Trying to calculate how many boxes you may need for your move can be challenging, but The Moving Site has tools and information to help. In this guide we will go over the different types of boxes that are available, the size of the boxes, and helpful ways to estimate how many boxes you will need and how much they will cost. Let’s jump right in..
- Types of Moving Boxes Explained
- Different Rooms Need Different Boxes For Packing
- How Many Boxes Per Type of Room
- How Many Boxes By Number of Rooms
- How Many Boxes Per Square Footage
- How Much Do Moving Boxes Cost?
- Moving Box Price Estimator
- What Are The Dimensions of Moving Boxes?
- Where To Get Free Moving Boxes
- U-Haul 100% Buy Back Guarantee
- FAQs
Types of Moving Boxes Explained
Purchasing moving boxes can be a daunting task, especially if you are not familiar with the different types of boxes that are available for your move. We sort the boxes in two categories; standard boxes and specialty boxes. Let’s go over the most commonly used moving boxes:
Standard Boxes
- Small Boxes– Best used to hold small, heavy, or fragile items such as dishes, knick knacks, toiletries, accessories, media, books, electronics, etc.
- Medium Boxes– Use medium boxes to pack electronics, small appliances, clothes, shoes, toys, board games, pots, pans, etc.
- Large Boxes– Used to pack larger, lighter items such as pillows, blankets, lamp shades, stuffed animals, larger kids toys and appliances, etc.
- X-Large Boxes– You’ll typically need these boxes the least of all the standard boxes as they are only used for the largest but lighter item such as comforters, pillows, or long curtains. Things can get really heavy quickly as the boxes get bigger and if you make them too heavy you risk a bottom out.
Specialty Boxes
- Book Box – Small box that is thicker and stronger than standard small boxes to withstand the weight of heavy books.
- Wardrobe Box – A wardrobe box is made for hanging clothes directly from the closet onto the built in hanging bar on the inside of the box. You can also still pack shoes and other items in the bottom of the wardrobe box.
- T.V. Box – T.V. boxes are made to fit small to large flat screen t.v.s. Some will come with a bumper kit insert to protect the corners and to keep it stable, others you may have to purchase the bumper kit separately.
- Dish and Glass Packs – Dish packs are small thick boxes with a cardboard insert with separators to keep plates and bowls from moving around in the box and hitting each other. Glass packs are the same as dish packs except that they are specially sized for glasses and drink ware.
- Mirror/Picture Box- Boxes that are perfectly shaped to hold framed artwork, wall decorations, paintings, hanging mirrors and photos.
- Sport Utility Box – Tall box to hold sporting goods, recreational equipment, holiday and other taller decorations, etc.
- Lamp Box – Use the lamp box to pack standard size lamps and lamp shades with ease with its perfect lamp shape and size.
If you’re reading through this guide you will see talk a lot about packing material or packing paper. This is just clean sheets of paper used to wrap items for protection and to crumble up and use as filler to fill void spaces in packing boxes. Filling these empty spaces in boxes is important because it prevents shifting within the box which is often how things get broken. For a more complete list of packing and moving supplies visit Moving and Packing Supplies.
Different Rooms Need Different Boxes For Packing
Each room in the home holds different kinds of items, and has different box needs. Some rooms are similar such as the living room and the family room may hold some of the same things. Let’s go over the different types of rooms, and the general box needs for those rooms.
Kitchen
Kitchens hold some of the most fragile contents of the home and will require a good amount of moving boxes. Dishes, canned goods, and glass cook wear are best packed in small sturdy boxes. Pots and pans are best packed in medium sized boxes as well as small kitchen appliances and pantry items. Large boxes can be utilized for items too large to fit in medium boxes, but it’s best to keep boxes lighter, do not overfill.
Living And Family Room
The living room and family room is typically home to your television and other electronics. It can also hold various decorations, knick knacks and media. You may have books and games in the family room as well. It is strongly recommended that electronics are packed in their original packaging because it is the perfect size for them. If the original boxes are not available, pack electronics in comfortable size boxes with lots of packing material around them. Televisions can be packed in special tv boxes, or wrapped in moving pads for protection. Knick knacks and media can be packed in small boxes and larger decor in medium boxes. Books are best packed in small boxes because of their weight.
Dining Room
Similar to the kitchen, the dining room will typically hold china cabinets with dishes and fragile items. You can opt for premium glass packs which come with cardboard dividers for each glass or you can pack dishes in small boxes with lots of packing material for cushioning. Some taller or wider decor may need to be packed in medium or large boxes. Be generous with your use of packing material with fragile items.
Bathrooms
In the bathroom you will find small to medium supplies and toiletries that can usually be packed in small boxes. Seal anything that may leak or spill in zipper type plastic bags before packing in boxes. Linens, towels, and light weight items can be packed in medium or large boxes.
Bedrooms
For bedrooms you’ll be packing clothes, shoes, and accessories. You can purchase wardrobe boxes which are equipped with a hanger bar to hang clothes directly from your closet. If you opt for cheaper standard boxes, medium boxes work best for clothes. In large boxes clothes become heavy quickly and risk bottoming out. Shoes and accessories can be pack in small and medium boxes accordingly. Light weight linens bed coverings can be packed in large or x-large boxes.
Home office
The office may hold some electronic items, but is also usually where the paperwork and books are kept. Make sure to back up any important files on your computer before moving. If you have a large amount of files consider purchasing file boxes which also come in legal size. If you have a large book collection, book boxes are thicker and sturdier, perfect for moving books. Small moving boxes are also fine for moving books and paperwork, however they can get heavy fast so use some extra tape on these.
Garage and Yard
In the garage and yard you’ll have tools, sports equipment, recreational gear, and holiday decorations. Keep heavy items to the small boxes possible and size up when needed. Remember, try not to make boxes so heavy that they may bottom out. Don’t be afraid to use some extra tape on heavier boxes. Wrap sharp items in packing material and tape before packing for safety. Put anything that may leak or spill in plastic bags before boxing. Take care not to pack anything flammable, dangerous, or poisonous when packing the garage and yard.
How Many Boxes Per Type of Room
One way to estimate how many boxes you need is to consider the types of rooms that you have in your home. When you break down the room types it’s easy to see how many boxes each room may need. Below we will list the most common room types as well as the recommendation on boxes for each room.
| Small | Medium | Large | X-Large | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Living Room | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Dining Room | 12 | 2 | – | – |
| Bedrooms | 5 | 10 | 3 | 1 |
| Bathrooms | 2 | 1 | 1 | – |
| Family Room | 3 | 3 | 1 | – |
| Home Office | 2 | 2 | 1 | – |
| Garage | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
How Many Boxes By Number of Rooms
Another way to estimate how many boxes you will need is by the number of rooms you have in your home. As expected, the more rooms that you are packing, the more boxes you will need. Homes equipped with a dining room, family room, or any other extra living spaces will also consume more moving boxes for packing. In the table below we will break down how many moving boxes you may need per number of bedrooms in the home.
| Small | Medium | Large | X-Large | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 10 | 11 | 4 | 2 |
| 1 Bedroom | 13 | 17 | 7 | 3 |
| 2 Bedrooms | 24 | 25 | 11 | 3 |
| 3 Bedrooms | 37 | 28 | 15 | 3 |
| 4 Bedrooms | 49 | 41 | 18 | 4 |
| 5 Bedrooms | 68 | 68 | 27 | 9 |
How Many Boxes Per Square Footage
You can also estimate how many boxes you will need for your move with the square footage of your home. Homes with more square footage will typically have extra living spaces such as a family room and a dining room or home office. Use the table below to estimate the number of boxes needed based on the square footage of your home.
| Small | Medium | Large | X-Large | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 400 sq ft | 7 | 7 | 2 | 2 |
| 600 sq ft | 10 | 11 | 4 | 2 |
| 800 sq ft | 13 | 17 | 7 | 3 |
| 1000 sq ft | 16 | 21 | 9 | 3 |
| 1,200 sq ft | 24 | 25 | 11 | 3 |
| 1,600 sq ft | 39 | 34 | 16 | 4 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 56 | 57 | 22 | 7 |
| 2,400 sq ft | 68 | 68 | 27 | 9 |
How Much Do Moving Boxes Cost?
When budgeting for a move you may be wondering, “How much do moving boxes cost?”. Although each conpany that you purchase boxes form will have their own set of prices for moving boxes, the prices of boxes are typically comparable. It’s usually cheaper to buy boxes in bulk if possible. Below is a list of average moving box prices by box type:
- Small Box – $1.50 each
- Medium Box – $2.00 each
- Large Box – $2.50 each
- X-Large Box – $3.50 each
- Book Box – $ 2.00 each
- Wardrobe Box – $18.00 each
- T.V. Box – $40.00 each
- Dish and Glass Packs – $15.00 each
- Mirror/Picture Box- $7.00 each
- Sport Utility Box – $8.00 each
- Lamp Box – $6.00 each
Moving Box Price Estimator
Estimate the price of your moving boxes with this moving box price estimator. Input the rooms and specific features of your home to calculate your personal estimated moving box costs and to view the recommendations on boxes for each room.
What Are The Dimensions of Moving Boxes?
Moving boxes come in different shapes and sizes depending on the company that makes them. The sizes in inches may be slightly different between manufacturers but standard moving boxes come in these estimated general sizes; small holds 1.5 cu ft (17”x12”x12”), medium hold 3 cu ft (20”x18”x16”), large holds 4.5 cu ft (27”x16”x18”), and x-large holds 6 cu ft (24”x20”x21”). Specialty boxes also come in different sizes. Wardrobe boxes are generally tall with estimated dimensions of 46” tall and 18” length and width. Kitchen Glass packs for glasses and cups are also taller than standard boxes at 28” tall and 18” wide and long and can hold about 36 glasses.
Where To Get Free Moving Boxes
Looking for sources of free moving boxes for your upcoming move? Look no further! Visit the ultimate guide to finding free moving boxes on our blog page below!
U-Haul 100% Buy Back Guarantee
Buy extra boxes for packing with peace of mind at U-Haul with their 100% buy back guarantee. With your receipt return any unused Moving boxes that you purchase through U-Haul, no questions asked. It’s a hassle to drive back and forth to the store to buy more boxes. Take advantage of the buy back guarantee, buy all the boxes you want and get your money back for any you don’t use.
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