The Best Moving Boxes for Keeping Your Belongings Safe and Organized

Best Overall

UBoxes Medium Boxes, Pack of 15

4.7

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For a great, all-purpose moving box, we recommend UBoxes Medium Boxes. They come in a pack of 15 and have enough space to pack up a room—and then some. Medium boxes are a great choice if you aren’t sure what size to get. With the exception of extra-large items like TVs or specialty items like hanging clothes, these can fit just about anything you want to move from Point A to Point B.

Each box can hold up to 30 pounds. While there are boxes out there with a heavier weight limit, remember that you will have to lift and carry these boxes when you pack and unpack your moving truck. Medium boxes are a good option if you want to make the most of your packing materials, but still want to be able to actually move them. The UBoxes do not have handles and need to be carried from the bottom. This is certainly a big downside, but the moving boxes are good quality and can even last through multiple moves and time in a storage unit, which is another reason why they're our top pick. Especially for the low price, you would expect to receive fewer and more cheaply made boxes.

Now, you will also need to purchase tape and markers separately. These boxes are plain and do not have a place to label the contents or room the items belong to unless you choose to write on the outside with a marker. Most people do that when moving anyway, so it is not a major issue in our eyes.

Price at time of publish: $32

_{Amount: 15 | Dimensions: 18 x 14 x 12 inches | Material: Corrugated cardboard | Handles: No | Tape Needed: Yes}

Best Budget

CHEAP! CHEAP! Medium Moving Boxes, Pack of 20

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These CHEAP! CHEAP! moving boxes are some of our favorite moving boxes for their budget-friendly price tag and durability. They come in a pack of 20, perfect for an entire room or two (depending on your needs). This one pack will likely work for a larger room with a lot of decor, such as a family room. It may also work alongside other specialty boxes, such as a wardrobe box, to provide the perfect amount of storage for two bedrooms.

The boxes aren’t labeled, so you'll need to do your own labeling before moving day. You'll also need to construct them using packing tape. We recommend reinforcing the bottom of the boxes to add to their 65-pound weight capacity and durability, especially if you are packing heavier items. Keep in mind that these are not heavy-duty boxes. They aren’t made to hold extremely heavy items like books. These medium-sized boxes have handles, though, which can be used if you are packing and carrying lighter items. If you're packing heavier items inside, we recommend carrying them from the bottom for the best experience.

Price at time of publish: $60

_{Amount: 20 | Dimensions: 18 x 14 x 12 inches | Material: Corrugated cardboard | Handles: Yes | Tape Needed: Yes}

Best Small

Bankers Box SmoothMove Classic Small Moving Boxes, Pack of 10

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These small moving boxes are perfect for small items, knickknacks, decor, and even files; plus, they don’t need tape. Just press down to form the box and the included lid. If you plan to put them in a moving truck, plan to secure the lid with tape to keep the contents from spilling out during a sharp turn. These boxes are most suitable for a short-distance move or for taking smaller items in your vehicle to your new home because the lid can be a little unpredictable at times.

However, considering they are durable enough to be used more than once, these boxes are a particularly great deal. The boxes have handles, which are located below the lid for easy carrying. (If you do tape the lid, avoid the handle area so you can easily carry the boxes.) The smaller moving boxes are also made from 75 percent post-consumer recycled materials, making them one of the more eco-friendly options on the market and on our list. They also come in a pack of 10 for organizing several collections of items.

Price at time of publish: $39

_{Amount: 10 | Dimensions: 16.5 x 12.75 x 10.38 inches | Material: Corrugated cardboard | Handles: Yes | Tape Needed: No}

Best Large

CHEAP! CHEAP! Large Moving Boxes, Pack of 12

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These moving boxes are indeed cheap in cost but still durable in construction. They are made of corrugated cardboard and can hold up to 65 pounds each. You will need tape to secure the bottom and top seams. This is especially the case if you plan to leave your items in storage for a longer period of time. However, you will find the boxes are easy to carry from your home to a moving truck, thanks to built-in handles.

The CHEAP! CHEAP! boxes come wrapped in plastic wrap and banded, as well. This helps ensure they arrive to you without any damage. Given their more budget-friendly price point, this perk really adds a lot of value and ensures you get the maximum use out of your purchase. You can buy these large boxes in either a 6-pack or 12-pack, and several other sizes and combinations are also available online.

These boxes are perfect for large items that are not extremely heavy, such as kitchen platters or decor. You won’t want to overload them with things like books or electronics, but they will do the job for most items you want to move, including large stacks of clothing, bedding, or stuffed animals and toys.

Price at time of publish: $49

_{Amount: 12 | Dimensions: 20 x 20 x 15 inches | Material: Corrugated cardboard | Handles: Yes | Tape Needed: Yes}

Best Kit

U-Haul 1-2 Bedroom Kit

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The best moving kit comes from U-Haul. While this kit is definitely more expensive, U-Haul has taken almost all the guesswork out of getting the boxes and packing materials you need for a successful move. U-Haul offers kits for apartments, one-to-two-bedroom, three-to-four-bedroom, and more than four-bedroom homes. The kits have the recommended number of boxes for packing everything in your space, in addition to a variety of sizes and packing and padding materials like tape. You can even return unused boxes after your move, thanks to the brand's buy-back program, and recycle the ones you did use and don't need anymore.

You can further customize your kit by adding or subtracting certain items. For example, if you have a large collection of books, you can add heavy-duty boxes to hold them. If you have extra mattresses, you can add mattress bags. The downside of U-Haul kits is that they are quite a bit more expensive than if you purchased from cheaper retailers. However, U-Haul makes quality boxes that won’t break, are easy to label and will suit all of your needs. If you want the most convenient option, these kits are definitely it.

Price at time of publish: $241

_{Amount: Varies | Dimensions: Varies | Material: Cardboard | Handles: Yes | Tape Needed: Yes and included}

Best Bin

HDX 27 Gallon Tough Storage Tote

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If you want something that will last for years and through multiple moves and can be used for storage in either a storage unit or your new space, look no further than the HDX line of tough storage totes. Our at-home tester used these through multiple moves, in storage units, and to keep seasonal decor. The totes lock with zip ties on the sides, although you will need to purchase the zip ties separately.

The boxes are expensive, at almost the same cost for one tote as it is for a 12-pack of cardboard boxes. If you just want to move once and be done, these totes are probably more than you need. But, if you are willing to spend more upfront, these totes will last you for as long as you need them to. They also stack, with each lid offering space for the base of the box on top.

There are multiple sizes available. The 27-gallon works great for many items, although be careful not to pack it full of heavy things like books. (It will be difficult to move if it is overpacked.) The box sizes range from 7 gallons to 70 gallons, and not all will stack within each other, so we recommend getting multiples of the same size to maximize your packing space. There is also no place to label these boxes unless you add a sticky label, which our tester did. You can write on the yellow or red lids in a permanent marker, but it is hard to read when they are stacked, and the labels may not work for your next move or long-term storage.

Price at time of publish: $19

_{Amount: 1 | Dimensions: 15.27 x 19.61 x 28.55 inches | Material: Plastic | Handles: Yes | Tape Needed: No}

Best for Books

Lowe’s Medium Heavy Duty Box with Handles

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Books are some of the hardest items to pack due to their weight. However, these Lowe’s heavy-duty boxes are strong enough to support the added weight and small enough to keep your books organized and manageable. They also have built-in handles to make moving them even easier. The corrugated cardboard walls are double-layered, with 0.25-inches of reinforced cardboard compared to the standard 0.125-inches.

You will need to reinforce the seams of this box with packing tape, which is, unfortunately, sold separately. This is a particularly important step to take at the bottom of the box to make sure that the box stays constructed—even when filled with books. These boxes are twice the cost of the standard medium boxes from Lowe’s. However, if you need to move books, they are worth the higher cost. They come individually, so you only need to purchase as many as you will use.

Price at time of publish: $4

_{Amount: 1 | Dimensions: 16 x 18 x 18 inches | Material: Corrugated cardboard | Handles: Yes | Tape Needed: Yes}

Best for TVs and Mirrors

Bankers Box SmoothMove TV/Picture/Mirror Moving Box, Large

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If there is one item in your home that needs a specialty moving box, it’s your TV. Not only are TVs heavy and bulky, but they are also very fragile. Having a specialty TV moving box will ensure that your TV is safe and secure. Plus, the same box can also be used for large pictures or mirrors, although not all together. One box per item!

The Bankers Box TV moving box is the best option for its durable construction, price, and labeling. The outside is clearly labeled “Fragile” with two arrows pointing up to designate the top. It also has a “TV/Picture/Mirror” on the edge so that everyone knows exactly what is inside. The box does not include packing paper or cushioning, which we highly recommend to protect your TV during your move. It is expensive for a single box, but it’s much cheaper than a new TV and ultimately worth the splurge.

Price at time of publish: $42

_{Amount: 1 | Dimensions: 42.63 x 3.38 x 28.63 inches | Material: Cardboard and corrugated paper | Handles: No | Tape Needed: Yes}