Where to buy moving boxes in 2024

No matter where you call home in the US, you’re likely within spitting (or driving) distance of a Walmart. That makes it the most convenient option for picking up packing boxes locally. Also, where else can you knock out moving supplies while picking up your weekly groceries?

Walmart stocks a variety of moving box sizes, from small to extra large. Most will likely be in stock at your local store, though you may have to order specialty fare like wardrobe boxes for either delivery or in-store pickup. Walmart also offers same-day delivery in many locations along with same-day pickup, if you prefer to do all of your shopping online.

Pricing is in line with other retailers, ranging from a dollar for small boxes to just over two dollars on the larger end. Specialty options, such as wardrobe boxes, are much more expensive, ranging from around $40 to north of $100 depending on the number included in the pack.

Lowe’s and Home Depot are great alternatives to Walmart if you need a little more variety in your moving boxes. Not only do both stores stock your standard slate of box sizes, but they typically have more specialty boxes for TVs and wardrobes available in-store. With my last move, I bought a TV box from Lowe’s and I’ll never move without one again.

Along with a better selection of boxes, Lowe’s and Home Depot also offer larger packs of boxes, including some built around providing enough storage for varying home sizes. For example, you can pick up a two-bedroom home-moving kit that should contain enough boxes, tape, and packing material for your move. Even if your particular home requires a few more boxes, it’s still a convenient way to get started without much thought.

Pricing tends to be a tad higher than Walmart’s lows, at around $1.38 for a standard small box to $2.48 for a large one. However, Lowe’s and Home Depot also have a greater variety to choose from if you’re shopping in-store, including heavy-duty boxes, TV and picture frame boxes, and even various sizes of mattress covers. Add in packing material, and both stores have the potential to be a one-stop shop for everything you’ll need to pack up your home.

U-Haul is mostly known for its truck rentals, but the company offers all kinds of packing materials to help with your move. While you’re setting up your rental, you can add packing boxes, tape, and other materials to your order. That includes specialty boxes for TVs, picture frames, dishes, and more.

The convenience of buying your moving supplies and truck in one purchase is tempting. However, you’ll want to make sure you plan your move so that you get your boxes in the days or weeks before you need your truck rental. It’s worth noting U-Haul’s “take a box, leave a box” program, as well, which allows you to pick up gently used boxes from your local U-Haul location for free and then return your own boxes for other customers to use (depending on availability).

U-Haul’s standard packing-box pricing tends to be in line with Lowe’s and Home Depot, though you end up paying quite a bit more for various specialty boxes and whole-home kits. For example, a two-bedroom kit at Lowe’s runs $195, while U-Haul’s version ratchets the price up to $310. You get a few more types of packing materials with U-Haul’s kit, like a glass-packing kit and a box for dishes, but it’s quite the price hike to consider.

It’s a cliche, but you really can find anything on Amazon, and that’s true of packing boxes. Where Amazon differs from local options: You can’t buy just one box. Instead, they’re sold in packs of multiple boxes.

The sizes are fairly standard between brands, and you have a lot of different brands to choose from, including Amazon’s Basics line. One major thing that makes Amazon stand out from other retailers is its selection of reusable moving totes with zippers. These are more like structured bags that come in a variety of sizes, are often water resistant, and can be folded flat for storage.

Pricing via Amazon is generally a bit higher when broken down to cost-per-box. A 15-pack of Amazon Basics small boxes, for example, is currently priced at around $36, which breaks down to around $2.40 per box. If you decide to go with water-resistant totes, your cost increases, but they’re a great option for longer-term storage.