How Many Boxes Do You Need to Move

Moving soon?

Use our checklist.

Whether you need to secure internet or find a moving company, our countdown checklist will get you organized and ready to move.

By Jenna Weinerman

Published Jan 16, 2019

Updated Mar 21, 2024

Moving soon? Get organized with our free moving checklist.

This “How Many Boxes Do You Need to Move” post contains references to products from one or more of our partners and Updater may receive compensation when you purchase those products.

It’s time to move! You started hunting for boxes but are stuck wondering just how many boxes do you need to move — and where you can find packing boxes. While there’s no hard and fast rule, you can estimate how many moving boxes you need by looking at your home and its contents. Here’s everything you need to know to make the best estimate before your move.

Boxes by square footage
Boxes by number of rooms
Boxes by home type
Boxes by lifestyle
Sizes of packing boxes
Specialty packing boxes
What packing supplies do I need for my move?
Packing tips

How many packing boxes do I need based on square footage?

The most common and straightforward way to determine how many packing boxes you need is to look at the square footage of your home. A larger home will usually have more items, making square footage an important factor in determining how many packing boxes you’ll need.

400-700 square feet

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

700-1250 square feet

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

1200-1700 square feet

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

1700-2200 square feet

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

How many packing boxes do I need by my number of rooms?

As a general rule of thumb, you’re going to want about 10 small, 8 medium, and 5 large packing boxes per room. This is just an estimate, however, since rooms can drastically vary in size and contents. Here’s a guide for how many packing boxes each room needs on average:

Kitchen

The average American kitchen is 160 square feet. To pack up a kitchen of this size you’ll need:

2-4 small boxes
5-6 medium boxes
4 large boxes
2 extra-large boxes
4-6 dish barrel boxes

Living room

Unless your living room doubles as a library or museum, it should be fairly easy to pack up. You’ll want:

2-4 small boxes
3-4 medium boxes
2-4 large boxes
1-2 extra-large boxes

Dining room

Do you store fine dishes in the dining room? Make sure they’re protected in dish barrel boxes. For the whole room, you should have:

1-2 small packing boxes
1-2 medium boxes
2-4 dish barrel boxes

Master bedroom

Of all the bedrooms, your master will likely require the most boxes. The size of your closet also affects how many boxes you need to move your bedroom, so adjust the number of boxes to fit your clothes. Be prepared with:

1-3 small boxes
5-6 medium boxes
5-8 large boxes
4-6 wardrobe boxes

All other bedrooms

These numbers fluctuate depending on whose room it is. Your teenage daughter, for instance, will likely have more hanging clothes than your three-year-old. In general, you should have:

1-2 small boxes
3-5 medium boxes
3-5 extra-large boxes
2-4 wardrobe boxes

Bathroom

Depending on your bathroom, you may only need:

2-3 small boxes
1 medium packing box

Also remember to purchase moving boxes for anything you’re taking from the basement, attic, laundry room, and garage. You don’t want to rush out last minute for packing boxes to carry your tools and camping supplies.

Family packing: how many boxes do you need

How many packing boxes do I need for my home type?

Bedrooms are the best rooms to count when asking yourself, “how many boxes do I need to move?” They’re common to almost every home and contain both clothes and personal belongings. Packing up a studio apartment will look much different from packing up a four-bedroom house. Here are some guidelines to get you started and a box kit recommendation for each.

Studio apartment

13 small boxes
9-17 medium boxes
5-6 large boxes
2-7 extra-large boxes

Eco-friendly studio box kit from $38

One bedroom home

15-18 small boxes
18-29 medium boxes
10 large boxes
4-9 extra-large boxes

Eco-friendly 1-bedroom box kit from $76

Two bedroom home

35 small boxes
27-38 medium boxes
15 large boxes
6-11 extra-large boxes

Eco-friendly 2-bedroom box kit from $123

Three bedroom home

38 small boxes
36-47 medium boxes
20 large boxes
8-13 extra-large boxes

Eco-friendly 3-bedroom box kit from $161

How many packing boxes do I need for my lifestyle?

To clarify, we aren’t talking mattress-on-the-floor minimalism or pizza boxes-stacked-to-the-ceiling hoarding. But everyone has a threshold for how much stuff they can handle in their home. You might live in a one-bedroom apartment but have a baby and plenty to pack. On the flip side, a couple could live in a 2,000 square foot house and only have minimal belongings.

If you’re a minimalist

You’re a deliberate decorator who only shows off the items you really care about. Your desire to keep things simple and your appliances multifunctional will come in handy as you pack. You’re probably going to need the fewest number of boxes in each category with more medium boxes and fewer wardrobe boxes.

If you’re a packrat

You might be more inclined than others to keep sentimental items like birthday cards and notebooks. Your walls are lined with pictures and every surface is dancing with knick knacks. You’re going to have more belongings than someone less attached to these items, so prepare to be on the higher end of our box estimates, especially with small and wardrobe boxes.

If you’re somewhere in between

If neither one of these sounds like you, don’t worry. There’s a whole sliding scale between the two. Wherever you lie, from hoarder to minimalist, take stock of your belongings and you’ll get a good idea of how many boxes you need to move. Don’t have any fine china but have 50 pairs of shoes? Lower your number of dish barrel boxes and up the number of large packing boxes on your shopping list.

Sizes of Packing Boxes

Though there may be small differences of an inch or two, packing boxes generally come in four primary sizes. If you want to know how many boxes you need to move, you should be aware of the boxes available. These are the most common sizes of packing boxes:

Small packing boxes: 1.5 cubic feet

These little boxes can generally hold about 20 magazines or 6 wine bottles. They’re great for small heavy items like books or all those cleaning supplies.

Medium packing boxes: 1.5-3 cubic feet

For items that require a little more space, medium boxes are the way to go. You’ll likely need the most of these, so prepare to stock up. In general, they can hold 5-15 cans and boxes of non-perishables, making them ideal for packing up your pantry.

Large packing boxes: 2.5-3.5 cubic feet

Large boxes are the perfect sized packing box for moving your shoes and folded clothes. They can typically hold up to 12 pairs of shoes, so if walk-in closets are the pearl of your home, large packing boxes will come in handy.

Extra-large packing boxes: 3.6+ cubic feet

Since they’re the biggest, it’s a good idea to use extra-large packing boxes for your lightest belongings. Awkwardly shaped items such as toys can be sandwiched between a couple of blankets, protecting them on the move. It’s easy to get carried away though, so try your best not to make these boxes too heavy.

Specialty Packing Boxes

Remember that walk-in closet? There are specially-designed boxes made just for your hanging clothes. Are you more of a book collector? There are packing boxes for you, too! They tend to cost more, but it’s worth protecting your clothes, books, and dishes. Here are the most helpful specialty boxes designed to make packing easier:

Book boxes: 1 cubic foot

These are small, strong boxes made just for packing books. They tend to be 12″x12″, so they can hold most sized books, and you don’t have to worry about over packing them.

Dish barrel boxes: 5.25 cubic feet

You can feel safe packing your dishes in these specially made boxes. Their extra-thick walls help to absorb shock and reinforce the sides, keeping your grandmother’s china safe.

Wardrobe boxes: 11-16 cubic feet

Given their elongated shape and the built-in hanging rod, these are the absolute best boxes to move your hanging clothes in. They’re available in 3 different sizes, so be sure to check dimensions before ordering.

What packing supplies do I need for my move?

Packing tape

This is something you really don’t want to run out of when packing boxes. Tape rolls are 54-110 yards long. This sounds like a lot, but if you’re taping the top and bottom of every box, you’ll quickly fly through it. To be safe, have one roll of tape for every 30-60 boxes — and always splurge for the dispenser. Trust us, it’ll be worth it.

Paper and bubble wrap

Do you have two sets of dishes and a bar’s worth of glassware? If so, you’ll want 14 lbs of paper and 80 feet of bubble wrap to protect your breakables. At a minimum, we recommend purchasing 3 lbs of packing paper and 20 feet of bubble wrap.

Markers

For easy labeling, markers are a must. Luckily, they’re useful for more than just moving day, so you can never really have too many. For packing, however, be sure to have 1-4 markers on hand. This is especially important if your friends and family help you pack. Passing the marker back and forth is fun, but having your own is better.

Labels

Make sure you have at least one label for each box. We recommend using two, that way you have more than one side covered when it comes time to unload. Want to get the most out of your labeling? Choose colored labels and use a different one for each room. This way, you won’t waste time reading the labels until you’re unpacking each box.

Packing Tips

Downsize first

Moving is easier when you have fewer things, so donate your clothes and hold a garage sale to offload anything that you don’t need. Uncover a shirt you haven’t seen in years? Chances are you won’t miss it — pass the shirt along to someone who’ll get good use out of it.

Prepare to pack tricky items

Knowing how to successfully pack your jewelry and safely transport your fragile items will save you time and frustration before you move. When it comes time to move the electronics, take pictures of all cords before unplugging them, and use plastic baggies to keep them safe.

Always pack an “open first” box

Want the first night in your new home to be comfortable? We thought so. Make life easy on yourself and pack an open first box. Pack this box with enough essentials to get you through the first 48 hours in your new home. Make sure to include any important documents not suitable for traveling on the moving truck.

Packing boxes are an essential part of moving. With this guide and a little extra organization, you can answer the question, “how many boxes do I need to move?” in no time. Here’s to having all the boxes you need for a successful move!

Jenna Weinerman

Jenna is Updater’s Head of Marketing and a published ReloTech expert. She’s an endless seeker of knowledge, a lover of craft brews, and a huge Philadelphia sports fan. Follow her on Twitter here.