Moving Boxes and Packing Supplies Guide
Updated 2026. Based on community recommendations from Reddit, Nextdoor, and mover surveys.
The short version: Hit up liquor stores and grocery stores for sturdy boxes (they throw them out daily). Check your local Buy Nothing group or Craigslist free section for people who just moved. If you need specific sizes or wardrobe boxes, U-Haul and Home Depot sell them for $1 to $4 each. Wardrobe boxes run $10 to $15. A full set for a 2BR costs $50 to $100 if you buy new, or $0 if you source them.
Where to Get Boxes for Nothing
Liquor stores
The best source. Liquor boxes are small, sturdy, have dividers (great for glasses and bottles), and liquor stores get new shipments constantly. Go in the morning and ask when their next delivery is. Most will save boxes for you if you ask a day ahead. The dividers make them perfect for kitchen items.
Grocery stores and big-box retailers
Costco, Trader Joe's, Aldi, and Whole Foods break down hundreds of boxes daily. Banana boxes from grocery stores are sturdy with handles and lids. Ask the stock room, not the cashier. Best times: early morning (before they flatten the overnight shipment boxes) or right after a delivery truck leaves.
Buy Nothing groups and Nextdoor
Post "ISO moving boxes" in your local Buy Nothing group (Facebook) or Nextdoor. People who just moved are desperate to get rid of them. You'll often get a full set within hours. Bonus: these boxes were already used for a move, so they're the right sizes. Just check for damage, moisture, or pest contamination before using.
Craigslist free section
Search "moving boxes" in the free section. In any metro area, there are multiple listings daily from people who just finished unpacking. Act fast because they go quickly. Filter by your neighborhood to avoid driving across town for boxes.
Your office or workplace
Copy paper boxes are uniform, sturdy, and have lids. Ask your office manager or the mailroom. Most offices recycle dozens per week. Amazon boxes from the office shipping area work too, though they vary in size and sturdiness.
Bookstores
Book boxes are the perfect size (small, heavy-duty, won't get too heavy to lift). Independent bookstores and Barnes and Noble both receive regular shipments. Ask if they have any empties. Book boxes are ideal for, well, books. Packing books in large boxes makes them impossibly heavy.
Amazon and FedEx delivery bags
Save the large poly mailer bags from Amazon deliveries (the grey or white plastic bags, typically 19x24" or 24x36"). They are waterproof, lightweight, and perfect for packing soft items: clothes, linens, pillows, towels, stuffed animals. FedEx and UPS padded envelopes work for small fragile items and electronics accessories. Amazon bubble mailers protect small breakables. Ask neighbors on Nextdoor or Buy Nothing groups if they have extras. Most people throw these away daily, so supply is endless and they cost nothing.
Where to Buy Boxes (When Free Isn't Worth the Hassle)
Sometimes paying $50 to $100 for a full set of uniform boxes saves more time than driving to five stores for scrounged ones. Uniform boxes stack better in the truck, which means faster loading and fewer trips.
| Source | Small Box | Medium Box | Large Box | Wardrobe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Depot | $1.50 | $2.50 | $3.50 | $12 |
| Lowe's | $1.50 | $2.50 | $3.50 | $13 |
| U-Haul | $1.50 | $3.00 | $4.00 | $14 |
| Amazon | $1 to $2 | $2 to $3 | $3 to $5 | $10 to $15 |
| U-Haul bundle (2BR) | ~$70 for a complete kit: 10 small, 10 medium, 5 large, tape, paper, markers | |||
How Many Boxes Do You Actually Need?
| Home Size | Small | Medium | Large | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 5 to 10 | 5 to 10 | 2 to 5 | 15 to 25 |
| 1 BR | 10 to 15 | 8 to 12 | 3 to 5 | 20 to 30 |
| 2 BR | 15 to 20 | 10 to 15 | 5 to 8 | 30 to 45 |
| 3 BR | 20 to 30 | 15 to 20 | 8 to 12 | 45 to 60 |
| 4+ BR | 30 to 40 | 20 to 30 | 10 to 15 | 60 to 80+ |
These assume you're packing everything yourself. If your mover handles packing, they bring their own boxes (included in the packing service fee).
Packing Tips That Save Money and Prevent Damage
Heavy items in small boxes. Books, tools, canned goods, records. A large box full of books weighs 70+ lbs and the bottom will blow out. Small boxes keep weight manageable (under 30 lbs).
Light items in large boxes. Pillows, linens, lampshades, stuffed animals. These fill space without adding weight.
Wrap glasses in socks. Each glass goes inside a sock, then into a liquor box divider. No bubble wrap needed, no broken glasses.
Plates go vertical, not flat. Stack plates on their edge like records in a crate, not flat like a stack of pancakes. Vertical plates survive impact better. Wrap each one in packing paper first.
Fill every gap. Boxes that shift internally during transit are how things break. Use crumpled packing paper, t-shirts, or towels to fill air space. The box should feel solid when you shake it.
Label on two sides. Label the top AND one side of each box with the room destination and a brief contents list. When boxes are stacked in the truck, you can only see the sides.
One "open first" box. Pack a clearly marked box with: phone charger, toiletries, medications, change of clothes, paper towels, toilet paper, snacks, trash bags, and a box cutter. This box goes on the truck last and comes off first.
What Not to Put in a Moving Box
Hazardous materials
Paint, propane, cleaning chemicals, gasoline, fireworks. Movers will refuse to load these. Dispose of them before moving day.
Perishable food
Anything from the fridge or freezer. Eat it, give it away, or toss it. Frozen food in a box on a hot truck becomes a mess.
Important documents
Passports, birth certificates, financial records, medications. Carry these with you in your car, not on the truck.
Jewelry and high-value small items
Moving insurance covers by weight ($0.60/lb). Your grandmother's ring weighs nothing and is worth everything. Keep it on you.
Packing Supplies You Actually Need (and What to Skip)
Boxes are half the equation. The supplies below protect your stuff during transit. Some are essential, some are situational, and some are a waste of money.
| Supply | Cost | Verdict | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packing tape (2" wide) | $4 to $8/roll | Essential | Budget 3 to 5 rolls for a 2BR. Use a tape gun, not the roll by hand. Clear or brown, same strength. |
| Packing paper (unprinted newsprint) | $15 to $25 for 25 lbs | Essential | Wraps dishes, glasses, and fragile items. Newspaper works but leaves ink stains on everything. Unprinted paper is worth the $15. |
| Bubble wrap | $15 to $30/roll | Situational | Only for genuinely fragile items: framed art, mirrors, electronics, ceramics. For most kitchen items, packing paper is sufficient and cheaper. |
| Stretch wrap (shrink wrap) | $8 to $15/roll | Essential | Wraps furniture drawers shut, bundles loose items, protects upholstery from dirt and scuffs. One roll handles a 2BR. The single most underrated supply. |
| Furniture pads / moving blankets | $8 to $15 each or included | Essential | Professional movers bring their own. If DIY, buy 6 to 12 from Harbor Freight ($8 each) or rent from U-Haul. Protects wood surfaces and corners. |
| Mattress bag | $5 to $12 | Essential | A $5 plastic bag protects a $1,000+ mattress from dirt, moisture, and tears during transit. No reason to skip this. |
| Markers (thick, dark) | $3 to $5 | Essential | Label every box on two sides. Use different colors per room if you want to be efficient. Black Sharpie is fine. |
| Box cutter / utility knife | $3 to $5 | Essential | For unpacking. Keep one in your car, not buried in a box. |
| Furniture corner protectors | $8 to $15 for 24 | Situational | Foam corners for wood furniture and TVs. Worth it if you have expensive pieces. Movers usually have their own. |
| Dish pack kit (cell dividers) | $10 to $15 | Skip | Overpriced. Use a free liquor store box with dividers already built in. Same protection, zero cost. |
| Wardrobe boxes | $10 to $15 each | Situational | Convenient for suits, dresses, and coats. But you can also leave clothes on hangers, bundle with stretch wrap, and lay flat in the truck. Saves $40 to $60. |
Total Packing Supply Cost by Home Size
Here is what a complete set of packing supplies costs if you buy everything new. You can cut this by 50% or more by getting free boxes and using household items (towels, socks, t-shirts) as padding.
| Home Size | All New Supplies | Free Boxes + Buy Rest | What You Need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $40 to $60 | $15 to $25 | 10 to 15 boxes, 1 roll tape, packing paper, 1 mattress bag |
| 1 BR | $60 to $100 | $25 to $40 | 20 to 30 boxes, 2 rolls tape, packing paper, stretch wrap, mattress bag |
| 2 BR | $100 to $150 | $35 to $60 | 30 to 50 boxes, 3 rolls tape, packing paper, stretch wrap, bubble wrap, mattress bags |
| 3 BR | $150 to $250 | $50 to $80 | 50 to 80 boxes, 4 rolls tape, packing paper, stretch wrap, bubble wrap, moving blankets, mattress bags |
| 4+ BR | $200 to $350 | $70 to $120 | 80 to 120 boxes, 5+ rolls tape, everything above in larger quantities |
Professional full-service packing (movers pack everything for you) adds $300 to $800 depending on home size but includes all materials.
Where to Buy Packing Supplies
Home Depot / Lowe's. Best for buying boxes and tape individually. Packing paper and bubble wrap available but pricier than online. Advantage: you can see the box size before buying.
U-Haul. Sells complete moving kits by home size ($50 to $150) with boxes, tape, paper, and markers included. Convenient one-stop shop. Slightly more expensive per item than Home Depot.
Amazon. Best prices on bulk packing paper, stretch wrap, and tape multi-packs. Ship it to yourself a week before the move. Boxes are competitive but shipping costs can negate savings.
Harbor Freight. Best deal on moving blankets ($8 each vs $15 at U-Haul). Also has cheap stretch wrap and tape. Worth a trip if you have one nearby.
Dollar Tree / dollar stores. Surprisingly good for tape, markers, trash bags, and small boxes. Not great for packing paper or specialty supplies.
Your mover. Most professional movers sell supplies at a markup. Convenient if you forgot something, but 20 to 40% more expensive than buying yourself.