StackToteMoving out of a studio or 1-bedroom is usually less physically demanding than a house move, but apartment-specific logistics can eat more time than the actual packing does.
Before moving day
- Check your lease for move-out notice requirements — most require 30 days, and missing that window can cost you a full extra month's rent
- Schedule your move-out walkthrough with the leasing office if your building requires one for deposit return
- Reserve the elevator if your building requires it — smaller buildings sometimes skip this, but larger complexes almost always do
- Take photos of the apartment's condition before you start moving anything, for your deposit records
What a studio/1BR actually needs
Most studio and 1-bedroom moves need around 15-20 bins — enough for a kitchen, closet, and the usual bathroom and desk items. Kitchens are usually the single biggest bin count in a smaller apartment, since dishes and small appliances take more space than people expect.
Packing order that actually works
- Off-season clothes and anything in storage first — you won't need it before move-out anyway
- Books, decor, and non-essential kitchen items next
- Everyday kitchen and bathroom items last, packed the night before or morning of
Our Starter package is built for exactly this size move — 20 bins, 2 dollies, delivered and picked up, starting at $79.
See the Starter package