Moving Boxes You Need for Your Move

We've researched moving boxes from dozens of top providers to determine which boxes are large and reliable enough for your move.

Small boxes
Amazon small moving box
AmazonBasics Moving Boxes
$42.01
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    Pack of 25 small boxes
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    Sizing: 16 x 10 x 10 in.
Medium boxes
Uboxes Moving Boxes
$39.98
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    Pack of 20 medium boxes
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    Sizing: 18 x 14 x 12 in.
Large boxes
Bankers large moving box
Bankers Box Tape-Free Moving Boxes
$56.49
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    Pack of 6 large boxes
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    Sizing: 24 x 18 x 18 in.
Colin Holmes
Jan 13, 2022
bullet3 min read

Packing isn’t always the most enjoyable (or speedy) activity, but if you have the right boxes you can certainly make your job easier and a lot less time consuming. Whether you're hiring full-service movers or you're going full DIY, getting the right boxes for your move is essential. 

To help lighten your load, we’ve gathered a list of the best moving boxes to help you pack everything from clothing to TVs.

Take a look below to learn which boxes are best suited for your upcoming move.


Table of contents
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Essential boxes for your move

It might seem like a no-brainer to stock up on standard moving boxes to prepare for your move, but it’s important to remember that the size of your boxes matters. Small, medium, and large moving boxes each have a purpose. You’ll need an assortment of all three sizes to make sure you have the right box for the job at hand.

For example, even if you don’t have a book collection to rival the Library of Congress, it’s best to divide your books between multiple small boxes so that each individual box doesn’t become too heavy. Large boxes, on the other hand, are a good place to pack big, billowy items like large blankets, throw pillows, or epic Costco teddy bears.

Top 3 essential moving boxes

Box size
Product
Dimensions
Price
Where to buy
Small boxes16 in. x 10 in. x 10 in.$42.01
Medium boxes18 in. x 14 in. x 12 in.$39.98
Large boxes24 in. x 18 in. x 18 in.$56.49

Data as of 2/15/2023.

If you’re planning to move soon, check out our list of the best moving companies.


Specialty boxes you’ll need

Some of your belongings require a bit of special attention when it comes to packing. That’s where our top five specialty moving boxes come in handy.

Product
Learn more
Bankers Box SmoothMove Wardrobe Moving BoxesWardrobe boxes
EcoBox E-2834 Mattress BoxMattress bags and boxes
Cheap Cheap Moving Boxes Picture/Frame Moving BoxesPicture boxes
Uboxes TV Moving BoxTV boxes
Duck Brand Dish KitDish pack boxes


Wardrobe moving boxes

Wardrobe boxes are lifesavers when it comes to packing your clothes. Rather than making you go through the trouble of removing your clothes from their hangers and throwing them in boxes, wardrobe boxes have a metal bar along the top so you can simply hang your clothes in the box like you would hang them in your closet.

Wardrobe Moving Boxes

Not only will this save you a lot of unnecessary folding time during the packing phase, but it’ll save you from having to iron and re-hang all your clothes once you get to your new home, too.

Each box holds approximately two linear feet of clothing, so keep that in mind when trying to decide how many you’ll need.

Our recommendation

Wardrobe moving boxes
Bankers Box SmoothMove Wardrobe Moving Boxes
Bankers Box SmoothMove Wardrobe Moving Boxes
$39.99
pro Pack of three boxes
pro Each box measures 24 in. x 24 in. x 40 in.

Data as of 2/15/2023.


Mattress bags and boxes

mattress bag for moving

Although your bed might not be the first thing that comes to mind when packing and preparing for your move, it’s certainly not something you want to overlook.

Mattress bags and mattress boxes are great options to keep your bed free from the dirt and dust often found in the back of your moving truck. After all, you don’t want to climb into a sullied sleeper after a long day of moving, do you?

Mattress bags are the more affordable of the two options and are good for keeping your bed clean, but mattress boxes often do a better job of protecting your bed from being torn or punctured on the way to your new home.

Our recommendations

Data as of 2/15/2023.


Picture boxes

Picture boxes are a handy way of keeping large framed photos or canvas paintings intact in the back of a bumpy moving van. Simply relying on blankets or newspaper to cushion your pictures can result in cracked glass or punctured canvases.

In addition to using picture boxes, take precautions like wrapping your framed pictures in bubble wrap to add even more protection.

wrapping pictures in bubble wrap

Our recommendations

Product
Price
Where to buy
Picture moving boxCheap Cheap Moving Boxes Picture/Frame Moving Boxes
$31.99
Duck Brand Bubble Wrap
$9.68–$59.49 depending on size

Data as of 2/15/2023.


TV boxes

TV Moving Box

Do you still have the original box to your TV? If so, this is your best bet to protect your TV during your move. For those of us who read Marie Kondo’s book and tidied it out of our lives, there’s still hope.

You can buy specially made TV boxes to ensure nothing happens to your television. The screens on modern TVs are especially vulnerable as random impacts can cause dead pixels, creating a big eyesore on an otherwise beautiful display.

Our recommendations

Data as of 2/15/2023.


Dish pack boxes, dividers, and foam padding

Piling your dishes in a box is a bad idea—and wrapping them in newspaper isn’t much better. To ensure you don’t arrive at your new house with a box full of broken plates, we suggest looking into dish pack boxes, dividers, and foam padding.

boxes for packing dishes

Dish pack boxes, coupled with foam padding, can help reduce the amount of impact on plates and glassware during all stages of your move, not just the van ride to your new home.

Our recommendation

Data as of 2/15/2023.


Recommended resources

Do you have suggestions for any other moving boxes that are worth the extra cost during your move? Let our readers know in the comments below!

Colin Holmes
Written by
Colin Holmes
Colin Holmes is no stranger to moving: he’s done so five times in the last five years, and he’s used his expertise to help over 185,000 readers plan their moves in the last year alone. As a former journalist and documentary interviewer, Colin brings a wealth of research experience to Move.org.