When it comes to packing materials, you must consider moving boxes first – they play the most essential role in the packing process, so you need to make sure that you have the right containers for your packing needs.
There are many different types of boxes you can use when packing for a move – cardboard boxes, plastic boxes, large boxes, small boxes, specialty boxes, etc. Choosing the right packing containers for your items is crucial for the safety of your belongings and the efficiency of the packing and loading processes.
Our detailed guide to the different types of moving boxes will help you understand their specifics and pick the best packing containers for your needs.
Moving Box Sizes
Packing boxes come in different sizes and every size is suitable for different kinds of items. Using the right size moving boxes will save you time and effort when packing up your home and will minimize the risk of damage to your belongings.
Small boxes – Also known as book boxes for moving, small moving boxes are typically 16 inches wide, 12 inches long, and 12 inches high. These 1.5 cubic foot cartons are ideal for packing small but heavy items such as books, records, office supplies, decorations, kitchen items, canned goods, hand tools, shoes, and more;
Medium boxes – Medium-sized moving boxes (3 cubic foot cartons) can carry up to 60 pounds. They can hold games and toys, pots and pans, small kitchen appliances and electronic devices, and many other household items;
Large boxes – Large moving boxes have a capacity of 4.5 cubic feet. They should be used for larger (but not very heavy) items like linens, clothing, and lamps;
Extra-large boxes – At 6 cubic feet, extra-large moving boxes are perfect for bulky, lightweight items like pillows, blankets, winter coats, etc.
When packing for a move, you’re going to need packing boxes of various sizes – about 10-15 small cartons, 8-10 medium-sized containers, and 5-7 large ones per room.
Good to remember: As the size and capacity of a moving box increases, the weight of the individual items inside it should decrease (large containers can hold A LOT of things – if these things are heavy, their added weight will be too much for anyone to safely lift and carry). You need to be careful not to make the boxes too heavy (moving containers should not weigh more than 50 pounds) as they may break under their own weight and cause various moving day accidents (broken items, damaged floors, personal injuries, etc.). Overpacking moving boxes is a rookie packing mistake you should be careful to avoid. (See also: Biggest packing mistakes when moving)
How Much do Movers Cost?
Save up to 40% on your upcoming move and get a quote from reputable moving experts.
Cardboard boxes are indispensable in a house move.
Convenient and easily accessible, corrugated cardboard boxes have long been considered the best packing containers for moving. Yet, there are other options as well and some of them may be more suitable for your packing needs than the standard moving boxes.
Cardboard Boxes for Moving
Cardboard boxes have become the symbol of a house move. Ever since their invention in the late 19th century, they have been widely used for packaging, storing, and shipping purses all over the world. Practical and affordable, cardboard boxes provide a fast, safe, and efficient way to pack household items for moving and transport them to the desired destination.
Corrugated cardboard boxes are very strong and can provide good protection to your items during a house move. They’re also very easy to pack, carry, and arrange in the moving truck. Once your relocation is over, you can resell or reuse the boxes that are still in good condition and recycle the ones that can no longer be used (cardboard is biodegradable and recyclable and most cardboard boxes are made of recycled materials themselves, so they’re considered a green packing option).
Cardboard boxes are not only convenient and eco-friendly, but also very cost-effective – brand new boxes cost between $1 and $2.50 (depending on their size) and you can easily find used cardboard boxes for free if you want to further cut down on your packing expenses. (Related: The risks of free moving boxes)
Plastic Boxes for Moving
Plastic moving boxes provide a safe and efficient alternative to cardboard boxes. They are very sturdy and highly durable (plastic bins can hold great weight without breaking and don’t fall apart when fully loaded) and provide excellent protection to the items inside of them (plastic boxes are impervious to moisture and don’t rip, collapse, or crush during transit).
What’s more, plastic containers make loading and unloading safer and easier:
They can be safely and easily stacked on top of each other and don’t slide around – the design of the lid allows a box to fit snugly on top of another and the sturdy plastic material eliminates the danger of the bottom boxes crushing or caving-in under the weight of the above boxes when the bins are stacked;
They are very easy to lift and carry – plastic crates are designed with built-in handles on both sides which makes them convenient to pick up and carry around.
When you rent plastic moving containers for your move, they’re delivered to your home and are picked up from your new address after you’ve finished unpacking. Plastic boxes are very easy to pack as they arrive preassembled and you don’t need to put them together or tape them shut (they have securely locking lids), so they help speed up and simplify the packing process.
Plastic moving boxes may be better suited to your packing needs.
In addition to the above benefits, plastic moving bins provide a green packing solution – they can be reused hundreds of times, so they have a very low impact on the environment and help save natural resource. Similarly to cardboard boxes, plastic boxes are made from 100% recycled materials and can be fully recycled at the end of their life.
Last but not least, plastic bins are also quite affordable – you can rent a box for as little as $1.50 a week and pay a discount rate if you need the crates for a longer period.
Custom Crates for Moving
Custom moving crates are wood crates built to perfectly fit a specific item. They aren’t cheap but they offer the best possible protection to an object during a move.
You may want to use custom crating services when you’re moving delicate or oddly-shaped items of great sentimental or monetary value such as exquisite works of art, sensitive electronic equipment, delicate musical instruments, valuable breakables, antique furniture, family heirlooms, collectors’ items, etc.
Your treasured possessions will be carefully measured and safely contained in well-padded wooden crates specially made for them by knowledgeable moving experts and skilled carpenters.
All these options have their merits. You don’t need to choose one type of packing containers or the other for your move – you can use any or all of them according to your specific packing needs. Remember, the best moving boxes for you are those that will keep your belongings safe and sound during the relocation and will help you pack faster and more easily.
Specialty Moving Boxes
As efficient as they may be, standard moving boxes don’t work well for all types of household items – some of them require more specialized protection or better fit. This is where specialty boxes come into play.
Specialty moving boxes are especially designed to meet the specific needs of different kinds of items:
Wardrobe Boxes
Wardrobe boxes provide the best possible protection to clothes during a move – they’re designed to keep garments safe from dust, dirt, and moisture and free from wrinkles.
Wardrobe boxes can be either stand-up or lay-down:
1) Hanging wardrobe box – Especially designed for hanging clothes, these tall boxes come equipped with metal hanger bars and act like mini closets. You can transfer your hanging clothes directly from your closet into a wardrobe box together with their hangers, so packing into these special-purpose moving containers takes minimum time, requires minimal effort, and offers maximum efficiency (and perfect protection to your garments).
Stand-up wardrobes boxes come in various sizes – small (24” x 24” x 34”), medium (18” x 18” x 46”) and large (24” x 24” x 48”) to better accommodate different types of hanging clothes. Shoes, purses, and other lightweight items can be packed at the bottom of a wardrobe box if some empty space remains under the hanging clothes.
Your moving closet is all ready.
Wardrobe boxes are great for packing expensive garments, delicate clothing, and designer clothes, as they offer ultimate protection against damage and keep garments wrinkle-free and in excellent condition during a move. You may want to consider this type of specialty boxes for shipping drapes and curtains (neatly folded and on hangers) as well, so they don’t crease during shipment.
2) Lay down wardrobe moving box – These boxes resemble large dresser drawers and allow you to pack clothes folded only once.
Good to remember:
Wardrobe boxes cannot withstand great weights, so make sure you don’t over-pack them;
Wardrobe boxes are very safe and convenient, but they’re quite expensive (up to $20 a piece) and take up a lot of space in the moving truck.
Mattresses can be safely packed in mattress bags, but specialized mattress boxes offer better protection and support.
These special-purpose packing containers come in a wide variety of sizes (crib, single, double, twin, queen, and king) to fit all types of mattresses and box springs.
Keep in mind that aside from standard bed mattresses, some waterbeds, futons, and sleep sofas may also require mattress boxes for safe packing and shipping.
Dish packs are heavy-duty moving boxes (typically 18 inches wide, 18 inches long, and 28 inches high), specifically designed to protect fragile items, such as chinaware, glassware, and crystal items, during a move. These specialty boxes are made of sturdy corrugated cardboard and have a double-wall construction, so they offer extra cushioning and security to the breakables inside them.
What’s more, dish barrels can be used together with cell dividers, so each fragile item can be placed individually in a separate compartment within the box for added safety.
Because of their great strength and multi-layer construction, dish barrel boxes are the safest moving cartons available. You’re advised to use them to pack your cups and bowls, dishes and stemware, small antiques and any other small delicate items you have for moving.
Picture boxes are much stronger than standard cardboard boxes and can be adjusted to perfectly fit framed items such as paintings, pictures, and mirrors. They are great for packing small glass table tops as well.
These specialty boxes are telescoping cartons that can be joined together to get a longer fit and accommodate larger frames.
Both dish packs and mirror boxes are very strong and capable of protecting your fragile valuables.
(Telescopic boxes are assembled in two parts so you can customize them to fit any size. Just make sure you use strong filament tape when joining the two sections to secure them together well, so they can handle the additional weight without breaking.)
You can use mirror boxes with special frame protectors to provide extra protection to your fragile artwork and mirrors during transport.
TV moving boxes are especially designed to protect flat-screen TVs during a move. Similarly to picture boxes, they’re very strong and are made of multiple parts, so you can get the perfect fit for your TV. (These specialty boxes can accommodate televisions from 32” to 70” in size.)
File boxes are ideal for packing and moving personal documents, business records, and all other types of important papers. They are double-walled so they can safely hold heavy files and come in the perfect size for keeping letter-size folders – 15″ x 12″ x 10″ (1.0 cu/ft).
File boxes will not only keep your documents safe and well organized during the move, but can also be used to store records and papers in your new home after the relocation is over.
When packing tall and oddly-shaped items like lamps and vases, lamp boxes (12 inches wide, 12 inches long, and 40 inches high) are your best bet – they will provide excellent protection to your cherished possessions and will greatly facilitate your packing task.
Other specialty moving boxes – boxes for musical instruments, boxes for sports equipment, bike boxes, etc. – are also available to meet specific packing needs and ensure the safety of different specialty items, fragile items, sensitive items, uniquely shaped items, expensive items, and/or sentimentally valuable items during the moving process.
It’s up to you to decide which types of moving boxes to use when packing for your move so that all your household items and personal possessions arrive intact and unscathed at your new home. Or, you can simply hire professional packers to prepare your items for moving – the experts will know what type of box is most appropriate for each of your belongings and will pack every item in the safest and most efficient way possible. Congratulations on your smooth and successful relocation!
*At MyMovingReviews we will connect you with a professional moving company. Please note that we may not be affiliated with
and you may be speaking with another licensed provider.
Best movers nearby
We use cookies to optimise your experience.Accept and close or Learn more
Share your thoughts by leaving a comment