Editorial note: Homefront (defined in the Disclosure below) may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured on our site. This commission does not influence our editors’ opinions or evaluations.
Phinnie Zahareas is a contributing writer for USA TODAY Homefront. She works as a project manager and professional organizer for a moving company in Louisiana. She’s managed dozens of moving jobs — from tiny houses to sprawling office buildings — and aims to make relocations easier for everyone. In addition to her work in the moving industry, she holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of New Orleans. She still lives in New Orleans, where she walks her two spotted dogs along the Mississippi River every evening.
Whether you’re planning a local move or embarking on a cross-country relocation, one thing’s certain: You’ll need to get moving boxes. Depending on the size of your home and the volume of your belongings, you may need more boxes than you expect, and the costs of moving supplies can add up quickly. Some of the more affordable moving companies can provide boxes, but check to be sure.
You can find free packing boxes if you know where to look. Some places to get free cardboard moving boxes are grocery stores and local recycling centers, but these boxes will be used boxes and may not be sturdy anymore. If you want to get brand new boxes, you can go to big-box stores, such as U-Haul and Walmart, or ask for packing materials or services with a full-service mover.
Whether you’re a savvy saver or simply looking to reduce your carbon footprint, there are plenty of cost-effective options for getting moving boxes. Find second-hand boxes by checking out the following options.
Grocery stores often have extra cardboard boxes they’ll give you for free that can be perfect for packing. Visit your local store during less busy hours, such as early morning or late evening, and ask at the customer service area about free boxes from unloaded shipments.
You can expect to find a variety of box sizes from the grocery store, typically used for packaging produce, canned goods and other grocery items. These boxes are generally strong and well-suited for moving. But since they once contained food items, you should check for any damages, odors or stains before taking them home.
Facebook Marketplace is an excellent source for free boxes and other packing materials. Search for listings in your local area by typing “moving boxes” or “packing supplies” in the search bar. Next, browse the available listings and contact sellers to inquire about the boxes’ availability and condition and whether they’re giving them away or selling them at a fair price.
You can expect to find various box types and sizes on Facebook Marketplace, including used moving boxes and sometimes even free packing supplies from people who have recently moved.
Many recycling centers collect and store cardboard boxes, allowing the public to take them for free. To get these boxes, contact your local recycling facility or check its website for information on box availability and pickup policies.
The boxes you can expect to find are typically well-built, clean cardboard boxes used for various packaging purposes.
Bars and liquor stores can be a valuable source of sturdy boxes for your move. To get boxes from these establishments, visit during nonpeak hours like late morning or early afternoon. Ask the staff if they have any spare boxes they’re willing to give away.
These boxes are designed to hold heavy glass bottles and come in various sizes. Small liquor boxes are perfect for packing books.
Neighborhood groups, such as homeowners associations (HOAs), or online community forums such as Nextdoor or Craigslist, can be excellent sources for getting free boxes for your move.
You can request boxes by posting on your local group’s social media pages or online forums and asking if anyone has spare boxes they’re willing to give away or sell at a low cost. These boxes are usually in good condition since they’ll come from people who have recently moved or have extra packaging materials.
The U-Haul Box Exchange is a service provided by U-Haul that facilitates the exchange and freecycle of moving boxes. Customers can list their used U-Haul boxes on the website for others to pick up for free.
To get boxes from the U-Haul Box Exchange, visit its website or check with local U-Haul locations participating in the program. The boxes available on the Box Exchange platform are typically U-Haul-branded and come in various sizes.
If you prefer the reliability of new, quality moving boxes or don’t have time to source free ones, several options are available to purchase moving boxes near you.
U-Haul provides a wide variety of moving boxes and packing supplies, including packing tape, bubble wrap and packing paper. It offers boxes in standard sizes — typically, small, medium and large — that are suitable for general packing purposes. Additionally, U-Haul also provides specialty packing kits for items such as TVs, dishes, glasses, clothing and complete home kits including the “apartment kit” or the “3 to 4 bedroom household kit.”
Here are U-Haul’s box prices:
Lowe’s, the home improvement and hardware store, offers a diverse selection of moving boxes to meet your packing needs. Its inventory includes standard-size small, medium, large and extra-large boxes as well as specialty boxes designed for specific items, such as wardrobe moving boxes. Additionally, Lowe’s sells heavy-duty boxes with extra durability for packing fragile or heavy items and dish boxes to protect kitchenware during your move.
If you’re looking to get boxes from Lowe’s, here are its prices:
Home Depot carries a wide selection of boxes suitable for different packing needs. It offers standard small, medium and large boxes. You can also get specialty boxes for items such as TVs and wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes. Home Depot also provides heavy-duty boxes for packing heavier items and dish boxes with added protection for kitchenware. Each location will have a different selection of boxes available, so it’s best to order the boxes you need ahead of time for pickup at your local store.
Here are Home Depot’s box prices:
The cost of moving boxes can vary based on size, type and purchase location. Small boxes typically start around $1.50, medium at $2.00 and large boxes at $2.50. However, prices for specialty boxes can run much higher, such as $30 to $40 for TV boxes and hundreds of dollars for complete home moving kits.
Retailers may offer discounts when you purchase multiple boxes or package deals, so keep an eye out for these offers.
To calculate how many boxes you’ll need for your move, use this simple per-room formula I use as a worker for a moving company. You need about five to 15 small boxes per room, two to five medium boxes per room, and one to three large boxes per room. Use the higher end of the scale if you have a lot of stuff and the lower end if you have minimal belongings.
For example, if you have a large living room with built-in shelves, many decorative items and several throw blankets, you’ll probably need 15 small, five medium and three large boxes. Repeat the calculation for each room in your home.
Fortunately, you should have many sources for free and affordable moving boxes. You can save money and use recycled materials by researching second-hand box options. However, you may want to purchase new boxes for delicate or fragile items.
If you’re finding the process of packing and moving too stressful or time-consuming, you can hire professional movers to handle it all for you. They’ll load your boxes and furniture onto the truck and transport them to your new home. The best moving companies also offer full-service packages that include sourcing all your boxes and packing your belongings if you don’t want to do it yourself.
Cost information from cited retailers is accurate as of December 2023.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
When selecting a moving company for help relocating across state lines, the first thing to check is whether it’s properly licensed. Then, figure out which movers offer the services you need and the customer support you expect at a price you can afford. We analyzed and reviewed top interstate movers in the U.S. based on…
As a former mover myself, I know how difficult it can be to uproot your life and move to a new home. If you want to reduce the stress with your next move, professional moving assistance is available for a variety of move types. We’ve ranked International Van Lines as the best mover due to…
Whether planning a move across town or hiring cross-country movers, we recommend tipping your professional movers for their hard work. While it’s customary to tip for most services in the United States, tipping etiquette across industries isn’t consistent. Technically, tipping isn’t required, and how much to tip your movers is at your discretion, but reliable…
TEST Our editorial team is committed to creating independent and objective content focused on helping our readers make informed decisions. To help support these efforts we receive compensation from companies that advertise with us.
The compensation we receive from these companies may impact how and where products appear on this site. This compensation does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides within our content. We do not include all companies, products or offers that may be available.