There’s a lot to think about when planning a move. How will you arrange the new place? How much time should you take off from work? When should you call to have your utilities disconnected? Many considerations depend on what kind of move you’re making, where you’re moving from, and where you’re moving to. But all moves have one thing in common: they require A LOT of boxes. Unfortunately, many people don’t give boxes much thought, which leaves them scrambling to find them a day or two before the move.

At Black Tie Moving, we can give you the full red carpet experience with both local and long-distance moves – yes, that includes boxes and packing! Still, some people want to pack their own boxes, and that’s perfectly understandable. If you prefer the DIY approach to packing for a move, the best thing you can do is plan accordingly for how many and what kinds of boxes you need. We’ve put together a helpful guide to make it simple:

Standard Moving Boxes

Classic moving boxes come in both square and rectangular forms. These are basic, sturdy boxes perfect for packing a wide range of possessions. If you pack them strategically, you can fit far more items into one box than you might think possible.

 Box
 Standard Size* (in inches)
 Ideal for:
 Extra small
 15 x 12 x 10
Knives & silverware, jewelry, knick-knacks, tools,  wires, etc.
 Small
 16 x 12 x 12
Books, DVDs, small appliances, drinking glasses,  etc.
 Medium
 18 x 18 x 15 or 22 x 16 x 15
Toys, photo albums, small appliances, most  household items.
 Large
 18 x 18 x 24
Larger items that are not too heavy – pillows,  linens, etc.
 Extra large
 22 x 22 x 21.5
Bulky items that are not too heavy – vases, lamps,  blankets, etc.

*Actual sizes may vary. Pro tip: Be sure not to make your boxes too heavy. It’s easy to forget about weight when a box is sitting on the floor, so stop when each box is halfway full and pick it up. If it’s getting heavy, fill the rest of the space with light items. Packing too many heavy items in a box makes them difficult to move and increases the risk that the bottom of the box will break open.

Specialty Moving Boxes

Not everything fits into a standard square or rectangular moving box. Various specialty boxes are available to protect common oversized or delicate items during a move, including:

  • Wardrobe boxes – Basically a mini closet, these boxes allow you to hang up delicate or high-quality clothing such as dresses, tuxedos, and suits for your move.
  • Mattress boxes – Your mattress is where you sleep, so you really don’t want to expose it to dirt, grease, and potential damage like punctures or tears. A mattress box will keep it safe and preserve its springs.
  • TV boxes – The right size TV box will keep your TV safe by not letting it shift during the move. Most TV boxes have foam corners and bags for added protection.
  • Dish and glass boxes – You could stack your dishes and glasses into a regular moving box with bubble wrap or dish towels between each one, but dish and glass boxes are specially designed to protect breakable items. They often have slots designed to house each dish or glass.
  • File boxes – Rather than tossing your important documents and photos into a regular moving box with many other items, you can transport them in a file box for maximum protection.

How Many Boxes Do You Need to Move?

Even when planning ahead, it can be stressful to try to think about how many boxes you need of each size and type. At Black Tie Moving, we’ve packed and unpacked thousands of boxes, so we’ve got a pretty good idea of how many you need. We’ve put together some general estimates based on the type of room and the home's square footage. Of course, your needs can vary greatly based on the amount and type of possessions you’re planning to move, but these guidelines should give you a better idea of what you might need. By room type:


Extra-small boxes
 Small boxes
 Medium boxes
 Large boxes
 Extra-large boxes
 Wardrobe boxes
 Dish/glass boxes
Master bedroom
 2-4
 1-3
 5-6
 5-8

 4-6

Other bedrooms
 1-3
 1-2
 3-5
 3-5

 2-4

Kitchen
 3-5
 2-4
 5-6
 4
 2

 4-6
Dining room
 1-2
 1-2
 1-2



 2-4
Living room
 3-5
 2-4
 3-4
 2-4
 1-2


Bathroom
 2-3
 2-3
 1




  By total square footage of house:


Extra-small boxes
Small boxes
Medium boxes
Large boxes
Extra-large boxes
Wardrobe boxes
Dish/glass boxes
400-700 sq ft
 5-12
 7-15
 9-15
 5-7
 2-4
 3-5
 3-6
700-1200 sq ft
 10-22
 17-23
 15-22
 7-11
 4-6
 4-8
 4-8
1200-1700 sq ft
 12-25
 32-37
 25-35
 16-20
 10-12
 6-12
 6-10
1700-2200 sq ft
 14-28
 38-42
 36-47
 21-26
 13-15
 10-20
 8-12

Pro tip: It’s always better to end up with too many boxes on moving day than not enough, so we recommend overestimating whenever possible. If you find yourself with extra boxes on hand, post them on your local buy/trade/donate websites – we guarantee you that another mover will be happy to come to get them!

Choose Black Tie Moving for the Red Carpet Experience

If you don’t want to stress over how many boxes you need and worry about whether you’ve packed them in the best way, the seasoned pros at Black Tie Moving will be happy to take that task off your hands. Our team can pack all your belongings, and you can rest assured that it will be done as securely as possible so that everything makes it to your new home in the same condition. If you prefer to pack your own boxes, we’ll be happy to move them for you once they’re ready. Our goal is to design the moving experience that brings you the most satisfaction with the least stress. No matter the package you choose, we’ll be there on time to roll out the red carpet for you! To design your perfect move, contact the experts at Black Tie Moving today or call us at (844) 920-2966!