Moving box calculator
This free moving box calculator estimates how many boxes and packing supplies you need, room by room, in a couple of minutes. Pick your home size, adjust each room, and you get a box count by type, a supplies checklist, and printable labels and a packing plan. No account, no sign-up, nothing to buy — print it or save it in your browser.
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How this works
- Pick your home type (studio through 4+ bedroom, dorm, or office) and set the number of people, packing level, and move type — an estimate appears right away.
- Choose the rooms you're moving and set each one to Light, Normal, or Lots so the count reflects how much is actually in it.
- Review the box breakdown by type — small, medium, large, wardrobe, and specialty boxes — plus a low–high range and a recommended count with a safety buffer.
- Check the supplies list for tape, paper, bubble wrap, markers, and labels sized to your box count.
- Print or save your packing plan and box labels, or come back later — your plan stays in your browser.
Packing tips
- Match the box to the weight: books, canned food, and tools go in small boxes; linens, pillows, and lampshades go in large ones. Heavy items in big boxes get too heavy to lift safely.
- Keep the recommended count, not the minimum. Running out of boxes mid-pack stalls the whole move, and the buffer covers the odds and ends every room hides.
- Wardrobe boxes let hanging clothes go straight from the rod to the box with no folding — one or two per closet saves a surprising amount of time.
- Use dish (dish-pack) boxes for kitchen and dining fragiles. They're double-walled and worth it for glassware and stemware.
- Set your fragile level honestly. A high setting adds packing paper and bubble wrap and shifts more of your kitchen into dish boxes.
- Do the whole home in one pass, including the garage, closets, and under-bed storage — those spots are where box estimates usually fall short.
Frequently asked questions
How does the calculator decide how many boxes I need?
It starts from your home size, then adjusts for how many people live there, your packing level, fragile items, and the move type. Each room you add contributes its own share based on the Light / Normal / Lots setting. The result is a range with a recommended count, not a single hard number, because real homes vary a lot.
What box types does it estimate?
Small, medium, large, and extra-large boxes for general packing, plus wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes and specialty boxes when they apply: dish boxes for fragiles, picture/mirror boxes, TV boxes, file boxes, and reusable totes. Each type in the results shows its typical dimensions and what it's best for.
Does it also tell me how much tape, paper, and bubble wrap to buy?
Yes. The supplies checklist scales to your box count and fragile level — packing tape, packing paper, bubble wrap, markers, labels, mattress bags, furniture pads, and more. You can print it as a shopping list before you head to the store.
Why is the estimate a range instead of one number?
No calculator can see inside your closets, so a single number would be false precision. We show a low–high band and a recommended count that includes a roughly 10–15% buffer. Buying to the recommended number is safer than the minimum — leftover flat boxes are easy to return or reuse.
Can I get printable labels and a packing plan?
Yes. Once you have an estimate, you can print box labels (room name, box number, and Fragile / Open First flags) and a one-page packing plan with your room-by-room breakdown, supplies checklist, and a first-night box list. Plain paper and scissors are all you need.
Do I need an account, and does my plan save?
No account and no sign-up. Your plan saves automatically in your browser, so you can close the tab and pick up where you left off. Because it's stored locally, it stays on the device you used — it isn't synced across phones or computers.
Does this include furniture or a moving truck size?
No. This tool estimates boxes and packing supplies only, not furniture volume or truck size. It covers what you'll pack into boxes; large furniture and appliances are handled separately when you book a truck or movers.