Where's a good place to get boxes? (moving company, truck, schools)

[reed303]

If you have a local Volvo car dealership near you, call their Parts Dept. I recently retired from one where we regularly had to toss out really nice cartons that we received as spare parts deliveries. Not the parts themselves, but nice size clean cartons that multiple parts were shipped in from the regional warehouse. I would normally have 10 -20 boxes on-hand for employee use, and got more in every day. They also get larger cartons if you need to pack something like a bicycle or yard tools, etc

[NY Annie]

I just moved and didn't buy a single box.

Office supply stores - paper boxes (some with handles)
general office buildings
liquor/wine stores (the wine boxes often come with dividers which makes packing glasses so much easier)
recycle/freeshare organizations

I avoided all food boxes for the reason someone above mentioned - possible bugs - why take a chance?


I packed up a 4000 sq ft house with free boxes.

ETA: Uhaul has a re-use box program.

[bryson662001]

I bought mine at Home Depot and Lowe's and they seemed reasonable compared to the cost of moving in general. I liked Lowe's a little better. They had handles.

[SanRemo]

Lowes and Home Depot sell them for the lowest price I have seen.

[Idlewile]

I second Craiglist. People post free moving boxes left on their curb nearly every day.

We got rid of 150 top quality, near mint Mayflower boxes in 21 minutes last fall and there were several people who came by.

[howard555]

Originally Posted by Idlewile

I second Craiglist. People post free moving boxes left on their curb nearly every day.

We got rid of 150 top quality, near mint Mayflower boxes in 21 minutes last fall and there were several people who came by.

I third Craigslist in the free section, and liquor stores are still good heavy duty boxes.
Larger boxes that might hold clothes or bedding, and if you have some tape, Family Dollar and Dollar General throw out alot of good boxes.

[elan]

Liquor store boxes are great, they even have handles.

[tazzled]

Originally Posted by LS35a

In the old days you could get them at the liquor store.

Where can you get (or buy) boxes now where they don't hammer you on price?

Any suggestions?

I don't know if anyone has suggested this yet (I've not read through responses), but I know from experiences that retail stores (especially ones like Williams-Sonoma and Sur La Table) just throw out their boxes. You could ask them, towards the end of the day, if they would be willing to let you have some. They're large, as well, so you wouldn't need very many.

You can also ask your local groceries and state stores. Also, Freecycle. My local Freecycle is always giving away boxes.

[jodipper]

I agree about the liquor boxes. Strong with handles. When I needed boxes I told a teacher who told the janitor and I got more than I needed. As posted earlier paper boxes are great. Lids not flaps.

[passwithoutatrace]

Craigslist, Freecycle, or ask any of your friends if they discard boxes at work. At my current job we are constantly getting cardboard boxes and they just get recycled. I've never paid for packing boxes when it is so easy to get them for free!