Clutter is a hoarding symptom, but you can have clutter without being a hoarder.
By definition, hoarding is much more severe than clutter. You can have a little clutter, but hoarding implies that the clutter is excessive, unmanageable, dirty, and unsafe. People who hoard will have challenges getting rid of items, which can cause stress and anxiety.
Hoarding is also a mental disorder that is as serious as depression or anxiety. Hoarders put a sentimental value on all their items, even if they are worth nothing.
On the other hand, clutter is usually a space of the home that hasn’t been organized yet. Most people with clutter can manage to organize it and discard items they don’t need yet. It’s caused mainly by a person just moving to a new place and not getting a chance to tidy up yet.
Other examples of clutter would be piles of laundry that haven’t been folded yet, unfinished projects, or books that are currently being read. While clutter is an issue, it doesn’t always require immediate or severe intervention.