Moving can be a costly experience, proper planning and budgeting can save you money on moving boxes. Use strong and durable boxes to transport your belongings safely. Don’t spend extra on new boxes, recycle and obtain them for free. Here are 7 options for obtaining free moving boxes: visit grocery stores, liquor stores, bookstores, office supply stores, check craigslist, Facebook marketplace, and Freecycle.
Office supplies need to be shipped in sturdy boxes, of course. More fragile things like computers or other electronics often arrive with a lot of packing material that ends up getting tossed. So visit stores like OfficeMax and Staples and ask if they have any of the boxes that printer/copier paper are shipped in. Or, find out what days of the week they receive shipments. Paper boxes are perfect for everything from pots and pans to books. They are a great size to ensure that you don’t pack too much heavy stuff in one box. Some of those boxes have a lid already, so you only need minimal tape.
Books are, of course, shipped in boxes of all shapes and sizes. They generally have one thing in common: they’re sturdy and durable because, duh, books are heavy. Most bookstores get a shipment in once or twice a week, so stop at a few in your area to find out what their delivery days are. Then make a plan to go get moving boxes. If you live in a major city, those shipments probably come more regularly and are sizeable.
Ask around at Barnes & Noble, Borders, or whatever store you happen to have nearby to get free cardboard boxes.
Restaurants get things like vegetables, liquor, canned goods, and other such things delivered regularly. Those boxes have to be strong to ensure the fragile contents inside don’t go crashing to the floor, making restaurants a great place to get packing boxes. The liquor boxes that are in abundance at bars are great for many things. Pack plants, last-minute odds and ends, and other things you are taking in your car that don’t require the box to be completely sealed. Usually, the tops have been cut off already. Restaurants will have things like freezer boxes of French fries, produce crates, and dry storage boxes. Keep in mind that boxes may smell like fried food (or food in general). You probably want to avoid using them for bedding, clothes, or other items that could absorb food odors.
Well in advance of your moving day, ask your local grocery stores when their big shipments come in. Let them know you’re looking to get moving boxes. If they’re feeling generous, you’ll hit the jackpot of free used boxes! Banana and apple boxes are particularly useful because they are solid. However, they do have gaps to allow the fruit to breathe. As long as they’re clean (no rotten apples!) they make great moving boxes for your bedding. Or, line them with a trash bag to hold your unwieldy collection of socks.
Most likely you live somewhere near Walgreens, CVS, or Rite Aid. Find out when they receive their biggest shipments and, just like the grocery store, make a plan to stop by. If the manager is feeling generous, they may tell their staff you are looking to get moving boxes so they can save the best ones — and bonus, you can save them the trouble of breaking them down. Simply stack the small boxes into medium boxes, and medium into large, so you can fit more in your car.
When pondering where to get moving boxes for your upcoming trip, you might have thought about going to the liquor store for other reasons… but what about getting some boxes there, too? Wine and liquor boxes are solid, but they usually aren’t very large and often have the tops cut off. If you use them strategically and creatively, they can still be a huge help when it comes to transporting your belongings. The larger cases that six-packs arrive in can also be excellent moving boxes, though not as sturdy as liquor boxes. Be aware that liquor boxes are often held together with staples (which makes them more sturdy than glued boxes), so be careful of rogue staple ends that can be sharp.
Places like Lowes and Home Depot will generally have lots of large boxes — think appliances, tools, cans of paint, etc.– but because of the nature of large stores, sometimes it can be difficult to get to them. It never hurts to inquire though, and if you’re lucky you may just score an awesome spot to get moving boxes. For the sake of ease, you may have better luck at a locally-owned small hardware store where you can befriend the staff — and where the staff are probably happy they don’t have to break down all of those boxes this week.
Craigslist/Freecycle – These online forums are run by the public for the exchange of goods. Often people will post a listing of moving boxes just after they’ve moved into a new home – as long as you’re willing to go pick them up – for free. Craigslist may include people listing cheap boxes, but Freecycle is meant to be completely free.
Social media – Facebook has its Marketplace feature, and many towns and communities have Groups intended to serve as a resource to residents where you could post your need for gently used moving boxes. You never know what you might find!
U-Haul Box Exchange – U-Haul made a free message board for people to find used boxes for free, as well as help connect members of the Armed Services and college students to share storage units, moving trucks, or other moving needs.
Home Goods Stores and Toy Stores – Really, any store that receives large shipments ends up with a lot of cardboard boxes, but home goods stores in particular regularly get boxes for dish sets, glasses, and other fragile items that could come in handy when you’re trying to ensure your precious items don’t break (see
Unpakt’s guide for packing dishes
).
Recycling Centers – Many recycling centers and transfer stations have an area reserved for gently-used boxes, where patrons can drop off or grab boxes as needed. Check yours — just remember that at most centers, rifling through the cardboard bin is discouraged or even prohibited. Talk to the staff to be sure you’re in the clear before you jump in to get boxes.
If you have exhausted your options — or find yourself running short on time because you didn’t plan enough time to pack — you may need to buy some of your moving supplies. Here are a few places you might look:
Your moving company – As part of your moving package, you may be able to get cheap moving boxes through your movers. They have access to a wholesaler, of course, so can sometimes offer you a bundle of various sizes for a deal.
U-Haul – You’ll probably find that the prices at U-Haul are lower than at hardware stores or office supply stores, and sometimes they will have a “free boxes” bin too for grabbing what you can while you’re there. Don’t forget to pick up packing tape while you’re at it!
UPS Store – These are professional shippers, so you’ll be able to find any and all packing materials you might need here – including really big rolls of bubble wrap.
Online – Retailers and discount hubs will have bundles of boxes for significantly less than you’ll find them at most retail locations if you can wait for them to be delivered.
Lowes, Home Depot, etc. – If they aren’t willing to give you free boxes first, you can purchase what you need. They generally stock a wide variety of options and sometimes carry bundles of various sized boxes.
Buying moving boxes seems like it should be cheap — they’re just cardboard, right? But a small-home moving kit from Staples, for example, costs a hefty $319. Granted it has everything you need – from boxes of many sizes to bubble wrap, newsprint, and packing tape – but that’s a significant cost to add to your moving expenses and purchasing all of those packing materials is not very eco-friendly (there are lots of green alternatives out there).
You can of course purchase boxes in smaller packs:
This can be a great way to supplement your free supply or, in a pinch, grab a few more last-minute boxes for those extra items.
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Getting ready to move and need boxes? Are you having flashbacks to all those Amazon boxes you broke down and put in the recycling bin this past year and wishing you’d kept them? Don’t worry, we’ve been there, too.
And if you’ve taken a peek at the recent costs of new moving boxes chances are you’re now looking for ways to find free ones and save yourself some cash. If this rings true, we’re here to help! We’ve gathered a list of the top 20 places you can find free moving boxes to help you get to the next stage of your move.
At the beginning of your search for free moving boxes, it’s easiest to start with the people you know.
Though you might not realize it at first glance, you may have more boxes sitting around than you realize. If you’ve held on to boxes for items like TVs, printers, and gaming consoles, you can reuse those for your move. Don’t overlook items like suitcases and storage bins which you can use to move your belongings from one home to the next as well.
Contacting friends and family should also be one of the first stops on your search for free moving boxes. Send out a text to your group chats or post on one of your social media accounts to grab the attention of those looking to get rid of leftover boxes. Whether your niece just moved into her first apartment or your neighbor received a huge home delivery, you’re bound to know someone with free boxes.
Office buildings handle tons of deliveries on a regular basis, which means lots of leftover boxes. If you’re still working in the office, poke around the next time you head into work and see what you can find. If you work from home, ask your friends who still go into an office if they can ask about extra boxes on your behalf.
If asking the people in your inner circle for free moving boxes hasn’t helped you gather as many boxes as you need, the next step is to ask people in your community.
If you’re currently living in a neighborhood, then there may be an existing neighborhood page that your neighbors use to post about anything from looking for reputable contractors to hiring a babysitter for date night. These sources are also a great place to ask for free boxes.
If you don’t currently live in a community with a dedicated neighborhood page, consider becoming a free member on nextdoor.com. This platform offers a “classifieds” section which allows you to buy, sell, trade, and ask for free items from surrounding community members. As an added bonus, you can also learn loads of other information about your new community and connect with your neighbors.
Chances are, someone in your social media circle has either recently moved or knows someone who has. Post a quick request to your news feed, and you’re likely to have more free boxes than you need in no time at all. Buy Nothing Groups on Facebook are also a great place to ask neighbors if they have boxes to spare.
If your neighbors are holding a yard sale, they’re undoubtedly trying to get rid of excess stuff. As they declutter their home, there’s a good chance your neighbors will have some free boxes you can take off their hands. Drop by the yard sale or give your neighbors a call to see if they’re willing to part with some of their boxes for your upcoming move.
If you are aware of someone that just moved they’ll likely be thrilled to offload their excess boxes. Ask around amongst co-workers, neighbors, family, and friends to find additional moving supplies that you can put to good use. If you do happen to strike gold, make sure you write them a thank you note or email.
Scoping out Craigslist is a must. The first place to look for free moving boxes is the “Free Stuff” section of the site, then “For Sale.” If you don’t see any, try posting under the “Wanted” section. There are plenty of people who use Craigslist to help facilitate their post-move purge — and cardboard boxes are no exception.
When money’s tight, bartering is always a viable option. There are plenty of websites to trade belongings online. If you have any unwanted items that you don’t want to take to your new home or apartment, consider listing them. You may be able to exchange some old books or dishes for free boxes.
Join your community’s Freecycle group to see if anyone can send a few spare boxes your way. It’s completely free to join the group and a great way to connect with other members of your community. Even if you don’t find free moving boxes, Freecycle is still a useful resource as you begin to declutter your home before your move.
Day in and day out, local businesses receive shipments that come in boxes. While they may keep some of those boxes for outbound shipments and other things, many are often recycled. So why not stop in and ask if you can have some?
Not only is the grocery store home to all of your beloved snacks and sweets, but it’s also home to tons of boxes and crates. Find a worker or store manager and ask them to take a look at their storage or recycling room. Since the grocery store receives shipments nearly every day, you should be able to stock up on some free boxes for your move.
Head on over to your local liquor store to grab some of the most durable boxes available (and maybe a bottle of wine to celebrate after you’re settled in while you’re at it). The best part about liquor boxes is that they often come with a lid and handles, making them perfect for protecting small or fragile belongings. Just ask anyone working in the store if you can snag some free boxes. Chances are, the boxes would otherwise end up in recycling.
Large moving boxes can be few and far between if you don’t know where to look. If you’re struggling to find what you need, an auto supply store should be your go-to for larger boxes. Check out one of these stores near you. They’ll usually be happy for you to take their overflow of boxes off their hands.
At stores like Costco, Sam’s Club, and Walmart, virtually everything comes in a box — and large ones at that. You should be able to find free moving boxes at these stores, as the shipments that come through their warehouses are massive. Many stores will reuse delivery boxes to pack your items in at checkout, so save your boxes next time you take a trip to one of these stores. You should be able to build up a pretty decent inventory of free boxes.
If you live in a more rural area, your local orchard is a great place to find wooden crates for moving fragile items that need a bit more support. Crates are super durable, and can even be repurposed as home decor after your move! Country chic, anyone?
Retailers such as office supply stores, bookstores, and hardware stores are also great places to look for free moving boxes. They have a constant stream of cardboard boxes flowing in and out, and many are durable enough to hold the contents of your kitchen cabinets.
Most recycling centers require patrons to break down their cardboard boxes. However, you may be able to salvage a few if you call in advance. You might need to re-tape or re-fold the boxes back up to get them ready for your move, but it never hurts if it means saving a few dollars. To find more free boxes, locate a recycling center near you.
Apartment communities are a great place to search for free boxes. Take a look at the package center or recycling room in your own building or head to another nearby community. The property manager will be able to direct you to their package center or recycling room. Gather all the free boxes you can carry and, of course, say thank you!
Libraries often receive shipments of books, which are heavy. This means any boxes you’re able to procure from the local library will likely be sturdy enough to pack your heavier belongings in safely.
Moving is not only a lot of work but can also be quite costly. However, finding boxes doesn’t have to be a hassle or an added expense. Simply start with the people and places you know best and then expand your search until you have all the boxes you need to get packed up and on the road.
Rather watch than read? Check out our video below to see some of our favorite places to snag free boxes.
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