Packing and unpacking services do the part of a move most people underestimate. A crew arrives with boxes, paper and tape, wraps everything room by room, labels it, and either loads it or hands it to the removalist. Unpacking is the same process run backwards at the other end.
The people who use it fall into a few groups. Families who can’t take a week off work. Downsizers with forty years of accumulation. Renters on a short settlement window. And anyone who has tried packing a kitchen at 11pm the night before and decided never again.
The problem it solves is time, but the real value is breakage. Most damage in a move happens inside boxes, not in the truck — badly packed glassware, heavy items in weak cartons, gaps that let things shift. It’s also the reason most transit insurance excludes cartons you packed yourself.
When comparing packers, four things matter. Whether materials are included or billed on top. Whether they do partial packing, so you handle clothes and books while they do the kitchen. Whether unpacking includes taking the rubbish away. And whether the company packing your goods is the same one moving them, because split responsibility makes claims messy.
Here’s how ten Melbourne options compare.
Quick Comparison Table
|
Company |
Best For | Service Area | Customer Rating |
|
Gotham Removals |
Full or partial packing with the same crew moving you | Melbourne metro + interstate | 5.0 (96 reviews) |
|
Get ‘n’ Go Removals |
CBD apartment and high-rise packing | Melbourne CBD + metro | 5.0 (158 reviews) |
|
NorthBox |
Reusable crates instead of cardboard | Melbourne metro | 5.0 (16 reviews) |
|
1800 We Store It |
Packing into storage | Melbourne metro | 4.9 (278 reviews) |
|
The White Glove Mover |
Full pack, store and unpack over months | Melbourne + bayside | 4.8 (419 reviews) |
| Jim’s Removals | Franchise availability across suburbs | Melbourne |
4.7 (592 reviews) |
| Hire A Packer | Packing labour without a full move | Melbourne |
Not verified |
| Muval | Comparing packers through one form | National platform |
4.8 (2717 reviews) |
| The Packing and Moving Company | Packing bundled with transport | Melbourne |
Not verified |
| Advanced Perth Removals | Packing (WA-based) | Perth — no Melbourne presence |
4.9 (533 reviews) |
1. Gotham Removals
Overview
Gotham Removals runs out of Deer Park and offers packing as a full or partial service, with materials supplied. The useful part is that the same operation does the move, so there’s one inventory and one company answering for anything that breaks.
They’re open seven days, which matters more than it sounds. Packing usually happens the day before the truck arrives, and that’s often a Saturday or Sunday.
What the Packing Service Covers
- Full packing of an entire house or apartment
- Partial packing, kitchen, fragiles, wardrobes only
- Boxes, butchers paper, bubble wrap and tape supplied
- Labelling by room for unloading
- Furniture dismantling and reassembly
- Unpacking at the new address
- Packing for storage, where goods sit longer
Why It Works
The crews are trained staff rather than day hire, and reviewers name the same people across different jobs. For packing that matters a great deal, an experienced packer fills voids, keeps carton weights sensible, and doesn’t put a marble board on top of your dinner set.
Access knowledge helps too. Feedback mentions crews handling narrow driveways and difficult entries without fuss, which is where a packing day quietly turns into two.
Best For
Households wanting packing and removal from one provider, and anyone with a short settlement window who needs the packing done the day before.
Coverage
All Melbourne metro suburbs, plus interstate to the eastern capitals.
Pros
- Same company packs and moves — one point of responsibility
- Partial packing available, so you control the cost
- Open seven days, including weekends
- Materials supplied rather than sourced separately
Cons
- Smaller operation, so busy dates go early
- Not a standalone packing-only business
A Note on the Reviews
A 5.0 average across 96 reviews is worth reading rather than skimming. The recurring themes are punctuality, careful dismantling, and problem-solving on site — one customer describes being lent a platform ladder at no charge. That’s the tone of a small operation rather than a call centre.
2. Get ‘n’ Go Removals
Company Overview
Based at Collins Place in the CBD and listed as operating 24 hours. For packing work in apartment buildings, round-the-clock availability is a genuine advantage, because lift bookings rarely land at a convenient hour.
Packing and Moving Services
- Packing and materials
- Furniture protection and wrapping
- Local and CBD moves
- Storage
- Courier and smaller transport jobs
Where They’re Strong
High-rise work. One reviewer describes a CBD move between two modern towers — tight lift windows, strict building management rules, limited dock access — with the crew arriving ten minutes early and fully prepared. Anyone who has moved within the CBD knows that ten minutes is the whole game.
Another mentions a home staging company using them regularly. Repeat commercial bookings say more about consistency than any single glowing review.
Suited To
Apartment and CBD moves, staged or furnished properties, and anyone needing packing done outside normal hours.
Areas Covered
Melbourne CBD and metropolitan area.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Listed as available 24 hours, seven days
- Demonstrated high-rise and lift-booking experience
- Strong rating across a decent sample
Cons
- Stair fees charged separately — confirm before booking
- Packing appears to be an add-on, not the core product
3. NorthBox
Who They Are
NorthBox works from Richmond and approaches packing differently. Instead of cardboard, they supply sturdy reusable crates, deliver them to your door, and collect them once you’ve unpacked.
Services
- Reusable moving crate hire
- Packing services
- Unpacking services
- Delivery and collection of crates
- Packing materials
The Main Advantage
Crates stack properly and don’t collapse, which cardboard does once it’s been taped twice or caught rain. Customers mention crates being collected around ten days after the move, so there’s no pile of flattened boxes in the hallway afterwards.
There’s an environmental angle too, but the practical one is simpler: you’re not buying boxes you’ll throw out, and you’re not begging supermarkets for spares in the week before a move.
Best For
People who want packing handled but hate the waste and the cardboard hunt, and moves where goods will be stacked or stored.
Service Area
Melbourne metropolitan area.
Pros
- Reusable crates hold up better than cartons
- Crates delivered and collected for you
- Both packing and unpacking offered
Cons
- Only 16 reviews — a small sample to judge by
- Crate hire runs on a return deadline
- Closed Sundays, Saturday mornings only
4. 1800 We Store It
Background
Operating from Laverton North, this business is built around storage, with packing and removals wrapped around it. The Google listing holds 4.9 across 278 reviews, which is a solid record at that volume.
Packing Services
- Packing for storage and transport
- Container loading
- Removals with crews
- Short and long-term storage
- Packing materials
What Stands Out
Packing goods for storage is a different skill to packing them for a two-hour truck ride. Items sit for months, stacked, sometimes in varying temperatures. Reviewers mention crews packing containers to maximise the space billed, which directly lowers what you pay each month.
Communication comes up repeatedly — accurate quoting on container size, booking at a time that suited the customer, and crews arriving ahead of schedule.
Ideal For
Anyone with a gap between properties, people heading overseas, and moves where part of the household goes into storage rather than straight to a new address.
Coverage
Melbourne metropolitan area.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Packing, moving and storage under one contract
- Strong review volume and rating
- Quoting on container size before booking
Cons
- Closed Sundays; Saturdays finish at 12.30pm
- Two Google listings exist with different ratings — check which entity you’re dealing with
5. The White Glove Mover
Overview
Based on Bay Street in Brighton, The White Glove Mover positions itself at the premium end and offers the full sequence: pack, move, store, unpack. The rating sits at 4.8 across 419 reviews.
What They Offer
- Full packing services
- Storage between properties
- Unpacking at the new address
- Furniture protection and handling
- Pre-move assessment and quoting
Where They Perform
Long-gap moves. One customer describes packing and storage for roughly six months while a new build finished, followed by move-in and unpacking, handled by the same crews throughout. That continuity is hard to get when you’re stitching three suppliers together.
Downsizing work comes up too — a customer moving from a four-bedroom house of 22 years into a three-bedroom apartment, with an on-site assessment first and boxes delivered ahead of packing day.
Best For
Downsizers, people building or renovating, and anyone wanting the whole sequence handled without managing it themselves.
Service Area
Melbourne, with a bayside base.
Pros
- Full pack, store and unpack as one service
- Large review base for a Melbourne operator
- On-site assessment before quoting
Cons
- Premium pricing
- Closed weekends — a real limitation for packing
- At least one detailed review reports the job being underquoted on time and crew size
Worth Knowing
That last point is worth acting on rather than ignoring. If you book them, get the quote to state crew numbers and estimated hours, not just a price. A premium quote that assumes too few packers costs you the day regardless of the brand.
6. Jim’s Removals
Company Snapshot
Part of the wider Jim’s franchise network, operating across Melbourne suburbs through individual franchisees.
What This Means Practically
Franchise models trade consistency for coverage. Availability is usually good because there are operators across the metro area, but the crew you get is the local franchisee, not a central team. Two customers in different suburbs can have genuinely different experiences.
What to Confirm
I couldn’t verify a single Google rating that represents their Melbourne removals operation, since franchisees are listed separately.
- Which franchisee is servicing your suburb
- That franchisee’s own reviews, not the brand’s
- Whether packing materials are included
- Insurance held by the franchisee specifically
- Whether packing and moving crews are the same people
Best For
People wanting a recognised brand with wide suburban coverage, provided they vet the individual operator.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Broad coverage across Melbourne
- Established national brand
Cons
- Service quality varies by franchisee
- No single verifiable rating for the Melbourne operation
7. Hire A Packer
Overview
Positioned as packing labour rather than a full removal service — you book packers, they pack, the transport is arranged separately or not at all.
Where That Model Fits
It suits people who’ve already booked a removalist on price and just need the boxes done properly. It also suits partial jobs: a kitchen, a garage, a study full of paperwork nobody wants to touch.
The trade-off is split responsibility. If a packer wraps a vase and a different company’s driver carries it, a damage claim becomes an argument between two businesses with you in the middle.
What to Verify
No independent rating was available for this business, so check the basics before booking.
- Whether packers are employees or contractors
- Insurance cover for goods they pack
- Whether materials are supplied or charged
- Minimum booking hours
- Availability on weekends
Best For
Partial packing jobs and anyone whose removalist doesn’t offer packing.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Packing available without committing to a full move
- Works for single-room jobs
Cons
- No verifiable public review history found
- Split liability between packer and mover
8. Muval
What It Actually Is
Muval isn’t a packing company. It’s an Australian booking platform that matches your job to removalists in its network, including ones offering packing services.
How It Helps
You enter the job once and compare options rather than ringing six companies. For flexible movers it also surfaces backload pricing, where your goods travel on a truck already heading that way.
The Limitation
You aren’t choosing your packers. The platform allocates a carrier, and packing quality varies with whoever turns up. For transport that’s a manageable risk. For packing — where someone is handling your glassware unsupervised in your kitchen — it’s a bigger one.
Best For
Comparing the market quickly, especially when packing is a secondary requirement rather than the main one.
Coverage
National, across major capital corridors.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Fast comparison across multiple operators
- Useful for flexible dates and backloads
Cons
- No direct control over who packs your home
- Not a packing specialist
- Rating and operating history not independently verified here
9. The Packing and Moving Company
Background
Listed through the Find a Mover directory rather than an independently verified business listing, offering packing bundled with transport.
The Appeal
Bundling is the right instinct. One company packing and moving means one inventory, one insurer and one phone number when something goes wrong. That alone removes the most common failure point in a move.
What to Check First
Because the listing is a directory profile, confirm the operating details directly:
- Trading name and ABN
- Insurance documentation and cover limits
- Whether packers and movers are the same crew
- Materials included or billed separately
- Reviews on an independent platform, not just the directory
Best For
People wanting packing and transport bundled, subject to the checks above.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Packing and moving offered together
Cons
- Directory listing only — no verified review history found
- Operating details unconfirmed
10. Advanced Perth Removals & Storage
Company Overview
A genuinely strong operator — 4.9 across 533 reviews — working out of Wangara in Western Australia. Their packing page is a Perth service.
Services
- Packing and unpacking
- Household removals
- Storage
- Interstate transport
Why They Rate So Well
Feedback describes four-person crews on ten-hour days, careful handling, and schedule changes absorbed without drama. One reviewer mentions late alterations to both uplift and delivery being managed without complaint.
The Catch for Melbourne Readers
There’s no Melbourne presence on their listing. For a Melbourne packing job, confirm whether they service Victoria at all and where the crew would travel from. A Perth crew on a Melbourne job changes the price and the accountability.
Coverage
Perth and Western Australia. Melbourne coverage unconfirmed.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Excellent rating across a large sample
- Packing and unpacking both offered
Cons
- No confirmed Melbourne operation
- Closed Sundays; Saturday mornings only
Buyer’s Guide
How to Choose a Packing Service
Work out first whether you need full or partial packing. Full packing suits families, tight timelines and anyone with a lot of fragile items. Partial packing is the better value option for most people — pay professionals for the kitchen and the glassware, do your own clothes and books.
Then check who is actually doing the work. Employees who pack every week are faster and more careful than contractors booked that morning. Ask directly.
Finally, get the quote in hours and crew numbers, not just a total. Packing is priced on labour, and a low number usually means too few packers, which turns one day into two.
Questions to Ask Before Booking
- Is packing quoted by the hour or as a fixed price?
- How many packers, and for how long?
- Are boxes, paper and tape included?
- Do you take the rubbish away after unpacking?
- Are self-packed cartons excluded from your insurance?
- Do the same people pack and move?
- What happens if packing runs past the estimate?
- Can you pack the day before the truck arrives?
Mistakes Worth Avoiding
Booking packers for the same day as the truck is the common one. Packing a full house takes most of a day, and a crew that arrives while packers are still working sits idle on your clock.
Underestimating the kitchen is the other. It’s the slowest room in any house by a wide margin, and it’s where most breakages come from.
Also: don’t pack valuables, documents or medication into the system. They go in your own car, regardless of who’s doing the boxes.
Signs of a Good Packing Crew
- They quote in hours and crew size, not just a total
- Materials are itemised on the quote
- They ask which rooms you want handled
- Packers are permanent staff, not day hire
- Cartons are labelled by destination room
- They offer to take packaging away afterwards
- Insurance documents arrive without chasing
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does professional packing take?
A two-bedroom apartment usually takes a crew most of a day. A four-bedroom house often runs into a second day, particularly if the kitchen is full and there’s a garage or shed involved.
Should I book packing for the day before the move?
Yes, in most cases. It lets the crew work without a truck waiting, and it means moving day starts with everything sealed and labelled.
Is full packing worth the cost?
It depends on your timeline and how much glassware you own. Partial packing — kitchen and fragiles only — gets most of the benefit at a fraction of the price, and it’s what most people should be asking for.
Are self-packed boxes covered by insurance?
Usually not. Most transit policies exclude breakage inside cartons the customer packed, since the insurer can’t verify how it was done. If you want fragile items covered, have the company pack them.
Do packing services include unpacking?
Some do, some charge it separately. Ask specifically whether unpacking includes removing the empty cartons and packaging, because that’s often a separate line.
Can I get packing without booking the move?
Yes — some operators sell packing labour on its own. Just be aware that when the packer and the mover are different companies, a damage claim can fall between them.
What shouldn’t I let anyone pack?
Passports, jewellery, keys, medication, devices and anything irreplaceable. Those travel with you. Most companies also won’t pack flammables, aerosols or paint.
Final Word
Packing is the part of a move people cut first and regret most. It’s also the part where the gap between a professional and a rushed weekend is easiest to see, usually at the moment you open the box with the wine glasses in it.
Decide on full or partial before you ring anyone, ask for the quote in hours and crew numbers, and confirm who carries the insurance on what they pack. Most of the difference between a good packing job and a bad one is settled in that conversation, not on the day.
