Moving Boxes Guide: Sizes, Strength and How Many You Need

A box that is too big gets overloaded and splits. One that is too small means extra trips, and a box with the wrong board crushes when you stack it. This guide covers strength, sizes and how many moving boxes to order, so you can buy them in one go.

Pack Solution sells double wall cardboard boxes and single wall cardboard boxes flat packed and per box from its Manchester warehouse. You pick the sizes your home needs instead of taking a fixed bundle of one size, so you can mix cardboard moving boxes freely. Each cardboard packing box arrives flat and builds in a minute. A packing box of the right size is easier to carry than a tall, overfilled one. If you are still deciding between the two boards, the single wall vs double wall comparison goes into more detail.

Quick Picks: Moving Boxes For Most House Moves

Most moves need double wall boxes for heavy and fragile items, single wall boxes for light bulky ones, and brown packing tape to seal them.

Best for heavy and fragile items

Double Wall Cardboard Boxes

Two layers of fluting suit books, kitchenware and stacking in a van. Sold flat and per box.

• 13 sizes from 7 x 5 x 5" to 24 x 24 x 24"
• Minimum 5 boxes for most sizes
• Price per box falls as you buy more

From £0.59 ex VAT (£0.71 inc VAT)

Choose sizeView product

Best for light bulky items and storage

Single Wall Cardboard Boxes

Lighter corrugated boxes for bedding, clothing and storage, in 16 sizes with a minimum of 5 per size.

• 16 sizes from 5 x 5 x 5" to 24 x 18 x 18"
• Includes an Extra Strong size
• Flat packed and easy to store

From £0.35 ex VAT (£0.42 inc VAT)

Choose sizeView product

Best for sealing moving boxes

Brown Packing Tape

Buff coloured polypropylene tape that matches brown boxes, in packs of 6 rolls.

• 48mm x 66m standard roll
• Proloc 72mm x 66m for large cartons
• Low noise options available

From £4.50 ex VAT (£5.40 inc VAT)

Choose sizeView product

Key Facts

• Double wall board has two layers of fluting and suits heavier, fragile and high value items.
• Single wall board is lighter and suits storage, everyday orders and light moving.
• Double wall comes in 13 sizes from 7 x 5 x 5" to 24 x 24 x 24"; single wall comes in 16 sizes from 5 x 5 x 5" to 24 x 18 x 18".
• The minimum order is 5 boxes for most sizes, and 90 boxes for the double wall 24 x 24 x 24" size.
• Boxes arrive flat packed, and the price per box falls automatically as you buy more.
• Orders placed by 2pm Monday to Friday are dispatched the same working day, and Royal Mail Tracked 48 is free with no minimum.

Single Wall Or Double Wall Moving Boxes?

Choose double wall for anything heavy, fragile or stacked, and single wall for light, bulky or short-term loads. Most house moves use a mix of both.

Double wall packing boxes have two layers of fluting, which gives extra strength and better stacking than single wall. That makes double wall cardboard packing boxes the right choice for books, kitchenware, small appliances and anything you stack three or four high in a van. Double walled packing boxes also cope better with being lifted from underneath, which is where cheap packing boxes tend to give way. On a long-distance or multi-day move, heavy duty cardboard packing boxes in double wall are worth choosing, and the same goes for any heavy duty packing boxes you plan to stack.

Single wall boxes are lighter and easier to store flat. They are made for storage, everyday orders and light moving, and they suit bedding, cushions, clothing, lampshades and other items that take up room but weigh little. One single wall size, 15.35 x 11.6 x 7.3", is listed as Extra Strong, which helps with a few denser items.

Which Size Of Moving Box Do You Need?

Pick the smallest box that holds the item plus its wrapping, and put heavy items in smaller boxes so they stay easy to lift. Use the larger sizes only for bulky but light things.

Keep your smallest sizes for books, tins and tools, so that small cardboard packing boxes stay light enough to carry. A 12 x 12 x 12" cube holds a lot of paper and still lifts easily.

Large And Extra Large Boxes

Large cardboard packing boxes are for volume. A 24 x 18 x 18" box is a large moving box for duvets, pillows and soft furnishings, and large packing boxes like it should hold light things only. Big packing boxes feel quick while you pack, but a half-full large box that is also heavy is the one that tears at the handle hole. Huge moving boxes work the same way: a box you cannot lift gets dragged. Extra large moving boxes and the largest moving boxes are best kept for pillows, coats and lampshades.

The largest double wall size is 24 x 24 x 24" (610 x 610 x 610mm), which is as close as the range gets to extra large removal boxes. Its minimum order is 90 boxes, so it suits removal firms and big moves more than a flat. Extra large cardboard packing boxes and extra large boxes for moving are ones to buy few of. For a typical home, large boxes for moving are better ordered as a handful of 24 x 18 x 12" or 24 x 18 x 18" boxes.

How Many Moving Boxes Do You Need?

As a rough planning guide only, a one-bedroom flat needs around 20 to 30 boxes and a four-bedroom house needs around 90 to 120. Your own number depends on how much you own, so treat these ranges as a starting point.

These numbers are only a guide, and they assume a normal mix of rooms. Add boxes if you have a large book collection, a full kitchen or a loft to clear, and take some away if you are downsizing.

Plan more small and medium boxes than large ones, because books, kitchenware and tools fill many boxes without taking up much space. Order most of your moving packing boxes in two or three sizes, then add a few large boxes for bedding at the end. If you want to buy moving boxes in several sizes, the price per box drops as quantities rise, so cheap moving boxes usually come down to ordering a realistic number in one go. Add a few spares, because one box will split or one room will turn out bigger than you expected.

For the sizes you will use most, the box sizing guide explains how to measure an item and allow for wrapping.

Buying Moving Boxes By The Box Or In Bulk

Pack Solution sells every size per box, with a minimum of 5 for most sizes, so you can order exactly the mix you need. Prices are shown ex VAT, and the price per box falls automatically as the quantity rises.

That suits a single house move as well as a removal firm. A fixed bundle of moving boxes for sale often includes sizes you will not use, while ordering individually lets you pick packing boxes for removals in the exact sizes the job needs. To buy packing boxes without paying for unused sizes, order per box. For a pallet of 100 or more boxes, orders placed before 1pm can get next-day pallet delivery to the UK mainland.

House moving boxes and home moving boxes are often the same product under different names, so check the board and the size. To buy cardboard packing boxes at a lower cost per box, order the full quantity at once, since cheap cardboard packing boxes come down to volume. Packing boxes for moving house also stack better when sizes match, and moving house packing boxes in two or three sizes are simpler to load.

For larger runs of packing boxes to move a whole office or several flats, call the number shown on the product page to talk through quantities. Browse the full cardboard boxes range to see every size.

Tape, Wrap And Tools For A Move

A basic kit needs tape to seal the boxes, wrap to protect what is inside and a cutter to open them.

Tape For Sealing

Brown packing tape comes in packs of 6 rolls. The standard 48mm x 66m roll suits everyday boxes, and the Proloc 72mm x 66m roll, the widest, suits large or heavy cartons. To seal a base, run a strip along the centre seam and another across each edge.

Fragile Tape For Delicate Boxes

Printed fragile tape seals the box and warns handlers at the same time, so you need no separate stickers. It comes in 48mm x 66m and BigTape 48mm x 150m low noise, both in packs of 6 rolls.

Best for boxes of glass and ceramics

Fragile Tape

Printed FRAGILE warning runs along the tape, so it seals and labels the box in one step.

• 48mm x 66m or BigTape 48mm x 150m low noise
• Packs of 6 rolls
• Acrylic adhesive on polypropylene film

From £5.50 ex VAT (£6.60 inc VAT)

Choose sizeView product

Wrap And Padding

Wrap breakables one by one, then fill the gaps so nothing moves. Large bubble wrap has 25mm bubbles and comes on 50m rolls in 300mm and 500mm widths. Many people buy one of each for a house move. Scrunched into gaps, it also works as void fill.

Best for furniture and bulky items

Large Bubble Wrap

25mm bubbles cushion bulky and heavy items and can be scrunched into gaps as void fill.

• 50m rolls
• 300mm or 500mm widths
• Sold per roll

From £9.00 ex VAT (£10.80 inc VAT)

Choose sizeView product

For plates, books and general padding, kraft paper rolls are the usual choice. The kraft paper rolls guide compares the three rolls, and the bubble wrap guide helps you choose between sizes.

Best for wrapping plates and filling gaps

Kraft Paper Rolls

Strong brown paper for wrapping, interleaving and void fill, on a standard roll or centre-feed boxed rolls.

• 500mm x 200m standard roll, 90gsm
• Centre-feed rolls in 70gsm
• Sold per roll

From £25.00 ex VAT (£30.00 inc VAT)

Choose sizeView product

Tape Gun And Knife

A pistol grip tape gun seals boxes faster and neater with one hand, and it has a built-in cutting blade. Three models take 50mm tape and one takes 75mm. The tape dispensers and tape guns guide explains which to choose.

Best for sealing lots of boxes quickly

Pistol Grip Tape Gun

Apply and cut tape one-handed with a built-in blade, in 50mm and 75mm models.

• Four models, three for 50mm tape
• PG75B takes 75mm tape
• Sold individually

From £5.00 ex VAT (£6.00 inc VAT)

Choose sizeView product

When you reach the unpacking stage, a utility knife cuts tape and cardboard cleanly. Always retract or cover the blade after each cut, and cut away from your body.

Best for opening boxes when unpacking

Utility Knives

Everyday box cutter for tape, stretch film and cardboard, in retractable and snap-off styles.

• Pacplus MRK metal retractable
• 18mm blade models
• Sold per piece

From £1.90 ex VAT (£2.28 inc VAT)

Choose sizeView product

You will find all of these in the packing tapes and protective packaging ranges.

How To Pack A Moving Box Step By Step

Build the box, line it, pack the heavy items first, then seal and label it. The same order for every box keeps the load stable.

1. Assemble the box and tape the base seam, running tape along the centre and across both edges.
2. Add a layer of scrunched kraft paper or bubble wrap on the bottom.
3. Pack heavy items first, then lighter items on top, and wrap breakables individually.
4. Fill every gap with crumpled paper so nothing can shift when the box is moved.
5. Close the flaps, check the lid sits flat and does not bulge, and tape the top seam.
6. Label the box with its room and contents, and mark the top. Moving in boxes this way tells the crew where each one goes.

Delivery Of Large Boxes And Flat Packs

Orders placed by 2pm Monday to Friday are dispatched the same working day. Royal Mail Tracked 48 is free on every order with no minimum, and Express and DPD options are available if you need boxes sooner.

Some large sizes ship differently. Single wall 24 x 18 x 18" and double wall 14 x 14 x 14", 18 x 18 x 18", 23 x 12 x 15", 24 x 18 x 12" and 24 x 18 x 18" go on 2-day delivery only, so allow for that if your moving date is close. The shipping policy has the full options.

Moving Boxes Checklist

• Decide the number of boxes from the planning range, then add a few spares.
• Order more small and medium double wall boxes than large ones.
• Keep large boxes for light items such as bedding.
• Buy brown packing tape in packs of 6 rolls and a tape gun to match the width.
• Get fragile tape for glass, ceramics and electronics.
• Choose large bubble wrap and kraft paper for wrapping and void fill.
• Have a utility knife ready for unpacking.
• Check delivery timing for large sizes before your moving date.
• Label every box with its room.

Wrap-Up: Order Moving Boxes In The Right Mix

Use double wall for heavy items and single wall for light ones, and size each box so you can lift it. Work out a rough number, order a mix of sizes, and add tape, wrap and a knife.

Start with the boxes collection and choose the sizes your home needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many moving boxes do I need for a two-bedroom home?

As a rough guide only, a two-bedroom home needs around 40 to 60 boxes. Your own number depends on how much you own. Order more small and medium boxes than large ones, and add a few spares for items that turn out bulkier than you expected.

Are double wall packing boxes worth it for moving?

Yes, for heavy or fragile items. Double wall cardboard packing boxes have two layers of fluting, which gives extra strength and better stacking than single wall. Use them for books, kitchenware and anything stacked in a van, and use single wall for light items.

What size are large moving boxes?

Large moving boxes in the range include 24 x 18 x 12" and 24 x 18 x 18" in double wall, and 24 x 18 x 18" in single wall. The biggest double wall size is 24 x 24 x 24" (610 x 610 x 610mm), with a minimum order of 90 boxes.

Can I buy moving boxes online and have them delivered?

Yes. Boxes arrive flat packed, and orders placed by 2pm Monday to Friday are dispatched the same working day. Royal Mail Tracked 48 is free with no minimum. Some large sizes ship on 2-day delivery only, so allow for that before your moving date.

Do you sell cardboard boxes for moving house in bulk?

Yes. Prices are per box and fall automatically as the quantity rises. The minimum order is 5 boxes for most sizes. For a pallet of 100 or more boxes ordered before 1pm, next-day pallet delivery to the UK mainland is possible.

What tape should I use to seal packing boxes for moving?

Brown packing tape in the standard 48mm x 66m roll suits most boxes, and the Proloc 72mm x 66m roll is the widest, for large or heavy cartons. Add fragile tape for boxes of glass or ceramics, and check your tape gun takes the width.

Shop for This Job

• Cardboard Boxes
• Packing Tapes
• Protective Packaging

Related Guides

• Bubble Wrap Guide: Small vs Large Bubbles, Rolls and Uses
• Tape Dispenser Guide: Tape Guns vs Bench Dispensers
• Kraft Paper Rolls: Wrapping, Void Fill and Moving Uses
• Single Wall vs Double Wall Boxes: Which to Choose
• What Size Box Do I Need? Postal Box Sizing Guide
• How to Pack Ceramics and Glass for Posting

← All buying guides