Free Online Calculators
Calculate moving boxes and packing material needed
This calculator helps you figure out how many moving boxes and how much packing material you'll need for your move. You tick the rooms in your home and enter how many of each type you have: a living room, one bedroom, a kitchen and a bathroom come to 40 boxes, 2 wardrobe boxes, 20 kg of packing paper and 3 rolls of tape. Take the guesswork out of packing and plan your move with confidence.
Thanks for your feedback!
Moving costs come down to volume, distance and labour: estimate the cubic metres of your belongings, add the kilometres to the new address, and factor in hours for loading, carrying and unloading. Extras like packing material, a lift platform, parking permits and storage are billed separately.
You want a mix: small, sturdy boxes for books, tools and crockery, medium boxes for kitchen items and toys, and large boxes for bedding, cushions and clothing. Wardrobe boxes with a hanging rail save you from ironing suits and dresses again.
Most movers prefer cardboard boxes because they come in uniform sizes, stack tightly and can be stacked high without slipping. Plastic totes are handy for reuse and damp storage, but their lids and tapered shape waste space in the truck.
Removal firms refuse hazardous goods such as petrol, gas cylinders, paint, solvents, fireworks, ammunition and open cleaning chemicals, plus perishable food and live plants on long hauls. Cash, jewellery, passports, medication and hard drives should stay with you personally.
The kitchen is generally the hardest, because it mixes fragile glass and crockery with awkward appliances, food stocks and dozens of small items. Plan extra time, small boxes and plenty of paper for it.
Free used boxes are the cheapest option: ask supermarkets, bookshops, electronics stores, and check local classifieds or neighbourhood groups where people give away boxes after their own move. If you buy, bundled packs from removal suppliers cost less per box than single purchases at a hardware store.
Moving to a new home is exciting, but figuring out how many boxes you need can feel overwhelming. Pack too few and you're scrambling at the last minute. Pack too many and you're wasting money on supplies you'll never use. Our free Moving Box Calculator takes the guesswork out of packing by estimating, room by room, how many moving boxes and wardrobe boxes, how much packing paper and how many rolls of tape you'll need.
Most people dramatically underestimate how many boxes a typical move requires. With a living room, one bedroom, a kitchen and a bathroom, our calculator already arrives at 40 boxes, and every additional bedroom adds 10 more. Without a solid estimate, you risk multiple trips to the store mid-pack – one of the most frustrating experiences in an already stressful process.
Using a calculator gives you a concrete starting point so you can buy supplies once, stay organized throughout the packing process, and keep your moving budget on track.
Tick the rooms in your home and enter how many of each type you have (1 to 10). Each room adds a fixed number of boxes:
From that selection, the calculator instantly shows four results:
When you open the calculator, the living room, one bedroom, the kitchen and the bathroom are already ticked: that comes to 40 moving boxes, 2 wardrobe boxes, 20 kg of packing paper and 3 rolls of tape.
The calculator tells you how many boxes you need but doesn't split them by size. When you buy them, though, using the right size for each type of item makes packing faster and protects your belongings during transport.
Best for heavy items like books, canned goods, tools, and small appliances. Keeping dense items in smaller boxes prevents boxes from becoming too heavy to lift safely.
The workhorse of any move. Medium boxes are ideal for kitchen items, toys, small electronics, lamps, and décor. They're the most versatile size and you'll likely need the most of these.
Use large boxes for light but bulky items like pillows, comforters, towels, and clothing. Avoid filling them with heavy items – they'll be nearly impossible to carry.
Wardrobe boxes keep hanging clothes wrinkle-free. Dish packs have built-in dividers for glassware. Picture and mirror boxes protect flat fragile items. TV boxes safeguard screens during transit. If you have these types of items, specialty boxes are absolutely worth the investment.
The calculator estimates packing paper and tape. Depending on what you're moving, you may also need other supporting materials:
Even with the right number of boxes, poor packing technique can lead to broken items and wasted space. Keep these best practices in mind:
With a living room, two bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom, the calculator comes to 50 boxes, 4 wardrobe boxes, 25 kg of packing paper and 4 rolls of tape. If one of the bedrooms is a children's room, tick it as such: that makes 52 boxes. How much you've accumulated can push the real number up or down.
Many grocery stores, liquor stores, bookstores, and big-box retailers give away used boxes for free. Apps like Nextdoor, Facebook Marketplace, and Freecycle are also great places to find people giving away boxes after their own recent moves.
Ideally, start collecting boxes 4 to 6 weeks before your move date. This gives you time to gather enough without running out of packing time. Starting early also means less stress as moving day approaches.
New boxes are more reliable – they're structurally sound and the right size. Second-hand boxes can work well for lighter items, but inspect them carefully for moisture damage, weak seams, or pest issues before using them for anything valuable or fragile.
Absolutely. Moving boxes can be reused multiple times if they're stored flat in a dry location. Many people resell them or give them away after their move, so they rarely go to waste.