The Ultimate Car Packing Guide
Most people treat loading a car like a game of Tetris played blind. There's actually a systematic approach that can dramatically increase how much you fit — and make it safer to drive.
Why Most People Pack Wrong
The instinctive approach — grab an item, shove it in, repeat — leaves an average of 30–40% of usable boot space wasted. This happens because random placement creates irregular gaps that are impossible to fill. Professional movers and expedition packers use a fundamentally different system: weight distribution first, shape second, and orientation third.
When you plan your load before placing anything, you can typically fit 20–35% more cargo in the same space. More importantly, a correctly loaded car is safer — rear-heavy loads shift the car's centre of gravity and can cause understeer or loss of control in emergency braking.
The Golden Rules of Car Packing
Heavy items go in first, low and centred
The heaviest items — appliances, tool boxes, large flat-pack furniture panels — should sit directly on the boot floor, as close to the centre of the vehicle as possible. This keeps the centre of gravity low and forward, which improves handling. Never stack heavy items on top of lighter ones.
Use vertical space aggressively
Most people fill the boot floor and stop. But the vertical space above is often completely wasted. Flat-pack boxes, framed artwork, and boards can be stood on their end leaning against the back seat (with the seat down) or the rear of the cargo area. This frees up the floor for awkward shapes.
Fill every cavity
Pillows, clothing, soft bags, and packing paper are your best friends. They serve two purposes: padding fragile items and filling the gaps between rigid boxes. A box that can't shift can't break anything. Before loading, sort your items into "rigid/heavy," "medium," and "soft/filler" categories.
Keep the load level
An uneven surface of boxes creates instability — items on top will slide and shift during cornering and braking. After placing your base layer, aim for a flat, even surface before building the next layer. A few folded moving blankets can serve as a leveller between layers.
Protect fragile items with a buffer zone
Fragile items like lamps, glassware, or framed art should never be placed where they can contact rigid boxes during movement. Wrap them individually and create a dedicated zone surrounded by soft items. A small investment in bubble wrap or moving blankets prevents expensive breakages.
Maintain sightlines
Do not stack items above the parcel shelf height unless absolutely necessary. Blocked rear windows are dangerous and often illegal. If you need to go higher, consider a roof rack or trailer rather than compromising visibility.
Secure the load
Even perfectly packed items can shift under braking. Use cargo nets, ratchet straps, or the boot's tie-down loops to secure your load. In most countries, an unsecured load that causes injury is the driver's legal liability — not just a safety concern.
Loading Order Cheat Sheet
- Heavy, flat items directly on the floor (panels, appliances)
- Medium-weight rigid boxes stacked level on top
- Tall items stood upright at the sides or rear face
- Soft bags, pillows, and clothing filling all gaps
- Fragile items last, surrounded by soft padding
- Strap or net everything securely
Flat-Pack Furniture: A Special Case
IKEA, Bunnings, and similar store flat-packs present a unique challenge — they're large, they're awkward, and the box dimensions listed online rarely account for overhang or packaging protrusion. Here are specific tips:
- Measure the box, not the product. Flat-pack boxes often extend several centimetres beyond the product dimensions. Always check the packaging dimensions before assuming it'll fit.
- Fold down the rear seats first. Don't try to wedge a 2-metre panel through a half-open seat gap. Fold first, then load from the rear.
- Diagonal loading. For items slightly longer than the boot depth, loading diagonally from corner to corner can gain 10–15 cm of effective length in some vehicles.
- Overhang laws. In Australia, items may overhang the rear of a vehicle by up to 150mm without a flag, up to 1 metre with a red flag, and more than 1 metre requires a pilot vehicle. Know your local laws before driving.
Know Before You Go: Use Stowey
The single best way to avoid packing disasters is to know before you leave home whether your items will fit. Stowey's free calculator lets you enter your exact items and vehicle, then runs a 3D packing simulation to tell you definitively whether it all fits — and gives you step-by-step loading instructions.