Where to Buy Moving Boxes in 2024

April 26, 2024

Uncategorized

Moving can be stressful, and the last thing you want to do is take chances with your packing. While moving boxes are built to withstand the weight and stress of heavy items, it can be…

Moving can be stressful, and the last thing you want to do is take chances with your packing. While moving boxes are built to withstand the weight and stress of heavy items, it can be challenging to choose the right place to buy them. Thankfully, you can even get free moving boxes from local stores.

With all these options at your disposal, which is the best option for your relocation? This blog post goes into detail about where you can buy moving boxes to make your packing a breeze.

In this blog post you will learn:

Where to Buy Moving Boxes Online

Online shops have a wider selection of moving boxes than brick-and-mortar stores. They also offer discounts on their products, which lowers the prices compared to physical stores.

However, you have to order the moving boxes a few days before the intended packing day to cater for delivery. This option doesn’t allow you to inspect the boxes, which can be a challenge unless you are sure of what you want.

1. Home Depot

If you are looking for quality and a wide selection of moving boxes, this online home improvement store is the best bet. Whether you are looking for small boxes for your books, mid-sized boxes for toys, or large ones for your furniture, you can never go wrong with Home Depot.

The store provides an online box calculator to help you estimate the number of boxes you need to pack your belongings. For convenience, you can buy the Home Depot Moving Kit, which means you get all the supplies in one package. The supplier offers free same-day or next-day delivery for select moving boxes.

2. Walmart

You can buy standard moving boxes from Walmart and other big stores at a lower cost. However, the variety of specialty boxes in these supermarkets can be limited compared to specialized retailers like U-Line and U-Haul.

Walmart stocks Uboxes, SmoothMove, Bankers Box, Pen+Gear, and UBMove boxes. The company promises to deliver moving boxes within a day, although the maximum period is 2 days.

You can also consider getting free moving boxes by visiting the customer care desk in the evening when they are restocking. This option means you will get what is available, not what you want. So, it is only a good option when you have a budget constraint.

3. Amazon

You can ship moving boxes to any state and even outside the country through Amazon. The good thing is that there are quite a number of options on the platform, including Amazon Basics (the company’s line of products). Buyer reviews come in handy when choosing the moving boxes. The online store has different packs, which you can select depending on your needs.

The only downside with Amazon moving boxes is that the categorization can be misleading. So, you should carefully check the measurement because what they indicate as large could be medium in other stores.

4. Uline

Uline has a variety of high-quality specialty moving boxes. You can also order customized boxes with specific dimensions to ensure they fit your belongings snugly. Of course, this comes at a higher cost compared to standard moving boxes.

Uline has triple-wall boxes, which are quite sturdy. These boxes can withstand heavy loads and provide extra protection for fragile items during transit. However, most Uline products are sold in bundles, and it can be challenging to buy a single moving box of your choice.

5. U-Haul

This company offers a comprehensive list of moving boxes for all your relocation needs. U-Haul stocks specialized wardrobe boxes for clothing transport, sturdy TV moving boxes, and secure packaging for shipping pictures.

They also allow customers to sell or give away moving supplies through U-Haul Box Exchange. You can visit a nearby store to get reusable supplies or go to the website to find out if there are any sellers or donors within your location.

It is essential to note that U-Haul boxes are usually more expensive than general store boxes. However, this comes with the convenience of having all moving supplies under one roof.

Places to Buy Moving Boxes Locally

Local stores and classifieds are good options if you want to confirm the quality and size of the moving boxes before purchase. Buying locally also comes in handy when relocating on short notice and you don’t want to take chances with online stores.

1. Moving Companies

Movers can make your work easier by doing everything from getting supplies, packing, removing clutter, storage, and loading to unloading. Because of their expertise, moving companies can select the suitable sizes of moving boxes for your relocation. When booking a moving company, you can include the boxes as part of the package.

2. Office Supply Stores

Some office supply companies stock moving boxes and packaging materials alongside their regular inventory. Staples and Office Depot are some of the suppliers you can visit to buy moving boxes. The good thing is that you can peruse through their online inventory to know whether what you want is in stock before visiting a physical store.

3. Superstores

Although most megastores have an online presence, you can get the products from the brick-and-mortar option. Renowned stores like Costco, Target, Walmart, Kroger, and Shoprite also stock moving supplies. However, it is challenging to get specialty packages in these stores.

4. Home Improvement Companies

You can buy quality moving boxes from Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Menards physical stores. These companies have quality packaging containers with handles to ease the loading and unloading during relocation. They also have moving kits that help you to get all the moving supplies you need for relocation. This is a good option if you don’t know where to start.

Where Can I Get Free Moving Boxes?

Many stores are willing to give away packing boxes because it helps manage some of their waste. Because the boxes are random in size, it calls for patience to get the right ones for all your moving needs. Besides, you are among close to 9% of the US population that relocates annually and could be looking for the same.

1. Furniture Shops

If you are wondering where you can get large and extra-large moving boxes to pack appliances, you might want to check with furniture shops. The stores usually receive large shipments, and the boxes are sturdy to hold heavy items, including furniture. For example, you can request honeycomb cardboard from IKEA stores to pack utensils and other fragile items.

2. Bike Stores

Boxes from bike stores are ideal for packing items like TVs, bikes, and sporting equipment due to their sturdy construction and ample size. You can check when they are restocking and request the packaging boxes they are disposing of. However, they are not as common compared to the other options.

3. Liquor Stores

Most liquor stores dispose of cardboard boxes and allow customers to take them for free. These boxes are usually strong and come in various sizes, making them suitable for packing items like books, kitchenware, and fragile belongings. You should check for bugs, like mites and cockroaches, before picking these boxes.

4. Family and Friends

If a friend or family member moved recently, you can request to use their moving boxes. The only downside is that most moving cardboards lose their sturdiness after one use. But you can use packing tape to reinforce them.

5. Moving Communities

You can use local Facebook, Nextdoor, Craigslist, or Freecycle communities to get free moving boxes within your neighborhood. If you get an offer that interests you, inbox the poster and make arrangements to receive the cardboard boxes. For this option, it is advisable to do your due diligence before meeting a stranger. You can be accompanied by someone else when picking up the boxes to ensure your safety.

Is It Worth It Buying Moving Boxes?

It is worth buying moving boxes because you avoid the hassle of going around asking for boxes and the uncertainty of their quality and availability. Although you can get free ones, they are not necessarily stress-free.

Another advantage of new boxes is that they are sturdy and need no reinforcement to hold the weight of the load. You also don’t want to start your new stay with cockroaches, silverfish, or mites, which can be harbored in used boxes.

New moving boxes also allow you to choose what fits your belongings. On the other hand, you have to figure out what goes where with free moving boxes. This can make the hectic packing process worse.

What Size of Moving Boxes Should I Consider?

If you only have the option of one size, medium moving boxes (18x14x12 inches) are ideal. They are not too large to leave spaces after packing your items or too small to accommodate some of your belongings.

However, you should also consider small and large-sized packing cardboards to ensure all the items fit snugly in the boxes. Books, CDs, and some tools require small boxes because they are heavy, and any attempt to stuff them together can result in a load that is too heavy to lift.

On the other hand, pillowcases, clothes, lampshades, and bedding can be packed in larger boxes to maximize space efficiency. That said, it is essential to have a variety of box sizes to accommodate all your belongings.

For items like guitars and pianos, you should get specialty boxes. These cardboards are tailored to the size and shape of the instrument, providing ample protection during transportation. They often come with extra padding and reinforcement to ensure the safety of your valuables.

What Is the Cost of Moving Boxes?

The average cost of moving boxes is $2. This can vary depending on the size and use of the box. Small boxes cost between $1 and $1.50, while medium-sized boxes range between $1.70 and $2.40. Large and extra-large boxes cost a minimum of $2.5.

Specialty boxes are more costly because some require customization to fit your needs. Depending on their size and complexity, you can expect to pay between $10 and $50 for TV, piano, guitar, bike, and other specialty boxes.

Conclusion

Getting the right moving boxes, whether paid or free, is the first step in an efficient relocation. You can buy moving boxes online if you know what you want in terms of sizes and quality. On the other hand, brick-and-mortar stores are a good option if you are relocating for the first time.

Joshua’s Moving Packing & Storage is one of the top moving companies in San Carlos and the neighboring towns. Our experts can help you get all the necessary moving supplies without breaking a sweat. Contact us today and enjoy the transition to a new home or office.