How to use the moving box count estimator
- Choose Room by room or Square feet.
- For rooms, list each room type with how many you have and the boxes each one needs. The starting numbers are examples, so change them to match what you own. For square feet, enter the size of your home and how many square feet there are per box.
- Set the extra for things you forget. Under advanced options, set the share of small, medium and large boxes, which must add up to 100.
- Read the total number of boxes and how many of each size to get.
Formula
Rooms: boxes = sum of (number of rooms x boxes for each)
Square feet: boxes = square feet / square feet per box
Boxes with extra = boxes x (1 + extra %), rounded up to a whole box
Each size = total x share, adjusted so the sizes add up to the total
Sizes are whole boxes. When the shares do not divide evenly, the largest remainders get the extra boxes so the three sizes add up exactly.
Counting by room and by square feet
The example list has 1 kitchen at 20 boxes, 1 living room at 12, 2 bedrooms at 10, 1 bathroom at 4, 1 dining room at 8 and 1 garage at 15. That is 20 + 12 + 20 + 4 + 8 + 15 = 79 boxes. With 10% extra, 86.9 rounds up to 87. A 30, 50 and 20 percent mix gives 26 small, 44 medium and 17 large boxes.
By square feet, a 1,200 sq ft home at 50 sq ft per box is 24 boxes, and 27 with 10% extra. Both are example rules and not standards. A home with a lot of belongings needs more boxes, and a sparse one needs fewer.
Why the numbers are yours to change
There is no fixed number of boxes for a room. A kitchen with a lot of dishes needs more than a bare one, and a garage can need five boxes or fifty. The starting values here are only a place to begin. Walk through the rooms, estimate honestly, and edit the numbers.
A good test is to pack one room completely, count the boxes it took and use that count as your guide for similar rooms.
Sizes and what goes in them
Small boxes suit books and heavy items so that a box stays liftable. Large boxes suit light and bulky items like linens and lampshades. The share of each size is a choice that depends on what you are packing, so the tool makes it an input.
To plan the rest of the move, see the moving checklist generator, compare costs with the moving cost calculator, and prepare a packing list. The square footage calculator helps if you need to measure rooms.
Assumptions and limits
- Boxes per room, square feet per box, the extra and the size mix are examples that you change.
- Wardrobe boxes, specialty boxes and furniture are not counted.
- The total is rounded up to a whole box.
- The size shares must add up to 100.
Frequently asked questions
How many moving boxes do I need?
It depends on how much you own. Count by room using your own estimates, or divide the square footage by the square feet per box you choose, then add some extra. The numbers in the tool are examples to start from.
How many boxes do I need for a 1,200 square foot home?
At the example rule of 50 square feet per box it is 24 boxes, or 27 with 10% extra. A home with more belongings needs more, so change the rule to match.
Why add extra boxes?
People nearly always find more to pack than they planned, such as items from closets and garages. The extra percent covers that. Set it to 0 if you prefer to buy more later.
How should I split small, medium and large boxes?
Use small boxes for heavy things like books, medium boxes for general items and large boxes for light, bulky items. Enter the shares you want and the tool splits the total.