Estimating the number of boxes you need to move home can prove quite difficult. It’s hard to land on an accurate number on first glance at your fully furnished home where stuff is mostly tucked away neatly out of sight. Every home is different with varying amounts of personal items, each of differing shapes and sizes.
We can give estimates that serve as a good starting point for our packing needs. The reality though is that the size of your home, your room, the density of furnishings, and the number of items you own, all play a huge part in the number of boxes you need to move all your stuff.
Size and Volume of Moving Boxes
Large boxes are ideally used for lightweight but large items. This includes things such as pillows, cushions, folded sheets, towels, etc. Making these type of boxes most useful for bedroom items.
Small boxes should be used for heavier, densely packed items such as books, kitchen wares, and tools.
We break this down further in our writeup of what to pack in what size boxes, for full listing of what items are ideal for a particular box size.
For reference let’s look at the size of some common moving boxes, as well as a few of the specialized moving box types:
| U-Haul Moving Box | Dimensions (L x W x H) | Volume | Strength Rating | Weight Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 16-3/8" x 12-5/8" x 12-5/8" | 1.5 cu/ft | ECT-32 | 65lbs |
| Medium | 18 1/8" x 18" x 16" | 3 cu/ft | ECT-32 | 65lbs |
| Large | 18" x 18" x 24" | 4.5 cu/ft | ECT-32 | 65lbs |
| Extra Large | 24" x 18" x 24" | 6 cu/ft | ECT-32 | 65lbs |
| Bakers Box Wardrobe Box | Small | Large |
|---|---|---|
| Item Dimensions H x W x D (in.) | 34.50 x 20.38 x 20.38 | 40.25 x 24.38 x 24.38 |
| Inside Dimensions H x W x D (in.) | 34.00 x 20.00 x 20.00 | 40 x 24 x 24 |
| Volume (cu/ft) | 7.8704 | 13.3333 |
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Estimating the Number of Boxes Needed to Move
- The volume of boxes are listed above to give a better idea of how much space you have to play with
- The total estimated volume given in each table below illustrates the differences in how much packing space is required for a specific size of home
- The approximate total box volume will be based on the U-Haul box dimensions as above
- You’ll need to account for if you have more TV’s, or mirrors/art work in your apartment. The numbers given for these type of boxes is a common average that may vary wildly depending on your own furnishing style
- TV box size based on wide screen TV box dimensions of 73″ x 40″ x 6″
- Mirror box based on dimensions of 30″ x 5″ x 24″
- Estimations assume we’re using a small size wardrobe box with dimensions as listed above
How Many Moving Boxes For a 1 Bedroom Apartment?
| Furnishing | Small | Medium Boxes | Large Boxes | Other Boxes | Approximate Total Box Volume cu/ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparsely Furnished | 10 | 5 | 3 | 1 TV Box 1 Mirror Box 2 Wardrobe Boxes | 79.31 |
| Densely Furnished | 15 | 8 | 4 | 2 TV Box 2 Mirror Box 3 Wardrobe Boxes | 112.51 |
How Many Moving Boxes For a 2 Bedroom Apartment?
| Furnishing | Small | Medium Boxes | Large Boxes | Other Boxes | Approximate Total Box Volume cu/ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparsely Furnished | 11 | 6 | 4 | 2 TV Box 2 Mirror Box 3 Wardrobe Boxes | 100.51 |
| Densely Furnished | 15 | 10 | 5 | 2 TV Box 2 Mirror Box 4 Wardrobe Boxes | 128.68 |
How Many Moving Boxes For a 3 Bedroom House?
| Furnishing | Small | Medium Boxes | Large Boxes | Other Boxes | Approximate Total Box Volume cu/ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparsely Furnished | 15 | 9 | 7 | 3 TV Box 3 Mirror Box 5 Wardrobe Boxes | 156.95 |
| Densely Furnished | 15 | 10 | 9 | 3 TV Box 3 Mirror Box 6 Wardrobe Boxes | 176.82 |
How Many Moving Boxes For a 4 Bedroom House?
| Furnishing | Small | Medium Boxes | Large Boxes | Other Boxes | Approximate Total Box Volume cu/ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparsely Furnished | 15 | 10 | 10 | 4 TV Box 4 Mirror Box 6 Wardrobe Boxes | 193.52 |
| Densely Furnished | 16 | 12 | 10 | 4 TV Box 5 Mirror Box 7 Wardrobe Boxes | 211 |
How Many Moving Boxes Per Room?
You should split up the boxes for each rooms based on their square footage. With a greater number of mirror and TV boxes being designated to the main living areas.
As general rule for a 3 bedroom densely furnished house:
Boxes Per Room For a 3 Bedroom House
Living room: 2 Large Boxes – 3 Medium Boxes – 6 Small Boxes – 1 TV Box – 2 Mirror Boxes
Kitchen Area: 0 Large Boxes – 3 Medium Boxes – 5 Small Boxes
Master Bedroom: 3 Large Boxes – 2 Medium Box – 2 Small Box – 2 Wardrobe Boxes – 1 Mirror Box
Second Bedroom: 2 Large Boxes – 1 Medium Box – 2 Small Box – 2 Wardrobe Boxes – 1 Mirror Box
Smallest Bedroom: 2 Large Boxes – 1 Medium Box – 1 Small Box – 1 Wardrobe Box
Summary – How Many Boxes Do I Need To Move?
The number of boxes we need to move is not an exact science. A good starting point is to estimate based on the number of rooms we have and also how densely populated our homes are.
The number of TV boxes, mirror/art boxes, and wardrobe boxes you need may vary wildly from person to person depending on the furnishing style of their home.
As always it is better to over estimate the number of boxes you need rather than underestimate. There are many easy ways to get rid of unused boxes that you don’t need at a later date.
Here’s Something Else You May Like:
How to Pick the Best Moving Box and Packing Boxes – Full Guide – All Packing Boxes