Quick Answer: Packing services New York cover full packing, partial packing, fragile-only packing and custom wooden crates. Packing time for a two-bedroom Manhattan apartment depends on how much you own and on building access. Export shipments through the Port of New York and New Jersey may also need ISPM-15 treated wood crates, where the destination country requires them, and an itemized valued inventory.
- Full packing, partial packing, fragile-only and export crating are four different services with different costs, crew sizes and insurance consequences.
- Some NYC buildings may require a Certificate of Insurance (COI) and a reserved freight elevator window before packers can enter — arrange both well ahead.
- If boxes you pack yourself (PBO) are lost or damaged because of improper packing, the mover's liability may be limited or reduced under FMCSA rules.
- Solid wood crates leaving New York must meet ISPM-15 (heat-treated or fumigated, and stamped) when the destination country requires it, and export shipments need an itemized inventory.
The packing decision drives everything downstream: your insurance coverage, your customs clearance speed, and whether your marble table top survives 18 days at sea. This guide separates domestic apartment packing from export-grade crating, because the two jobs use different materials and different paperwork.
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Request a quote →What do packing services in New York actually include?
Quick Answer: Packing services in New York include full packing, partial packing, fragile-only packing, custom crating and unpacking. A full packing service means the crew supplies all cartons and materials, wraps every item, labels each box by room, and builds an inventory. Partial packing covers only the rooms or items you choose.
A full packing service is the complete job. The crew arrives with cartons, paper, bubble wrap, tape and markers. They pack 100% of the home, label every box by room and contents, and record each carton on a numbered inventory sheet.
Partial packing is the most common request in New York City. Most clients ask for kitchen and closets only, then handle books and linens themselves. Fragile-only packing is narrower still: glassware, china, mirrors, framed art, lamps and electronics.
Unpacking is a separate line item. So is debris removal — the return trip to collect flattened cartons and used paper. In a co-op with a strict trash policy, that pickup matters more than people expect.
Packing
Cartons, paper, bubble wrap and tape. Designed to survive one truck ride and a freight elevator. Dish packs for china, wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes, picture cartons for frames. Labeled by room so the unload crew knows where each box lands.
Crating
A built wooden box, measured and assembled around the item. Used for oil paintings, large mirrors, chandeliers, marble and stone tops, antique furniture and machinery. Crates handle forklifts, stacking and sea transit. Packing cannot do any of that.
If the packing job is the first step of a move abroad, read our guide to International Movers New York: All You Need to Know before you book the crew. The sequence of survey, packing day and load day changes when a container is involved.
How much do packing services cost in New York City?
Quick Answer: Packing in New York City is priced three ways: hourly crew rate, flat per-room rate, or per-carton plus materials. Cost depends on home size, fragile volume, walk-up floors, building access and whether items need custom crates. Export crating is quoted separately by crate dimensions and weight.
Understand the three pricing models before you compare quotes. They are not interchangeable, and the cheapest-looking one often is not.
- Hourly crew rate — a two or three-packer crew billed per packer per hour, plus materials at cost. Best for partial and fragile-only jobs.
- Flat per-room rate — a fixed price per room, materials included. Best when you want budget certainty on a full packing job.
- Per-carton plus materials — a price per packed box by box type. Common for small apartments and art-only jobs.
What actually drives the price up
Carton count is the headline number, but it rarely moves alone. These factors add real hours and real materials:
- Volume of dish packs and wardrobe boxes — both cost more and take longer to fill
- Walk-up floors — every carton gets carried down by hand
- Long carry from truck to door, common on blocks with no loading zone
- Shared freight elevator wait time, which is billable
- Weekend dates and the last week of any month — peak demand across all five boroughs
- Custom crates, each measured, built and sealed individually
| Material | Best use | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dish pack (double-wall) | China, glassware, stemware | Double corrugated walls absorb crush force in a stacked container |
| Wardrobe box | Hanging clothing | Clothes travel on the bar — no folding, no creasing, fast to pack |
| Picture / mirror carton | Framed art, mirrors under 48" | Telescoping box adjusts to the frame, corner protectors added inside |
| Double-corrugated box | Electronics, books, tools | Rated for higher stacking weight than standard single-wall cartons |
| Glassine paper | Oil paintings, pastels, prints | Non-stick barrier — plastic wrap pulls paint off a varnished surface |
| Bubble wrap (small / large cell) | Lamps, ceramics, screens | Small cell for surfaces, large cell for impact cushioning |
| Reusable plastic bin | Local NYC moves only | Rented, not sold — not usable for ocean export or long-term storage |
Export crating prices work differently. They track crate volume and lumber grade, not hours. Add cost for ISPM-15 heat treatment, a moisture-barrier bag with desiccant, foam-in-place inserts and skid-mounting for forklift handling.
Pro Tip
Ask for an itemized quote, not an "all-in" number. An itemized packing quote separates labor hours, materials, crate count and debris removal. When the carton count changes on packing day — and it usually does — you can see exactly what moved. All-in quotes hide the adjustment.
We do not post a flat packing price here, because New York jobs vary too much to fake a number. Use the calculator on this page at Request a quote → — it prices your exact origin ZIP and destination.
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Request a quote →How long does it take professional packers to pack a two-bedroom apartment in NYC?
Quick Answer: Packing time for a typical two-bedroom New York apartment depends on how much you own and on building access. A studio takes 3-4 hours, a three-bedroom takes a full day with three packers, and a four-bedroom townhouse usually spans two days.
Crew size and hours scale with contents, not square footage. A minimalist three-bedroom in Long Island City can pack faster than a crowded one-bedroom in the West Village.
Packing time and crew size by home size
See the data
| Home size | Hours on site | Crew size | Estimated cartons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 4 | 2 packers | 20-30 |
| 1-bedroom | 6 | 2 packers | 35-50 |
| 2-bedroom | 9 | 2 packers | 60-90 |
| 3-bedroom | 12 | 3 packers | 100-140 |
| 4+ bedroom townhouse | 16 | 3-4 packers | 150-220 |
Source: AB Group Shipping household goods operations, Northeast corridor · 2026
What adds hours to a packing day
Certain contents slow a crew down more than anything else. Plan for them:
- Large book collections — heavy, slow, and they need small double-wall cartons
- China cabinets and crystal — every piece gets individually wrapped
- Art walls with more than six framed pieces — each needs corner protection or a crate
- Home offices with multiple monitors, docks and cable runs
- Overstuffed closets, especially shoe and handbag collections
Walk-up buildings and shared freight elevators add time to the clock. Packers wait for the elevator car, and that waiting is billable. A fifth-floor Brooklyn walk-up can turn a six-hour job into a nine-hour one.
For anything above a one-bedroom, keep packing day and load day separate. Packing a two-bedroom and loading a container in one day pushes the crew into overtime and raises damage risk. Most New York buildings will not approve an elevator block long enough to do both anyway.
Do I need a certificate of insurance for packers in my New York building?
Quick Answer: It depends on the building. Some New York buildings require a Certificate of Insurance (COI) before packers or movers enter, and some ask to be named as additional insured. Ask your building what it requires and request the certificate from your mover well before packing day.
A COI is proof of coverage issued by your mover's insurer. It shows the coverage types and limits the building requires, written to the building's exact wording. No COI, no access — the lobby desk will turn the crew away.
- Request the building's COI sample or requirements sheet from the managing agent first. Every building words it differently, and generic certificates get rejected.
- Send that sample to your packing company well ahead of packing day. Insurers do not issue same-day.
- Reserve the freight elevator and loading dock window in writing. Many buildings restrict moves to set days and hours.
- Confirm the certificate was accepted by the managing agent before packing day. Acceptance is not automatic.
Walk-ups and brownstones have no dock and no elevator. Discuss long carry, stair surcharges and NYC street parking permits before the date is locked. On blocks with alternate-side rules, the truck may need a reserved curb space.
The New York State Department of Transportation publishes The Mover's Guide to Transporting Household Goods, which sets out what licensed household goods carriers must give you in writing. Read it before signing an estimate.
The COI deadline is real
A missing or rejected COI can stop a New York packing day before it starts. If the certificate is rejected at 8am, the crew cannot work, the elevator slot is lost, and the next available window may be a week out. Confirm acceptance in writing 48 hours before the crew arrives.
If your crates or machinery exceed legal truck dimensions on the way out of the city, check our guide on Oversize Load Permit: Does Your Load Need a Permit? before scheduling pickup.
Are movers responsible for boxes I packed myself?
Quick Answer: Not always. Under FMCSA rules, a mover's liability for cartons marked PBO (Packed By Owner) may be limited or reduced if your improper packing caused the loss or damage. How a carton was packed matters in a claim, so choose the service level accordingly.
Every carton on the inventory sheet gets a code. PBO means Packed By Owner. PBP means Packed By Packer. The crew writes that code at pickup, and the claims adjuster reads it first.
If a PBO box arrives intact on the outside and the glass inside is broken, the carrier may argue that improper internal packing caused the damage and limit or reduce what it pays.
Released value vs full value protection
These two valuation options pay very differently. Take a $3,000 television that weighs 50 pounds:
| Protection level | How it pays | Payout on a 50 lb, $3,000 TV |
|---|---|---|
| Released value | 60 cents per pound per article | $30 |
| Full value protection | Mover repairs or replaces the item, or pays the repair or replacement cost; the shipment's declared value is the maximum liability | Repair or replacement cost, within the shipment's declared value, less any deductible |
Released value is the default on most contracts. It costs nothing and pays almost nothing. If you are shipping high-value items overseas, declare full value protection in writing before packing day.
How to verify a New York packing company
- NYSDOT household goods mover license — required for intrastate moves within New York State
- USDOT and MC numbers — required for interstate moves, verifiable free on the FMCSA company lookup
- NYSDOT "Summary of Information for Shippers of Household Goods" — licensed intrastate movers must provide it ("Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" is the federal FMCSA booklet for interstate moves)
- Certificate of Insurance capability — ask whether they issue building-specific COIs routinely
Photograph before the box closes
Take dated photos of every high-value item before packing starts — serial numbers, maker's marks, condition of frames and finishes. Declare each one on a valued inventory. Without pre-packing photographs, proving pre-existing condition after an ocean transit is close to impossible.
What is export crating and when do you need it leaving New York?
Quick Answer: Export crating is a custom-built wooden box made from treated lumber that protects cargo during ocean or air transit and meets international wood packaging rules. When the destination country requires it, solid wood packaging leaving New York must be ISPM-15 treated and stamped, or destination authorities can order it destroyed or returned.
ISPM-15 crates New York are built from lumber that has been either heat-treated (56°C at the core for 30 minutes) or fumigated with methyl bromide. The treated wood carries a stamped IPPC mark: the wheat symbol, country code, facility number and treatment code HT. Where ISPM-15 applies, it is enforced by each country's plant protection organization, such as ICA in Colombia, SENASA in Peru, SENASICA in Mexico and MAPA in Brazil.
Types of custom wooden crates NYC exporters use
- Closed crate — fully sheathed, for art, electronics and anything weather-sensitive
- Slatted crate — open-sided, lighter and cheaper, for sturdy machinery and furniture
- Skid-mounted crate — built on a base with forklift pockets on all four sides
- Foam-in-place insert — expanding foam molded around irregular shapes like sculpture
- Moisture barrier bag with desiccant — sealed aluminum-foil liner for humidity control at sea
Plywood skips ISPM-15 entirely
Manufactured wood panels — plywood, OSB, MDF, particleboard — are exempt from ISPM-15 because the manufacturing process already destroys pests. For small art crates and picture crates, building in plywood removes the heat-treatment step, the stamp requirement and one inspection risk at destination. Solid wood framing inside the panel still needs treatment.
Anything over 150 lbs needs more than a box. Mark the center of gravity on two adjacent faces, add forklift pockets, band the crate, and brace the contents internally so nothing shifts. A crate that passes inspection but lets a marble top slide six inches has failed.
For fine art, antiques and anything irreplaceable moving south, read Moving Antiques and Artwork Internationally: Custom Crating for USA to South America Shipments — it covers glassine, climate exposure and condition reports in detail.
How does domestic packing differ from international export packing?
Quick Answer: Domestic packing protects cargo for one truck ride; export packing protects it for 14-30 days at sea, humidity swings, multiple handlings and customs inspection. Export shipments add ISPM-15 crates where the destination requires them, moisture barriers, an itemized valued inventory, and documentation that must match the commercial invoice exactly.
| Factor | Domestic NYC packing | International export packing |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | Standard cartons, paper, bubble wrap, blankets | Double-wall cartons, shrink wrap, moisture barrier, desiccant |
| Crating | Rare — blankets and pads suffice | ISPM-15 treated crates for art, stone, machinery, where the destination requires them |
| Inventory detail | Room label and carton number | Numbered carton, contents by category, declared value per line |
| Customs forms | None | Packing list, commercial invoice, B/L |
| Transit method | Truck | Ocean FCL/LCL via Port of NY/NJ, or air freight via JFK |
| Typical transit | 1-3 days | 10-30 days by sea; 2-5 days by air |
LCL consolidation
Your cartons and crates share a container with other shippers. Loaded at our warehouse in New York with floor-to-ceiling tiering, airbags between loads and bracing at the door. Deconsolidated at destination CFS. Best under about 10 CBM.
FCL exclusive container
Your goods alone in a 20ft or 40ft box, sealed at loading and opened at destination. Fewer handlings, lower damage risk, no deconsolidation wait. Above roughly 10 CBM, the cost per cubic meter usually beats LCL.
Container loading is its own skill. Our crew blocks and braces heavy crates against the container walls, uses dunnage airbags to kill void space, and tiers light cartons above heavy ones. A badly loaded container shifts in a swell and damages everything inside it.
For screens, laptops, audio gear and anything with a lithium battery, our Moving Electronics and Fragile Items Internationally: 2026 Packing Guide for USA to Central America covers original-carton rules, anti-static wrapping and battery declarations.
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Request a quote →What customs paperwork does packing generate for a New York export?
Quick Answer: Packing produces the documents customs actually reads: an itemized packing list with carton numbers, and a valued inventory for insurance. CBP Form 3299 is not an export form: it is for personal and household effects entering the United States.
The packing crew is also your documentation crew. What they write on the inventory sheet becomes what DIAN, SUNAT, SAT and Receita Federal read at destination.
- Itemized packing list — numbered cartons, contents by category, weight and dimensions per piece
- Valued inventory — a declared value per line, used for insurance and duty assessment
- CBP Form 3299 — Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles; used only to claim duty-free entry of household effects arriving in the United States, always filed with a packing list, and not part of an export
- Factura Comercial — the commercial invoice for Latin American customs, plus proof of origin (a certificate, certification or declaration, depending on the agreement) only when a trade agreement preference is claimed
- Manifiesto de Carga for commercial cargo to Colombia, plus the importer's tax ID: RUT/NIT in Colombia, RUC in Peru
"Miscellaneous" triggers inspections
Vague carton descriptions are the fastest route to a customs hold. Writing "household items" or "miscellaneous" on an inventory line invites a physical inspection at Cartagena, Caucedo or Callao. Inspections mean unpacking, storage charges and demurrage. Write "12 dinner plates, ceramic" instead — it costs nothing and clears faster.
For commercial cargo the standard is higher. The packing list piece count and gross weight should agree with the Bill of Lading. A mismatch of one carton between packing list and B/L can hold the whole shipment. For duty classification and tax questions, consult a licensed customs broker in the destination country.
How do I ship packed and crated cargo from the Northeast through New York?
Quick Answer: New York is the usual export gateway for New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC and West Virginia. Cargo arrives by truck from the coastal states and by rail from inland points, then is packed and consolidated at our warehouse in New York.
How your cargo reaches the gateway depends on where you start:
- Short-haul truck — New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, eastern Pennsylvania and the Hudson Valley, usually same-day or next-day pickup
- Longer truck — Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC
- Rail or long-haul truck — western Pennsylvania and West Virginia, where inland distance makes rail competitive
Our warehouse in New York receives, stores, packs, crates and consolidates cargo before it loads. That matters for LCL: your crates can arrive from Boston on Tuesday and load into a consolidated container on Friday without a second handling.
New YorkUSNYC
CaucedoDOCAU
New YorkUSNYC
CartagenaCOCTG
New YorkUSNYC
KingstonJMKIN
New YorkUSNYC
SantosBRSSZ
Booking timeline and packing day prep
Book 3-4 weeks ahead in peak season — May through September, plus the last week of any month. Off-peak, 10-14 days usually works. Peak-season congestion at the Port of New York and New Jersey also stretches cut-off windows.
Remember: the port cut-off is not the vessel ETD. Your cargo must be gated in days before the ship sails, and missing cut-off means the next sailing.
Professional packers generally will not pack items like these; ask your mover for its own list:
- Propane tanks, camping fuel and any compressed gas cylinder
- Paint, solvents, thinners and aerosols
- Cleaning chemicals, pool chemicals and pesticides
- Perishable food and open liquids
- Firearms and ammunition
- Car batteries and loose lithium cells
Keep these with you
Passports, visas, birth certificates, jewelry, prescription medication, laptops and house keys travel with you — never in a carton. Set them in a closed closet or bathroom and tell the crew lead it is off limits. In NYC, tipping a two-packer crew $20-$40 per packer for a full day is the common norm.
Whether you need packing services New York for a Brooklyn two-bedroom or export crating New York for a 900 lb machine heading to Buenaventura, the first step is the same: an accurate volume and a confirmed building window. Everything else follows from those two numbers.
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Tell us what you need to ship, and an advisor replies with your quote within a few hours.
Request a quote →Use the calculator on this page to price your exact origin ZIP and destination — no email required, no follow-up calls. For custom wooden crates NYC exporters need on oversized or irregular pieces, the same form routes your dimensions straight to a crating specialist.
Move with AB Group Shipping
Planning the whole move? Our international movers pack, ship and handle customs, with your door-to-port price in 60 seconds.
Packing cost in New York City depends on home size, carton count, fragile volume, walk-up floors, elevator access and whether items need custom wooden crates. Export crating is priced separately by crate dimensions, weight and ISPM-15 heat treatment. Use the calculator on this page to price your exact origin ZIP and destination in seconds.
Packing time for a typical two-bedroom New York apartment depends on how much you own and on building access. Large book collections, china, art walls and home offices push it toward a full day. Walk-up buildings and shared freight elevators can add significant time.
It depends on the building: some New York buildings require a Certificate of Insurance before packers or movers enter, and some ask to be named as additional insured, using their own wording. Ask your managing agent what is required. Request it well before packing day.
Partly. Under FMCSA rules, the mover's liability for cartons marked PBO (Packed By Owner) may be limited or reduced if your improper packing caused the loss or damage. Cartons packed by the professional crew are covered under the valuation option you select. Choose full value protection if you are shipping high-value or fragile items overseas.
Only if the destination country requires it, according to USDA APHIS, so check before shipping. Compliant solid wood packaging is heat-treated or fumigated with methyl bromide and stamped with the IPPC mark. Where it applies, ISPM-15 is enforced by each country's plant protection organization, such as ICA in Colombia, SENASA in Peru, SENASICA in Mexico and MAPA in Brazil. Plywood and other manufactured wood panels are exempt.
Sources
We checked the rules and figures in this guide against these sources on October 26, 2026.
- USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service: Export ISPM 15-Compliant Wood Packaging Material From the United States to Another Country · 2026-01-25
- Federal Register / U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Agency Information Collection Activities; Extension; Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles (CBP Form 3299) · 2025-11-26
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: Liability & Protection · 2024-11-04
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA): Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move · 2023-10-01
- IPPC Secretariat (FAO): Explanatory document for ISPM 15 (Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade) · 2017-02-10
- IPPC Secretariat (FAO): ISPM 15 Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade · 2014-06-16
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection: CBP Form 3299 (05/24) Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles · 2024-05-01
- New York State Department of Transportation: THE MOVER'S GUIDE TO TRANSPORTING HOUSEHOLD GOODS IN NEW YORK STATE · 2024-02-28
- New York State Department of Transportation: Summary of Information for Shippers of Household Goods · 2025-11-01
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: AskFMCSA · 2023-05-20
✓ Fact-checked by AB Group Shipping on October 26, 2026. Prices come from our own rate system. How we check our guides · Spotted an error? [email protected]