Quick answer
To move a home office, back up your data first, photograph and label every cable, and pack the computer and monitor in padded boxes that stay upright. Carry laptops, backup drives, and sensitive files yourself. Schedule internet at the new address ahead of time and set the office up before any other room.
In this guide
- How to move a home office around your work schedule
- Back up your data before anything gets unplugged
- How to pack a computer for moving, plus the monitor and printer
- Moving office files and paperwork
- Packing a desk for moving, plus the chair and shelves
- Home office moving checklist
- Set up the new office first
- When to hire movers for a home office
- Frequently asked questions
How to move a home office around your work schedule
A home office is the one room where a lost day costs money. Before you pack anything, decide how long you can be offline and plan backward from there.
- Pick your dark days. Choose the days the office will be down and keep deadlines and calls off them. A move late in the week gives you the weekend to set up
- Order internet for the new address early. Installation appointments can be booked out, so schedule service to be live on or before moving day
- Tell the people who need to know. Give clients, your employer, and regular contacts the dates you will be slow to respond
- Update your address with your bank, vendors, and anyone who mails you checks or packages
- Keep working tools out. Decide what you need until the last day and pack around it
Back up your data before anything gets unplugged
Equipment can be replaced. Years of work cannot. Make a full backup before the first cable comes out.
- Make two copies. One on an external drive and one with an online backup service is a sound setup
- Check that the backup worked. Open a few files from it
- Keep the external drive away from the computer. It rides in your own car, not in the same box as the machine it protects
- Write down what you will need on day one: passwords, software license keys, and your internet account details
Sign out of nothing and wipe nothing. The goal is simply that a dropped box would be an inconvenience instead of a disaster.
How to pack a computer for moving, plus the monitor and printer
Take a photo of the back of the computer and of the whole desk setup before you touch anything. Then:
- Shut down and unplug. Label both ends of each cable with tape as you remove it. Bag the cables for each device together
- Use original boxes if you kept them. Their foam inserts are shaped for the equipment
- If you did not, choose a sturdy box only slightly larger than the item and pad every side so nothing shifts
- Pack the tower upright, wrapped in bubble wrap or a moving blanket, with padding under and around it
- Label the box FRAGILE, with an arrow pointing up and the word OFFICE
How to pack a monitor: Remove the stand if it comes off. Cover the screen with a soft cloth or foam sheet, lay a flat piece of cardboard over that, wrap the whole monitor in bubble wrap, and stand it upright in a snug box. Nothing should press on the screen.
Printers: Take out ink or toner cartridges and seal them in a bag, remove the paper, and tape the trays and lid shut.
Modem and router: Pack them last with their power cords, in a box you can find first. If the equipment belongs to your provider, ask whether to bring it or return it.
Laptops, tablets, and phones travel with you. If you run a server or a rack of equipment, see our guide to moving IT equipment and servers.
Moving office files and paperwork
Sort before you box. Shred what you no longer need to keep, and ask your accountant if you are unsure how long to hold on to business and tax records.
- Use file boxes or small boxes so the weight stays reasonable, and keep folders in order so they drop straight back into the drawers
- Carry sensitive records yourself. Client files, contracts, financial statements, checkbooks, and anything with account or identification numbers should ride in your own car, in a box marked do not load
- Empty the filing cabinets unless your mover tells you a small one can travel full. Lock or tape the drawers shut either way
- Number the boxes and keep a short list of what is in each
A clear system pays off here. Our post on how to label moving boxes shows a simple one.
Need the office down for as little time as possible? Tell us your schedule and we will plan the move around it.
Packing a desk for moving, plus the chair and shelves
- Empty every drawer. Loose supplies go in zip-top bags, then into a box. A desk moved with full drawers is heavier, and drawers can slide open on the stairs
- Measure the desk and the doorways. Large, L-shaped, and corner desks usually have to come apart. Bag the hardware and tape it to a desk panel
- Lower a standing desk to its lowest setting, unplug it, and secure the cord and control box
- Remove a glass top and pack it like a mirror, on edge and well padded
- Wrap the desk in moving blankets to protect the finish
For the chair, lower the seat and wrap the arms and back. Empty bookcases completely and remove loose shelves. Our guide to packing books covers the heavy part.
Home office moving checklist
Use this home office moving checklist to keep the timing straight.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Two to three weeks out | Schedule internet at the new address. Notify clients and contacts. Sort and shred files. Order boxes |
| One week out | Pack books, reference material, and supplies you will not need. Update your mailing address |
| Two days out | Run and test a full backup. Photograph the cable setup |
| The day before | Shut down, label cables, and pack the computer, monitor, and printer. Put laptops, drives, and sensitive files in your car |
| Moving day | Point out the office boxes to the crew and have them loaded last so they come off first |
| First day in | Set up the desk, internet, and computer before unpacking anything else in the room |
Set up the new office first
Decide where the desk goes before the truck arrives, with outlets, the internet connection, and window glare in mind. Then work in this order:
- Desk and chair in place
- Modem and router connected and tested
- Computer and monitor plugged in, using your photos and cable labels
- Printer and everything else
- Files back in the drawers
Let electronics that rode in a cold or hot truck come to room temperature before you turn them on. Use a surge protector, and keep the backup drive untouched until you have confirmed everything works.
When to hire movers for a home office
If the office is a laptop and a small desk, you can handle it. If it includes a heavy desk, filing cabinets, several monitors, or shelves of books, a crew will save you time you could spend working. Allpoints takes furniture apart and puts it back together, and our packing services can cover the office or the whole house.
The office usually travels with the rest of the household on a local or long-distance move. If your business has outgrown the spare room, with staff, inventory, or commercial space involved, see our commercial moving page. Either way, quotes are free.
Key takeaways
- Back up everything twice before unplugging, and keep the backup drive with you
- Photograph the setup and label both ends of every cable
- Pack the computer and monitor upright in snug, padded boxes
- Carry laptops, drives, and sensitive files in your own car
- Schedule internet early and set up the office before any other room
