Packing calculator: how many boxes do you need?

How to use the packing calculator

1. Count your rooms. Use the steppers for bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, offices, the kitchen and the garage.
2. Pick how full they are. Minimal for a lightly furnished home, average for most, full for a home with years of belongings.
3. Read the list. The table shows box counts by size, plus tape and paper.
4. Print it or bring it. Print the list, or show it to your estimator at the free in-home visit.

Running out of boxes the night before the truck arrives is one of the most common moving-day problems. Running out of the right size is the other. This calculator starts you at a sensible number by room, so you can buy or collect boxes once.

Why box size matters

Heavy things go in small boxes and light things in large ones. Books and canned food in a large box make a carton nobody can lift and the bottom tears. Lampshades and pillows in a small box waste space. The calculator splits your count by size for this reason, and adds wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes and dish-pack boxes for kitchens.

What the calculator cannot tell you

It does not see your home. A collector's bookcase, a garage full of tools or a kitchen with three sets of dishes changes the count, which is why it is a starting point. It also gives no prices; the cost of packing, if you choose ours, is on your written estimate.

Getting the boxes

Your first 10 heavy-duty boxes are free with your in-home estimate, yours to keep with no obligation. Boxes, tape, paper and bubble wrap are also sold at our Sparks office at 2277 Glendale Ave. If you would rather not pack at all, see professional packing.

Packing tips that save boxes

• Fill every box to the top so it does not crush
• Use towels and linens as padding instead of paper
• Leave clothes in dresser drawers if your mover agrees
• Label every box with the room it goes to

Packing day plan

Start with rooms you use least, such as the garage, guest room and storage closets, two to three weeks before the move. Pack the kitchen last, leaving a few plates, a pot and a pan for the final days, and keep a first-night box with sheets, towels, chargers and basics.