How Much Do Moving Boxes Cost?

Setting a budget is an important first step with any move. And to do it, you need to know how much you can expect to spend on various necessities—including your moving boxes. How much moving boxes cost you depends on how many boxes you need, what box sizes you’re planning on using, and where you get them from. Below, we’ve broken down some of the basic cost factors to consider, with some of our best advice for saving money when it comes to your boxes.

Here’s How Much Moving Boxes Cost

If you’re like most people then you probably don’t have a cache of boxes stored up and ready to go at all times. That means you’ll have to buy your moving boxes new, which you can do either by heading online or checking out a local home improvement storage, self-storage facility, truck rental company, or moving company. (You can buy moving boxes from shipping stores and the post office too, but they tend to run a little pricier.)

According to the most recent data from CostHelper, here’s what you can expect to spend per cardboard moving box:

Small boxes: $1 to $1.70 each
Medium boxes: $2.35 to $2.79 each
Large boxes: $3 each
Extra-large boxes: $3.75 each
Wardrobe boxes: $8 each to $12 each
Picture boxes: $10 each

To make sure that you don’t overspend on your boxes, use our packing calculator to figure out how many moving boxes you’ll need based on the number of bedrooms in your home, the number of people you’re packing up, your packing style, and your lifestyle.

For one person with a moderate amount of belongings, a studio will require about $97 worth of boxes, a one bedroom home about $124 worth of boxes, and a two bedroom home about $178 worth of boxes.

Be sure to pay attention to weight when selecting your boxes. While moving boxes cost more the more of them you need, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be able to save money by purchasing fewer boxes and filling them up with as much stuff as possible. Moving boxes can hold about 30 to 150 pounds each depending on their size and whether they are single or double walled. If you overstuff a box though, you risk breakage—which isn’t good for your belongings or for whoever is lifting the box.

Do some preliminary research to see who’s offering the best moving box prices online or in your area. In some cases, your most cost-effective option may be to purchase moving box bundles instead of purchasing each box individually, some of which also include additional packing supplies.

Moving Boxes vs. Reusable Bins

If you’re having a tough time reconciling how much moving boxes cost with the fact that you’re probably only going to use them once, then you may want to consider going with reusable plastic bins instead.

While a bit pricier (about $5 to $30 each, depending on size and material), reusable plastic bins have a ton of utility beyond just moving—including garage storage and holiday decoration storage. You can also rent them instead of buying them for a flat rate (learn more about how that works here).

Other Moving Supply Costs

Aside from factoring in how much moving boxes cost into your moving budget, you’ll also need to consider the cost of related packing supplies, including packing paper, air-filled plastic padding, and tape. These costs vary too, of course, but here’s about what you can expect to spend:

Packing paper: $9 to $10 a roll
Packing tape: $2.50 to $4 a roll
Air-filled plastic padding: $2 per 10 feet
Permanent marker for labeling: $1 to $1.50 each

Check out our definitive list of packing supplies to see if there are additional items you’ll want or need to pick up as well, such as cargo straps or a moving dolly. Some of these supplies you may be able to borrow or rent, so look at your options before buying outright.

How To Save Money on Moving Boxes

Paying $1 to $8 per moving box doesn’t seem like a lot, but the total amount can add up fast. Fortunately, there are some ways to cut corners and reduce how much you spend on moving boxes. Here are some ways to do it.

Use boxes you already have

Source free or discounted boxes

Check out Freecycle, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace

Get creative with other household items

Choose your boxes wisely

Price compare

Moving can get pricey, but there are always ways to cut down costs. Plan ahead so that you have plenty of time to figure out what your options are, and with a little bit of research and effort you should have no problem saving money on your moving boxes.