How Many Boxes Do I Need To Move?
A little planning goes a long way when you’re packing up your home. If you run out of moving boxes halfway, you need to waste time running back to the store. Grab too many, and you end up with a pile of unused cardboard taking up space.
If you’re relocating soon and wondering, “How many boxes do I need to move?,” the answer depends on what you own and how big your place is. Whether you’re leaving a small condo or a four-bedroom home, a realistic estimate helps you plan for the big day.
Read on for a guide to how many boxes for a one-bedroom apartment and beyond, including a room-by-room breakdown.
Which Factors Affect How Many Moving Boxes You Need?
No two moves look exactly alike, and that's why the number of moving boxes you might need varies. Curious about the number of moving boxes for one-bedroom apartments and beyond?
Consider these three factors:
- Your Home’s Size: A studio or a one-bedroom apartment typically needs fewer moving boxes than a two-bedroom unit or a house. The more rooms and square footage you have, the higher your box count.
- How Much Stuff You Own: Two homes with the same layout can require a different number of packing boxes. A minimalist only needs a few boxes, while a person with years of books, art, seasonal decor, and clothing may need a truckload.
- Room Function: A kitchen often requires extra packing materials, including packing paper, bubble wrap, and dish packs, while bedrooms with large closets may benefit from wardrobe boxes for packing clothes.
Estimate Boxes For Moving By Home Size
One of the easiest ways to estimate how many moving boxes you’ll need is to consider the size of your home. Every move’s different, but these ranges are a solid starting point.
Moving Box Estimates By Room
You don't need the same number or type of moving boxes for every room in your home. Some spaces are filled with fragile items that require extra protection, and others are packed with lightweight belongings that fit better in large containers.
Planning room-by-room makes it easier to accurately estimate how many boxes you'll need to pack everything up. Here’s what you should know, including a rough estimate of how many boxes you’d need for a one-bedroom apartment.
Kitchen
Out of all the rooms in your home, your kitchen likely requires the most boxes when packing. Between dishes, glassware, pantry staples, and small appliances, you need a mix of small containers , and sturdy dish packs.
Pro tip: Wrap fragile items in packing paper and bubble wrap, then fill any empty space in the box to prevent items from shifting during transit.
Master Bedroom
The master bedroom often comes in second because of the amount of clothing and personal items it typically contains. Most people use at least five boxes, but you can fill over 10 depending on how much stuff you have. And don’t forget several wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes and large boxes for comforters, pillows, and folded linens.
Pro tip: Furniture like dressers and nightstands usually don't need to be boxed, but everything inside them does, so allocate a small box or two for these items.
Living Room
Living rooms tend to be full of furniture, so you may only need five boxes or fewer for various knicknacks. That number can climb for households with lots of books, games, art, or decorative items. Large moving boxes work well for the lightweight items most often found in these rooms, like throw pillows and lampshades.
Pro tip: Put heavy belongings in small boxes so they're easier to carry.
Bathroom
The bathroom is usually one of the quickest rooms to pack. You might only need a few moving boxes for things like toiletries, cleaning supplies, and towels, which fit neatly into small containers. Wrap fragile items like mirrors with bubble wrap and packing paper.
Pro tip: Check expiration dates and toss anything out of date before you pack.
Dining Room
While your everyday dishes may already be packed with your kitchen items, your fine china, serving platters, glassware, and table linens need to be packed up, too. If you have a large collection, plan to use at least five boxes. (Remember that heavy and fragile items need to go in smaller boxes).
Pro tip: Use sturdy dish packs, packing paper, and bubble wrap to protect delicate pieces, and avoid overloading each box.
6 Tips To Avoid Buying Too Many (or Too Few) Boxes
Before you rush out to buy moving boxes, build a more accurate estimate—and save time and money—with these six simple tips:
- Declutter first: Sort your belongings before you start packing. Donate, toss, or recycle anything you don’t need anymore to reduce the number of boxes you'll use and make unpacking at your new place easier.
- Buy a few extras: Buy enough boxes to have a small cushion beyond your original estimate. Keeping a few extras on hand is more convenient than stopping in the middle of packing to go buy more.
- Pack and label one room at a time: Pick a room, pack it up, label the boxes, then move on to the next. This keeps you organized and helps your movers or helpers put each box in the right spot at your new home.
- Choose the Right Sizes: If you’re wondering, “What size moving boxes do I need?,” heavy items like books belong in small boxes. Put lightweight, bulky belongings in large moving boxes and clothing in wardrobe boxes.
- Don’t Forget Specialty Packing Materials: Fragile and valuable items need more protection than just cardboard. Stock up on bubble wrap, packing paper, and tape before you start so you don't have to pause later on.
- Track Your Progress: Track the number of boxes you're using as you go. This way, you’ll realize when you're getting low and need to grab more.
Hire College HUNKS For Professional Packing Services
There isn't one magic number of moving boxes that works for everyone. Use these estimates as a starting point, then adjust them to fit your belongings and keep a few extra boxes nearby so you're ready for the big day.
College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving makes it easy to skip the guesswork. Our professional team can help with everything from packing to estimating your supplies and loading the moving truck. We also offer full-service moving and junk removal.
Request a free, no obligation quote today and let our team get to work.
FAQ
How Do I Calculate the Number of Boxes I Need To Move?
Start with the size of your home, then adjust your estimate based on how much stuff you own. For example, a two-bedroom house typically requires 60–90 boxes, and that number can go up or down according to how much stuff you own. Remember storage areas like your closet, home office, or attic, along with spaces that require extra packing materials, like the kitchen.
Many people find it helpful to pick up a few extra boxes to avoid making last-minute trips to the store.
How Do I Estimate the Number of Moving Boxes Based On Square Footage?
Your home’s square footage is a helpful starting point for estimating how many moving boxes you'll need. Plan for one box for every 10 square feet of living space. For example, a 600-square-foot apartment might need 60 boxes.
This formula is good for a general estimate, but you may need to adjust the figure based on the amount of belongings you have. Homes with more storage, bulky furniture, or a heavily stocked kitchen often require extra moving boxes and packing supplies.
What’s The Hardest Room To Pack When Moving?
The kitchen’s the most challenging room to pack for most people. Dishes, glassware, cookware, and small appliances require extra protection, and wrapping them up adequately takes more time than things like clothing. Boxing up this room in advance makes moving day less hectic.