Where to Get Free Boxes for Moving

Let’s face it: moving can get expensive, and saving money where you can will help ease the financial stress caused by all the costs of getting to your new home. 

While most people buy moving boxes, you can also find free moving boxes from some unconventional places. 

Stockpiling Boxes from Online Purchases

If you’re an online shopper, finding free moving boxes is as easy as simply saving the boxes from your online purchases! In the months leading up to your move, start saving these boxes so that you can cut down on the number of boxes you need to find or purchase for your move. 

Even smaller boxes like shoeboxes can be great storage options during your move. No matter how into spring cleaning you are, you’ve still probably got knickknacks or other weirdly-shaped clutter that needs to be packed away in a shoebox instead of a larger box. 

These smaller boxes are also useful for breakable items — those 40 Christmas ornaments that don’t fit on your tree but you still keep anyway for their sentimental value aren’t going to pack themselves!

Other Places to Get Free Boxes for Moving 

When you’re looking for where to get free moving boxes, you’ll be surprised to find a ton of great options in your neighborhood.

Here are some places to start your moving box salvaging journey: 

• Recycling Centers. Check your local recycling center, and see if they’ll give you some of their cardboard boxes. Getting free moving boxes from them is just another way to keep the recycling process going! 

• Grocery stores, pharmacies, liquor stores. These stores get shipments of things all the time, and they may have extra boxes you can use for moving. When in doubt? Ask! Local businesses may be happier to part with their boxes to help someone else in the community. 

• Electronics stores and other big box stores like Costco. Stores that sell in bulk like Costco or have large boxes like electronics stores may be willing to part with their boxes, so be sure to check in and see what they have available. Costco in particularly often gives away boxes to customers, so see if they have any they would be willing to give you for your move. (And if you need to stock up on some supplies for your new pantry, you can get two errands done in one trip!) 

• Bookstores. Books take up a lot of space, so hit your local bookstores to see if they have any free moving boxes they’d lend you. Secondhand and used bookstores may be less likely to have boxes than the bigger chains because they depend on gathering used books from the community, so try the bigger bookstores first. 

• Craigslist, Facebook, and other online groups. Chances are, someone near you has just moved and has a pile of moving boxes they don’t know what to do with. Ask around in your social media groups as well as on Craigslist to see if anyone has just moved or is moving soon and have free moving boxes they’d be willing to part with. By taking the boxes off their hands, you’re making their lives easier by saving them a trip to the recycling center. 

Storing Your Moving Boxes

Storing these boxes can seem cumbersome at first, but if you break down the boxes and fold them, you can save some space. Keep them somewhere dry like in the back of a closet or under a bed for easy storage. 

The last thing you want to do is store them in a garage and then find that some spiders have decided to come with you on your move!

While you’re securing your free boxes for moving, make sure you’re all set when it comes to the rest of the services for your home. Use SmartMove’s tools to get special offers for your area on cable, Internet, smart home setups, security systems, and moving quotes.

Now get out there and start collecting free moving boxes for your eventual box fort you’re definitely going to build once you’re in your new home.