It is essential to use the right type of packing material when packing up your household goods to help prevent damage. This guide is designed to help you to choose the right material by showing you what is available. There are many different size boxes suitable for different items and there is a variety of other packing materials you will need which are detailed below.
The following boxes and packing materials are used specifically for household moving. These boxes and packing materials are manufactured especially to the moving industry specification. You can obtain all these items from your van line agent or a moving supply company for a reasonable fee. You can also begin to collect cartons from your local grocery store and be sure to ask them for the covers also. Boxes used to carry glassware are very useful to the mover as they are usually very sturdy and often contain dividers to separate the glass containers. These can be very useful for packing glasses, bowls, vases, an assortment of glass and delicate items.
Boxes:
- Book (1.5 cubic feet), size 17 x 123/8 x 123/8: These small cartons are designed for heavy items, such as books, records, CD’s, and canned goods.
- Legal Tote (2.3 cubic feet), size 24 x 16 x 13: This box is specially designed for your files and folders.
Medium (3.0 cubic feet), size 101/8 x 18 x 16: This box is designed for non-fragile and moderately heavy items, such as pots, pans, linen, folded clothes, toys, games, etc. - Large (4.5 cubic feet), size 18 x 18 x 24 or (6.0 cubic feet), size 23 x 23 x 20: All large bulky articles, very light, such as pillows, comforters, lamp shades.
- Dish pack (5.2 cubic feet), size 18 x 18 x 28: This box has double extra thick walls specifically designed for dishes, vases, glasses, and other fragile items. You can also use cell packs separator for china or glassware with individual compartments for the items being packed.
- Mirror, picture box: These narrow boxes accommodate different sized mirrors, paintings, other fragile items, and flat items.
- A wardrobe box with metal bar: This box is equipped with a metal bar so clothes can hang.
Mattress Box: Available in different sizes.
Miscellaneous Packing Materials:
- Tape: The most common type used for carton sealing is a plastic tape called “PVC”.
- “Newsprint” paper: NEVER USE NEWSPAPERS as wrapping material. Newspaper ink has a tendency to rub off on items it touches and it very difficult to remove it from items such as fine china. Use “newsprint” paper as cushioning material.
- Tissue paper This can be used to pack up delicate or easily broken items by layering over an over again
- Bubble wrap: This is another material used as cushioning material.
- Styrofoam peanuts: Packing material used to protect fragile items. This material is lightweight, clean, lint-free and dustless and safe.
- Ziploc bags These can be used for an assortment of things including small bits and pieces you may have lying about in containers and drawers.
- Magic makers You will need markers to label the boxes with the contents.
Inside the boxes, you use for moving are your valuable, in some cases priceless possessions. Not all boxes are alike. You should be aware of how box quality, size and loads will affect your move. Below are some questions and answers about moving boxes and moving supplies:
Why is box strength important?
- Corrugated boxes come in all shapes, strengths, and sizes – the stronger the box, the greater the protection for its contents. The moving industry is very competitive, but professional movers use moving boxes that are at least 32 ECT (or 200lb test) in strength. These ratings are standard from the box industry and help ensure that your household belongings will arrive safely. Weaker boxes will crush under load. No moving, truck rental or self-storage company should sell a moving box weaker than 32 ECT (200lb test). There are some retailers that sell much weaker (by 46%) 150lb test boxes and calling them moving boxes. BEWARE! This box was actually designed for light-weight usage and should not be used for moving.
How Do I Know 3How Strong My Box Is?
- All boxes have a certificate seal printed on the bottom flap by the manufacturer certifying the box’s strength. Industry standard Moving Boxes are 200lb test weight or 32 ECT. Larger boxes like Wardrobes or kitchen dish pack boxes Kitchen should have a higher test weight/strength. Also on the certificate, you will find a capacity in weight that the box is designed to handle. Just because a box is large, doesn’t mean it can carry a lot of weight. Make sure to check box strength before you make a purchase to make sure they are adequate for your needs.
How can you sell your products at such a low price?
- We are not a box manufacturer, we are a box distributor. We buy over a million boxes every year so we are able to get great prices from our suppliers. By focusing only on moving boxes for consumers, we get great pricing on our large orders and pass along the savings.
Is size important?
- Yes, size matters! But only in the sense of manageability. Many moving companies sell large boxes for use by large men and their large moving machines. Based on customer demand, BoxBundles boxes are slightly smaller and more manageable. Most of our clients are self-movers, but either way, how you pack the box is as important as how large the box is. The number one cause of damage during a move is a box that is not fully packed. Empty space in a box creates trouble.
Are your boxes brand new?
- YES – just brand new, un-printed boxes direct from the biggest box manufacturers in the USA.
Is it OK to use used boxes for moving?
- Boxes do get weak when reused. Boxes get ruined when they get wet. One of the biggest concerns is the side of the box, where the seam is glued. Over time, this glue becomes unreliable. If you do use used boxes, you should inspect them carefully before packing.
Are your boxes high quality?
- YES – In fact our boxes test over the 200lb test industry standard. Our boxes are more than tough enough even for shipping!! Our Kitchen and Wardrobe boxes are double the strength.
How do you choose the box sizes?
- For our moving supplies and box supplies, we have taken the most popular sizes used in our years of student moving and used these as benchmarks.
Are your boxes guaranteed?
- Absolutely! If you purchase our moving supplies and packing supplies and are not satisfied, you can return them within (10) days of receipt for a refund.