# where do I buy boxes for moving, cheap? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 1, 2004, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-buy-boxes-for-moving-cheap/262499 "2004-09-01T00:50:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-buy-boxes-for-moving-cheap/262499/21 "2004-09-01T22:01:28Z")
I’ve had the best luck with grocery stores. You usually have to talk to someone in advance, so they’ll put the boxes aside and not cut them up, but each time I ended up with way more boxes than I could use. ---
**Author:** ![stargazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@stargazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stargazer)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-buy-boxes-for-moving-cheap/262499/22 "2004-09-01T22:26:14Z")
Also, check out your local Starbucks. My husband works there, and gets boxes for us and our friends when we move. They get deliveries on certain days and usually have to get rid of their boxes fairly quickly (not much space to store them), but you can get a lot of same-size boxes for free. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-buy-boxes-for-moving-cheap/262499/23 "2004-09-01T23:21:33Z")
> [@JerH](#): > > When I last moved, I went to the local office supply superstore and bought a bunch of those boxes that are used for file storage - I think packs of six were being sold for $5. (Comparably sized “moving boxes” were $2 or $3 ea.) They’re a good size for packing books or dishes. I agree with this suggestion. The file storage boxes you can get from Staples/Officemax/Office Depot are sturdy and a comfortable, uniform, size. If you load a large box with books, it might be too heavy to easily move, but I’ve found that even when filled with hardcover books, a file storage box is a comfortable weight. They go on sale at various times of the year (especially tax time, but they might be on sale now, since it’s back to school time). Plus they have a nice blank spot on the side where you can write the contents. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-buy-boxes-for-moving-cheap/262499/24 "2004-09-02T01:57:55Z")
I went to Kmart tonight and they gave me a bunch of boxes, free. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-buy-boxes-for-moving-cheap/262499/25 "2004-09-02T05:42:30Z")
I’ve had good luck getting free boxes from Staples and OfficeMax. For buying boxes, try U-Line. ([www.uline.com](http://www.uline.com)) They sell an astonishing variety of packing and shipping supplies. You’ll notice that the most popular sizes of cardboard boxes are a lot cheaper than the others, so watch for that to get a good value. They also sell “moving kits” and other package deals for people who are moving. > [@Antigen](#): > > And a lot of stuff moves well in big trash bags, so you may not need as many boxes as you think… Excellent point. Here’s a tip: Get yourself a box of CLEAR trash bags. (Try Home Depot for a good price.) Double bag them, and you can move all sorts of stuff like bedding, clothes, pillows, etc. in them. You’ll know that the items in the bags aren’t breakable, so they’ll be easy to handle. And the reason you should use the clear ones: Because you’re probably using the black ones for your trash. If the not-trash is in clear, and the trash is in black, you can easily differentiate between the two categories. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-buy-boxes-for-moving-cheap/262499/26 "2004-09-02T05:43:54Z")
The above post was from me, not **Billdo**. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Tower\_Dweller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@Tower\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tower_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-buy-boxes-for-moving-cheap/262499/27 "2004-09-02T15:40:53Z")
This is my first year since college where I’m **not** moving at the end of my lease. I’ve gotten boxes many ways, but my favorite is this - find the 24-hour grocery store. Ask them when they do stocking - this will usually be late at night, around midnight. Go there while they’re stocking - as long as you stay out of their way, the guys stocking will be happy for you to grab the empty boxes when they’re done with them (less for them to crush later). Of course, the sizes will depend on what they’re stocking that night, but go a couple of times and you should be fine. TD [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-buy-boxes-for-moving-cheap/262499.md?page=1)