Compare Removal Companies · Packing box list · compareremovalcompanies.co.uk/packing-box-calculator
You'll need about
| Packing tape (48mm rolls) | |
| Bubble wrap | |
| Packing paper | |
| Marker pens | |
| Materials if bought new estimate |
A word from the van
The boxes are where most self-packed moves go wrong. It's rarely that people run out on day one. They run out at 11pm the night before, with the kitchen still to do. Removers say the same three places always need more than people think: the kitchen, the loft and the garage.
Their other rule: small boxes for heavy things, big boxes for light things. A large box full of books is too heavy to lift safely and is the one whose bottom gives way on the stairs. Order a few spares. It's cheaper than a dash to the shops on moving day.
Typical boxes by property size
Two published UK guides, side by side. Our calculator starts from the MovingCost mix[4], then adjusts for your answers. Pickfords' ranges[1] are there as a sense-check.
| Property | Small | Medium | Large | Wardrobe | Total (MovingCost) | Total range (Pickfords) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 4 | 6 | 2 | 1 | ~13 | 10–15 |
| 1 bedroom | 6 | 10 | 5 | 1 | ~22 | 15–23 |
| 2 bedrooms | 10 | 18 | 9 | 2 | ~39 | 23–40 |
| 3 bedrooms | 15 | 25 | 13 | 3 | ~56 | 40–65 |
| 4 bedrooms | 22 | 35 | 18 | 4 | ~79 | 65–100+ (4+ bed) |
| 5+ bedrooms | 30 | 50 | 25 | 6 | ~111 | 65–100+ (4+ bed) |
MovingCost figures are for an "average" UK home; it says minimalists need around 30% fewer boxes and collectors around 30% more[4]. Pickfords suggests ordering more if you have a loft, garage, shed or storage unit to clear, lots of children's or hobby kit, or a fully stocked kitchen, and fewer if you've decluttered or are leaving furnished accommodation[1].
Which box for what
SSmall
Books, records, tins and jars, tools, paperwork: anything dense. Pickfords' small carton is 535 × 305 × 260mm, and it suggests filling it to about 5kg[1].
MMedium
The workhorse: kitchenware, small appliances, ornaments, toys, shoes. Pickfords' medium is a 457mm cube, filled to about 8kg[1].
LLarge
Light, bulky things: duvets, pillows, cushions, lampshades, soft toys. Pickfords' large is 800 × 400 × 450mm, about 10kg[1]. Never books.
WWardrobe
Hanging clothes go straight from the rail into the box on their hangers, with no folding and no ironing at the other end. Allow about one per wardrobe.
Packing tips from the trade
Start with the loft and shed
They hold the most boxes, and you won't miss anything in them. Pack them two weeks out.
Tape the bottom twice
Run tape along the centre seam and across both edges. A single strip is how boxes split on the stairs.
Label by room, not contents
"BACK BEDROOM" on two sides and the top tells the crew where it goes. Number the boxes and keep a list.
Plates on their edge
Wrap plates individually in paper and stand them on edge like records, with crumpled paper at the bottom and top of the box.
Fill the gaps
A half-empty box crushes when another is stacked on it. Fill voids with tea towels, socks or paper.
Pack an "open first" box
Kettle, mugs, tea, loo roll, chargers, medicines, bedding and tools. It travels with you, not on the lorry.
Check your insurance
A removal firm's insurance often won't fully cover boxes you packed yourself[9]. For valuables and breakables, ask about their packing service.
Free boxes are fine, mostly
Supermarket and second-hand boxes are fine for books and linens. For the kitchen and anything you'd hate to lose, double-wall removal boxes are worth the money.
Packing box questions
How many moving boxes do I need for a 3-bedroom house?
MovingCost puts an average 3-bedroom home at about 56 boxes: roughly 15 small, 25 medium, 13 large and 3 wardrobe boxes. Pickfords gives a range of 40 to 65. Add more for a full loft, a garage or a well-stocked kitchen.
How many boxes do I need for a 2-bedroom flat?
About 39 boxes on MovingCost's figures (10 small, 18 medium, 9 large, 2 wardrobe), and 23 to 40 on Pickfords' range. A minimalist flat could need around 30% fewer.
How much tape and bubble wrap do I need?
MovingCost's rule of thumb is one roll of tape per 15 boxes or so, and one 500mm × 100m roll of bubble wrap per 25 boxes. Allow extra for a kitchen full of glassware.
How much do moving boxes cost?
Prices checked in October 2026 ran from about £1.20–£1.60 a box in online multipacks to £2–£6 each on the high street, with Pickfords cartons from £4 and wardrobe boxes around £8. Free boxes from local groups and shops cost nothing.
Should I order more boxes than I think I need?
Yes. MovingCost says most people underestimate by 10 to 20%, especially for kitchens, lofts and garages. Our calculator adds 10% spare by default.
Boxes sorted. Now the van.
Removal firms price from your volume, so the box count you just worked out is useful when you ask for quotes. One form, quotes from firms that cover your move.
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Sources & methodology
All prices are in GBP, are indicative and come from the sources below. They are guide figures, not quotes. Sources accessed 13 October 2026.
- Pickfords, "Moving boxes calculator: how many boxes do you need?". Box counts by property size, box dimensions and suggested fill weights, and when to order more or fewer.
- Pickfords, "What packing materials do I need for moving house?". Move-kit contents: 10 small, 10 medium and 3 large boxes, 2 rolls of 48mm × 50m tape, 1 roll of 750mm × 10m bubble wrap and a marker pen, for a 1–2 bed home.
- Pickfords, Eco Box Shop. One move kit suits a 2–3 bed home; order two for a larger home.
- MovingCost, Packing boxes calculator (2026). Box mix by property size; minimalists need about 30% fewer boxes and collectors about 30% more; about one tape roll per 15 boxes and one 500mm × 100m bubble roll per 25 boxes; most people underestimate by 10–20%.
- MovingCost, Methodology (2026). Typical extra volume for a loft (+75 to +400 ft³), garage (+150 to +700 ft³) and shed (+50 to +300 ft³).
- Stackt, "Moving boxes in London: where to get them, free and paid", prices checked 10 October 2026. New boxes £2–£6 each on the high street; Amazon multipacks about £1.20–£1.60 a box; Pickfords cartons from £4; Stackt small/large boxes £2.72, wardrobe boxes £8.10, tape £2.72.
- Postingbox, Bubble wrap roll 750mm × 50m: £15.95 special price, £22.95 regular price, inc. VAT (checked October 2026).
- Removal Boxes, Large moving boxes (x10 pack): £39 inc. VAT for ten 457mm double-wall boxes; standard delivery £3.95.
- Which?, "How to choose the best removals company", 2026. On insurance for items you pack yourself.