top tips to follow when you start packing your shoes.

1. Stuff Your Shoes to Keep Their Shape

Stuff each shoe with wrapping, paper, tissue or even socks to prevent them from losing their shape. Focus on filling the feet and toe area of the shoe to maintain a proper shape. Depending on the shape and style of the shoes, you may also need to stuff the heel always for further protection.

If you decide to use rolled-up socks, this will not only protect your shoes, but it'll also take up less space when it comes to packing your clothes.

2. Pack Boots Separately

If you have ankle or knee-high boots, fill the whole shoe with paper or socks to stop them from re-shaping. Boots are often more fragile and so you should use extra packing materials to protect them. Don’t overpack boxes with boots, however, as they will be too heavy to carry and could cause injuries.

3. Don't Use Newspaper or Plastic Bags

Don't use sheets of newspaper to wrap around or stuff your shoes as there’s a high risk that the ink will run off and transfer.

You shouldn't pack shoes in plastic bags either as they're likely to rip and cause damage. More importantly, don't wrap leather shoes in plastic bags as it'll trap moisture causing mould to grow. A good alternative to use is bubble wrap - you may be able to acquire this from your chosen removal company.

4. Pack the Heaviest Shoes First

When loading the packed shoes into the cardboard box, place the heaviest shoes in there first to spread the weight. By doing this, it will stop them from damaging the items in the boxes closest and make them much easier to carry.

5. Tie the Laces Together to Avoid Losing Pairs

To avoid losing 1 shoe from a pair, you could tie the laces together to ensure they’re connected. This is especially helpful when packing trainers or boots as it ensures they won’t get separated when in transit. After unloading at your new home, you won’t have to dig through a mountain of boxes to find a matching pair.

Save Time and Money on Your Home Removal

Now that you know how to pack your shoes, you should hire a removal company to help you get through the process. Get connected with Compare My Move and we'll provide you with a choice of up to 6 professional local removal companies.