Moving house
Know what is in each box
For moving day, I built a workbook for the gap between packing, loading and arriving at the new place. It keeps each box number, room, contents, label and arrival status together, so you can find one word or see what has not arrived yet.
The question
this build answers
How do I label moving boxes and find what is inside after the move?
From the first trigger
to the finished job.
The working version, step by step.
Add one row per box
Give each box a number, its destination room and a plain comma-separated contents list. Mark first-night boxes as open first.
Print labels from the list
The Labels tab fills from the box rows, with eight printable labels to a page. Edit a row and reprint the label when the contents change.
Find a word later
Type a word into Find it and the workbook searches the box number, rooms, contents and notes.
Mark the arrival
Set each box to loaded and then arrived. The Arrivals tab keeps the unarrived list visible, including boxes you have not updated yet.
The tracker, instant download
Moving box inventory spreadsheet with printable labels and arrivals
The moving download contains one Excel workbook for Windows, a README and a sources note. You will need a printer for physical labels.
Open the moving box tracker on EtsyA list that follows the box
The labels come from the same rows as the inventory. That keeps what you print tied to what you recorded, while the search view helps when you need one item in a hurry.
A repeated box number, an empty room or a box with no contents is called out by the workbook checks so it can be fixed before you rely on the list.
Made for Microsoft Excel and a printer
This moving workbook was checked in Microsoft Excel for Windows. You will also need a printer if you want physical labels.
Before you spend anything
The fit matters.
Who should not buy this
A moving budget, change-of-address list, barcode system or insurance inventory needs a different tool. This workbook does not cover those jobs.
If you do not have Microsoft Excel for Windows, this download is not the right fit.
Yours to keep
What lands
on your desk.
- One Excel workbook for Windows with Start here, Boxes, Labels, Find it, Arrivals and Example tabs
- Printable labels generated from your box list
- A search view for box numbers, rooms, contents and notes
- README.txt and SOURCES.txt
See the work
Open the proof.
Published case studies of running systems. Each links to the thing itself.
A few useful
answers.
Do the labels come from the box list?
Your box rows fill the Labels tab, using the entries you make on the Boxes tab.
Can I find a box by one item?
Find it searches the box number, rooms, contents and notes, so one item is enough to start.
Does it track box arrivals?
Mark boxes loaded and arrived, then use Arrivals to see what is still unmarked.
Make this work for you
Your tools.
Your working version.
Want this built and handed over working? Tell me what your version needs to do. One line is enough to start.
Start a brief