How do I mark fragile items in addition to the colour system?

For fragile items we recommend an additional note such as “glass” and arrows pointing up – in black or as a sticker, not in a room colour, so that the warning and the room allocation do not get mixed up. If you use red for the children's room, you should not use red warning tape. That way helpers recognise immediately that special care is needed during transport .

Do I need special materials for a colour system?

No, simple coloured sticky dots, markers or coloured tape from the DIY store are perfectly sufficient to set up a working labelling system . Above all, what matters is applying it consistently on all sides of the box. Home-made colour codes with highlighters also work well, as long as the allocation is clearly documented for everyone involved.

How many colours should I use for my move?

The number depends on the number of rooms in your flat; five to seven colours are usually perfectly sufficient for a clear colour system . In very large houses it can make sense to introduce additional subcategories such as cellar or loft. Too many colours make things harder to follow, however, so we recommend a deliberately limited selection.

How does the colour system work with a part load involving several households?

With a part load , each household's surname should be clearly visible on the boxes in addition to the room colour, to rule out mix-ups. That way boxes belonging to different families can be separated quickly and unambiguously at the destination. Our team will gladly advise you on a suitable system for shared transports.

Should I also number the boxes?

Yes, consecutive numbering combined with the colour system makes checking the inventory considerably easier, especially for larger moves. With a separate list you can check at any time whether all boxes have arrived. This method is particularly advisable for long-distance moves with long transport routes.

How do I label boxes for the cellar or loft properly?

For storage spaces such as the cellar or loft, a colour of their own is advisable, such as brown or grey, to clearly separate them from living spaces. You should also note whether the contents are seasonal items or things you rarely need. That way the structure in ancillary rooms is maintained over the long term even after the move .

Can I also use the colour system for a company move?

Yes, the colour system transfers extremely well to office moves by assigning a fixed colour to each department or room. This speeds up setting up the workstations again considerably and reduces downtime in the company. We will gladly advise you individually on a suitable system for your company move.

How far in advance should I start labelling the boxes?

We recommend starting packing and labelling the boxes two to three weeks before the moving date to avoid stress. That leaves enough time to apply the colour system consistently and document all boxes neatly. With a private move , we also support you with the scheduling.

What do I do with boxes that relate to several rooms?

For mixed boxes containing items from several rooms, we recommend an extra colour such as purple or a special symbol indicating the mixed contents. The contents should also be noted briefly so that there is no confusion when unpacking. That way the colour system stays consistent and easy to follow, even with exceptions.

Does Beste Umzug Unternehmen label the boxes?

Yes, on request our movers take care of the complete box labelling for you using a proven colour system. This is a real relief, especially with stressful moves or when time is short. Call us on 01625978461 to arrange this service for your private move .

Does the colour system also work for international long-distance moves?

Yes, especially with international long-distance moves involving long transport times, a clear colour system is important for assigning boxes unambiguously. The consecutive numbers also help if an inventory list is needed for customs – for example when moving to Switzerland. That way the organisation remains easy to follow across national borders too.

ONE COLOUR PER ROOM

Labelling moving boxes: a colour system

With the right colour system, every box finds the right room at the destination without anyone having to ask.

Get a quote

Our services

Customer service01625978461

Google · 119 reviews

(5,0/5)

Monday – Friday09:00 – 17:00 Uhr

Red box van on a paved square in front of trees

LABELLING BOXES

Packing with a system

A colour system for moving boxes: how the method works

Colour, number, contents

Unsere Firma Colour codes for moving boxes: every room gets a colour, every box a number – and the room door at the destination the same colour.

A well-thought-out colour system is the heart of any professional move planning and saves valuable time on moving day. Each room is given a fixed colour, so that boxes can be assigned to the right room immediately, without anyone having to search or ask for long. If the same colour is stuck on the room door in the new flat, helpers know at once where the kitchen, bathroom or children's room boxes belong. With larger flats or long-distance moves in particular, this clear structure pays off several times over.

In practice, the system can be implemented with coloured sticky dots, markers or special tapes available from DIY stores or online. It is important that the colour allocation is recorded in writing so that helpers and family members know straight away. We also recommend briefly noting the contents on each box and marking a priority such as “unpack first”. With our private move service, we take care of the complete labelling and organisation for you on request.

Sofa wrapped in stretch film, cushions and stacked moving boxes in an empty flat

50,-DISCOUNT

PACKING WITH A SYSTEM

PERSONAL ADVICE

Plan your move – with labelling on request

Advice on a colour system for your boxes included

Call us on 01625978461 and get advice on the right labelling system for your move. After the survey you receive a fixed price; if we pack for you, we label the boxes according to your colour scheme straight away. Whether it is a private move round the corner or a long-distance move to another city – this way every box finds its room.

Offers available individually, depending on effort, scheduling and the scope of services required.

Two movers in red T-shirts lift a film-wrapped piece of furniture into a lorry

ORDER WHEN UNLOADING

Why a colour system shortens moving day

Fewer questions, shorter routes

Whether a move finishes quickly is decided at the destination: if every box is carried straight into the right room, there is no rearranging later. With colour-coded boxes, our helpers need no follow-up questions – a glance at the dot and at the room door marked in the same colour is enough. If we pack for you, we label according to your scheme. We quote the fixed price after the survey, and your belongings are covered under the German Commercial Code (HGB). We come from Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and operate within the city, nationwide and abroad.

Packing service

If we pack for you, we apply the coloured dots at the same time: room colour, number and contents are on every box before it leaves the flat.

Door marking

In the new flat we mark every room door with the same colour. That way every helper carries the boxes straight into the right room, even without a floor plan.

Inventory list

Consecutive numbers on the boxes and a list to go with them: at the end you know immediately whether all the boxes have arrived – especially important with a part load.

Furniture transport

Furniture parts and screw bags get the room colour too. When it comes to assembly, everything is then in the right room, instead of you searching the hallway for the right bag.

CLEARLY LABELLED

Rules for a colour system that works

A colour system only works if it stays simple and everyone knows it. These rules have proved their worth – when packing in the old flat and when unloading in the new one. If you stick to them, you save yourself rearranging after moving in.

One colour per room

Yellow for the kitchen, blue for the living room, green for the bathroom: each room in the new flat gets exactly one colour that is easy to distinguish from the others.

Mark two sides

Coloured dot and number on at least two side panels, not just on the lid – with stacked boxes, you can only see the side.

A list for everyone

The colour allocation hangs on a note on the front door and every helper has a copy. That way nobody has to ask on moving day what orange means.

Note the contents briefly

Next to the colour, one to three keywords about the contents – “pots, pans” instead of “kitchen”. This helps when unpacking in the right order.

Separate warning

Fragile items also get “glass” and arrows pointing up – in black, not in a room colour, so that the two systems do not get mixed up.

Mark the first-out boxes

Mark the boxes for the first night with an eye-catching symbol. They are loaded last and unloaded first at the destination.

SHARED CARGO SPACE

Colour plus name for a part load

So that nothing gets mixed up

With a part load (Beiladung), several moves share one lorry, which is why clear box labelling is particularly important here. The room colour is then joined by your surname and a consecutive number – so that boxes from different households can be reliably separated when unloading.

Open cargo space of a red lorry with wrapped furniture, panels and boxes

ALL ABOUT LABELLING

What
belongs on the box besides the colour

Colour, number, contents, warning

Alongside the colour system, there are many other topics that make a move easier, such as choosing the right box sizes or packing fragile items. Planning long-distance moves with transport logistics over several hundred kilometres also requires special preparation. If you are planning a private move, you benefit from clear checklists and a structured schedule before moving day. Our guide articles accompany you step by step through every phase of your move.

Set the colour scheme

Plan the scheme according to the rooms of the new flat, not the old one: that is where the boxes are unloaded. For a private move, senior move or student move, five to seven easily distinguishable colours are usually enough.

Numbers and contents

A consecutive number and two or three keywords about the contents turn the colour system into an inventory list. This helps with a packing service, with furniture transport involving screw bags and with a small transport of individual boxes.

Special cases

Mixed boxes, cellar and loft, fragile items: for each special case, a symbol or an extra colour is enough. With an office move, company move, part load or furniture taxi, the department takes the place of the room.

Mover in red workwear pushing a sack truck with a box towards a stack of boxes

MoabitBased at Stromstraße 21

Google 5.0 (119 reviews)

Two movers in dungarees carry moving boxes through a bright flat

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the colour system for moving boxes

Answers on colours, materials, numbering, part loads and special cases.

Clear, easily distinguishable colours such as yellow, blue, green, red and orange, each assigned to a fixed room, have proved their worth. What matters is that the colour coding stays unambiguous and easy to recognise for all helpers. We also recommend recording the allocation in writing so that even last-minute helpers know straight away which colour belongs to which room.

Choosing the right colour for each room

The following allocation has proved its worth: yellow for the kitchen, blue for the living room, green for the bathroom, red for the children's room and orange for the bedroom. These room colours can be applied to every side of the box with simple sticky dots or coloured tape, so that they are visible from all sides. What matters is a uniform list that is handed out to all helpers before the move.

In addition to the colour, a short description of the contents and a note for fragile items are advisable; the box for the first night gets a symbol of its own (see Packing a first-night box). That way movers know immediately how carefully a box must be handled and in which room it should be put down at the destination. With private moves involving many boxes in particular, this groundwork really pays off.

Using the colour system for long-distance moves and part loads

On longer routes or long-distance moves, several hours often pass between loading and unloading, which is why a clear structure becomes particularly important. A uniform colour-code system prevents boxes from getting jumbled in the van or being wrongly assigned at the new home. We also recommend numbering each box consecutively and recording these numbers on an inventory list.

With a part load, where several households share one van, the surname should also be on every box to rule out mix-ups completely. That way you keep track at all times, even with complex transports involving several stopovers. Our team will gladly advise you on which system is best suited to your individual moving situation.

What a move with lots of boxes costs

In brief: one room costs from €359, two rooms from €609, three rooms from €894 and four rooms from €1,324. If you live in a house or a villa, you always receive an individual quote after a survey. For long-distance moves a price per kilometre from €3.95 applies. Feel free to take advantage of the free survey to discuss all the details.

What the price depends on besides the number of boxes

The price of your move depends on several factors: the moving volume, the distance (from €3.95/km) and the floor, and whether there is a lift. A required parking restriction zone (Halteverbotszone) can also affect the price. Additional services such as furniture assembly or a part load also have an effect on the total costs.

Services where the colour system helps

Well-labelled boxes speed up each of these services.

House clearance – House clearance: whatever gets no colour stays behind.
Furniture transport – Furniture transport: parts in the room colour.
Company move – Company move: one colour per department.
Part load – Part load: colour plus name.
Move with assembly – Move with assembly: assembly in the right room.
Private move – Private move: labelled on request.

A colour system for moves to another city

The longer the route, the more important the labelling: there are often hours or a whole day between loading and unloading. We come from Berlin and travel nationwide. More in the locations overview and under long-distance moves.

Packing & Packaging

Beste Umzug Redaktion

August 30, 2026

Back to Blog

Packing & Packaging Packing Moving Tips