Moving Box Sizes – What to Pack in What Size Boxes When Moving

When packing for a house move, you’ll be boxing up most of your items – moving boxes provide the safest and most convenient way to transport household items from one location to another, so it’s only logical to box up everything that can fit in a box.

Yet, here comes a tricky part – packing boxes come in different sizes and many items fit in more than one size of boxes. Besides, a single box can, of course, hold quite a lot of items.

So, you may be a bit confused about what to put in what boxes: Should you pack small items in small boxes? Is it better to put a single larger item in a medium-size box or to pack several similar larger items in an extra-large box? Can you pack a large box full of books?

Different size moving boxes are suitable for different kinds of items – knowing what to put in each size box will save you time and effort when packing for your move and will minimize the risk of damage to your belongings.

Find out what to pack in what size boxes, so you can make packing easier and more efficient and ensure the safety of your items during the move.

Moving box sizes

There are four standard moving box sizes – small, medium, large, and extra-large:

• Small boxes (1.5 cubic foot boxes) – Small moving boxes measure 16 by 12 by 12 inches and can carry up to 55-60 pounds;
• Medium boxes (3 cubic foot boxes) – Medium-sized moving boxes are usually 18 inches wide, 18 inches long, and 16 inches high. They have a weight capacity of 60 pounds;
• Large boxes (4.5 cubic foot boxes) – The typical large moving box dimensions are 18” x 18” x 24”. These large cartons can safely carry up to 65 pounds;
• Extra-large boxes (6 cubic foot boxes) – Extra-large boxes measure 22 by 22 by 21.5 inches and have a weight capacity of 70 pounds. Some extra-large cartons come in different dimensions (24” x 18” x 24”) and have a slightly bigger storage capacity (6.1 cubic feet) to accommodate objects that don’t fit properly in a standard 6 cubic foot box.

When packing up your home, you’re going to need boxes of all sizes – small cartons for small but heavy objects, medium-sized boxes for miscellaneous items, and large boxes for bulky, lightweight items. In addition to standard size moving boxes, you will most likely need some specialty boxes too:

• Dish packs (18 inches wide, 18 inches long, and 28 inches high) are especially designed to protect fragile items, such as chinaware and glassware;
• Telescopic boxes are assembled in two parts and can be adjusted to fit any size. Also known as picture boxes, these customizable packing containers are perfect for moving large framed items, such as pictures and mirrors;
• Wardrobe boxes are typically 24 inches wide and 24 inches long and can be either 34 inches tall or 48 inches tall to accommodate different types of hanging clothes;
• Extra small boxes (15” x 12” x 10”) are ideal for packing documents, collectibles, and other small valuables (or small but extremely heavy items);
• Tall boxes (12” x 12” x 40”) are meant for tall and irregularly-shaped items like lamps and vases.

Despite the great variety of moving box dimensions, you may have some valuable items (artwork, antiques, musical instruments, specialized equipment, etc.) that don’t fit in any standard packing containers – not even in specialty moving boxes. In such cases, you will need custom-size boxes, specifically built to fit your items.

See also: Types of moving boxes

So, when wondering “What size boxes do I need for moving?”, you need to consider the type of items you have for moving and to find out what size boxes are best suited for what kind of items.

Here is what to put in different size moving boxes in order to achieve maximum safety and efficiency when packing for your move.

What to pack in small moving boxes

Small moving boxes, also known as book boxes for moving, are the most commonly used packing boxes in house moves. They’re very practical and have a number of advantages over larger packing containers:

• Small boxes are less likely to break because they sag less thanks to their smaller dimensions;
• Despite their size, small boxes can carry great weights. They’re strong enough to hold heavy items – tools, books, kitchen items, etc. – without falling apart;
• Smaller packing containers do not become too heavy as they fill up before that can happen;
• Small moving boxes are easy to carry and easy to stack, which makes them convenient to use, reduces the risk of accidents, damages, and injuries during the move, and allows for better optimization of the space in the moving truck;
• Smaller boxes are cheaper than larger ones.

The more stuff you have packed in small moving boxes, the safer and easier your relocation is going to be. So, it is a good idea to put everything that fits in a 1.5 cubic foot box in small moving boxes:

• Books, dictionaries, encyclopedias, magazines, and other reading materials;
• Textbooks, notebooks, sketchbooks, and photo albums;
• Files and binders (if you don’t have specialized file boxes);
• CDs, DVDs, videos, and other records;
• Office supplies (put small items like pens, pencils, and paperclips in sealable plastic bags first);
• Small electronic gadgets and computer parts (be sure to wrap each individual item in bubble wrap);
• Small tools (if you don’t have a toolbox);
• Small kitchen items – eating and cooking utensils, can and bottle openers, measuring cups, mixing bowls, teapots, colanders, graters, etc.;
• Plates, bowls, cups, glasses, vases, and other china items and glass items that are not packed in specialized dish barrels (be sure to wrap each individual item in packing paper and bubble wrap);
• Canned foods and pantry items;
• Toiletries and bathroom items (put liquid and powdered products in sealable plastic bags first);
• Shoes (if you don’t keep their original shoe boxes);
• Small framed pictures and photographs;
• Decorations and knick-knacks.

The list goes on – all your small items, especially heavier ones, should go into small boxes.

Good to remember:

1. Small packing boxes containing heavy items should not be stacked on top of other boxes containing lightweight items or placed on top of upholstered furniture.
2. When packing up your home, you’re going to need about 15 small moving boxes per room.

Now that you know what to pack in small boxes for moving, it’s time to find out what to put in medium-sized boxes.

What to pack in medium moving boxes

Almost as secure as small moving boxes but offering much more packing space than them, medium boxes are the most versatile packing containers used for moving.

They can hold just about anything (several smaller items, a few medium-sized items, or a single larger item) and are very convenient to use (easy to pack, easy to carry, and easy to stack).

The 3 cubic foot moving box is, therefore, your best bet for packing:

• Pots and pans
• Games and toys
• Folded clothes
• Sheet sets
• Lampshades
• Small appliances and electrical devices, such as toasters, coffee makers, blenders, hair dryers, irons, clocks, etc. (unless they can be packed in their original boxes which is always the best option)
• Electronics (if you don’t keep their original boxes)
• All kinds of small items that are not too heavy and don’t need special protection.

Good to remember:

1. Even though medium-sized boxes can safely carry up to 60 pounds, you’re strongly advised to keep their weight under 50 pounds. If the box becomes heavier than 50 pounds but is not yet full, the remaining empty space should be filled with lightweight cushioning materials such as crumpled paper or packing peanuts;
2. When packing for your move, you’re going to need about 10 medium-sized boxes per room.

While small boxes and medium boxes are generally the best size boxes for moving, you can’t do without large packing containers either – they’re indispensable for packing bulkier items.

What to pack in large moving boxes

Large boxes have a great storage capacity and can fit a great number of items. Just because a large moving box has a lot of space, however, doesn’t mean that you should put a lot of things in it – at least not if they’re heavy.

If you pack a large box full of heavy items, their added weight will make the box extremely heavy – the safety limit of 50 pounds will be reached and surpassed very quickly, maybe even before you’ve filled the packing container halfway through. The overloaded large box will be very difficult to lift and carry – and may even break under its own weight. This spells troubles:

• When lifting and carrying a heavy box, you may strain your back or sustain other injuries such as joint dislocations, pinched nerves, pulled muscles, or torn ligaments. Besides, you may drop the weighty box and hurt yourself and/or cause damage to your property, not to mention that the contents of the box will almost certainly get damaged;
• If an overloaded box collapses during the move, it may result in broken items, damaged floors, and personal injuries.

So, you need to be very careful not to make your boxes too heavy – which means that you should avoid packing heavy items in large moving boxes.

Large packing boxes are best used for lightweight items that take up a lot of space:

• Pillows
• Blankets
• Curtains
• Winter clothes
• Large stuffed animals
• Odd shaped items
• Stereo equipment
• Disassembled furniture parts
• All kinds of items that are large in size but light in weight

Light items that are too bulky to fit in a 6 cubic foot moving box – such as duvets, comforters, and quilts – should be packed in extra-large boxes. While the difference in size between the two types of large boxes is quite small, the several extra inches of space in extra-large moving boxes can make a big difference when packing an oversized item.

When packing for moving, you will need about 6 large boxes and 2-3 extra-large boxes per room. (See also: How many boxes do you need for moving)

Good to remember:

No matter the size of the box, it’s crucial that you pack it the right way:

• Reinforce the box with quality packing tape;
• Line the bottom of the box with cushioning materials;
• Place larger and heavier items on the bottom and lighter ones on top;
• Provide enough cushioning between the items in the box to prevent them from coming in contact with one another during the move;
• Fill the box to the brim;
• Do not make the box heavier than 50 pounds, regardless of its weight capacity;
• Fill any remaining empty spaces in the box with cushioning materials;
• Make sure nothing moves inside the box;
• Seal the box tightly;
• Label the box with its contents and any necessary handling instructions.

See also: How to pack boxes when moving

So, what are the best size boxes for moving?

Moving boxes come in different sizes and no size is better than the other – they’re just each more appropriate for a different kind of items. You can use boxes of any and all sizes according to your own packing needs – you just need to know what to put in each size box for packing.

The best box size for an item is determined by the shape, dimensions, and weight of the item. The rule of thumb is that as the size of a moving box increases, the weight of the individual items inside it should decrease.

If you’re still not sure what to pack in what size boxes, though, or if you’d rather not deal with the conundrum at all, you can always hire professional movers and packers to prepare your items for moving. The experts know their job – and they definitely know what size boxes are best for moving and what moving box sizes to use for what items. You can rest assured that your belongings will be packed in the safest and most efficient way possible and will arrive at your new home intact and unscathed. And that’s the end goal, isn’t it?