--- title: How Many Moving Boxes Do I Need? A Count by Room url: https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-many-boxes-do-i-need/ business: O'Brien's Moving & Storage address: 2277 Glendale Ave, Sparks, NV 89431 phone: 775-359-6683 (toll-free 1-800-253-7814) hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm licenses: U.S. DOT No. 30611, MC-109375, Nevada CPCN 1070; interstate agent for Bekins Van Lines since 1955 type: Moving and storage company, family owned since 1941 --- - [Home](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/) - [Moving resources: guides, checklists, tools and data](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/resources/) - [Moving guides](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/) - How many boxes do I need? # How many boxes do I need? Count by room and by shelf rather than by bedrooms, then add a margin, because most households pack more than they expect. Start with the 10 free heavy-duty boxes from your in-home estimate and use the packing calculator to turn your room list into a box count. or call [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) [4.3 on Google · 71 reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/) Family owned since 1941 [U.S. DOT No. 30611](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/about/licenses-and-authority/) Box counts are the number that most often goes wrong in a move. Too few and you pack the last room into trash bags; too many and you pay for supplies you carry back out. A careful count takes ten minutes and a notepad. ## Count what is in the room, not the room A bedroom with a built-in closet needs more boxes than the same room with an empty closet. Walk each room and count what sits in cabinets, on shelves and in drawers. Books are the clearest example: a short run of shelf holds many small boxes, because books need a small box to stay light enough to lift. The kitchen is the next largest count, followed by the garage. Start there, since a kitchen and a garage hold more small, heavy and odd-shaped items than any other room. ## Match the box to the contents - Small boxes: books, records, canned food, tools, anything heavy. - Medium boxes: kitchen items, toys, small appliances, shoes. - Large boxes: lightweight items such as pillows, linens and lampshades. - Wardrobe boxes: hanging clothes, so nothing is folded and wrinkled. - Dish and glass cartons: fragile kitchen items with dividers or padding. - Specialty cartons: mirrors, pictures and flat-screen TVs, packed upright. ## Use the calculator, then add a margin The [packing calculator](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/tools/packing-calculator/) on this site turns a list of rooms into a starting box count. Treat the result as a floor. Add a margin for the things you will find in the back of a closet and for items you buy before the move. If you have a lot of books, art, or a full workshop, add more. Boxes and supplies are sold at the Sparks office, so a mid-move top-up is a short trip. See [boxes and supplies](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/packing/moving-boxes-and-supplies/). ## Let the crew pack part of it You can pack some rooms and hand the rest to the crew. Box packing only means the crew packs into your boxes, and partial packing covers chosen rooms. Either way, the count shrinks for the rooms you give away. [Packing services](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/packing/) lists the options. ## Pack by weight, not by size Heavy items go in small boxes and light items in large ones. A box you cannot lift without strain will split a seam or injure a back. Tape the bottom twice, fill the gaps with paper and close the lid flat. ### Sources (checked October 18, 2026) - [FMCSA, Protect Your Move](https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move) - [USPS, Official Mover's Guide](https://moversguide.usps.com/) ### Free in-home estimate - An O'Brien's estimator walks through your home - A written, itemized estimate - 10 free heavy-duty boxes, yours to keep [How our estimates work](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/how-our-estimates-work/) ### Visit or call the office 2277 Glendale Ave, Sparks, NV 89431 [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) | Monday to Friday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm | | --- | --- | | Saturday and Sunday | Closed | [Get my free estimate](#estimate) ### Related - [Packing calculator: how many boxes you need](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/tools/packing-calculator/) - [Moving boxes and packing supplies at our Sparks counter](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/packing/moving-boxes-and-supplies/) - [Professional packing services](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/packing/) - [How to pack for a move](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-pack-for-a-move/) Packing calculator ## How many boxes do you need? Kitchen 1 Bedrooms 2 Living rooms 1 Bathrooms 2 Office 0 Garage 1 How full are your rooms? Minimal Average Full **Boxes, a rough guide** Your first 10 free heavy-duty boxes are free with your in-home estimate. [Get my estimate and my 10 boxes](#estimate) Moving guides ## Read next - [Portable containers vs full-service movers](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/pods-vs-full-service-movers/) - [Vault storage vs self storage](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/vault-storage-vs-self-storage/) - [How to prepare furniture for storage](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/preparing-furniture-for-storage/) - [Long-term storage tips](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/long-term-storage-tips/) - [How to pack for a move](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-pack-for-a-move/) - [How to pack dishes](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-pack-dishes/) - [How to pack glasses and stemware](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-pack-glasses/) - [How to pack plates](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-pack-plates/) Answers ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683), Mon-Fri 8-5, or see the [moving FAQ](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/faq/). ### Are the 10 free boxes enough? They are a start for packing the first room. Use the calculator for a count of the rest. ### Where do I get more boxes? Boxes and supplies are sold at the Sparks office. ### Should I use boxes from a store? Used boxes work for light items. Heavy and fragile items belong in sturdy new cartons. ## 4.3 stars from 71 Google reviews What customers say about O'Brien's [Read more reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/)[See them on Google](https://maps.google.com/maps?cid=17335326057105140938) L Leticia H. November 1, 2024 O'Brien's Moving and Storage packing crew were great!! They were fast, friendly and most importantly, very professional. Thank you guys. M Michelle C. August 28, 2024 Extremely happy with the moving experience. The moving team showed up on time, friendly and polite. They did a wonderful job moving our boxes and furniture to the new location. We moved a three bedroom home and I could not be more pleased with the employees who assisted with the move. Highly recommend O'Brien moving for your move. ### Owner's reply Michelle, thank you so much for taking the time to write this review. We are so happy to hear about the move experience you had with our company and glad to know we met your expectations! It means a lot to us to know that. Thank you for choosing us as your moving partner. S Sonia P. August 4, 2023 Talk about organized people. I peeked in the truck about an hour into the job and was amazed at how well organized it was and how many of my things had protective coverings. Our bed is a mechanical one and a nightmare to us, but these guys had no issue with it at all. Although I have no desire to ever move again--but if I did, I would be calling these guys for sure!!! ## Get your free, in-home moving estimate An estimator visits, walks through everything and gives you a written, itemized estimate. Rather talk? [Call 775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm Our estimators: Sean, Luke, Christa and Janet. 2277 Glendale Ave Sparks, NV 89431 [4.3 on Google · 71 reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/) Family owned since 1941 U.S. DOT No. 30611 · MC-109375 · Nevada CPCN 1070