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 our 27-gallon crates, which hold about 1.4 standard moving boxes each (roughly 3.6 cubic feet). Cardboard users should multiply by about 1.5, because cardboard boxes are smaller, come in mixed sizes and some get half-filled.
- A single room or a partial move: 10 crates
- Studio, up to 400 sq ft: 15 crates
- One bedroom, up to 900 sq ft: 20 crates
- Two bedrooms, up to 1,300 sq ft: 30 crates
- Three bedrooms, up to 1,800 sq ft: 40 crates
- Four bedrooms, up to 2,400 sq ft: 50 crates
- Five bedrooms, up to 3,000 sq ft: 60 crates
- Six bedrooms or more: a custom quote
By room
Kitchens take the most: plan on 7 to 10 crates for dishes, glassware, pantry and small appliances. A bedroom is 4 to 7 crates for clothes, linens and personal items, more if the closets are full. Living rooms run 4 to 6 for books, electronics and decor. Bathrooms and laundry are 1 to 2 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. For a move that needs more than 60 crates, the Custom tier gets you a quote sized to the job.
Common questions
How many moving boxes for a 3 bedroom house?
Around 40 crates for a typical three-bedroom home, or 45 to 50 if the closets, garage and attic are full. In cardboard that is closer to 60 to 75 mixed-size boxes.
How many moving boxes for a 2 bedroom apartment?
About 30 crates. A lightly furnished two-bedroom can manage with 20, a packed one needs 40.
What size are moving crates?
Our crates are 27-gallon totes, about 3.6 cubic feet or 1.4 standard moving boxes each. They stack securely with snap-fit lids and roll on the dollies included with every package. Keep each one under 50 pounds and fill dense items like books only about halfway.