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

FAQs

Does Lowe's or Home Depot have cheaper moving boxes? ›

In terms of price and selection, Home Depot moving boxes are pretty comparable to Lowe's—their most direct competitor.

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.

With shipments coming in every day, you should be able to find just about every kind of box at your local Walmart, Costco, Sam's Club, Home Depot, Office Depot, Target, K-Mart and Best Buy – among others. Also consider dollar stores, shoe stores, sporting goods stores and gigantic home supply stores like IKEA.

"Corrugated moving boxes are impact-resistant but light enough to keep costs low when packed well." Our top pick, UBoxes Pack of 15 Medium Boxes, is affordable, high-quality, and will work for almost every use. While you need to buy tape separately, the boxes come in a pack of 15 and can be used many times.

If you end up buying more than you need, Home Depot has an uncomplicated return policy. Just bring your receipt and unused boxes to any store for a full refund. Every cardboard box from Home Depot is constructed from 100% recycled materials and can be recycled once you've finished moving.

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.

In short, the answer to your question is, “It depends, but more often than not, yes.” Generally, if it will fit in a box, then it is a good idea to put said items in one.

Question 1: What are the most common box sizes? The standard box measures 17 x 12 ⅜ x 12 ⅜. It's also commonly referred to as “the book box” because it was designed to accommodate heavier items like books, albums, records, CDs, hand tools and more.

How many boxes do I need for a move? ›

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.

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.

Don't Overpack

The rule of thumb is that each box should not weigh more than 50 pounds. Even if you've hired movers, remember that you may have to move the boxes yourself, from one room to another, so make sure you're able to lift them.

How to Pack Clothes | The Home Depot - YouTube

They are also convenient if you plan to use them later as storage bins. If not, you can place them somewhere in your new home or get rid of them. For hire, plastic moving boxes are the most appropriate option for moving belongings safely. Since they are reusable, they are environmentally friendly as well.

Storing valuable items: Heavy-duty boxes are the best boxes for long-term storage of valuable items, including small appliances, electronics, kitchenware, book and vinyl collections, and more.

More Tips For Getting Free Moving Boxes

Large megastores like Walmart, Costco, Staples, OfficeMax, Sams Club, Target, Kmart, Home Depot, Lowes etc do not give boxes away for free. They all have strict corporate policies that forbid employees from giving them away and should be avoided.

What is U-Box®? U-Box is a portable moving and storage solution. U-Box containers are perfect if you need extra time with your move or need temporary storage where you are living now or where you are moving to. A U-Box move offers multiple delivery options to suit your needs.

What will movers not pack? ›

Professional movers move the heaviest and largest items first. This usually means large pieces of furniture and heavy appliances. After the heavy items are on the truck, movers will then load the moving boxes and remaining items.

How to Pick the Right Size Box - YouTube

The United States Postal Service offers Priority Mail flat rate shipping in three box sizes: Small: 8 ⅝” x 5 ⅜” x 1 ⅝” Medium: 13 ⅝” x 11 ⅞” x 11” or 11” x 8 ½” x 5 ½” Large: 23 11/16” x 11 ¾” x 12” or 12” 12” x 5 ½”

On the flip side, large boxes are great for packing lighter belongings since you can fit more into them without adding too much weight. Items like towels, pillows, bedding, stuffed animals, and even clothing are ideal for large boxes because they take up a lot of space but don't come with extra heft.

The dimensions of a 3 cubic ft box are 18” x 18” x 18”. This is used as a general all purpose box to pack up most of your items.

18″ x 18″ x 27″ (L x W x H inches) 5 cubic feet.

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.

Can you pick up free boxes at the Post Office? ›

Anyone can go to the post office and pick up these boxes for free. They work on the premise of “if it fits, it ships,” which gives plenty of options to anyone mailing a package and gives some breathing room to those who regularly mail higher-density objects.

Businesses have noticed that many types of cardboard used for packaging have recently become up to four times more expensive. The raw materials needed to make cardboard, such as cellulose, cost up to 60-80% more, which has obvious consequences for the entire eCommerce industry.

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.

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.

There are a number of factors that affect the number of cardboard boxes you'll need to move house successfully. The average number of cardboard boxes needed for a successful house move are around 60.

Dollar General has a lot of small or medium-sized boxes available for you to take for your move. Some stores keep them in a large basket in the back of the building and take them out to the recycling bin whenever it gets full. Contacting the store ahead of time is the best way to go about getting these free boxes.

Free FedEx Express packaging available online

If you're shipping using FedEx Express, packaging is complimentary. We'll ship it to you for free when you order it online. And don't forget you can get flat-rate shipping with FedEx Express packaging.

You can get free moving boxes from Walmart, Target, Costco, and other retail stores. Keep in mind that the boxes might be broken down flat for recycling, but you can easily tape them back together. If you have a recycling dropoff point in your area, this can be a goldmine for moving boxes.

The professionals load the largest and heaviest items first – weighty furniture, bulky appliances, etc. The square pieces (dressers, bookcases, china cabinets, fridges, washers, etc.) are placed in the front of the truck (against the wall closest to the cab) and the longer items (sofas, headboards, mattresses, etc.)

Using garbage bags instead of boxes: Many moving companies will not move items packed in cheap plastic garbage bags. These are awkward to get from place to place (versus boxes, which can be stacked and wheeled on a dolly), and put your belongings at a much greater risk of damage.

Is it better to pack in bags or boxes? ›

Using bags, not boxes.

A shifting load can cause major damage. Always use heavy-duty boxes to keep the load tight!

Cardboard boxes: These are excellent for packing folded clothing. Wardrobe boxes: These are perfect for packing clothes in hangers, so the unpacking process is faster and easier. Suitcases and duffel bags: An excellent alternative to cardboard boxes that can help to pack folded clothes and shoes.

To pack your hanging clothes inside of a trash bag, simply bundle your hangers and clothes together, slip the hanging clothes inside the trash bag while holding onto the hangers, tighten the drawstrings around the hanger hooks, tie and secure with the hooks outside the bag.

For short and easy moves, our experts recommend tried-and-true cardboard moving boxes. They're easy to find, cheap to buy and can be easily recycled. “We tend to use cardboard boxes more than plastics bins, when moving a client,” said Jamie Shaner of Home Solutions of WNY, Inc.

Boxes are more affordable, but provide less protection from pests and moisture. For short-term use, cardboard boxes are perfect. Plastic storage totes are often better for long-term storage because they do not attract insects, they are resistant to water and they are durable.

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.

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.

A Home Depot box shouldn't be an issue to the post office.

U-Haul Heavy-Duty Boxes offer all the same benefits as standard moving boxes, but in a more durable and versatile package. The added durability comes from the double corrugated cardboard design, also known as double-wall construction.

Don't Overpack

The rule of thumb is that each box should not weigh more than 50 pounds. Even if you've hired movers, remember that you may have to move the boxes yourself, from one room to another, so make sure you're able to lift them.

What are standard box sizes? ›

How to Pack a TV | The Home Depot - YouTube

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.

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.

As we mentioned above, combining your own custom packaging with the right USPS service is often more cost-effective than using flat-rate boxes. One such option is taking advantage of cubic pricing. Priority Mail cubic pricing is a more efficient USPS service for shipping small packages that weigh up to 20 pounds.

Choose heavy-duty packaging to help protect delicate items from vigorous shipping conditions. Pack clothing items in plastic or garment bags to help prevent them from potentially getting dirty or wet. If moving, write info on the box to let you know who the clothes belong to, or which room they go to.

The maximum size for most mailpieces is 108 inches in combined length and girth. USPS Retail Ground pieces may measure up to 130 inches in combined length and girth (but will be charged oversized prices). Regardless of the size of the mailpiece, the maximum mailable weight of any mailpiece is 70 pounds.

The unassembled/flat dimensions of one extra-large moving box are 42-1/2" x 42-1/4" x 3/8".

Based on this, we can estimate that somewhere around 47 medium boxes can fit in the trailer maximum.

What should I pack in my heavy duty box? ›

Moving Boxes: Types of Boxes for Your Move | The Home Depot