How Many Moving Boxes Will You Need?

The most popular time to move is during the peak of summer — but, the second most common time, according to census data, is in early fall.

Moving during this time of year allows for mild temperatures and favorable weather in the majority of the country, which is why it's so popular.

If you're gearing up for a move as the temperatures drop, now is the time to start getting everything together. You'll need to hire movers or rent equipment, start researching your new neighborhood and, of course, gather the most important part of a move — boxes.

One tricky question that you'll need to answer is how many moving boxes you'll actually need. We've got the info you need to know.

Size matters

You might not be able to exactly determine how many moving boxes you'll need for your specific move since it can vary so much.

However, using data from Olympia Moving and Storage, NorthStar Moving Company and the Huffington Post, we came up with some pretty good starting guidelines. You can use the starting points here and adjust based on the factors we already mentioned.

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According to the numbers, you'll need the following number of moving boxes:

• Studio apartment: 6 small boxes, 8 medium boxes, 8 large boxes and 5 extra-large boxes for a total of 27 boxes
• 1-bedroom apartment: 7 small boxes, 14 medium boxes, 13 large boxes and 11 extra-large boxes for a total of 45 boxes
• 2-bedroom apartment: 8 small boxes, 17 medium boxes, 16 large boxes and 13 extra-large boxes for a total of 54 boxes

The amount of moving boxes you need will vary based on your own unique situation, but this is a great starting point to avoid drastically over or underestimating your needs.

Why do you need different sizes of moving boxes?

You might be wondering what the need is for so many different sizes of boxes. At first thought, it might seem like you could fit all of your stuff into a smaller number of extra-large boxes. However, moving is not just about getting everything from Point A to Point B — it's about doing it efficiently and safely.

U-Haul has some advice for packing each size of moving box:

• Small boxes: U-Haul suggests items like glassware, small kitchen appliances, canned goods and linens to be packed in a small moving box. The weight of items packed in a small box should not collectively exceed 65 pounds.
• Medium boxes: U-Haul suggests packing away slightly larger and bulkier items, including countertop appliances, bowls, clocks and other similarly-sized items. U-Haul also advises that though medium moving boxes are larger, they should still only contain about 65 pounds worth of your belongings.
• Larger boxes: These have about the same weight capacity as medium boxes, 65 pounds, according to U-Haul. However, much bulkier items can be packed in large moving boxes like lampshades, blankets, pillows and bulky linens. This is also likely the box you'll pack any clothes in.
• Extra-large boxes: These should also not be used to pack excessively heavy items, even though the boxes are quite large. The U-Haul extra-large boxes are 24 inches wide, 18 inches long and 24 inches deep, meaning you can fit even the largest comforters, pillows and seasonal decor items here.

Pro-tip: For hanging clothes, you can purchase specialized "wardrobe boxes" to make moving a breeze.

Anything that cannot go into one of those four types of boxes should be packed away in a specialty moving box. Once your items are packed away in your boxes with bubble wrap or packing peanuts, just tape them up, label them and get ready to move them to your new place!

Cut the clutter before packing

Getting rid of any unnecessary items is a great way to cut down on the number of moving boxes that you'll need.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the average American owns about 300,000 individual items, so you can see how moving would be easier if you get rid of some things first. If you're not one of these people, you may consider purging some things before you move or you'll have to account for packing up all that extra clutter:

• Donate items to Goodwill or other charitable organizations
• Put unwanted things up for sale using apps or websites
• Give furniture or other unwanted possessions to friends or family
• Trash items that are broken or have little donation value

The right type of box is key to a simple move

Moving doesn't have to be complicated. Sure, there are a ton of moving parts involved in pulling off a successful move, but if you prepare the small things ahead of time, you'll be alright.

Figuring out how many moving boxes and what size of box you'll need for your move will make sure that when the day comes to pack all of your belongings away, you're fully prepped and ready. Save yourself time and exhaustion by getting the right number of moving boxes at the very start.

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