Finding free moving boxes can significantly reduce the cost of your move. Remember that not all boxes are created equal. There are 3 things to consider before going for those free moving boxes.
- ECT Rating (Edge Crush Test Rating) – This is printed on the seal of most boxes and tells the strength of the box. If you have a stack of boxes bouncing down the road you don’t want your boxes collapsing and so getting a quality or tough box is key. A side note: Boxes will lose their structural integrity the more times they are used.
- Tightness of Your Load: If you are moving around the corner this isn’t a deal braker, but boxes that have a similar footprint or in other words stack nicely because they are similar in length and depth can help you pack tighter and this could be the difference of thousands of dollars if you are moving across the country.
- Type of Box: Your time is valuable and so choosing boxes that are not only easy to label with a marker and boxes that have easy flaps to tape shut are important when you have a whole house to pack.
NOW LETS GET STARTED: Here are ten of the best places to get free boxes:
- Grocery Stores: Grocery stores receive shipments regularly and often have sturdy boxes from produce, canned goods, and other products. Ask the store manager or staff if they have any boxes to spare.
- Liquor Stores: Liquor boxes are especially durable and often come with dividers, making them ideal for packing fragile items. Check with your local liquor store for availability. Remember you might get some looks though when you go to move your house and all people see is liquor boxes.
- Bookstores: Bookstores receive many shipments and have strong boxes that are perfect for packing books and other heavy items. Local independent bookstores and large chains like Barnes & Noble can be good sources of strong boxes.
- Retail Stores: Big-box retailers like Walmart, Target, and Costco, as well as smaller retail stores, often have plenty of boxes from their deliveries. Ask a store employee if they have any boxes they can give you. Many stores like Walmart stock late at night or early in the morning and you can talk to someone at the store to see when the best time to grab boxes is.
- Office Supply Stores: Stores like Staples or Office Depot receive large deliveries of paper and office supplies, which means they often have sturdy boxes available.
- Restaurants and Cafés: Foodservice establishments frequently receive shipments of ingredients and supplies in durable boxes. Check with local restaurants, cafés, and fast food chains for their excess boxes.
- Friends & Neighbors: Keep an eye out for any neighbors that have moved recently because they may be wanting to get rid of some boxes. Also if you have any neighbors with toddles or dogs whey might have diaper boxes or Chewy boxes which make for great moving boxes.
- Facebook Marketplace and Community Groups: Online platforms like Facebook Marketplace, local buy/sell groups, and community groups often have people giving away moving boxes for free.
- Hospitals & Medical Centers: Many of these places get large shipments of heavy items. I can personally attest to the quality of Cardinal Health boxes which you can find at a lot of hospitals.
- U-Hauls & Local Moving Companies: Many moving companies and U-Haul’s get used boxes from customers and will give them to you. It never hurts to check with these local businesses and companies.
When collecting free boxes, make sure they are clean, sturdy, and in good condition to ensure the safety of your belongings during the move. Feel free to call us if you are ever interested in free moving boxes and we would love to hook you up if we have some.
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