Choosing the Right Moving Boxes: Sizes, Types & Where to Buy
The humble moving box is more important than most people realise. The right box for the right item means easier loading, less breakage, more efficient use of car space, and a much smoother unpack. Here's what you need to know.
8 min read
Why Box Choice Matters for Car Packing
Standardised boxes have a critical advantage: they stack. A boot full of uniform boxes uses nearly 100% of available volume. A boot full of mismatched shapes — supermarket boxes, plastic tubs, and shopping bags — wastes 30–50% of your space to gaps and awkward angles.
Beyond space efficiency, the right box prevents damage (too-large boxes for heavy items collapse), prevents injury (overloaded boxes fail at the worst moment), and makes the unpack dramatically easier when boxes are labelled and sorted by room.
Box Sizes Guide
Small (1.5 cubic feet)
~30 × 30 × 30cmBest for: Books, CDs/DVDs, kitchen items, heavy objects
Avoid: Clothing, light bulky items — wastes space and makes boxes unnecessarily heavy
Medium (3 cubic feet)
~45 × 30 × 30cmBest for: The workhorse box. Pots and pans, shoes, toys, most general household items
Avoid: Very heavy items like tool collections
Large (4.5 cubic feet)
~50 × 45 × 45cmBest for: Bedding, pillows, lamps, light clothing, cushions
Avoid: Books or anything heavy — these boxes become unmanageable
Extra Large / Wardrobe Box
~60 × 60 × 130cmBest for: Hanging clothes (they go in hanging, come out ready to wear), suits, dresses, long coats
Avoid: Non-hanging items — these boxes are too large for general use
Box Types Beyond Standard Cardboard
- Double-wall boxes: Significantly stronger than standard single-wall. Worth buying for fragile items, heavy books, and kitchen items. Often available from Bunnings, U-Haul, or packing supply stores.
- Dish packs: Reinforced boxes with internal dividers for plates, glasses, and mugs. More expensive but prevent the most common moving breakage. Cell inserts can be purchased separately.
- Picture/mirror boxes: Flat, tall boxes for framed artwork and mirrors. Come in adjustable sizes to fit different frame dimensions. Essential — there's no good alternative.
- Plastic moving crates (hire): Available for hire from some moving companies — hard-sided, stackable, waterproof. More expensive than cardboard but eliminate waste and offer better protection.
Where to Get Boxes (Free & Paid)
Free Sources
- • Liquor stores (strong boxes, good sizes)
- • Supermarkets (ask early morning)
- • Bookshops (small, strong)
- • Facebook Marketplace / Gumtree
- • Nextdoor community board
- • Office supply rooms / workplaces
Paid Sources (Worth It)
- • Bunnings (budget-friendly, wide range)
- • U-Haul / storage companies
- • Australia Post (for small items)
- • Removalist companies (often sell excess)
- • BoxMart / specialty packing suppliers
Packing Tips for Car-Friendliness
- Fill boxes completely: Partially filled boxes collapse under the weight of boxes stacked on top. Fill gaps with crumpled paper or clothing.
- Label on the side, not the top: When stacked in your car, you see the sides of boxes. Top labels are invisible until you unstack.
- Consistent box sizes = better stacking: If you're buying boxes, buy one or two sizes in bulk rather than many different sizes.
- Tape the bottom, not just the top: Most box failures happen at the bottom. Use 3 strips of packing tape on the base in a H-pattern.
See How Many Boxes Fit in Your Car
Enter your box dimensions and car model into stowey to calculate how many boxes fit and the optimal loading order.
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