If you are moving, then you are going to need boxes, and chances are you will need a LOT more boxes than what you realized! There are plenty of places where you can buy boxes for moving. For those who want to save money on their move, here are some places where you can get free boxes.
Furniture Stores
Furniture stores are a great place to get free boxes because they will actually have large ones, and probably boxes in many sizes. You might even be able to get some free packing supplies too, like bubble wrap or packing peanuts.
Office Buildings
You’ve be surprised how many boxes a typical office building will have because they get so many deliveries each day. Just call and ask the doorman or building manager if you can have the boxes and they will probably hold them for you.
Liquor Stores
Unlike the boxes you’d get from a food store, liquor store boxes usually don’t have food residue on them. They are also usually very sturdy. These small boxes are great for packing books and heavy items.
Craigslist
Local listing websites like Craigslist are great places to find free boxes. Often, people who have just moved will list their boxes up on the site for free so they don’t have to bother hauling them to recycling. Once you are done with your move, you can get rid of the boxes in the same way. If you don’t see any boxes in the “free” section, you can put up a listing in the “wanted” section.
A Note about Grocery Store Boxes
Grocery stores are the obvious place to pick up free boxes. However, these boxes generally aren’t the best for moving. By the time you pick them up, they have already taken a beating, been broken down, and might even have insects or mold on them. Never use meat boxes because of bacteria! If you do opt to use grocery store boxes, only take ones which are clean and sturdy. Reinforce them with packing tape, but don’t try to tape boxes back together. They will fall apart! These used boxes should only be used for packing light items.
If You Still Don’t Have Enough
While you may be able to get enough free boxes, you should still make sure to leave room in your moving budget to buy some boxes. You don’t want to run out of boxes at the last minute and realize you only have half your home packed! A reputable moving company will give you good deals on moving boxes and other moving supplies.