Did you know that most Americans move an average of 11 times in their lifetime? That’s a lot of packing, hauling, and unpacking. If you are planning a move, preparation is vital, and if you’re planning to do the packing yourself, you need to know how many boxes you need. 

There’s nothing worse than getting into a packing groove and discovering that you’re out of boxes or don’t have the right size. We’re here to help with that. Keep reading to learn how many boxes you’ll need and why all boxes are not created equal. 

How Many Boxes Do I Need?

How many boxes you need for a household move depends on things like the size of your home, what possessions you’re moving, how many people live in your home, whether you have valuables or extremely fragile items, and how long you’ve lived there. 

Other things to factor in: how much stuff have you accumulated over the years, and how much of it will you be taking with you? The longer you’ve been in your home, it’s likely that you’ve accumulated a lot more stuff than someone who has only been in a home for a year. 

Declutter your home before you move. Don’t waste time and money buying boxes, packing, and moving items that you’re just going to get rid of once you’re in your new home. 

Once you declutter and take stock of what you have, you can get an idea of how many boxes you need. You can calculate this using the number of rooms or square footage of your home.

If you’re moving from a small apartment, it probably makes sense to figure out how many boxes you need based on the number of rooms you’re packing up. If you live in a larger home, on the other hand, you probably want to calculate based on the square footage. 

Small Homes (less than 1000 square feet)

• Small boxes: 14-17
• Medium boxes: 11-15
• Large boxes: 5-7 
• Extra-large boxes: 3-7

Medium Sized Homes (1000-1500 square feet)

• Small boxes: 23-32
• Medium boxes: 22-31
• Large boxes: 11-16
• Extra-large boxes: 6-10

Medium-Large Sized Homes (1500-2000 square feet)

• Small boxes: 37-42
• Medium boxes: 35-41
• Large boxes: 20-26
• Extra-large boxes: 12-15

Large Homes (2000+ square feet)

• Small boxes: 45-57
• Medium boxes: 43-50
• Large boxes: 18-24
• Extra-large boxes: 13-18

Are All Boxes the Same?

When purchasing boxes, pay attention to what their recommended use is. For smaller, heavier items, such as dishes, you’ll want a sturdier box than what you would need for linens. For mirrors or other flat pictures, specialty boxes are available. 

You can also purchase wardrobe boxes that allow you to leave your clothing on hangers, making packing and unpacking much more efficient. Not all boxes are created equal. Boxes from a moving company are generally going to be sturdier than ones that you receive packages in. 

Let Us Make Your Move a Breeze

Moving can be stressful. If you prepare ahead of time, know what you need, and manage the process, it’s possible to move without getting overwhelmed completely. Let this guide help you determine how many boxes you need so that you can prepare your moving supplies to minimize your packing stress.

When it’s time to make your move, we can help. Whether you’re making a local or long-distance move, our movers can help you at every step of the process. Contact us today for a quote.

The average individual moves more than 11 times in their lives. It’s easy enough when you’re an adult and responsible for only yourself. But when you have kids, telling them “we’re moving,” can be truly difficult.

They may not always understand why the family is moving and having to leave their friends, school, and the neighborhood they know is a source of stress.

But don’t panic. There are ways to tell your kids about an upcoming move without making it seem like a sad event. Here’s how.

Choose the Right Time to Say “We’re Moving”

Your kids will have questions about the move, the reasons behind it, and what they can expect. Make sure you tell them when you have time to answer those questions.

Schedule a family meeting, discuss it after dinner, or find a time where everyone can talk through things thoroughly. Take the time to answer their questions to the best you can and be honest with them.

Stand Your Ground

Your kids might try to convince you to change your mind or to put the move off until a later date. And even if you can, don’t. Stand firm and let them know that the decision is already made.

As the date of the move draws closer, show your excitement about it. Your kids will read your emotions, and if you’re excited, it’s easier for them to feel excited, too.

Explain That Moving Doesn’t Mean Leaving Friends

The biggest concern for most kids is the thought of having to leave their friends behind. While they may not be able to see them as often, there’s no reason your kids should feel that they have to give up their friendships when you move.

Talk with them and generate ideas to help them stay close with the people they care about. Once you move, you can arrange regular playdates and gatherings with old friends to help your kids stay connected.

If you’re moving a further distance, consider coordinating video chats throughout the month to help your kids maintain those long-distance friendships.

Get Them Involved

Show them photos of the new house and ask them to help you with packing up your current home. When your kids feel involved in the move, it can make the experience less stressful.

They feel in control of the situation, even if you’re supervising the process. When kids can help out, they feel like the move is a genuine family effort. Assisting boosts their confidence and allows them to take ownership of the upcoming change.

Explore your new neighborhood before the move. Take a ride past your home and a new community to get them excited about the possibilities. Scope out local parks, community centers, and maybe even a pizza place for family meals. If you are too far from the new neighborhood to take a drive through it, hop online and take a virtual tour. 

Final Thoughts

Telling the kids “we’re moving” is one of the most stressful parts of any move. These tips will make the process easier and help your kids cope with the changes better.When you’re ready to start thinking about moving, contact our team, and schedule an estimate. Our experienced movers will get your stuff to your new home safely and quickly.

Are you prepared for moving day? If you’re not sure, we can help.

Below is a short list of things you need to do before the movers arrive. Whether you’ve never dealt with movers before or you simply need a refresher course, reading this guide will help you prepare.

After all, even in its best-case scenario, moving is a stressful ordeal. Being adequately prepared will significantly improve the experience.

So, to make sure your move goes as smoothly as possible, follow these steps.

Pack For the Next Week

Keep in mind that everything the movers pack up will be hidden in boxes until they arrive at your new home. If this is a long-distance move, they may not arrive until one or more days after you do. When they do come, your packed belongings are still unusable until you get around to sorting through them all.

Since you won’t have access to these items right away, pack the essentials you’ll need for the next week and bring them with you.

Start like you’re packing for vacation. Pack things like clothes, toiletries, medication, as well as any technology and chargers you need. This essentials box will stay with you during the trip.

Make Sleeping Arrangements

Next, prepare sleeping arrangements—you may not have your bed, sheets, pillow, etc. for one or more days. Bring a sleeping bag or air mattress plus bedding. Or book a hotel.

Have a Meal Plan

You don’t know how long it will be before you can use your dishes, silverware, pots, and pans. Decide whether you will be ordering takeout when you arrive or stocking your kitchen with convenience foods and disposable dinnerware. You can also prepare and freeze slow cooker meals to bring with you in the car.

Purge Unnecessary Things

There are probably a lot of things to purge before your move. From unused pet toys to kitchen gadgets, take a close look at all of your belongings and sort through everything.

Now is a good time to pare down your collections of things and eliminate the excess. Go through your closets and take out clothes you don’t wear. Scour the linen closet and purge old towels and linens that you don’t use any more. Sort through the kitchen cabinets and drawers and eliminate things like extra coffee mugs you don’t need and duplicate utensils.

Most of these items can be donated to local charities so that others can put them to use. 

Prepare Appliances

Preparing your appliances goes beyond having the dishwasher emptied and the refrigerator unplugged. Depending on the appliance, special precautions may be required. Make arrangements for an appliance technician to prepare your major appliances to withstand handling during a move or while in storage.

These preparations need to take place before moving day. Consult your professional mover for recommendations on how to accomplish this task.

Stay Out of the Way

Clear a path for the movers. Remove any tripping hazards from the pathways. That includes inside as well as sidewalks and areas outside as well.

Keep yourselves and your vehicles out of the way so they can do their job. Pets should be securely contained or relocated for moving day.

Help the Movers, Help Yourself

When you make things easier for the movers, moving day is easier for you. To reduce the stress of moving day, follow the tips in this guide.Now, read how to find the best moving company for you!

Every year, 40 million people in America move to a new place.

If you’re about to move out of your rental house and not quite sure where to start, the easiest way is to create a detailed to-do list and start ticking items off as soon as you can.

Keep reading as we go through six steps that anyone who’s moving out of a rental house needs to get done!

1. Check for Damage in the House

When you first moved into your rental house, you probably put down a security deposit, which you’ll get back as long as the property is in the same condition as when you moved in.

So, check to determine what needs to be repaired in the house. This way, you can get that done before the landlord comes for a final inspection.

2. Give Your Landlord a Notice That You’re Moving Out

Rental agreements vary, so review your contract to see how much notice you need to give before moving out. 

The sooner you notify your landlord, the better. It will give them time to find a renter to replace you.

3. Book a Moving Company

Research then book a moving company as soon as possible.

Keep in mind that May through August is the busiest season for movers. If you are moving during this window, know that movers will be more in demand, and as a result, fees might be higher than during the off-season of September through April.

4. Change Your Home Address

Changing your address is important to avoid any future issues with mail and even utility services.

Get a change of address form at your local post office or on the USPS website and send it back at least two weeks before you move.

5. Start Cleaning and Packing

Packing and cleaning will probably be the lengthiest task on your to-do list, so start the packing process as early as you can.

Go through your house room to room and decide what to keep, sell, and donate. Then pack and label everything. 

Spend a day or two thoroughly cleaning the place and make sure it looks as good as when you moved in.

6. Conduct a Final Walk-Through 

Your landlord will likely schedule a final walk-through with you, but make one by yourself as well just as a final check. Better safe than sorry!

Moving On

Moving out of a rental house is a lot of work, but if you have a plan and a to-do list, it makes the process more manageable.

In no time, you’ll start an exciting new phase of your life! Send us a message today! Let us help with your move.