Moving guide
How many moving boxes do I need?
Short answer: about 10 boxes per room for most moves — fewer if you've decluttered, more if you're a chronic keeper. Below is a room-by-room estimator plus a quick way to figure it out for your specific place.
Quick rule of thumb
Rooms × 10 = boxes. Add 5 per closet, 10 for a kitchen you actually cook in, and 5 for every shelf of books. Round up — running out mid-pack is worse than having two empty totes.
Boxes by home size
Industry averages from professional movers, cross-checked against our own rental data. "Totes" assumes 27-gallon reusable bins — roughly equivalent to a medium moving box.
| Home size | Small | Medium | Large | 27-gal totes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorm room / studio | 0 | 8 | 2 | 8–12 |
| 1 bedroom apartment | 5 | 10 | 5 | 15–20 |
| 2 bedroom apartment | 10 | 15 | 8 | 25–35 |
| 3 bedroom house | 15 | 25 | 12 | 40–55 |
| 4+ bedroom house | 20 | 35 | 18 | 60–80 |
Why most calculators overshoot
Cardboard-box calculators tend to overstate counts because they assume you'll waste space on partially full boxes (books in a "large" so it doesn't tear, kitchen stuff split across three mediums to keep weight down). Reusable totes solve both: every tote is the same size, the same strength, and rated for the same weight. You pack to the lid, stack five high, and stop counting.
How to estimate for your place in 60 seconds
- 1Count rooms, including the kitchen and any room with a closet you'll empty.
- 2Multiply by 10. That's your baseline.
- 3Add 5 per bookshelf, 10 if your kitchen is fully stocked, and 5 per hobby (board games, craft supplies, vinyl).
- 4Round up to the nearest tote pack — 10, 20, or 40.
FAQ
How many boxes do I need for a studio apartment?
Plan for 10–15 boxes total — about 8 medium boxes for clothes, books, and kitchen, plus a couple of large boxes for bedding and bulky items. In totes, that's our 10-Tote Dorm Pack with room to spare.
How many boxes do I need for a 1 bedroom?
A typical 1BR needs 15–20 boxes (or totes). Books and kitchen items go in small/medium boxes, clothes and linens in large. Our 20-Tote Package covers most 1BR moves comfortably.
How many boxes do I need for a 2 bedroom apartment?
Most 2BR apartments need 25–35 boxes. A 20-tote rental works for minimalists; pick the 40-Tote Package if you've lived there more than a year.
How many boxes do I need for a 3 bedroom house?
Budget 40–55 boxes for a 3BR house. Add 5–10 more if you have a finished basement, garage storage, or a home office. Our 40-Tote Package is the right starting point.
Is it cheaper to rent moving boxes or buy cardboard?
For anything bigger than a studio, renting reusable totes is usually cheaper than buying cardboard — and faster, since there's no assembly, no tape, and nothing to break down or recycle after the move.
Skip the math
Reserve a pack and we'll bring the right number.
Underestimated? We'll drop off extras. Overestimated? Pickup is free.