Before we jump right in, there is one important thing to mention when choosing where to get boxes.
If you’re moving locally (30 miles or so), most boxes will serve you just fine the freer the better.
However, if you’re moving out of state, you’ll want to be a little more careful when searching for boxes. Loose packing is the cause items get damaged during a move, and boxes play a big role.
If you use boxes that are made of weak cardboard or use different dimentions boxes, it can make packing everything tightly a challenge.
How much boxes cost?
Small boxes: $1 to $1.70 each
Medium boxes: $2.35 to $2.79 each
Large boxes: $3 each
Extra large: $3.75 each
Wardrove boxes: $8 each to $12 each
picture boxes: $10 each
A moving kit for a one-bedroom apartment runs $69-$90 and includes anywhere from 14 to 29 boxes.
A moving kit for a two-bedroom house runs $178-$197 and contains 55-60 packing boxes.
And a moving kit for a four-bedroom house runs $311-$404 and contains 86-119 boxes. (All kits also contain other supplies like packing tape, bubble wrap and markers.)
As you can see buying new boxes can be expensive, that's why we sharing this information to help you save money. Below, we’ve listed places to find free boxes near you to ensure your move is as cost-efficient as possible.
Next door.
Many people give away free moving boxes on Nextdoor! look for a post and if you don't see one, create your own asking your neighbors if they have extra boxes laying around that they'd like to donate.
Craiglist.
This website has a free section where locals can list items they wish to give away. You can find it under for sale. You can also post your own ad to let people know you're in the market for free boxes and supplies.
Facebook Market Place.
Simply type "free boxes" in the search tab. We recommend to filtering the search by location, so you can find free moving boxes in your local area.
Letgo and Offerup.
An other marketplace app . If you type "free boxes" in the search window, you'll see all the local listings for the boxes.
Liquor Stores.
Ask the manager if you can take some boxes off their hands. Liquor stores receive shipments every week, which can easily be turned into moving boxes. Boxes from liquor stores are partitioned, so they could be good for packing wine glasses and other fragile items.
Book Stores.
bookstores should have plenty of boxes you can use to pack up your knick-knacks, smaller items and (of course) books. You can also be sure that these heavy duty boxes will be anything but flimsy, given how heavy books happen to be.
Grocery Stores.
Both large grocery store chains and small grocers should have plenty of large boxes up for grabs. Next time you are grocery shopping, we recommend letting a manager know that you’re moving soon, and would love to take those extra grocery store boxes off of their hands. They’ll happily let you take the boxes home with you.
Pharmacies.
Similar to the other large retailers, chain pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS receive regular shipments of goods several times a week. You’ve probably noticed those large dumpsters behind the store filled to the brim with flattened boxes. We recommend calling ahead or asking inside the store what would be a good time to get some boxes so it coincides with the next move.
Recycle Locations.
Ever been to a recycling drop-off location? It’s like hitting the moving box jackpot. Most cities have multiple recycling drop-off locations that accept flattened corrugated cardboard. Assuming these boxes are in good enough shape to use again, you’re likely to find multiple moving boxes for your relocation.
Apartment Complexes.
Apartment complexes tend to have a lot of people moving in and out, which makes them a good source to get some free boxes. You can either look for recycling bins on premises (ask for permission first) or ask at the apartment complex office.
Large retail stores
You can be sure that large retailers will have a massive amount of boxes sitting around in the back. After all, they’re called “big-box stores” for a reason. 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, and Best Buy – among others. Also consider dollar stores, shoe stores, sporting goods stores and gigantic home supply stores like IKEA. Pro tip: If you come to the store when the employees are stocking the shelves you can fill your cart with boxes in minutes. Of course, always ask first.
Plastic boxes
Places like U-Haul, Rent a Green Box and Bungo Box are good options if you need to rent some plastic moving boxes.
We also offer Free boxes with a qualify service purcahse. Ask for details
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