How many moving boxes do I need?
Count your rooms, pick your packing style, and get a box count by size.
Quick answer: a typical 2-bedroom home needs about 37–72 moving boxes (52 for an average packer). A 1-bedroom apartment needs about 24–47, and a 3-bedroom house about 51–100. Buy mostly small and medium boxes, and add about 10% extra.
Box calculator
52 boxes
Estimated for a 2-bedroom home with an average amount of stuff.
| Box | How many | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Small (≈1.5 cu ft) | – | Books, canned food, tools, anything heavy |
| Medium (≈3 cu ft) | – | Kitchen items, toys, small appliances, decor |
| Large (≈4.5 cu ft) | – | Bedding, pillows, lampshades, light bulky items |
| Wardrobe | – | Clothes on hangers straight from the closet |
| Dish pack | – | Plates, glasses and other breakables |
Next: turn this into a supplies list with the packing supplies calculator.
Moving boxes by home size
These are the calculator's totals for a typical room mix for each home size. Your real count depends mostly on how much you own, not on square footage.
| Home size | Minimalist | Average | Lots of stuff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 16 | 21 | 29 |
| 1 bedroom | 24 | 34 | 47 |
| 2 bedrooms | 37 | 52 | 72 |
| 3 bedrooms | 51 | 72 | 100 |
| 4+ bedrooms | 77 | 108 | 149 |
How this is calculated
Each room gets a starting set of boxes for an average packer. For example, a bedroom counts as 2 small, 3 medium and 2 large boxes plus 1 wardrobe box, and a standard kitchen as 4 small, 5 medium, 1 large and 2 dish packs. Closets and hallways add a few more as the home gets bigger. The total is then scaled by your packing style: ×0.7 for minimalists and ×1.4 for homes with a lot of stuff. Wardrobe boxes don't scale, because they follow the number of closets.
These are rules of thumb built from common mover and box-retailer guidance, not a survey of real moves. See how we estimate.
Packing tips that save boxes
- Pack heavy things (books, canned goods, tools) in small boxes and light things (bedding, pillows) in large ones.
- Leave clothes in dresser drawers if your mover allows it, and use suitcases and laundry baskets as containers.
- Wrap dishes in towels and linens to cut down on packing paper.
- Declutter before you buy boxes. Every box you don't pack is one less to carry, load and unpack.
Frequently asked questions
How many boxes do I need for a 1-bedroom apartment?
About 24–47 boxes, with 34 for an average packer. Most of them should be small and medium boxes, because heavy items like books and dishes belong in small boxes.
How many boxes do I need for a 3-bedroom house?
Roughly 51–100 boxes for a 3-bedroom house with two bathrooms, a dining area and a garage. Add more if you have a home office, a finished basement or a lot of hobby gear.
What size moving boxes should I buy the most of?
Medium boxes (about 3 cubic feet) are the most versatile, followed by small boxes for heavy items. Keep large boxes for light, bulky things like bedding, or they get too heavy to lift safely.
Is it better to buy a few extra boxes?
Yes. Buying about 10% extra is cheaper than a last-minute trip to the store, and many retailers take back unused boxes. Free boxes from stores or neighbors work for books and linens, but avoid weak or damp boxes for heavy items.
How heavy should a packed moving box be?
Aim to keep most boxes under about 50 pounds so one person can lift them safely. Fill gaps with paper so the box does not crush when stacked, and tape the bottom seam twice.