How Many Boxes Are Needed for a Move?
If you are planning a move, get used to the idea that at these times your life may become temporarily stressful.
Whether it's making repairs to your home, hiring a moving company, or even, if you have children, leaving them in the care of a trusted person, it can seem like the list of things to do is never ending. But nothing compares to moving house.
Although it may seem like a simple task, correctly estimating the number of boxes you will need for your move can be complicated, and can lead to errors. On the one hand, you don't want to waste money buying too many boxes, but on the other hand, you don't want to waste extra time running back and forth to the store to buy more boxes.
By accurately planning your moving box and packing supply needs, you can make your packing process, and in turn your entire move, much easier.
Estimation of the Boxes Needed for Your Move
The number and size of boxes needed for any move is not a standard for each person. It is unique to each relocation situation, but there are a few ways you can estimate the number of boxes needed.
Moving companies
To get an idea of how many boxes you will need , you can have the moving professionals you have hired visit your home to provide you with an estimate . When it comes to packing, movers are experts - use them as a resource!
Online calculators
Many moving companies offer online calculators that will give you a general estimate of the amount of packing material recommended for your move. They consider things like the number of bedrooms and bathrooms in your home, the number of people in your home, and more. Please note: when using these calculators, many of them may not take into account either the square meters of your home or the usable meters of it.
Packaging Budget
Ultimately, the real key to making an accurate estimate of the number of boxes you need is to calculate the number of rooms or square footage in your home. This will give you the best idea of how much space your clothes, dishes, books etc. are currently taking up. From this, consider how many things you own. Are you a "minimalist", a "collector of things" or something in between?
Box breakdown
When it comes to shopping for boxes, the wide variety of box sizes and types can be overwhelming. We suggest avoiding it by focusing on the basics:
You will need small and medium sized boxes most of the time. A good rule of thumb is to buy more small boxes than medium, and more medium boxes than large or extra large. The small and standard ones are easier to handle, and generally support more weight than a very large one.
Again, since each scenario is unique, please use this general guide to determine how many boxes you will need for the type of home you are moving from.
So how many boxes do I need for a move?
Approximate quantities and estimates. They may vary depending on the type of housing, lifestyle, and final belongings to be moved.
| Housing Type | Small Moving Boxes (40x30x30 cms) | Standard Moving Boxes (55x35x35 cms) | Large Moving Boxes (60x40x40 cms) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study | 5 | 10 | 5 | twenty |
| 1 Room Apartment | 10 | fifteen | 10 | 35 |
| House 2 Rooms | fifteen | 25 | fifteen | Four. Five |
| House 3 Rooms | 30 | 30 | 30 | 90 |
| House 4 Rooms | 30 | fifty | fifty | 130 |
Additional packaging required: Tape and padding
Although moving boxes are the “stars of the show,” you can't forget the packing tape and protective padding! We recommend purchasing one roll of masking tape for every ten boxes.
You will also need packing paper for your fragile items. We suggest that you buy 4 kg of packaging paper for every 20 boxes of dishes you have. This may seem like a lot but this will cover the dishes as well as any other items that may get scratched and need to be wrapped.
To protect fragile objects and fill gaps in boxes and prevent them from moving, we recommend the well-known but no less useful bubble wrap.
Packing Tips and Reminders
- It can be very tempting to cram as much as possible into each box , but don't overload them! When boxes are overfilled, they are not only more susceptible to damage, but they also become too heavy to lift safely. You are much better off moving boxes that are 85% full.
- It seems obvious, but please label each and every box with its contents and the room it is intended for . During a move, it can be easy to forget to do this, but once you start unpacking in your new home, you'll wish you'd taken this extra step. Your future self will thank you!
- Don't forget to pack a travel bag with the essentials for the first night in your new home. You probably won't be able to unpack everything right away, so save yourself the hassle of digging through all the boxes to find your phone charger, toothbrush, or clothes for the next day.
- When you move house, you're not just packing up your "stuff." You're packing up his life! By taking the time to plan for packing, you can ensure that your belongings arrive at your new home safely and securely .
We hope that this guide has been useful for your move.