Moving Inventory Checklist (Bill of Lading Format)

If you're hiring movers for an interstate move, you'll likely encounter a document called a "bill of lading" — a federally standardized inventory format that records the condition of your belongings before the move. Having your own inventory ready ahead of time, in a compatible format, makes this process faster and protects you if anything gets lost or damaged along the way.

Even for a local, DIY, or partial-service move, keeping this kind of record is worth doing — it's the clearest way to document what you had and its condition before boxes started moving.

What a moving inventory should record

• Item number and description
• Condition at pickup (new, good, fair, damaged)
• Whether it's fragile
• Box number, if it's being packed into a labeled box
• Estimated value

Document condition before the move, not after

The most common dispute in a moving claim is disagreement over whether damage happened during the move or existed beforehand. A photo taken before pickup, showing the item's actual condition, is the single most useful piece of evidence you can have — far more convincing than a written description alone.

Build it online, free, formatted to match a bill of lading

Contents Proof lets you build a moving inventory the same way — room by room, item by item — with a photo attached to anything that matters, then export a PDF formatted to match the household goods bill of lading structure movers actually use, including item numbering, condition notes, and box numbers. If you'd rather work with the data directly — for example, sharing a spreadsheet with your moving company — see our guide on choosing between PDF, Excel, Word, and CSV exports.

Keep it after the move too

Once you've moved, this same inventory becomes the foundation of your ongoing home inventory for insurance purposes — no need to start over. Register a free account and it's kept for a year, ready to update as your home changes.