How Many Boxes Do You Need For Your Move?: A Guide

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.