Packing supplies calculator
Turn your box count into a shopping list: tape, paper, bubble wrap, mattress bags and the rest.
Quick answer: for about 52 boxes (a typical 2-bedroom home), buy about 5 rolls of packing tape, 2 bundles of packing paper, 100 ft of bubble wrap, markers, stretch wrap, and one mattress bag per mattress. Rule of thumb: one roll of tape per 12 boxes.
Supplies calculator
Your packing supplies list
- 5 rolls · Packing tape (about 55–60 yd rolls)
About one roll per 12 boxes, taping the bottom twice and the top once. - 2 · Tape gun
A second gun lets two people pack at once. - 2 bundles · Packing paper (25 lb bundles)
For wrapping dishes and filling gaps. Towels and linens can replace some of it. - 100 ft · Bubble wrap
For glass, electronics, art and anything that would chip. - 2–3 · Permanent markers
Write the room and contents on the top and one side of every box. - 2 rolls · Stretch wrap (plastic film)
Keeps drawers shut and protects upholstered furniture. - 1 box · Resealable bags
For screws and hardware; tape each bag to the furniture it belongs to. - 1–2 each · Box cutter and scissors
Keep one in your essentials bag for unpacking. - 1 box · Heavy trash bags
For soft items, last-minute trash and donation runs. - 2 · Mattress bags
One per mattress and box spring, to keep them clean and dry. - 1 · TV boxes (or original boxes)
Flat screens should travel upright in a padded box.
How this is calculated
Tape assumes about 4 yards per box (an H-pattern on the bottom and a strip across the top) on a 55–60 yard roll, which works out to about one roll per 12 boxes. Packing paper assumes one 25 lb bundle per 40 boxes, or per 25 boxes if you have a lot of breakables. Bubble wrap is 1.5–3 feet per box, rounded up to the nearest 25 feet. Furniture pads for a DIY move are a dozen per 25 boxes, a rough stand-in for how much furniture you have.
These are practical rules of thumb, not lab measurements. Buy a little extra tape; it is the item people run out of most. More on our methods.
Frequently asked questions
How much packing tape do I need to move?
Plan on about one 55–60 yard roll for every 12 boxes. That covers taping each box's bottom seam twice and its top once. A 52-box move needs about 5 rolls.
How much packing paper do I need?
For a home with an average number of breakables, about one 25 lb bundle for every 40 boxes, or one per 25 boxes if you have a lot of dishes and glassware. Towels, linens and clothes can replace part of it.
Do I need bubble wrap if I have packing paper?
Paper handles most dishes. Bubble wrap is worth it for glass, framed art, electronics and anything with a fragile edge. A roll of a hundred feet or so covers most apartments.
Do movers bring packing supplies?
Full-service movers bring materials if you pay them to pack, and they usually bring furniture pads either way. If you pack yourself, you buy your own boxes and supplies. Ask what is included when you get the quote.
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