Every move in York seems to start the same way. A tower of flattened cardboard appears in the hallway, someone finds a roll of tape with two inches left on it, and you suddenly realise you own more mugs than any reasonable household needs. Packing boxes for moving house are one of those things people buy in a panic on the last weekend, which almost always means a second trip to the shop and a lot of guessing.
We have loaded vans across York and North Yorkshire since 2008, so we have seen every version of this. Here is what actually matters: what sizes to buy, how many, what to put in each one, and the packing order that stops your boxes turning into a game of Tetris with a smashed plate inside.
What size packing boxes do you actually need?
Most suppliers split cardboard moving boxes into small, medium and large, and describe them as quick to assemble for general household items. Standard removal boxes generally sit somewhere in a range from 18 x 18 x 10 inches up to 18 x 18 x 20 inches, so you get a shallow box for dense items and a deeper one for lighter, bulkier things. Extra large boxes go further again, and one common size is 53cm x 53cm x 41cm, which works out at around 115 litres, often with carry handles cut into the sides.
The rule that matters more than any measurement is simple: the heavier the item, the smaller the box. Books, tins, tools and crockery in an oversized box become an awkward, unstable weight that is horrible to carry down a York staircase and likely to split at the base.
| Box type | Typical size | What it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Small | Towards the 18 x 18 x 10 inch end of the range | Books, tins, tools, crockery, anything dense |
| Medium and large | Up to around 18 x 18 x 20 inches | Bedding, towels, clothing, kitchenware, toys |
| Extra large | Commonly 53cm x 53cm x 41cm, around 115 litres | Duvets, cushions, soft furnishings, light bulky items |
| Extra tall | Sold alongside large and extra large in kits | Long, light items that will not fit a standard box |
How many packing boxes will you need?
Retailer guidance puts a single room or a smaller move at roughly 10 to 20 boxes, and a whole home at 30 to 50. That tracks with what we see on the van. A one-bedroom flat sits at the lower end, a family house pushes past it, and the garage and loft are usually the bit nobody planned for.
Popular kits reflect that spread. Best sellers include a pack of 20 large boxes, a pack of 10 extra large boxes and a pack of 10 extra tall boxes, and you can buy them together as a house moving packing boxes kit with 60 metres of bubble wrap included. That is around 40 boxes in one go, which suits a typical three-bedroom move with a bit of breathing room.
Two practical points. First, buy a handful more than you think you need, because the last few boxes are always the odd-shaped ones. Second, keep your boxes roughly the same footprint where you can. Mixed sizes stack badly, and a badly stacked van is a slow, expensive load.
What does a box kit cost?
A house moving packing boxes kit with 20 large boxes, 10 extra large boxes, 10 extra tall boxes and 60 metres of bubble wrap is listed at a regular price of £79. Smaller packs of removal boxes commonly sit in the £20 to £30 bracket, and new removal boxes can be found from around £10.30 for a single pack, with larger bulk orders running considerably higher. Some suppliers offer free UK home delivery, and at least one offers next-day delivery on orders placed before 7pm.
Retail prices move about, so check the current listing before you commit rather than relying on a figure you read somewhere.
New boxes, used boxes or free ones?
Used home moving boxes are a solid choice if you want to save money and reduce your environmental impact on your next house move. A used box that is dry, square and sturdy does exactly the same job as a new one for clothing, bedding and soft furnishings. Just avoid using second-hand boxes for anything heavy if the corners are soft.
Free boxes do turn up if you ask around early, but they are rarely uniform and often flimsy. If a box has held fruit or food, has been damp, or already has a crushed corner, leave it behind. A failed box mid-move costs you far more than the few pounds you saved.
What else belongs in your packing kit?
Boxes alone will not get you through a move. Alongside them, pick up:
- Bubble wrap for glassware, ceramics, mirrors and picture frames
- Foam edging and foam corners for furniture and frames
- Pallet wrap for holding drawer units, bedding bundles and awkward items together
- Fragile tape so the warning is visible from across the room
- Removal blankets for furniture and anything with a surface you care about
- A marker pen and a tape dispenser, which are always the two things people forget
How to pack a box properly
The order below is what we would do ourselves, and it is the difference between a box that survives the journey and one that arrives as a rumour of its former contents.
- Tape the base properly, running tape along the centre seam and then across both ends of it. One strip down the middle is not enough.
- Put the heaviest items at the bottom, sitting flat, and work upwards to the lightest.
- Wrap anything breakable individually in bubble wrap, and use foam edging on corners and rims.
- Fill every gap. Voids are what cause crushing, so use bubble wrap, clothing or soft furnishings to stop movement.
- Keep plates and glasses on their edges rather than flat, and never let glass sit directly against glass without padding.
- Stop before the box bulges. If the lid will not close flat, take something out and start another box, otherwise it will not stack.
- Tape the top the same way as the base, and add a strip over the lid seam for anything heavy.
- Lift it. If it feels awkward or you would not want to carry it downstairs, it is too heavy, so repack it into two smaller boxes.
Labelling: the bit everyone skips
Write the room it belongs in and a short contents note on the side of the box, not just the top, because tops get hidden once boxes are stacked. Mark anything fragile clearly, and add a simple priority note for boxes you will want first.
Then pack one essentials box and keep it with you rather than on the van: kettle, mugs, tea and coffee, toilet roll, phone chargers, a change of clothes, basic toiletries and any medication. It is the box that turns the first night in a new house from grim to manageable.
When it is worth calling in a man with a van
You can absolutely hire a van and do it yourself, and plenty of people do. The point where it stops making sense is usually the stairs, the awkward sofa, or the fact that your mates have all mysteriously become unavailable on moving day.
Our man with a van hire starts from £75 per hour with no VAT and no hidden fees, and we cover local moves across York and North Yorkshire as well as nationwide moves from York. We have been trading since 2008, we hold a 5-star Google rating across more than 489 reviews, we are fully insured, and we do not subcontract your move to anyone else. Alongside house, flat and bungalow removals, we handle office removals, student moves, house clearances, storage relocations and single-item or eBay pickups, plus specialist jobs like upright pianos and motorbikes.
We like to think we are large enough to cope and small enough to care. If your boxes are packed and taped, we will get them loaded, secured and delivered without the drama.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get free boxes for moving house?
Free boxes turn up in all sorts of places if you ask around before your move: friends who have just moved, neighbours, local community groups, and shops that have finished unpacking deliveries. The catch is strength. Supermarket boxes crush easily, especially in a van, and damp cardboard loses its shape. If you go down the free route, check every box is dry and solid before you trust it with anything breakable.
How long before moving house should you start packing?
There is no single number that suits every home. It depends on how much you own, how much space you have to store packed boxes, and how much time you can give it. The practical approach is to begin with the things you use least, such as out-of-season clothes, spare bedding, decorations and the contents of a loft or garage, then work towards the rooms you live in every day.
Is it worth buying new boxes for moving house?
Usually yes, at least for the boxes carrying anything heavy or fragile. New corrugated boxes hold their shape, stack predictably and cope with a van full of furniture squeezing past them. Used moving boxes are a genuinely good option for lighter items and for anyone on a tight budget, and buying used saves money and reduces waste. Just check each one for damp and crushed corners first.
What are the best boxes to use for moving house?
Sturdy corrugated removal boxes in small, medium and large sizes cover most of a house move. Small boxes take books, tins and tools, while medium and large take lighter things like bedding, clothing and kitchenware. Extra large and extra tall boxes handle duvets, cushions and long light items. Skip anything flimsy, damp or already crushed, because it will let you down somewhere between the front door and the van.