How Many Boxes Do You Need To Move

Are you moving and wondering how many boxes you’ll need to purchase in order to safely pack and transport all of your belongings? If you are, you’re not alone. After all, boxes can be the largest expense next to renting the truck or moving team.

Average Box Prices

Moving box prices vary according to the size of the box. On average, you can expect to spend between $1 and $15 per box with specialty boxes costing more than standard boxes.

• Book Boxes - $1 per box
• Small Boxes – $1 per box
• Medium Boxes – $1.50 per box
• Large Boxes – $2 per box
• Extra-Large Boxes – $2.50 per box
• Specialty Boxes – $6 to $15 per box

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Understanding the Sizes of Packing Boxes and How Much They Hold

All moving boxes are designed to hold up to 65 pounds. Overloading the box can result in the box breaking during transport and your personal belongings potentially getting damaged. If you are uncertain if you’ve over-packed a box, you can attempt to safely lift it. If you have difficulty moving the box, it’s too heavy.

• Book Boxes – 12” by 12” by 12” - These boxes hold about a cubic foot and should be packed with books or other extremely heavy objects.
  
• Small Boxes – 18” by 18” by 16” - These boxes hold about 1.5 cubic feet. They can be packed with larger books and with heavy and/or breakable objects. If you are packing small breakables, remember that your packing material will take up some of the space in the box.
  
• Medium Boxes – 16” by 12” by 12” - These boxes hold about 3 cubic feet. They’re great for lighter objects, like electronics, toys and unbreakable dishes, like storage containers and plastic cups and plates.
  
• Large Boxes – 18” by 18” by 24” - These boxes hold about 4.5 cubic feet of items and are great for towels and small blankets as well as other items that aren’t too heavy.
  
• Extra Large Boxes – 24” by 18 by 24” - These boxes hold about 6 cubic feet and should only be used for very light items, including linen, blankets and stuffed toys. If you have awkwardly shaped items or items that are highly breakable, you can put them between the blankets. However, remember to label the box and list all of the items that are not blankets clearly on the outside so that the box can be handled appropriately.
  
• Barrel Boxes – 18” by 18” by 28” - Barrel boxes are designed to specifically hold dishes and glassware. These boxes can come with or without cell dividers, so it’s important to check so that you don't accidentally leave the box store without the cell dividers. These boxes tend to be thicker than regular packing boxes. They hold 5.2 cubic feet.
  
• Wardrobe Boxes – 24” by 24” by 34”, 18” by 18” 46” and 24” by 24” by 48” - These boxes are specifically designed to store and transport clothing without damaging it. Depending on the size, they can hold anywhere from 8 cubic feet to 16 cubic feet. You may read our guide on Places from where you can buy Wardrobe Boxes.
  
• Mirror and Picture Boxes – 37” by 4” by 27”, 48” by 4” by 32 and 60” by 60” by 3.5 – Mirror and picture boxes are specifically designed to safely move mirrors, framed photos and artwork without damaging the glass in the frame or the canvas. These boxes are designed to hold anywhere from 2 cubic feet to 4 cubic feet.

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Average Number of Boxes Needed According to Home or Apartment Square Footage

The number of boxes you need will primarily depend on the number of items you have in your home or apartment. If you are a minimalist or there are only one or two people in your household, you’ll need fewer boxes on average. If you are a pack-rat or have a large family, who’s had to stuff every closet and available area of space, you’ll need more boxes on average.

400 to 700 Square Foot Apartment or Condo

You can expect to spend between $35 and $70 for moving boxes. For a small studio or one bedroom apartment or condo.

• Small Boxes – 5 to 15 Boxes - $5 to $15
  
• Medium Boxes – 7 to 15 Boxes - $10.50 to $22.50
  
• Large Boxes – 6 to 10 Boxes - $12 to $20
  
• Extra-Large Boxes – 3 to 5 Boxes - $7.50 to $12.50
  
• Specialty Boxes – Depends on the size of your wardrobe and the number of dishes, appliances and artwork you have in your home.

700 and 1,200 Square Foot Home, Apartment or Condo

You can expect to spend between $70 and $108 for moving boxes for a small home or two to three bedroom apartment or condo.

• Small Boxes – 15 to 25 Boxes - $15 to $25
  
• Medium Boxes – 15 to 25 Boxes - $22.50 to $37.50
  
• Large Boxes – 5 to 10 Boxes - $10 to $20
  
• Extra-Large Boxes – 5 to 10 Boxes - $12.50 to $25
  
• Specialty Boxes – Depends on how many dishes, appliances and artwork you have

1,200 to 1,700 Square Foot Home, Apartment or Condo

You can expect to spend between $118 and $170 for moving boxes for a large apartment or a three to four bedroom home.

• Small Boxes – 35 to 40 Boxes - $35 to $40
  
• Medium Boxes – 25 to 35 Boxes - $37.50 to $52.50
  
• Large Boxes – 15 to 20 Boxes - $30 to $40
  
• Extra-Large Boxes – 10 to 15 Boxes - $25 to $37.50
  
• Specialty Boxes – Depends on your specific needs

1,700 to 2,200 Square Foot Home, Apartment or Condo

You can expect to spend between $128 and $170 for moving boxes for a large apartment, condo, townhouse or four to five bedroom home.

• Small Boxes – 35 to 40 Boxes - $35 to $40
  
• Medium Boxes – 25 to 35 Boxes - $37.50 to $52.50
  
• Large Boxes – 15 to 20 Boxes - $30 to $40
  
• Extra-Large Boxes – 10 to 15 Boxes - $25 to $37.50
  
• Specialty Boxes – Varies with the family

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Buy More Than You Think You’ll Need

Most individuals and families dramatically underestimate the number of boxes they will need to completely pack all of their belongings. If you wait until the last minute to pack your final few rooms, you could find yourself hauling items in trash bags and other makeshift containers that could break and won’t adequately protect your belongings.

It’s estimated that most families will need 15 boxes per room or one box for every shelf or drawer in the room. When it comes to closets and storage areas, like attics, unless all those items are already boxed or put into plastic totes, you can estimate needing a box for every 10 items of clothing and a box for every shelf or rack in your closet. A good rule of thumb for closets and storage areas is to purchase twice the number of boxes that you think you need. After all, it’s better to have extra boxes then to run out of boxes.

How to Get Boxes for Free

If you know far in advance that you’re moving, you can start to save your boxes. In today’s world of online ordering, almost everyone gets a box or two a month from bog box retailers. If the box is in reasonable condition upon arrival to your home, meaning it’s not broken, cracked, torn or wet, you can remove the items and breakdown the box by cutting the tape at the top and bottom. Once you have the tape cut, you can fold the box flat and store it in a closet or behind your bed. Of course, it’s important to note that these boxes may not conform to the exact dimensions of moving boxes, so you’ll need to pay attention to how to pack them in order to not overload the box and make it too heavy to carry by your moving team.

Useful Article: https://9kilo.com/national-moving/how-to-find-free-moving-boxes

Box Buying Rule of Thumb

While this article can help you estimate the number of boxes you’ll need for your move, it’s a good idea to take a detailed walk through your home and take a mental inventory. How full are your closets? How many people live in your home? Do you also have items stored in your garage, attic or basement? Are your kitchen cabinets stuffed beyond capacity? Once you determine the number or each size of box you’ll need, buy 10 to 20 percent more boxes. It’s always better to have too many boxes than not enough once moving day arrives.

Useful Article: https://9kilo.com/national-moving/where-to-buy-moving-boxes

Don’t Forget the Packing Supplies

Once you’ve determined how many boxes you need to pack your home, don’t forget your packing supplies. In addition to boxes, many individuals and families who are moving greatly underestimate their need for packing supplies, like packing tape, bubble wrap, packing paper and packing peanuts.

• Packing Tape - You should estimate that one 110 yard long roll of packing tape will tape between 50 and 55 boxes, assuming two strips of tape on the top and bottom. If you have more than one person packing, remember to buy more than one tape gun.
  
• Bubble Wrap – A medium-sized home should estimate that they need at least one 100-foot roll of bubble wrap. We recommend small bubbles, but you can also get the large bubbles. If you own a lot of glass or china, you may need more than one roll.
  
• Packing Paper and Packing Peanuts – You may want to consider purchasing a roll of packing paper and a box of packing peanuts. Packing paper fits easily between plates, and packing peanuts can till the extra air space in boxes with breakable items.
  
• Hand Trucks and Furniture Dollies – If you are moving yourself, don’t forget to rent at least one hand truck and a few furniture dollies. These can help you move your large items more easily.

Useful Article: https://9kilo.com/national-moving/how-to-pack-for-a-move-packing-101-checklist

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