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What Kind Of Boxes Do I Need To Move?

When preparing for a move of any distance, one of the most crucial aspects is determining how many boxes you'll need and what types of boxes are necessary. This process involves assessing your belongings, categorizing items, and estimating the volume of each category.


While we’d encourage you to use the skills of a professional team, we also know that a lot of folks like to approach a move with a DIY attitude. Whether you are trusting a professional moving team or handling things yourself, here's a comprehensive guide on the boxes you might need and how to estimate their quantity:


Types of Boxes

• Small Boxes (1.5 cubic feet): These are ideal for heavy items like books, small appliances, and tools. They are also suitable for fragile items that need extra protection due to their smaller size.

• Medium Boxes (3 cubic feet): These are versatile and can hold a variety of items such as kitchenware, clothing, and small electronics. You will generally use more of these boxes than the ones of other sizes, due to their flexible uses.

• Large Boxes (4.5 cubic feet): Best for lightweight bulky items like bedding, pillows, and lampshades. The large size is often holding something fairly lightweight, so may or may not be difficult to move, once filled.

• Extra-Large Boxes (6 cubic feet or more): Useful for lightweight but large items such as bedding sets, cushions, and lamp bases. You typically won’t need a lot of these boxes, but of course it is dependent on the amount of stuff you will be moving.

• Wardrobe Boxes: Designed for hanging clothes, they keep garments wrinkle-free during the move. They are really great timesavers when you have a loaded closet or two as part of your move.

• Specialty Boxes: These include dish or glasses boxes with dividers, mirror/picture boxes, and TV boxes more intentionally designed and shaped for specific items' protection.

Are you feeling usure of which boxes you need for your move? Feel free to call the experts at Georgia Home Movers, and we will be happy to help you find your answers.


Estimating the Number of Boxes

• Inventory Your Belongings: Begin by making a detailed inventory of everything you plan to move. Categorize items by room (e.g., kitchen, bedroom, living room) for easier estimation. You have to know pretty clearly what will be moved to properly order your materials to handle it.

• Use Online Calculators: Several moving box calculators are available online, including one from Home Depot and on Moving.com. Input your inventory details, and these tools will provide an estimate of the number and types of boxes you'll need. The accuracy of each tool will vary, so be careful in how much faith you place in the results without a professional’s opinion.

• Consider Volume: Estimate the volume of your belongings in cubic feet. For example, a small-sized room might require around 10-15 cubic feet of boxes, a medium-sized room 20-30 cubic feet, and a large room 30-40 cubic feet or more. You can use a tape measure and even sometimes use photos from your phone to get a semi-accurate estimate of what will be inside the boxes, so it will determine which boxes are used, too.

• Factor in Packing Density: Depending on the items, you may need more or fewer boxes. Dense items like books will fill boxes quickly, while bulkier but lighter items like bedding, pillows, blankets or cushions may require larger boxes. Packing materials, like bubble wrap, newspaper, peanuts or whatever you’ll use should also be considered here.

• Account for Fragile Items: If you have delicate or fragile items, allocate extra boxes for proper padding and protection. Consider specialty boxes with dividers or padding for fragile items. We have an excellent blogpost on how to safely pack your glassware that is worth a review.

• Plan for Miscellaneous Items: Don't forget to include boxes for miscellaneous items like cleaning supplies, tools, and personal items. Once you start emptying every drawer in your home or office, you will surely find more things to pack than you anticipated: so plan for it.

• Err on the Side of More: It's better to have slightly more boxes than you think you'll need than to run out mid-packing. Extra boxes can always be reused or returned if unopened. An accurate estimate is important though, as it will keep your from running back-and-forth when you should be packing or moving.

• Consult with Movers: Our best advice is for you to trust in the experience of a seasoned professional. Georgia Home Movers are Atlanta’s most trusted movers, and we are eager to earn your trust in any moving situation. Contact us today, and we’ll help you estimate all the boxes you’ll need to protect and move your home or office.


Additional Tips for Efficient Packing

In addition to properly estimating the boxes needed, here are some more tips for a smoother move:

• Label Your Boxes Clearly: Label each box with its contents and the room it belongs to. This makes unpacking much smoother and efficient.

• Use Uniform Box Sizes: If possible, stick to one or two main box sizes for easier stacking and organizing during the move. The medium or large boxes described above are great choices.

• Pack Strategically: Place heavier items at the bottom of boxes and lighter items on top to prevent crushing. Don’t overpack, and make a box too heavy to move.

• Use Packing Materials Wisely: Utilize packing paper, bubble wrap, and packing peanuts to protect fragile items. Fill empty spaces in boxes with packing material to prevent shifting. Keeping things from moving is the best bet in protecting your valuables.

• Pack Room by Room: Pack one room at a time to stay organized and to help ensure items from the same area end up in the same boxes.

By following these guidelines and estimating your box needs with a little care and forethought, you can streamline the DIY packing process and ensure your belongings are well-protected during the move. If you’d prefer to use a professional team to come to Metro Atlanta, for the best moving services in all of greater Atlanta, contact Georgia Home Movers, and we’ll help get you settled!

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