Home Depot Moving Boxes: Prices, Sizes, and More - Moving.com (2023)

FAQs

What size boxes do movers prefer? ›

A 3.0 cubic foot box is the Goldilocks of the moving box world. It can fit almost anything from lamps, kitchen supplies, and even pots and pans. The 3.0 cubic foot box is the most commonly used size box for moving, meaning you should have a lot of these on hand.

Lowes' standard Medium moving box is the same size and cost as Home Depot. However, the website doesn't mention a bulk price. Lowes' Medium Heavy-Duty moving box costs $2.44 each, or four cents cheaper than Home Depot's single box price and 21 cents more than their bulk pricing.

For a two-bedroom apartment, you will need anywhere from 15-20 small boxes, 3-5 medium boxes, 3-5 large boxes, 3-5 wardrobe boxes (they hold about 2 feet of hanging clothes), and 3-5 medium heavy duty dish pack boxes (for fragile items and kitchen items).

Bags also can't be stacked like moving boxes. Stacking boxes properly is a best loading practice for movers, partly because it maximizes space and ensures your items don't bump or fall around in the truck.

The Number of Boxes You Need Based on the Size of Your Home

2-bedroom apartment: 40–60 boxes. 2-bedroom house: 60–80 boxes. 3-bedroom house: 80–100 boxes. 4-bedroom house: 100–120 boxes.

Too heavy of a box can compromise the integrity and stability of the box when carrying it and can cause injury to the movers attempting to lift it. Use small boxes for books, files, or canned goods.

The cheapest way to move is usually to use one of the best moving container companies. It can save you thousands of dollars compared to full-service movers. Surprisingly, moving containers are even more affordable than rental trucks if you're moving coast-to-coast.

What is the cheapest way to pack for a move? ›

Three-bedroom home: Assuming there are four people living here, you'll need to consider packing up three closets' worth of four people's stuff, as well as a living area, kitchen, and miscellaneous rooms. We suggest about 30 small boxes, 40 medium boxes, 20 large boxes, 3 extra large boxes, and 6 wardrobe boxes.

On average it takes approximately 3-5 days to pack a three bedroom home. Keep in mind, this isn't 1-2 hours a night of packing, it's more like dedicating 3-5 days of your life, with sleep and breaks of course!, to packing. In some instances packing is quick and easy.

Pack Decor & Books

Items that are in your home purely for aesthetic purposes are good items to pack first when moving. This might include artwork, decor, books, magazines, and the like. These items are easy to pack first because chances are you won't need them during the move or the weeks preceding it.

Q: When should you start packing to move? A: If possible, start planning your packing strategy six weeks before your move. At first, you'll need to do the prep work, like decluttering, cleaning, and purchasing moving and packing supplies. Then, the last two to three weeks can be used for packing.

People often opt for used moving boxes from friends or local businesses to pack for a move. But buying brand new boxes can save you frustration when you're mid-move. And when those moving trucks roll up, we could all use a little peace of mind.

How many boxes do I need to move based on the amount of rooms? As a general rule of thumb, you're going to want about 10 small, 8 medium, and 5 large packing boxes per room. This is just an estimate, of course, since rooms can vary in size and content fairly drastically.

It is important to know that most moving companies will require that your belongings are packaged safely, within a box. As with most moving questions that you may have, always check with your moving company to see what their requirements are.

Do drawers need to be empty when moving? ›

3. Don't Leave Drawers Full of Belongings. Please empty your desk and dresser drawers before moving day. It's natural to think that your drawers are technically like “boxes” themselves, but moving heavy furniture is hard enough when it's empty, so imagine how much heavier a dresser is when the drawers are full!

1,200 to 2,000 Square Feet:

32-40 small boxes or 25-45 medium boxes. 16-26 large boxes or 10-13 extra-large boxes.

For a one-bedroom apartment, you will need anywhere from 10-15 small boxes, 3-5 medium boxes, 2-3 large boxes, 2-3 wardrobe boxes (they hold about 2 feet of hanging clothes), and 3-5 medium heavy duty dish pack boxes (for fragile items and kitchen items).

How Much to Tip Movers. A good rule of thumb is 15 to 20 percent of the total moving bill for both a typical long-haul or a local move.

Movers may agree to move garbage bags packed with soft, lightweight items that cannot break or cause damage to other items during the relocation (sheets, pillows, blankets, comforters, curtains, tablecloths, towels, inexpensive clothes, stuffed toys, etc.).

— Boxes of books. Many people will fill large boxes with dozens of heavy books, leading too a large package that can easily weigh 50 pounds or more. — Sofas, couches and chairs. Furniture is often fairly light-weight for its size, but it's hard to get a good grip on and may be fragile when lifted from certain angles.

While plastic moving boxes are much better at protecting your valuables from the elements, cardboard is the way to go for fragile and glass items. They're not as easy to dispose of when you're done moving.

Get free moving boxes from Walmart after 10 p.m.

If you can stay up until 10 p.m., visit your local Walmart to grab some moving boxes! Walmart unloads new shipments late at night, leaving empty boxes up for grabs for anyone willing to arrive late.

How Can I Get Free USPS Boxes? You can order free boxes and envelopes online at the USPS store. The Postal Service will even deliver the supplies to your door for free. Most boxes will typically come in packs of 10 or 25, so keep that in mind as you complete your order.

What is the cheapest way to move a couch? ›

If a full-service mover is more than you need, budget truck rental or portable containers may be a cheaper option. While prices can vary, going with a rental truck or portable container typically has lower average moving costs than going with a full-service mover.

On average, movers charge between $25 to $50 per mover, per hour for local moves. So, a two-person team working for four hours will cost a minimum of $200 to $400, just for labor. But keep in mind that other expenses will be incurred as well, like transportation fees, materials and gas.

Small moves can usually be accomplished using a small truck rental, cargo van or trailer attachment. Small truck rentals can typically handle a one to two-bedroom move. Trailer rentals and cargo vans are ideal for studio and college dorm room moves, which typically don't involve large furniture items.

The typical size of a 3 bedroom house plan in the US is close to 2000 sq ft (185 m2). In other countries, a 3 bedroom home can be quite a bit smaller. Typically, the floor plan layout will include a large master bedroom, two smaller bedrooms, and 2 to 2.5 bathrooms.

The Ideal House Size for You

The average 3-bedroom square footage for a home is around 1,300 square feet in the United States. However, the area you are looking to buy a home may have a 3-bedroom square footage average that is higher or lower than the national average.

For a five bedroom house, you will typically need a box count that could look something like this: 40-50 small boxes. 25-35 medium boxes. 15-25 large boxes.

Kitchens take the longest to pack, mostly due to all the breakables and appliances that need to be properly protected. In particular, you want to make sure you pack your glasses and dishes carefully to keep them in one piece.

How do I prepare my house for a Packer? ›

Moving boxes come in a range of sizes from small to extra-large, as well as in specialty sizes designed for specific items. The variety of box sizes you'll need is highly dependent on the type and number of belongings you own. Each box size serves a different purpose and should be used to pack specific types of things.

Regular Slotted Carton (also known as RSC)

This carton box design is the most commonly used and seen in the packaging industry as it is designed for many applications. RSC boxes have the usual four flaps and are generally the same length.

The purple boxes you see in many trees throughout the state are traps set in ash trees to attract and catch the beetles. These traps are set by the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) as part of a national survey for the emerald ash borer.

Regular Slotted Container (RSC)

Domestic support for agriculture that is allowed without limits because it does not distort trade, or at most causes minimal distortion.

Small — Measure around 16" x 12" x 12". These are ideal for packing things like books, CDs and DVDs, and kitchen gadgets. Medium — Measure around 18" x 16" x 18" and are great for things like towels and decorative items. Large — Measure around 18" x 18" x 24.

Is it better to move with storage boxes or cardboard boxes? ›

“Plastic totes keep out water, smoke, critters of any kind – it's an issue that a lot of people deal with – and it's a lot harder for those thing to get into a box with a lid,” said Shaner. But if you're moving during dry days or in a temperate climate, then cardboard boxes are the best option.

15-foot moving truck: two bedrooms or less. 20-foot moving truck: two to three bedrooms. 26-foot moving truck: four+ bedrooms.

26-foot truck

This truck is your answer to moving all your packed boxes and furniture for up to a four-bedroom home. U-Haul even offers similar pricing between the 20 and 26 foot options, so you might be able to get a bunch of extra space for a low premium.

According to Budget, the 26 ft. truck rental can hold up to 12,000 pounds, including 500 medium boxes or one to 15 medium furniture items.