Whether it’s your first move or your 10th, it’s not always clear how to unpack after moving most efficiently. Without a clear plan, the process can drag on, with many movers taking at least a few months or more to feel settled. Not knowing where to start or how to organize can turn unpacking into one of the most time-consuming parts of a move.
As 37% of Americans now opt for smaller living spaces due to housing shrinkflation, it’s more important than ever to be strategic. That means decluttering before the move, getting creative with storage, and prioritizing what you truly need to make the most of your space from day one.
To better understand how people are adjusting after a move, we surveyed 1,048 Americans about their unpacking habits and strategies.
Article takeaways
- 31% of Americans take a few months to settle in, showing that unpacking isn’t always a fast or easy process.
- Bedrooms and kitchens are often unpacked first since they’re essential for daily use.
- 37% unpack just one to two hours a day, which can extend the overall move-in timeline.
- Only 11% create a detailed unpacking plan indicating most people tackle it without a clear strategy.
- 38% used self-storage during or after the move, helping reduce clutter and ease the transition.
Nearly 1 in 5 Americans Take Six Months or More To Unpack
Unpacking is often seen as the final step in a move, but for many, it can drag on for months. Our survey found that 18% of Americans take six months or more to feel mostly unpacked and settled, while another 31% need at least a few months, showing that nearly half of movers don’t feel truly at home until long after they arrive.
Moving requires a lot of effort to set up your new life, but 37% of people only spend one to two hours a day unpacking. You’re returning to work, juggling daily tasks, arranging utilities, and trying to rebuild routines. With so much happening at once, unpacking often slips down the priority list, leaving those last boxes untouched for weeks or even months.
The impact of delayed unpacking goes beyond inconvenience. A half-unpacked home often feels temporary, chaotic, and disconnected from who you are. Clutter lingers, daily essentials stay buried, and that persistent feeling of “not quite home” adds quiet stress and a constant reminder that you’re still in transition.
Turning a new house into a home means settling in and making the space feel familiar, comfortable, and truly yours.
Still Stepping Over Boxes? 1 in 3 People Feel Too Overwhelmed To Unpack
As the days stretch on, those unpacked boxes don’t just sit — they settle in. You step over them, stack them around, and let them slowly become part of daily life. The longer the boxes linger, the more the clutter overwhelms you.
Part of the problem could be how few people approach unpacking with a clear plan. Only 11% had a detailed step-by-step strategy, while over half (58%) either unpacked as they went or didn’t plan at all. Without a roadmap, the sheer number of things to sort through can become overwhelming.
About 1 in 3 Americans say feeling overwhelmed is their biggest challenge when moving, with 27% pointing to having too much stuff. These two challenges are closely connected, as having more things than space or time often leads to stress and decision fatigue.
Why Leaving Boxes Unpacked Leaves You Feeling Out of Place
After weeks or even months of stepping over boxes and living with clutter, the physical presence of unpacked belongings begins to take over your space. Rooms feel crowded, surfaces are stacked with boxes, and there’s little room left to breathe, move around, or relax.
This constant clutter brings more than just inconvenience — it creates an emotional toll. Feeling overwhelmed by the unfinished tasks and the visible mess can leave you out of place in your own home, making it hard to feel settled or comfortable.
That’s why many people turn to storage units during their move. Having a place to temporarily store some belongings creates much-needed breathing room. It lets you focus on settling in gradually, rather than feeling pressured to unpack everything all at once. With shrinking home sizes and busy schedules, storage can be a helpful tool to manage your move.
How To Unpack After Moving: 10 Tips
With so many logistics involved in a move, unpacking often gets overlooked until the last minute. Using these tips for unpacking after a move can help speed up the process and make it easier to settle comfortably into your new home.
- Create a room-by-room plan focusing on essential areas first, like the kitchen, bathroom, and primary bedroom, to give yourself a clear roadmap and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
- Build a self-storage inventory list to track your boxes and their contents as you go to stay organized, make unpacking more efficient, and ensure everything has arrived safely.
- Clean before you unpack by wiping down empty shelves, floors, appliances, and surfaces so you’re starting fresh and don’t have to move items again to clean later.
- Unpack essentials first, starting with your “open first” box of must-haves like toiletries, chargers, snacks, and a change of clothes so you can function right away.
- Set up large furniture early, assembling beds, sofas, and tables first to create structure in your space and make it easier to decide where smaller items should go.
- Break down boxes as you go to reduce clutter and make your space feel more open and manageable.
- As you unpack, organize items where they’ll work best long term instead of just putting them away temporarily, saving time and effort later.
- Tackle one box at a time to stay focused. Opening too many boxes at once can lead to chaos and delay decision-making.
- Label or re-label drawers and shelves as you put items away so everyone knows where things go, especially in shared spaces.
- Set daily unpacking goals to break the job into small targets you can realistically meet each day and stay on track without getting overwhelmed.
Make Your Move Easier With Self-Storage
When you’re figuring out how to unpack after moving, one of the biggest challenges is the sheer amount of stuff. Between fitting everything into your new space and juggling other responsibilities, unpacking can quickly become overwhelming without the right organization habits.
Many movers struggle with clutter and wish they had more time for the unpacking process. That’s where a tool like self-storage becomes a game-changer.
With drive-up access and 24/7 availability, self-storage gives movers the flexibility to pick up and drop off belongings whenever it fits their schedule.
It provides space to create a flexible unpacking plan by storing items that don’t yet have a home. Our study found that 38% of movers used self-storage during or after their move, while another 12% said they wished they had, showing how having that breathing room can make settling in feel less overwhelming.
Storage units give you space and help you stay organized.
Find Storage Near MeMethodology
The survey of 1,048 adults ages 18 and over was conducted via SurveyMonkey Audience for SelfStorage.com, LLC on June 5, 2025. Data is unweighted and the margin of error is approximately +/-3% for the overall sample with a 95% confidence level.
FAQs
- Toiletries (toothbrush, soap, toilet paper)
- Basic kitchenware (a few dishes, utensils, coffee maker)
- A change of clothes and pajamas
- Chargers and important electronics
- Medications or personal care items
1. Unpack essentials first, like toiletries, medications, a change of clothes, basic kitchen items, and anything you’ll need immediately.
2. Prioritize unpacking functional rooms like your kitchen, bathroom, and primary bedroom first to create a sense of normalcy right after your move.
3. Tackle one room at a time to reduce decision fatigue and create a clear sense of progress.
4. Break tasks into small chunks by setting timers (like 30 minutes or hour increments) or assigning specific goals for each day so it doesn’t feel endless.
5. Use temporary storage if there’s too much to sort at once. Short-term storage units give you space to prevent clutter from building up.
