Quick Answer: Packing services in Atlanta fall into four tiers: full-service, partial, fragile-only, and export crating. For international shipments, solid-wood crates and pallets must meet ISPM-15 (heat-treated or fumigated, and IPPC-stamped) wherever the destination country requires it. Atlanta has no seaport, so cargo packed here moves by truck or rail to Savannah for ocean loading.
- Four service tiers exist: full-service, partial, fragile-only, and export crating — international moves need export-grade materials, not standard local-move cartons.
- Solid-wood crates must be ISPM-15 treated (heat treatment or methyl bromide) and IPPC-stamped when the destination country requires it; check the destination's rules before shipping.
- Packing your own (PBO) cartons can make a breakage claim harder to establish, and a mover's liability may be limited if improper owner packing caused the damage.
- Atlanta has no port — ABGS picks up in metro Atlanta, packs and consolidates at our Atlanta warehouse, then trucks or rails cargo to Savannah for ocean loading.
Most Atlanta packing quotes you receive are written for a local move across town. An ocean container bound for Cartagena, Callao or Valparaíso faces 18 to 35 days of humidity, vibration and four or five separate handlings — a very different job.
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Request a quote →How much do packing services cost in Atlanta?
Quick Answer: Atlanta packing costs depend on five things: home size, service tier, carton and material count, specialty crating, and whether the shipment is domestic or export-grade. Export packing costs more because materials, crates and documentation are heavier-duty. The calculator on this page prices your exact scope in seconds.
No two Atlanta packing jobs price the same way. A Buckhead condo with 40 cartons and one art crate costs nothing like a Sandy Springs four-bedroom with a piano and a garage workshop.
What actually drives the number
- Cubic volume (CBM) — the single biggest driver on an ocean move. Volume sets both packing hours and freight.
- Fragile item count — glassware, stemware, mirrors and framed art need dish packs and cell dividers, not standard cartons.
- Crew hours — two, three or four packers, and how many days the scope needs.
- Material count — cartons, paper, bubble, tape, stretch wrap, corner protectors.
- Access — stairs, long carries, no elevator reservation, or a shuttle truck in a tight Midtown dock.
- Export grade vs domestic grade — the one most quotes quietly skip.
Why export packing costs more
Export-grade work uses materials a local mover never touches. ISPM-15 heat-treated wood crates, moisture barrier film, desiccant bags, double-wall cartons, steel or poly strapping, and edge protection all add material cost.
Then there is paperwork. Every carton gets a number. Every number gets a line on a valued inventory that your customs broker and your marine underwriter both read. That labor is real and it belongs in the quote.
Specialty items price per piece, not per hour. Pianos, oil paintings, 75-inch TVs, wine collections, marble table tops and antique case goods each get their own crate or custom box.
Pro Tip
Ask whether the number is all-in or itemized. A credible export quote shows four separate lines: packing labor and materials, crating lumber, warehouse handling and consolidation, and drayage from Atlanta to Savannah. If a quote has one number and no breakdown, you cannot tell what was left out.
For practical ways to shrink the bill before you book, read Affordable International Moving 2026: 12 Ways to Save Money on Your Household Goods Shipment. Cutting volume is almost always cheaper than negotiating rate.
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Request a quote →What are the four types of packing services in Atlanta?
Quick Answer: Atlanta packing services come in four tiers. Full-service packs everything in your home. Partial packing covers only the rooms you choose. Fragile-only covers kitchen, glass, and art. Export crating builds custom wood boxes for high-value or oversized cargo leaving the country. Unpacking at destination is a separate add-on.
Full-service packing means a crew packs every item in the home, supplies all materials, and labels each carton by room and inventory number. You walk out with nothing left in a drawer.
Full-service packing
The crew handles closets, drawers, cabinets, wall art and the garage. Materials are included. Each carton carries a room label and a sequential inventory number. This is the standard for an international move because every carton becomes a line on the customs inventory.
Partial packing
You pack books, clothing, linens and shoes yourself. The crew takes the kitchen, glassware, electronics, lamps and framed art. It saves hours and money, but remember the trade-off: your boxes become PBO cartons, which can make a breakage claim harder to establish.
Fragile-only (dish pack) service
Fragile-only targets the riskiest 20% of a household at a fraction of full-service hours. Crews bring dish packs, cell dividers, mirror cartons and picture boxes. For a family doing most of the work themselves, this is the highest-value tier per dollar spent.
Export crating Atlanta
Crating services Atlanta covers anything a carton cannot protect. Our carpenters build custom wood boxes for engines, CNC parts, machinery, marble slabs, sculpture, server racks and lab equipment. Crates are sized to the piece, with internal blocking so nothing moves inside the box.
| Service tier | What's included | Typical hours | Crew size | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service | All rooms, all materials, labeling, numbered inventory | 4–16 hrs | 2–4 packers | International moves, tight timelines |
| Partial | Selected rooms only, materials for those rooms | 3–8 hrs | 2 packers | Budget moves with time to self-pack |
| Fragile-only | Kitchen, glass, mirrors, art, electronics | 3–6 hrs | 2 packers | DIY packers protecting breakables |
| Export crating | Custom ISPM-15 wood crates, blocking, strapping | Per piece | 1–2 carpenters | Machinery, art, oversized or high-value cargo |
| Unpacking (add-on) | Unwrap, place, remove cartons and debris | 3–10 hrs | 2–3 packers | Destination service after delivery |
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Request a quote →How long does it take professional packers to pack a 3-bedroom house?
Quick Answer: Packing time for a three-bedroom Atlanta home depends on how much you own and the size of the crew. A studio takes 3 to 4 hours. A four-bedroom-plus home usually runs two days. Export packing adds time to those hours.
Rooms do not pack at the same speed. The kitchen and the garage eat the day while bedrooms fly by.
- Kitchen: 3–5 hours. A fully stocked kitchen with stemware and small appliances can hit 6.
- Master bedroom: 1.5–2 hours including closet.
- Secondary bedroom: 1–1.5 hours.
- Home office: 2–3 hours — files, cables and monitors slow crews down.
- Garage: 2–4 hours, and hazmat sorting is not packing time you can bill back.
- Living and dining: 2–3 hours with art and mirrors.
Packing time and carton count by home size
See the data
| Home size | Crew size | Packing hours | Estimated cartons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 2 packers | 3–4 | 20–30 |
| 1 bedroom | 2 packers | 4–5 | 30–45 |
| 2 bedrooms | 2–3 packers | 6–8 | 50–70 |
| 3 bedrooms | 3 packers | 8–10 | 75–110 |
| 4+ bedrooms | 3–4 packers | 14–16 | 120–180 |
Source: ABGS household goods operations benchmarks, USA–Latin America corridor · January 2026
Why export packing takes longer
Four extra steps add the extra time. Crews apply item-level inventory numbers, photograph high-value pieces, wrap moisture-sensitive goods in barrier film, and build crates on site or at our warehouse in Atlanta.
Export packing is not local packing with better tape. Numbering, photo documentation, moisture wrap and crate construction add real labor hours on top of the standard room-by-room benchmarks.
Pack day and load day are separate
Most Atlanta international moves pack on day one and load on day two. The container or truck arrives after everything is crated, weighed and listed. Trying to do both in one day is how inventories get sloppy and claims get denied.
Book 3 to 4 weeks ahead in normal months. For May through August peak season, book 6 to 8 weeks out — crew availability tightens as Savannah sailings fill.
What is an ISPM-15 crate and when do you need one in Atlanta?
Quick Answer: An ISPM-15 crate is a wooden shipping crate built from heat-treated or fumigated lumber and stamped with the IPPC mark. Per USDA APHIS, it is required when the importing country requires it, so check the destination's rules before shipping. Non-compliant wood packaging can run into problems with destination plant-health authorities.
ISPM-15 is the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15. National plant protection agencies worldwide enforce it to stop wood-boring pests from traveling inside pallets and crates.
What the IPPC stamp must show
The mark carries the IPPC wheat symbol, the two-letter country code, the producer or treatment facility code, and the treatment code — HT (heat treatment), DH (dielectric heating), MB (methyl bromide) or SF (sulfuryl fluoride), under the current ISPM 15 Annex 2. It must be visible when the packaging is in use, preferably on at least two opposite sides of the crate.
- Needs the stamp: solid-wood crates, skids, pallets, dunnage, blocking and bracing lumber.
- Exempt: plywood, OSB, particleboard, MDF and other processed engineered wood — heat and glue already kill pests.
- Also exempt: wood thinner than 6 mm, and wood wool or sawdust.
A treated crate on an untreated pallet still fails
Inspectors at Cartagena, Callao, Santos and Veracruz look at the whole wood package, not just the box. Wood packaging is checked by the national plant-health agency, not customs: SENASA in Peru, and bodies such as ICA in Colombia, MAPA in Brazil and SENASICA in Mexico. An unstamped pallet can delay the shipment and add costs.
We build ISPM-15 crates Atlanta shippers need at our warehouse in Atlanta. Once crated, weighed and marked, the cargo moves by truck or rail to Savannah for the ocean leg. The US Department of Commerce explains general export packing standards in its Packing | export.gov guidance.
How does export packing differ from local-move packing?
Quick Answer: Export packing uses stronger materials and far more documentation than a local Atlanta move. Ocean cargo faces 18 to 35 days of humidity, vibration and multiple handlings. Export-grade work means double-wall cartons, moisture barrier film, numbered inventories, and a customs-ready packing list.
Materials that survive the sea
Double-wall export cartons resist crush loads in a stacked container. VCI and moisture barrier film protects metal from condensation. Desiccant bags pull humidity out of the sealed space. Edge protectors and steel or poly strapping hold palletized loads together through four handlings.
Documentation customs will read
Every carton gets a number that matches a valued inventory. Commercial cargo needs a Factura Comercial and HS codes. US-bound personal effects need CBP Form 3299. The packing list should be consistent with the Bill of Lading.
Container loading discipline
- Load heavy, dense items on the floor and light cartons on top.
- Block and brace crates against the container walls with lumber.
- Fill voids with dunnage bags so nothing shifts at sea.
- Tier the load so weight sits evenly over both axles for the Savannah drayage.
- Photograph the stow before the doors close, then record the seal number.
| Factor | Local Atlanta move | International / export move |
|---|---|---|
| Cartons | Single-wall, reusable | Double-wall export grade |
| Wrapping | Paper, bubble, furniture pads | Paper, bubble, VCI film, desiccant, shrink |
| Crating | Rare, plain lumber acceptable | ISPM-15 treated and IPPC stamped where the destination requires it |
| Inventory | Room labels, basic list | Numbered, valued, bilingual where required |
| Documents | Bill of lading, inventory | B/L, packing list, Form 3299 or Factura Comercial, HS codes |
| Timeline | Pack and load same day | Pack day 1, crate and load day 2+ |
| Main cost driver | Crew hours | CBM, crate count, documentation |
For the full sequence — visas, timing, customs, shipping mode — see Moving Abroad From the USA: Complete Guide. Country-specific planners also help: Moving to Panama Cost Calculator: Instant Quotes (2026) and Moving to Chile Cost Calculator: Instant Quotes (2026).
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Request a quote →Are my items insured if the movers pack them?
Quick Answer: Generally yes, subject to your coverage terms. Carrier-packed (CP) means the mover built the carton. Packed by owner (PBO) means you did, which can make a claim harder to establish and may limit the mover's liability if your packing caused the damage. For international moves, buy all-risk marine coverage on a valued inventory.
The CP versus PBO line often shapes a glass-breakage claim. If you packed the carton, expect questions about whether your packing caused the damage.
Three levels of coverage
- Released value: the legal minimum on domestic moves. Pays by weight, not by value. A 10 lb TV pays pennies.
- Full value protection: the carrier repairs, replaces or pays the depreciated value. Domestic-oriented.
- All-risk marine cargo insurance: the right product for ocean freight. Covers loss and damage from any external cause, subject to named exclusions.
All-risk coverage is usually written on a valued inventory, so prepare declared values before the container seals and confirm the insurer's requirements with your marine insurance broker.
Read the exclusions before you buy
Total-loss-only policies cost less and pay nothing for a cracked mirror inside an otherwise intact container. Watch three clauses on Savannah-to-South America sailings: pair-and-set limits (a broken dining chair may not pay for the set), mold and mildew exclusions, and rust on unprotected metal. Humidity over an 18 to 35 day voyage is a real risk, which is why we use moisture barrier film and desiccant on export loads. For policy terms, consult a licensed marine insurance broker.
What will movers not pack for me?
Quick Answer: Movers generally will not pack hazardous materials, and federal law bars shipping them in household goods without telling the mover. Ask your mover for its exact list. Perishable food, live plants and open liquids are also refused. International shipments add tighter limits on alcohol, firearms and agricultural items.
The standard refusal list
- Flammable: gasoline, propane and camping fuel, kerosene, lighter fluid, charcoal, aerosols, nail polish and remover, paint and thinners.
- Corrosive: bleach, drain cleaner, pool chemicals, car batteries, acids.
- Explosive: ammunition, fireworks, flares, matches, loose lithium batteries, pressurized fire extinguishers.
- Perishable: frozen and fresh food, open liquids, live plants, pet food already opened.
- Legally restricted: firearms without the correct permits, controlled substances, protected wildlife products.
International-only restrictions
Ocean exports add agricultural rules. Seeds and plant material are restricted in destinations such as Peru and Colombia, and destination plant-health authorities set their own rules. Check them before pack day.
Alcohol is always a per-country answer. Some destinations allow a wine collection under duty, others ban or heavily tax it. Declare it or risk the whole container. Ask your customs broker before pack day, not after.
Carry these yourself — never in the container
Passports, birth certificates, property deeds, jewelry, prescription medication, cash, laptops and backup hard drives travel with you. A sealed container to Callao or Buenos Aires is unreachable for weeks. Metro Atlanta counties run household hazardous waste collection events — use one before pack day to clear paint, chemicals and old batteries.
How do you verify a legitimate Atlanta packing company?
Quick Answer: Check three credentials. For interstate work, a USDOT and MC number registered with the FMCSA. For moves within Georgia, any state authorization required for intrastate household goods carriers; confirm it with the Georgia state regulator. For ocean export, an FMC-licensed NVOCC or OTI number. Ask for all three in writing before deposits.
Run the USDOT number through the FMCSA SAFER database yourself. Confirm the legal name on the database matches the name on your contract. Brokers often quote under a trade name that belongs to nobody.
Which license covers which job
- Georgia intrastate authority: moves that start and end inside Georgia may need state authorization; check with the Georgia state regulator. It does not cover interstate or export work.
- USDOT and MC numbers: required for interstate household goods carriage, Atlanta to anywhere.
- FMC OTI / NVOCC license: the one that matters for ocean cargo. A packer without it is subcontracting your Bill of Lading to someone you never vetted.
Pro Tip
Ask two direct questions: who issues the Bill of Lading, and whose insurance covers the Atlanta-to-Savannah drayage leg. If the answer is vague, the liability chain has a gap. Red flags: cash-only deposits, no written binding estimate, no physical Atlanta address, and a quote with no itemized materials line.
What do Atlanta high-rises require on pack and load day?
Quick Answer: Most Atlanta high-rise buildings require a Certificate of Insurance naming the HOA, a reserved freight elevator window, and a scheduled loading dock slot. Midtown, Buckhead and Old Fourth Ward towers commonly limit moves to weekday daytime hours. Submit the COI request at least one week before pack day.
Buildings specify their own COI wording. Most ask for general liability limits, workers' compensation coverage, and the HOA or property manager named as additional insured. Send the building's exact wording to your mover — do not paraphrase it.
Elevators, docks and shuttles
Freight elevator reservations usually run in 2 to 4 hour blocks. A three-bedroom condo often needs two consecutive blocks, which means booking early. Lose the window and the crew waits on the clock.
Dock height and truck length limits in Midtown and Buckhead can block a 53-foot trailer. The fix is a shuttle vehicle, which adds one more handling step and more time. Plan for it rather than discovering it at 8 a.m.
Big-city building rules follow similar patterns elsewhere — see International Movers New York: All You Need to Know for a useful comparison.
Skip the building headache entirely
For smaller shipments, bring the cargo to us. Our warehouse in Atlanta receives, stores, packs and consolidates cargo. We crate, palletize and label there, then move it by truck or rail to Savannah for the ocean leg. Atlanta has no seaport, so every container we build here takes that inland leg.
SavannahUSSAV
CartagenaCOCTG
SavannahUSSAV
CallaoPECLL
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Request a quote →Price your Atlanta packing and export scope now
Quick Answer: The fastest way to price packing services Atlanta shippers need is the calculator on this page. Enter your Atlanta pickup, home size or cargo dimensions, and destination port. It prices the packing scope and the ocean leg together, including the inland move from Atlanta to Savannah.
Pick the right tier first, then price it. Full-service for a complete international relocation. Fragile-only if you have time and want the glass protected. Export crating for machinery, art and anything oversized.
With thousands of shipments processed across the USA–Latin America corridor, our crews build international moving packing Atlanta families and exporters can send through Cartagena, Callao, Valparaíso, Santos or Caucedo without a customs hold. Use the calculator on this page to price your exact scope — Atlanta pickup, packing, crating and ocean freight in one number. For duty, tax and classification questions, work with a licensed customs broker in your destination country.
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Packing cost in Atlanta depends on home size, how many fragile and specialty items you have, crew hours, material count, and whether you need export-grade packing with ISPM-15 crates. Export packing costs more than a local move because of heavier materials, item-level inventories and crate construction. Use the calculator on this page to price your exact scope.
It depends on how much you own and the size of the crew. A studio runs 3 to 4 hours and a four-bedroom-plus home usually takes two days. Export packing for an international move takes longer because every item is numbered, photographed and moisture-wrapped.
Yes, someone should be present for at least the start and the end of pack day. You need to walk the crew through the home, flag items that stay behind, and sign the inventory. For export shipments you also confirm declared values before the cartons are sealed and numbered.
Self-packing is cheaper up front but costs more when something breaks. Under FMCSA guidance, owner-packed (PBO) cartons are not excluded outright, but they can make a claim harder to establish, and the mover's liability may be limited if your packing caused the damage. For ocean freight with 18 to 35 days at sea, professional packing usually pays for itself on a single claim.
Yes, if your crate, pallet or dunnage is made of solid wood and the destination country requires ISPM-15, as USDA APHIS notes. The lumber must be heat-treated or methyl bromide fumigated and stamped with the IPPC mark. Plywood, OSB and engineered wood are exempt. Confirm the destination's rules with a licensed customs agent before shipping.
Sources
We checked the rules and figures in this guide against these sources on November 6, 2026.
- IPPC Secretariat / FAO: ISPM 15 Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade · 2019-02-01
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA): Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move · 2023-10-01
- USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service: Export ISPM 15-Compliant Wood Packaging Material From the United States to Another Country · 2026-01-25
- U.S. Government Publishing Office (govinfo): 19 CFR Part 148 - Personal Declarations and Exemptions · 2018-04-01
- Export-Import Bank of the United States: 10 Common Export Documents You Should Know About
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: Liability & Protection | FMCSA · 2024-11-04
- Texas Department of Motor Vehicles: TxDMV Number
- Federal Maritime Commission: Ocean Transportation Intermediaries - Federal Maritime Commission
- Servicio Nacional de Sanidad Agraria (SENASA), Perú: Procedimiento de control sanitario y fitosanitario al ingreso de mercancías agrarias al país · 2021-04-14
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA): SAFER Web - Company Snapshot · 2026-10-28
✓ Fact-checked by AB Group Shipping on November 6, 2026. Prices come from our own rate system. How we check our guides · Spotted an error? [email protected]