PLANNING GUIDE
How many moving boxes do you actually need?
Most people guess low and end up with a last-minute run for more. Use the estimates below, then check them against your own closets.
By home size
These counts assume a typical amount of belongings and standard crates that hold about the same as a medium cardboard box (roughly 2.4 cubic feet). Cardboard users should add about 20 percent, because cardboard comes in mixed sizes and some boxes get half-filled.
- Studio, up to 600 sq ft: 15 crates
- One bedroom, up to 1,000 sq ft: 25 crates
- Two bedrooms, up to 1,500 sq ft: 40 crates
- Three bedrooms, up to 2,000 sq ft: 60 crates
- Four bedrooms, up to 2,500 sq ft: 80 crates
- Five bedrooms, up to 3,000 sq ft: 100 crates
By room
Kitchens take the most: plan on 10 to 15 crates for dishes, glassware, pantry and small appliances. A bedroom is 6 to 10 crates for clothes, linens and personal items, more if the closets are full. Living rooms run 5 to 8 for books, electronics and decor. Bathrooms and laundry are 2 to 3 each. A garage, attic or storage unit can double the total, so walk through those spaces before you decide.
Signs you need more than you think
Full closets and a walk-in pantry. More than two bookcases. A home office with files. Kids under ten. Collections of any kind. If two of these apply, move up one package size.
Use the calculator
The package calculator on our pricing page takes your bedrooms, square footage and how full your home is, and suggests a package. It is a starting guide from real moves, not a promise, so adjust for what you actually plan to pack. You can always add crates by booking a second package if a big move needs more than 100.
Common questions
How many moving boxes for a 3 bedroom house?
Around 60 crates for a typical three-bedroom home, or 70 to 80 if the closets, garage and attic are full. In cardboard that is closer to 75 to 95 mixed-size boxes.
How many moving boxes for a 2 bedroom apartment?
About 40 crates. A lightly furnished two-bedroom can manage with 25, a packed one needs 60.
What size are moving crates?
Our crates are commercial clamshell crates that hold about the same as a medium cardboard moving box, stack securely with attached lids, and roll on the dollies included with every package.