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.

Start with the people you know best

At the beginning of your search for free moving boxes, it’s easiest to start with the people you know.

Look around your house

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.

Ask your friends

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.

Look around your office

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.

Ask for free boxes from your immediate community

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.

Neighborhood pages

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.

Nextdoor.com

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.

Social media

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. 

Yard sales

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.

A neighbor who just moved

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.

When in doubt, check Craigslist

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.

Barter for boxes

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.

Freecycle

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.

Find free boxes at local businesses

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?

Grocery stores

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.

Liquor stores

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.

Auto supply stores

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.

Retail giants

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.

Your local orchard

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?

Miscellaneous retailers

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.

Check other local spaces for free moving boxes

Recycling centers

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 complexes

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

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.