Good, sturdy, and inexpensive cardboard boxes

Submitted by teslonelf t3_1274c9u in BuyItForLife

This may be way outside the scope of this sub, but I'm not sure where else to look.

My roommate just lost his job and so I'm going to need to move. I have a ton of good sturdy totes in storage, but they're all full from my previous move.

Unfortunately, I don't have the money to get more of those ($12 per), but I don't need that many more boxes and most of my remaining things are fairly light. So I'm hoping someone can recommend some cardboard boxes of decent size (not liquor store boxes) for things such as clothes, desk drawer items, bathroom items, and other small, lightish, miscellaneous things.

I likely need about 10-15 boxes (20"x20"x20" would be perfect, but similar size is fine) and hope to spend less than $20 for the lot. I've had a lot of boxes in the past (looking at you, U-Haul) that make a lot of promises and break every single one of them if you try to store long term or if you reuse them, and I'm trying to avoid that going forward.

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Quail-a-lot t1_jecnmyv wrote

Banana boxes are good, but if you want regular sized boxes - go to Home Depot instead of U-Haul. Same size but much cheaper.

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unravelledrose t1_jecid0t wrote

Go to your grocery store and ask for old boxes.

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teslonelf OP t1_jecjbzt wrote

I've never had them last longer than the trip from the old home to the car. Also, most of the stores around here break them down as soon as they're empty.

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unravelledrose t1_jecjwer wrote

Get some packing tape and you can put them back together.

If you want to buy new ones, home depot/Lowes have heavy duty ones that work for heavier items.

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Sunshinehaiku t1_jecn4tq wrote

Liquor stores.

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Hortonthepuppyprince t1_jed7yrs wrote

This is the one. The boxes from the liquor store are sturdy as hell

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GrubH0 t1_jeeph24 wrote

It varies, but yes. They have some very good boxes. They also use boxes for customer purchases, so some can be cranky at the question.

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Muncie4 t1_jefemz4 wrote

This is the way. Much sturdier due to holding glass. Most stores are small enough where they pitch them without a story policy/recycling bin.

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Bongos-Not-Bombs t1_jegjzps wrote

The advantage with liquor boxes is that they're often smaller, and don't turn into 75lb behemoths like the 20" cube moving boxes can.

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InevitableArt5438 t1_jeclh7x wrote

I get interlocking stackable vegetable boxes at costco from the box bin. Other stores have them too but costco has more of the larger sized ones. If you need the top covered get a smaller box and put it on top without anything in it. The best part is they are FREE

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teslonelf OP t1_jecn875 wrote

I don't think those will work for everything, but for my desk, bathroom, and kitchen drawers, those would be perfect, thanks!

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couldbeyouornot t1_jeclqgu wrote

our storage unit place had a little debbie snack truck that would throw it's boxes in their dumpster every tuesday afternoon, and they were always clean and rigid and good boxes. this was good info for many moves.

I don't think it matters "what kind of box", you just need to find a place near you that doesn't want them.

i've bought like, 6 boxes in my life. there is no BIFL cardboard box. just get some gently used boxes and tape em up real good.

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teslonelf OP t1_jecmu79 wrote

Yeah, definitely not expecting lifetime usage, but sturdy enough to actually make it to my new apartment would be great. I didn't think about the corner markets that really push the volume on snacks, but those do have some nice sturdy boxes.

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couldbeyouornot t1_jecnuy0 wrote

yeah, a box that had chips in it has had no wear and tear.

you just need a tape gun and some packing tape. a reinforced bottom with tape is always smart, and way cheaper to do than buy a 12$ box.

good luck with your move!

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Treat_Choself t1_jefse1v wrote

If you don't need the rigidity of moving boxes, the ikea big blue bags with the zipper and backpack straps are amazing for moving. Clothes, bedding, shoes, all that stuff - light, easy to move, squishable within reason and even stackable. and they fold up small when you're done!

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teslonelf OP t1_jeg0yz8 wrote

I've never heard of those before. Looked 'em up and those will work for a lot of what I have left to pack, thank you!

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your_Assholiness t1_jeeeeyc wrote

Liquor store boxes are smaller but much stronger! or look for corrugated plastic produce boxes, they deliver corn in them where I live.

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thegirlandglobe t1_jeef1pk wrote

Check Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or "Buy Nothing" groups for people who just unpacked from a move and are giving their boxes away. Often there are a lot of strong boxes (from moving companies) that have obviously been used once but have lots of life still.

Otherwise, I've had great luck moving multiple states away with boxes purchased at either Home Depot or Lowe's - about $2/box depending on exact size (and cheaper if bought by the 10-pack). Yes, it seems ridiculous to pay for boxes but when time is short, it's a lot easier to pay the $20 than running all over town than free ones.

EDIT: I'd also recommend sorting through the totes you already have in storage to see if you can declutter and get some space back.

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HotDerivative t1_jeel2c6 wrote

Maybe search online to see if someone is giving away or selling Banker’s boxes cheap. I used those my last two moves and recycled them from the first for the second. Held up incredibly well and still have them.

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GrubH0 t1_jeeptz4 wrote

When we bought a house, the seller left unneeded boxes. They had been brought home from a pizza chain restaurant. For heavy bags of cheese or sauce. Absolute tanks. I recycled most of the boxes from moving, but kept every pizza box.

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psimian t1_jeg1od7 wrote

Google cardboard recycling. Most cities have at least a few cardboard collection sites that have dumpsters you can raid. Amazon boxes are okay, Chewy boxes are fantastic. Get a few rolls of fiber reinforced kraft paper tape <link> and a sponge (this stuff is water activated). If you put one strip along the seam, and one down the center of each bottom flap, even a flimsy cardboard box is unlikely to fall apart. Total cost: $10, and maybe a minute of work to reassemble/reinforce each box.

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teslonelf OP t1_jeghgxm wrote

Outstanding recommendations! My roommate gets chewy products on a subscription, so that's perfect.

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weblur t1_jegp38n wrote

If you live near a big library, they may have extra boxes from supplies and book orders.

I've always liked the size of banker's boxes so bought them in bulk from an office supply store.

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