Method 1: Marker pen on the box
Cost: £1 for a Sharpie
Speed: Very fast
Usefulness: Low
Everyone does this, and everyone regrets it. "Kitchen" tells the removals team where to put the box, but it doesn't tell you which kitchen box has the kettle. After a few boxes, your handwriting gets worse and labels become illegible. Not searchable, not scannable, and ink smudges in the rain.
Method 2: Colour-coded stickers
Cost: £5-£10 for a pack from Amazon or Ryman
Speed: Fast
Usefulness: Medium for room routing, low for item tracking
Red = kitchen, blue = bedroom, green = bathroom. The removals team loves these because they can sort boxes by room without asking you. But they still don't tell you what's inside. Best used alongside another method.
Method 3: Pre-printed moving labels
Cost: £8-£15 from Amazon or WHSmith
Speed: Medium (you still need to write contents)
Usefulness: Medium
These typically have checkboxes for room, fragile/heavy, and a space to write contents. Better than a marker pen, but still limited by how much you can fit in the writing space. Not searchable after the move.
Method 4: QR code labels with a moving app
Cost: Free (with GotItBoxed)
Speed: Fast (photo-based — quicker than writing)
Usefulness: High
This is the modern approach. Create a box in the app, photograph items as you pack, generate a QR label, and print it. Anyone can scan the QR code to see photos of everything inside — no app download needed for viewers.
This method is:
• Faster than writing (photos are quicker than descriptions)
• Searchable ("Where's the kettle?" → Kitchen Box 3)
• Shareable (partner, removals team, family — anyone with a phone)
• Free (QR labels included in GotItBoxed's free plan)
Try QR code labels free with GotItBoxed →
Our recommendation for UK movers
Use colour stickers for room routing (so the removals know where boxes go) combined with QR labels from GotItBoxed for item tracking (so you can find anything instantly). This dual approach costs under £10 total and covers both the moving team's needs and your own.
Print QR labels on regular A4 paper and attach with packing tape. Or invest in a pack of Avery sticky labels for a professional finish.
Where to buy labelling supplies in the UK
• Sticker paper: Amazon (Avery L7162 or similar), Ryman, Staples
• Colour-coded stickers: Amazon, WHSmith, Wilko
• Packing tape: B&Q, Screwfix, Amazon
• Marker pens: Sharpies from any supermarket or stationer
• QR labels: Free from GotItBoxed — print on any paper
Try GotItBoxed — It's Free
5 boxes, 25 items each, QR labels, full search. No credit card needed.
Start Free →Frequently Asked Questions
What's the cheapest way to label moving boxes?
A marker pen costs £1 but isn't searchable. QR labels from GotItBoxed are free and far more useful. The app's free plan includes QR code generation at no cost.
Should I label the top or the side of the box?
Both. Put one label on top (visible when stacked) and one on the side (visible when boxes are in a row). QR labels work especially well here — print two per box.
What information should be on a moving box label?
At minimum: room name, fragile warning if applicable, and a box number. Ideally: a QR code linking to a photo inventory of contents.