The Best Places to Buy Moving Boxes at a Cheap Price (or for Free)

Moving is a worry-inducing and expensive time for anyone. But while packing up your whole life into boxes can be stressful, getting your hands on those boxes should not be. There are many convenient places you can go to find sturdy and inexpensive (if not downright free) moving boxes.

Here are some of the places you should check out if you’re looking for boxes for your big move without breaking the bank.

Where to Find Free Moving Boxes

The best things in life are free, right? Turns out there are plenty of places you can go to find free moving boxes — if you know where to look.

Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist

People are giving away moving boxes all the time on websites like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. Just type “moving boxes” into the site’s search bar and you’ll find multiple results — mainly people trying to unload moving boxes after their own move. You might need to be picky to ensure the boxes aren’t in rough shape, but hey … free is free.

Liquor Stores

Shipping boxes for liquor are typically not large, but they are sturdy. They’re often made with reinforced cardboard to keep glass bottles intact during transportation.

Check with your local liquor stores to see if they have any boxes you can take off their hands. Even if you can’t pack some of your bigger possessions into these boxes, they’re perfectly suited for moving smaller, more fragile objects.

Big Box Store Shipments

Big box stores routinely get large shipments of products into their back warehouses, leaving them with more empty boxes than they know what to do with. Call a few stores in your area and ask them if you can grab some boxes before they send them off to be recycled.

Don’t limit yourself to big box stores like Walmart and Costco, either. Book stores like Barnes and Noble and office supply stores like Office Depot also receive regular shipments and could serve as a great source for free moving boxes. It never hurts to call!

Where to Buy Moving Boxes for Cheap

Even if you can’t find enough free boxes, there are plenty of places to buy moving boxes for so cheap it’ll feel like they might as well be free.

Home Improvement Stores

You’ll find the largest in-person selection of moving box shapes and sizes at home improvement stores like The Home Depot and Lowe’s, along with any other moving supplies you might need. These stores stock standard moving boxes from small to large for about $1 to $2 each. They also offer moving boxes specially designed for your wardrobe or television set, but those are typically more expensive.

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Amazon

Amazon is a great option if you want moving boxes delivered to your door, no muss, no fuss. Amazon Basics will ship bundles of boxes to you in a matter of days (and shipping is free if you’re an Amazon Prime member). Expect to pay about $1 to $2 per box.

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U-Haul

If you’re planning on renting a truck or trailer for your move, you might as well get your boxes from the same place. U-Haul sells individual moving boxes for about $1 each depending on their size, and also offers moving kits that include boxes, packaging materials, tape and markers.

While these kits are definitely more expensive than boxes on their own, they provide good value as a bundle and ensure that you have everything you need when moving day finally comes around.

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