Where to Get Boxes for Moving: A Complete Overview
There is no beating around the bush: moving house is both expensive and stressful. However, one way to save both time and money is to be savvy about where to get boxes for moving. Whether it is your first house move, or you are a veteran of the trade, this page provides a rundown of places you can find moving boxes, outlining the pros and cons of each.
Where to Get Free Moving Boxes
The best things in life don’t come cheap! However, getting boxes for moving is the anomaly to this mantra. One way to save on your removal costs is to understand where to get free moving boxes. There are myriad ways to do so; including the following:
- Phone a friend. There is nothing more important than camaraderie. Ask any family or friends who have recently moved if theirs are still kicking about. If not, they may be able to impart some wisdom on where to get free boxes for moving.
- Local shops. Stock turnaround in both shops and hospitality venues is fast. Especially in smaller venues, having a bunch of moving boxes knocking around is inconvenient, so you can do them a favour by taking some off their hands. A win-win! 😎
- Recycling centres. Visit your local recycling centre and speak to the attendant or manager about where to get boxes for moving as people will often take their used ones there.
Note! Even for the brave among us who wave of creepy-crawlies no bother, be really careful when selecting moving boxes from a recycling centre. The last thing you want to do is bring unwanted intruders (mites!) to your new home and have to fumigate it immediately. Not the kind of house-warming present anyone deserves!
- Online. Using the internet to find out where to get free boxes for moving seems obvious. However, trawling through endless websites and filtering through the spam is only going to lead to frustration. We therefore recommend going straight to the following sites to start or continue your quest:
- Freecycle. A not-for-profit where registered persons give away all sorts of bits and bobs for free- including moving boxes! There is also a ‘wanted’ section where you can declare what you are looking for.
- Craigslist. A quick search should indicate to you where to get boxes for moving in your local area. Be wary of going too far afield as the money you save will be undone by additional travel costs.
- Gumtree. Another hidden gem for free goods; and once again, moving boxes are often on the menu.
There is no doubt that the above options are a great way to source moving boxes. However, there is always a catch. Here are the pros and cons of getting free moving boxes:
✅ They are free…duh!
✅ Reusing boxes is good for the environment; killing two birds with one stone some might say! As climate change becomes an ever more pressing issue, make sure you read about other ways to complete a sustainable house move.
❌ It can be time consuming to find the right shape, size and quantity you need, especially if trawling though several locations.
❌ Second-hand moving boxes may be damaged, wet or worse still, carry bugs.
Top tip! You may also be able to find moving boxes through the removal company you choose. Just make sure to specify this is a service you are after once you have requested quotes. While this is not always free, it is something to bear in mind nonetheless.
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Where to Buy Moving Boxes
Perhaps the thought of mites in moving boxes was enough to scare you off, or maybe you are pressed for time. Whatever your reasoning, sometimes free methods are not possible, and instead buying moving boxes might be your only option.
If you are in this predicament, given that you will be spending precious money, it is even more important that you are clued up on where to get boxes for moving. A good start is some of the following websites:
Top tip! If you are buying moving boxes, opt for corrugated boxes as they tend to be stronger and more durable.
Below are the pros and cons of choosing to buy moving materials:
✅ You are guaranteed to be able to find all the items you need, in good condition.
✅ It is quick, easy and stress-free.
❌ It costs money– given that moving house is expensive, cutting back on costs where you can is crucial!
❌ It produces unnecessary waste.
Where to Hire Boxes for Moving
Thought you were out of options on where to get boxes for moving? Think again! Another way to get your hands on moving boxes is to hire them. The following websites offer such a service:
Again, organising where to find moving boxes involves careful deliberation of the advantages and disadvantages of each method. For hiring moving boxes, consider the following:
✅ The boxes you are given are usually heavy-duty and made of plastic and so will protect your belongings securely.
✅ There is guaranteed quality control; all moving boxes will be the right shape, size and condition.
✅ It is cheaper than buying them outright.
✅ As boxes are being re-used it is more environmentally conscious than buying them and disposing of them upon completion of your move.
❌ It incurs an expense.
❌ It can take time and organisation to pick them up and return them to the hirer.
Further Information on Moving Boxes
Beyond understanding where to get boxes for moving, there are other tips and tricks you may find useful. We are therefore here to solve any remaining moving boxes related queries you might have.
What size box do you need?
Moving boxes tend to come in three sizes. These are:
- Small (18′ x 18′ x 10′) – ideal for packing items such as books, DVDs, pictures, kitchen items and small appliances up to 20kg.
- Medium (18′ x 18′ x 20′) – best for packing clothes, ornaments and cupboard items.
- Large (18′ x 18′ x 30′) – perfect for packing towels, bedding, cushions and other bulkier objects.
How many boxes do you need?
Of course this depends on the size of your house move. If you are not sure how much stuff you have, use our handy furniture volume calculator to help you out. From here, you will be able to calculate the rough number of boxes you need, before cracking on with finding out where to get boxes for moving.
What type of box should you get?
We touched on this briefly, but there are various kinds of moving boxes available to you. As well as the basic cardboard and plastic boxes, you can also get corrugated boxes, double-wall cardboard boxes and boxes with bubble-wrap. These will provide greater protection for your belongings, so investigate into these if you are moving with any fragile items.
Tip! You can also get moving boxes designed for specific items such as mirrors, TVs and wardrobes. Perhaps most importantly, if you are looking to move a piano, a basic cardboard box simply won’t do!
What Next?
First of all, congratulations! You are now officially experts on how to get boxes for moving. We hope we have shown that there isn’t a single way to get moving boxes, but instead you can find the best option for you, or a combination of a few methods.
However, moving isn’t just about moving boxes: you therefore may find the following articles on Sirelo useful for other aspects of your move:
- Removal Quotes: Get a quote for your move!
- Container Shipping Costs: information and rates for 2020.
- Moving House Checklist: don’t forget a thing 😉.
Good luck with your move!
