Where to get free moving boxes – 10 places to find free moving boxes

If you are moving soon, you are probable thinking, where can I get free moving boxes near me? It’s understandable. Moving can be really expensive so anyway that you can save some money is definitely worth looking into.

Thankfully, there are ways to avoid spending big bucks on moving boxes. Finding free moving supplies near you from various stores, online marketplaces and community groups, could save hundreds of dollars on moving expenses. With the exception of a few specialty boxes designed to fit certain TVs and mirrors, you could potentially move your entire home using free boxes.

How much do moving boxes cost?

• Small moving boxes: $1 to $2.50 each
• Medium moving boxes: $2. to $3.50 each
• Large moving boxes: $3 to $4.50  each
• Extra-large moving boxes: $4 – $6 each
• Wardrobe moving boxes: $10 each to $20 each
• Picture boxes: $5 – $10 each

How many boxes do I need to move?

Deciding how many boxes you will need for your move will always depend on a number of factors. Size of place, how many people are living there and if you are a minimalist or not. For a detailed guide on how many boxes you will need for your move. Check out our post on How many boxes do I need for my move. Below we have come up with a guide on how many boxes you will need based on the square footage of your home.

400-700 square feet

• 7-15 small boxes
• 9-15 medium boxes
• 6 large boxes
• 3 extra-large boxes

Get moving kits delivered to your front door.

700-1250 square feet

• 17-23 small boxes
• 15-22 medium boxes
• 7-11 large boxes
• 4-6 extra-large boxes

Get moving kits delivered to your front door.

1200-1700 square feet

• 32-37 small boxes
• 25-35 medium boxes
• 16-20 large boxes
• 10-12 extra-large boxes

Get moving kits delivered to your front door.

1700-2200 square feet

• 38-42 small boxes
• 36-47 medium boxes
• 21-26 large boxes
• 13-15 extra-large boxes

Get moving kits delivered to your front door.

Where to find free moving boxes – 10 places to find free moving boxes

Craigslist – We couldn’t write about places to pick up free boxes without mentioning Craiglist. This site is amazing for not only being able to pick up all sorts of free stuff but also for you to be able and give away all them items you do not want to move to your new home. If you navigate to the free section of Craigslist you will come across lots of people giving away free moving boxes and packing materials. Typically these boxes have only been used once and when you are done with your move you can them give them away for free on Craigslist too.

Next Door – This is one of our favorite places to pick up free moving boxes. If you haven’t joined NextDoor.com yet you should definitely consider it. NextDoor is like you local neighborhood website. It keeps you up to date on local services, announcements, new businesses and everything else that is going on it your neighborhood. It also has a great classified section where you can buy and sell all sorts of items. In the classified section you will also see a free section where you can pick up free moving boxes and supplies. The great thing is, there are all in your local neighborhood, so you wont have far to travel to pick them up

U Haul Box Exchange – The U Haul Box Exchanged program is a great service offered by U Haul. You simply enter your location and a keyword such as “boxes” and you will be presented with a list of people in your area offering up their old moving supplies. As with all these places that allow you to pick up free boxes for moving. It also benefits the environment by keeping moving supplies out of the landfills

FaceBook Market Place – Facebook market place is great for buying and selling anything that you can think of, but it is also great for finding free moving boxes. Navigate your way to the free section and you will find plenty of people who are offering their old moving boxes for free. The great thing about market place is that you can also pick up anything else you need for packing for free.  Tape, paper, sharpies. You name it there is a good chance you can get it for free here.

Offer Up – Offer Up allows you to instantly connect with local buyers and sellers. What we really like about offer Up is that it offers mobile friendly apps. which makes searching for free moving boxes super easy and it also has user profiles with ratings so you have a better idea of the person you are dealing with.

The Freecycle Network – This is a grassroots & entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving and getting stuff for free in their own Towns. It’s all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Membership is free. And now you can also set up your own, smaller personal Friends Circle for gifting and lending of items with just your friends. A great place to pick up free boxes when moving.

Recycling Drop Off Locations – There may be no better place to get free moving boxes. It’s almost like the free moving boxes honey hole. Pop down to you local recycling center and as long as there are in good condition. You should be able to get as many free moving boxes as you need for your move.

Retail Shops and businesses – Your local stores are great resources for finding free moving boxes. Just ask retailers in your area if they have some boxes you can take off their hands. Many will be very glad to get rid of the boxes they have before they go to the trouble of tearing them up. After all, the worst thing they can say is no.

Apartment Complexes – Apartment complexes are a great resource for finding free moving boxes. Due to their nature, they typically have people constantly moving in and out. You can put a wanted boxes flyer up in your building or ask apartment managers if they have had any moves lately and if so, the old moving boxes may be still onsite and available for you to take.

Geebo – Geebo is similar to Craigslist. It is a classified adds website that covers all of the US. Simply navigate to the free section and you will be sure to find plenty of people in your area giving away their old moving boxes for free.