Planning ahead for your move includes a lot of factors: finding a new home, booking movers, and, of course, packing. If you\u2019re wondering, \u201cHow many boxes do I need?\u201d then you\u2019ve come to the right place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the ultimate planners, knowing from the outset how many moving boxes<\/a> the move will require provides some peace of mind. While it\u2019s tough to know an exact number before you start \u2014 many factors go into this \u2014 there are some ballpark estimates based on the size of your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll typically find moving boxes<\/a> in three standard sizes and sometimes four: small, medium, large, and extra large. Extra large boxes are less common, but if you need them, they do exist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Small boxes are great for small items, books (so the box doesn\u2019t end up too heavy), or fragile items like wine bottles. These typically measure around 16″ x 12″ x 12″ and can hold about 60 lbs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Medium boxes are the next size up and measure around 18 x 18″ x 16″. These are a good standard-size box for just about anything, including dishes that need wrapped up, several pairs of shoes, and odds and ends. Medium boxes are bigger than you\u2019d expect, so you might be tempted to overpack them with heavy items, but try to avoid that so the boxes aren\u2019t so heavy that they\u2019ll break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Large boxes are usually anywhere from 18″ x 18″ x 24″ or a little more. Because these boxes are so big, they\u2019re good for packing lighter items (due to the same note as the medium boxes). If you aren\u2019t packing your clothes in suitcases or trash bags, they\u2019re a good candidate for the large box. You can also fit a large portion of your shoe collection in one box (depending on how many pairs you own): A large box can probably fit 12-15 pairs of shoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Should you need extra large boxes, they usually run 24″ x 18″ x 24″ or larger, so you can pack things like pillows and blankets and other light things in there. This is the right size box to pack up all the bedding for your bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you have your answer (or close to it) for the dreaded, \u201cHow many boxes do I need?\u201d next you have to actually get the boxes. As for where to find moving boxes, you have plenty of options. You can score free moving boxes<\/a> from friends or local businesses that don\u2019t need them, or you can buy moving boxes<\/a> directly from moving companies<\/a> or even regular stores. Office supply stores sell eco-friendly packing supplies<\/a>, as do some of your favorite catch-all stores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Obviously, the number of boxes you’ll need will depend on how much stuff you have, but this is a rough guide for what you can expect for a home with an average amount of belongings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Every time I’ve moved, I’ve always ended up needing more boxes than I expected,” said MYMOVE senior writer Joe Supan. “If you end up with more than you need, you can always pay it forward by offering them up for free on Nextdoor or Craigslist.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n The primary thing you have to remember is that there\u2019s no hard and fast rule for how many boxes you need, because it really depends on how much stuff you have. So you can ask yourself, \u201cHow many boxes do I need?\u201d but don\u2019t feel too pressured to have the exact answer. Your best bet is to get a collection of boxes and other moving supplies<\/a> from the store (or free somewhere) and start the packing process<\/a>. If you need more, you can always get more later, but these guidelines will at least give you a starting point.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat do you have?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Types of packing boxes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Small boxes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Medium boxes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Large boxes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Extra large boxes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How many boxes do I need for my home type?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Boxes<\/th> One-bedroom<\/th> Two-bedroom<\/th> Three-bedroom or more<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Small (fits 4.1 shoe boxes)<\/td> 10<\/td> 25<\/td> 30<\/td><\/tr> Medium (fits 9.3 shoe boxes)<\/td> 10<\/td> 35<\/td> 40<\/td><\/tr> Large (fits 13.9 shoe boxes)<\/td> 10<\/td> 15<\/td> 20<\/td><\/tr> Extra large (fits 18.5 shoe boxes)<\/td> 2<\/td> 3<\/td> 4<\/td><\/tr> Total<\/strong><\/td> 32<\/strong><\/td> 78<\/strong><\/td> 94<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The bottom line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
\n