Do Movers Provide Boxes?

Moving boxes are the foundation of any move. Your belongings are at a greater risk of damage when you use poor-quality boxes to pack them. So, it’s important to choose sturdy boxes for your move. While most people prefer to source boxes on their own from retail stores or friends and family, you may have wondered whether it’s possible to get them directly from your moving company. The answer is yes, movers do provide boxes, but this service often comes at a higher cost and may depend on the type of moving service you paid for.

The answer to this question depends on the type of moving service you choose. Many professional movers offer the option to purchase boxes separately, but full-service movers typically include boxes and other essential supplies as part of their comprehensive package. These full-service packages also tend to come with both packing and unpacking services, making your move even more streamlined.

At Stack Moves, we’ve helped people in the U.S. enjoy hassle-free relocations thanks to our reusable moving boxes for rent. Backed by years of experience in the moving industry, our friendly team offers expert moving tips tailored to your situation so that your move is not only less hectic but more affordable too. Contact us today to book your boxes for your next move!

In this blog, we will discuss if movers provide boxes and explain the types of services they offer.

Do Movers Provide Boxes?

Yes, most movers provide boxes, either as part of their packing service or for an additional fee. These boxes are typically high-quality, durable, and designed specifically for moving, which helps protect your belongings during transit. However, relying on movers for boxes can increase your overall moving costs compared to sourcing or renting them yourself.

On the plus side, it saves you the time, effort, and stress of finding boxes that actually hold up. This option is worth considering if you’re short on time, want a full-service move, or just need a few extra boxes for last-minute packing.

Types of Movers and What Packing Supplies They Provide

The type of mover you hire will determine whether boxes and materials are included, available for purchase, or something you’ll need to handle yourself. Here’s a breakdown to let you know what to expect.

Full Service Movers

Full-service movers handle nearly every part of your move. When you pay for a full-service package, you’re essentially hiring a professional team to do all the heavy lifting and organizing for you. In addition to their professional packing services, they also provide packing materials such as sturdy moving boxes, packing paper, labels, bubble wrap, moving blankets, and more. Since full-service movers handle more than just transportation, the cost is generally higher, but the convenience they offer can make it well worth it.

Types of Boxes Provided by Full-Service Movers

• Small Boxes: Ideal for heavy items like books, kitchenware, or tools
• Medium Boxes: Perfect for everyday essentials such as clothing, linens, toys, or decorative pieces
• Large & Extra Large Boxes: Used for lightweight, bulky items like pillows and blankets
• Specialty Boxes: Best for unique items that require extra protection

Moving companies typically offer a range of different-sized boxes, such as small, medium, and large boxes, to help you accommodate all your belongings. Professional packers may also use specialized boxes to pack your wardrobe, dishes, pictures, and other goods. 

If your movers provide packing materials, they’ll likely supply these items:

• Cardboard boxes
• Bubble wrap
• Packing paper
• Packing tape
• Labels
• Moving blankets or quilted moving pads
• Dollies
• Custom crates

These packing options will cost you more than just loading, unloading, and transportation. However, if your budget can handle it and you simply don’t have the time and energy to pack on your own, a full-service would be the best choice for you.

Partial-Service or Self-Service Movers

Partial-service movers are a flexible option for people who want some professional help without paying for a full-service move. You can decide which parts of the move you want handled, such as packing fragile or bulky items and manage the rest yourself.

These movers provide the same boxes and packing materials as full-service movers but only for the items they’re responsible for, while you use your supplies for the rest. This approach helps you save on costs while still benefiting from expert packing where it matters most.

Costs of Boxes With Full-Service Movers

Most professional movers provide free quotes for their services. The cost of materials may be included in the cost of packing or broken out as a separate cost.

The cost of a full or partial packing service will be based primarily on the size of your home and the volume of your possessions. Since the price of moving services can vary widely, make sure you get a firm quote before proceeding with a company.

DIY or Self-Service Movers

In the case of a DIY move, you should expect to handle most of the process by yourself. You typically will not get any assistance from the movers beyond transportation. While this option can save money, it often comes at the cost of your time and energy.

You’ll be responsible for getting your boxes and packing materials, packing, loading, and unpacking. All your movers will do is transport your belongings from one location to another. That said, many basic movers allow you to add optional services, like furniture disassembly or packing help, for an extra fee.

You can also purchase boxes and materials from them if needed. Even with these add-ons, you’re still responsible for estimating how many boxes and supplies are required based on the size of your move.

What Types of Boxes Do Moving Companies Offer?

Depending on the moving company you select, you may have access to a range of moving supplies, including boxes and packing material. The best moving boxes are sturdy and sized to accommodate typical household items. Specialty boxes may also be available for heavy or bulky items like clothes, dishes, and electronics. 

There are two primary kinds of boxes that moving companies will either sell or rent to you—cardboard and plastic. Cardboard boxes are by far the most common option, but movers are steadily incorporating more plastic bins into their moving process because of their durability and sustainability.

Cardboard Boxes

Cardboard boxes come in a range of sizes, from standard to specialty boxes for dishes, clothing, appliances, and so on. Professional movers can supply them for an additional fee, but you can also affordably find your own. 

For example, you can save money by asking for free boxes from grocery and retail stores. You can also search for them on platforms like Nextdoor, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace. Even U-Haul has options for online swaps, and some locations have a “take one, leave one” area where you might find used boxes. While this could be a good option if your budget is tight, finding quality boxes in these cases can be quite challenging. They might also not have the right box sizes, and even then, they might not have as many boxes as you need to finish your move.

Unfortunately, cardboard is not without limitations. For one, if you don’t have the right size boxes, the packing process can be frustrating. If the boxes are too small, they probably won’t be able to accommodate all the items you plan to pack. On the other hand, if they’re too big, you might inadvertently stuff them to the point where they’re too heavy to be safely loaded and unloaded. 

Stacking them inside a truck also becomes a problem. With various sizes that don’t rest neatly on top of each other, it can turn into a game of Tetris. And since cardboard is not particularly sturdy, your items may not be well protected from harm.

If your mover doesn’t offer them or if you don’t want to use cardboard boxes, you still have options to pack up and prepare your home for moving. Plastic moving bins for rent are a great alternative, with robust construction and uniform sizing to keep valuables safe.

Reusable Plastic Bins

If you want to make sure that every item in your home is securely packed, the safe move is to use sturdy packing boxes made of plastic. 

Plastic bins are resilient and easy to organize. They’re durable, water-resistant, and designed to keep pests out, making them ideal for protecting fragile items, from heirlooms to essential documents. They’re also stackable, and you won’t have to worry about them collapsing under the weight of multiple boxes like flimsy cardboard does. They also have grooves on the lids that serve to lock the box above it into place, making stacking a cinch when you’re storing, transporting, or organizing. Finally, they’re a sustainable packaging option that serves as an eco-friendly alternative to cardboard.

Comparing Plastic Bins and Cardboard Boxes

Here’s how plastic bins stack up against cardboard boxes for a move:

Durability vs. Cost

The cost of moving boxes is an important factor when planning your move. Buying cardboard boxes is not always cheap, and unless they’re still in great condition, you’ll have to dispose of them when you’re done. They’re also not the most reliable choice in terms of strength and durability.

When they’re stacked high in a moving truck, even sturdy moving boxes can buckle under the heavy weight of your household goods. In contrast, plastic bins will stack perfectly and ensure that the contents arrive safely at your destination. This could end up saving you money and heartache in the long run.

Environmental Impact

Over 1.7 million tons of cardboard are sent to landfills each year. If you’re looking for an eco-friendly alternative that will lower your carbon footprint, we suggest renting reusable plastic bins for packing and moving.

Use Cases

Cardboard might seem like a good choice if you’re willing to spend a good deal of time tracking down cheap used boxes. But this potentially puts your belongings at risk as second-hand containers often aren’t as strong as they used to be. 

Renting plastic bins, on the other hand, allows you to cheaply get high-quality containers—ones that you can feel safe using and that you don’t have to track down and dispose of when you’re done. Ultimately, time is money, and with rentals that are dropped off and picked up at your door according to your schedule, you can save on both. 

Plastic bins are also great for packing delicate items. With robust plastic bins, there’s less risk of damage, saving you plenty of money on repair and replacement — not to mention the heartache of losing precious items.

Reusable bins are also an eco-friendly option, so if you’re looking for an environmentally-friendly option while protecting your household goods, plastic bins are a great solution. 

Is It Worth Paying Movers for Moving Boxes?

While you may have to rely on movers for specialty items like wooden crates or for supplies like packing paper or bubble wrap, there are cheaper ways to get boxes. If you’re looking for a high-quality, reusable option, go for Stack Move’s plastic bins. They’re easily stackable, include convenient labels, and offer better protection for valuable and fragile items.

Buying moving boxes might seem practical at first, but it rarely pays off. The biggest problem with this option is wondering what to do with the boxes after the move. If you choose to store them, they take up valuable space and often get damaged before your next use. If you decide to toss them, they end up as waste.

Even if you manage to find free moving boxes, you’ll still deal with the hassle of looking for sturdy ones, checking for damage, and assembling each with packing tape. Over the years, we’ve found that renting moving boxes is a far more practical and eco-friendly way to pack and move.

Plastic moving bins come preassembled, which saves you time you would’ve spent reinforcing your cardboard boxes. Their sturdy design keeps your items safer during transport, especially fragile or heavy ones. Once you’re done, the bins are picked up for cleaning and reuse, saving you the trouble of storage or disposal.

Renting Boxes: A Cost-Effective Alternative

Renting plastic bins is a cost-effective alternative that offers plenty of convenience. Once you’ve placed your order, the bins are dropped off at your location on your requested date. You’ll have more than enough time to make sure everything is carefully packed before your scheduled move. When you’re finished, these eco-friendly bins are picked up, sanitized, and prepared for reuse.

When you request boxes, it’s important to understand the mover’s box policies. This includes associated costs and what happens to empty boxes after the move. So whether you choose a full-service or self-service option, you should get a firm quote for the move. You should also ask additional questions, such as if you need to return the boxes yourself or if they’ll be picked up by the movers after the move.

If you want to learn more about the many benefits of bin rentals, contact Stack Moves today.

Does Everything Need to Be in Boxes for Movers?

Many people wonder whether everything has to be in boxes for movers. While most of your belongings should be boxed up, not everything has to be.

It’s best to securely pack dishes, clothes, small appliances, fragile items, and other loose goods. However, larger items don’t necessarily need to be in boxes — especially items like furniture.

Will Movers Move Things Not in Boxes?

Although most professional moving companies prefer when items are packed in boxes, it isn’t mandatory. A major benefit of using boxes to pack your belongings is that it makes them easier to load and unload from your moving truck. It also makes sure your items are protected from harm during the move.

That said, it’s easy to assume every single item needs to go into a box before your movers handle it, but this isn’t always the case. Large or oddly shaped items like furniture and heavy equipment usually can’t fit into boxes. Instead, movers wrap these pieces with moving blankets, plastic wrap, or padding to prevent scratches and damage during transport.

Movers can handle transporting large items like bed frames, night tables, and couches, but you’ll want to protect them with padding. Not only will you keep your belongings safe, but some movers refuse to transport and take responsibility for unprotected items.

If there are items you don’t have time, energy, or knowledge to pack, you might wonder: Do professional moving companies pack for you? Some do, but they won’t make any guarantees about safe transport, even if they handle the packing on your behalf.

Which Items Will Movers Not Move?

There are several items moving companies would rather not handle. This usually includes hazardous items, controlled substances, and valuable and fragile items, among others. Some examples of such items include:

• Food: Especially perishable or opened food items that can spoil or attract pests.
• Pets: Movers can’t transport live animals due to health, safety, and regulatory concerns.
• Plants: Many movers avoid moving plants because they can wilt, spill soil, or violate state agricultural regulations.
• Scuba gear: Pressurized tanks and other dive equipment can be dangerous to move without proper handling.
• Lawn and garden tools: Tools with fuel or oil must be emptied before transport, and some movers won’t move them at all.
• Hazardous materials: Items like paint, gasoline, batteries, cleaning chemicals, and propane tanks are considered unsafe for transport.
• Jewelry, cash, and important documents: These should always be moved personally to prevent loss or theft.
• Firearms and ammunition: These require special handling and documentation that most movers aren’t licensed to manage.
• High-value electronics or collectibles: Movers may recommend insuring or personally transporting these items to avoid potential damage.

Get Your Plastic Bins from Stack Moves

Many moving companies provide a range of services and supplies for an added fee. If you’re in a hurry and your budget allows, it might make sense to take advantage of these options. First, however, you should speak with the movers directly about their policies to make sure they align with your needs.

Save More with Stack’s Moving Boxes for Rent

It’s a good idea to get boxes directly from movers if you’re short on time or want everything handled by one team. It is not only convenient, but it also ensures you get the best boxes to safely transport your items. But remember that this convenience often comes with a higher price tag, especially if boxes and packing materials are billed separately.

You can enjoy the same benefits of getting boxes from your movers at a lower cost by renting them instead. These durable boxes are built to withstand the rigors of any move and some rentals even include additional packing supplies, making the entire moving process smoother from start to finish.

Don’t waste another minute! Reserve your moving boxes and have them delivered in time for moving day. If you have any questions about our services, don’t hesitate to contact our team.

Frequently Asked Questions

We understand that you may still have questions about the services movers provide and how they can benefit your moving needs. That’s why we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions to help you enjoy a stress-free relocation process.

Do Moving Companies Pack for You?

Yes, most moving companies do provide professional packing services, though this depends on the package you choose. Full-service movers take care of everything, from packing and loading to transport and unpacking. That said, these services tend to be pricier, so many people go for partial packing help or handle some of the work themselves to save money.

Do Moving Companies Provide Boxes and Packing Materials?

Many moving companies offer boxes and packing materials, either as part of your package or as a separate service. However, this convenience comes at a higher price, which is why most people would rather opt for sourcing their own boxes to cut costs.

How Far in Advance Should I Book a Professional Moving Company with Packing Services?

It’s best to book a moving company 4–8 weeks in advance, especially if you’re moving during peak season. For smaller moves or relocations outside of busy periods, 2–4 weeks lead time is usually enough to secure your preferred date and ensure the movers have time to plan and prepare your appointment.

Can I Pack Some Items Myself and Have the Movers Pack the Rest?

Absolutely. This is known as a partial packing service, and it’s ideal for people who need some assistance with packing instead of having movers handle everything. It’s usually less expensive than full-service packing since you’re only paying for the professional help you actually need.

Is It Customary to Tip Movers Who Also Provide Packing Services?

While not mandatory, tipping is a way to show appreciation for exceptional service. If your movers handle your belongings with care, you should tip them. If you’re on a tight budget, simply offering snacks and drinks or referring their service to friends and family is another thoughtful way to show your gratitude.

How Can I Figure Out How Many Moving Boxes I’ll Need?

Figuring out how many boxes you’ll need can be tricky since it depends on your home’s size and how much you own. To make it easier, Stack Moves offers a free moving box calculator that quickly estimates the number and sizes of boxes you’ll need for your move.

What Sizes of Moving Boxes Are Available?

Moving boxes typically come in small, medium, large, and extra-large sizes, each suited for different types of items. Small boxes work best for heavy or compact belongings like books and kitchenware, while medium and large boxes are ideal for clothes, linens, and household items. Extra-large boxes are great for lightweight but bulky items such as pillows or bedding.

Are There Eco-Friendly or Reusable Moving Box Options?

That’s precisely what Stack Moves is all about. Our eco-friendly moving boxes are made from durable, recycled plastic and built to be reused for hundreds of moves. By renting our plastic moving boxes, you’re guaranteed an organized and cleaner move. It’s a simple, sustainable way to move.