25 Places to Get Free Moving Boxes

How to Get Moving Boxes for Free

Free moving boxes are abundant if you keep your eyes open. Using them saves you money and helps the environment by recycling cardboard containers. When you find them, ensure they're clean, sturdy, and in good condition to protect your items. Read on to find plenty of places that offer various-sized boxes for moving for free that can take some of the hassles out of packing.

Tips

Remember that when you're finished unpacking after your move, someone else will appreciate your free moving boxes. If you can't find someone wanting your free moving boxes, recycle them at your nearest recycling center.

Craigslist

Craigslist is an excellent resource for finding free moving boxes.

Use Craigslist's "Free" section to see if anyone is giving away free moving boxes. You'll have better luck finding free moving boxes near the end of the weekend or the beginning of the week when most people take the time to unpack or clean out old boxes.

Post in the "Wanted" section that you want free moving boxes. Many people giving away their moving boxes will look here before posting in another section.

You can also use the Craigslist search box to find free moving boxes. Even if someone wants money for their moving boxes, you may be able to negotiate with them to swap something you already have and no longer want for the free moving boxes.

Freecycle

Check Freecycle to see if free moving boxes are available in your area. Be aware that some local Freecycle groups have rules that require you to give away an item before claiming a free item.

You'll need to join your local online Freecycle group, post that you want free moving boxes, and see if you get any responses. You never know what might be lying around someone's garage.

U-Haul Customer Connect

U-Haul Customer Connect is a new service set up by U-Haul that lets you search for free moving boxes near you from people who have just finished unpacking and need to get rid of their boxes.

Enter your zip code or city into the search box, and you'll find free moving boxes just waiting for a new home.

Facebook Community Groups

Local Facebook groups often announce free stuff giveaways in your community. Do a quick search on Facebook for local groups that deal with swaps or community groups where people post often and seem friendly.

The great thing about these Facebook groups is that you don't need to wait until someone posts an offer of free moving boxes. Post that you're looking for some, and you'll be amazed at how many people have some or know some neighbors who will have some available soon.

You can also visit Facebook Marketplace to look for moving boxes. Use the "Only Show Free Listings" option to see if there are any free boxes near you.

Local Stores and Retailers

Local stores are great resources for finding free moving boxes. Just ask retailers in your area if they have some boxes you can take off their hands. Many will be very glad to get rid of the boxes they have.

Stores with perfect free moving boxes include computer and office supply stores, bookstores, shoe stores, liquor stores, pharmacies, home improvement stores, fast food restaurants, coffee shops, pet stores, department stores, and dollar stores.

Drive down by alleyways, loading docks, or backdoor store exits to see if a cardboard recycling bin exists. If you notice one, ask the store manager if it's OK to take their boxes in the bin.

Save Your Delivery Boxes

Save your boxes if you receive many deliveries, like from Amazon or FreshDirect. Shipment boxes are usually clean, sturdy boxes. They can also be easily broken down, collected, reassembled, and reinforced with tape.

Office Buildings

Office buildings receive a large number of packages every day, and after they unpack those boxes, they don't need them anymore.

Go in and chat with the person working at the front desk. They'll be able to point you in the right direction regarding where you can go to get some free moving boxes.

Find Someone Who Just Moved

People move all the time, and they need a lot of moving boxes to move their stuff. After they've moved, they can't wait to get rid of all the empty boxes taking up space in their new home.

Check your neighborhood and open your eyes and ears to see who's just moved in. They probably have a garage packed with free moving boxes that are yours for the taking.

Apartment Complexes

Apartment complexes are great places to look for free moving boxes because people constantly move in and out of them.

Go into the apartment complex office and speak to the manager to see if any free moving boxes are available. A friendly manager will be able to tell you who to get them from or where you need to go to fetch them.

College Dorms

Every new school year, colleges and universities have Move-In Day, during which students move into the dorm or on-campus housing for the school year.

On this day, many boxes are heading into the dorms, but you never really see them leaving. Most of these boxes are thrown out, and the students would be happy to see them find a new home instead.

Recycling Centers

Where do people take their unwanted cardboard boxes? Usually to a recycling center.

Stop by your local recycling center and speak to the attendant if one exists, or take a peek into the cardboard box bin and see what's available.

Most boxes will be broken down, but some packing tape will fix these immediately.​​

Local Schools

When schools order supplies, they often come in very sturdy cardboard boxes. While the schools frequently reuse as many boxes as possible, they still have boxes they don't need.

Stop by your elementary, middle, and high schools and see if they have any boxes they'd like to remove. Don't forget those community colleges and university offices, either.

Yard Sales

If you drive by a yard sale, be sure to stop by. Not only may you find some new treasures, but you might also find some free moving boxes that the owner wants to eliminate.

Tip

Stop by yard sales near the end of the day when most of the stuff has been sold. You'll be much more likely to find empty boxes.

Letgo or OfferUp

Letgo, or a similar selling app like OfferUp, offers free listings in addition to regular buy-and-sell listings.

Search for "boxes" on the app, and you'll get results for your local area. Look for the word "Free" across the listings to pick up all the free boxes you can find.

Nextdoor.com

Nextdoor.com is a hyperlocal social networking service for neighborhoods, which is an effective place to find free moving boxes near you. Although it's often the hub for local gossip, news about missing pets, or upcoming events sprinkled in the posts, you can also find out about new moves or post a request for boxes.

Bars and Restaurants

Places that sell food and drink, like local and fast-food restaurants and bar and liquor stores, all get sturdy cardboard boxes. Whatever you do, go at nonpeak hours. Liquor boxes are designed to hold heavy bottles, so most are reinforced.

Banks

Banks frequently receive shipments of paper and promotional materials in solid and reusable boxes. Contact your local bank branch or other banks in your neighborhood.

Friends and Family

Friends, family, and neighbors may have a few empty cardboard boxes. Especially if they order from Amazon often. Check if they'd be willing to give you anything ahead of your move.

Libraries and Bookshops

Check your local major bookseller or independent bookstore to see if they have some boxes they need to get rid of.

Your Workplace

In most workplaces, employees are considered part of the inner circle and will get first preference if you ask for leftover boxes. Ask your manager or, if you have a loading dock for deliveries, ask the intake people if they have boxes to spare.

Warehouse Clubs

Warehouse clubs like Costco, BJ's, and Sam's Club break down tons of cardboard boxes daily. If you're a member, it's easier to approach them for free boxes, so take a shot. Even if you're not a member, you might get lucky with some free boxes if you ask the manager.

BuyNothing

This free community app works great for giving away or selling stuff. Other great options for free cardboard moving boxes are community members who recently moved into your neighborhood and may be giving away their boxes. The app allows you to post requests, including for free moving boxes. Buy Nothing also maintains a list of local, private Facebook groups.

Pharmacies

Pharmacies receive regular shipments of goods in sturdy, medium-sized boxes. Ask a store employee if any are available or if there is a good day to get boxes.

Grocery Store

Grocery stores also receive frequent shipments in sturdy boxes, ranging from medium-sized boxes with canned goods to larger boxes with bulk items. Avoid produce boxes with stains, drips, moisture, insects, mold, and dirt.

Furniture and Appliance Stores

Furniture and appliance stores have some of the largest boxes. Although larger boxes can't be used for books since they're heavy and will break through a box, they work well for blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you use to secure a cardboard box for moving?

Once the box is packed, you should use packing tape to close it tightly, then write what is in it on the top of the box, thus making it easier to locate items after you move.

Can cardboard moving boxes be reused multiple times?

Cardboard boxes can be reused numerous times if they're in good shape and have not gotten wet. Before packing and reusing, carefully examine them to ensure the boxes are in good condition with no rips or soft spots.

What can you use if run out of moving boxes?

If you have used up all your moving boxes, there are a number of items you already have on hand that can be used to pack your belongings. Clothes hampers, laundry baskets, suitcases, and garbage bags all work well to pack stuff in when moving.

Read the original article on The Spruce.