Moving Box Sizes Chart: Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large in Cubic Feet
Standard moving box sizes: small 16 x 12 x 12 in, 1.3 cu ft; medium 18 x 18 x 16 in, 3.0 cu ft; large 18 x 18 x 24 in, 4.5 cu ft; extra large 24 x 18 x 24 in, 6.0 cu ft. Book boxes are 12 x 12 x 12 in, 1 cubic foot. Put heavy items in small boxes and light, bulky items in large ones, and keep each box under about 50 pounds. The chart gives each size with what to pack and the stocked box, plus specialty boxes and a box count by home size.
Standard moving box sizes and dimensions
Moving boxes are sold by nominal size and cubic feet, and the rule that governs them is simple: heavy things go in small boxes, light bulky things in large ones, and no box should weigh more than one person can carry down a staircase. A small box full of books weighs about 45 pounds; the same books in a 4.5 cubic foot large box would weigh well over 100. The chart lists the standard sizes with what each is for and the stocked box that matches.
| Box | Size (in) | Cubic feet | Pack it with | Safe weight | Stocked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book box / small | 12 x 12 x 12 | 1.0 | Books, records, canned goods, tools, dense kitchen items | up to 40 lb | 12x12x12 ECT-32 Kraft Corrugated Cube Shipping Boxes 25-Pack from $31.21 |
| Small | 16 x 12 x 12 | 1.3 | Books, files, dishes wrapped in paper, small appliances | up to 45 lb | 16x12x12 ECT-32 Kraft Corrugated Heavy Duty Shipping Boxes 25-Pack from $41.73 |
| Small cube | 14 x 14 x 14 | 1.6 | Pantry, cleaning supplies, shoes | up to 45 lb | 14x14x14 ECT-32 Kraft Corrugated Cube Shipping Boxes 25-Pack from $48.75 |
| Medium | 18 x 18 x 16 | 3.0 | Kitchenware, toys, small appliances, folded clothes, decor | up to 50 lb | 18x18x16 ECT-32 Kraft Corrugated Shipping Boxes 20-Pack from $56.67 |
| Medium cube | 18 x 18 x 18 | 3.4 | Lamps, pots and pans, mixed household | up to 50 lb | 18x18x18 ECT-32 Kraft Corrugated Shipping Boxes 20-Pack from $59.76 |
| Large | 18 x 18 x 24 | 4.5 | Bedding, pillows, lampshades, clothing, plastic goods | up to 50 lb, bulky and light | 18x18x24 ECT-32 Corrugated Boxes 6-Pack from $32.95 |
| Extra large | 24 x 18 x 24 | 6.0 | Comforters, coats, cushions, stuffed toys, area rugs | up to 50 lb, bulky and light | 24x18x24 ECT-32 Kraft Corrugated Shipping Boxes 10-Pack from $48.00 |
| Extra large cube | 24 x 24 x 24 | 8.0 | Very light bulky goods; two-person carry | under 40 lb | 24x24x24 ECT-32 Kraft Corrugated Cube Shipping Box 10-Pack from $56.67 |
Wardrobe, dish pack, mirror and lamp boxes
| Specialty box | Use | Stocked (from) |
|---|---|---|
| Wardrobe box | Hanging clothes on the built-in bar; 2 to 3 ft of closet rod per box | 20x20x45 ECT-48 Wardrobe Packing Boxes 3/Case ($69.25, hanger bars included); 24x20x46 ECT-48 Wardrobe Boxes 5-Pack ($107.83); hanger bars: 24 in 150 lb Steel Wardrobe Hanger Bar ($2.55); 20 in 150 lb Silver Steel Metal Wardrobe Hanger Bar ($5.90) |
| Dish pack partition kit | Plates, glasses and mugs in cells; pair with a 12 x 12 x 12 or 14 x 14 x 14 box | ECT-32 Dish Pack Partition Kit 3 Sets with Pads ($14.03); 18x18x28 Dish Pack Boxes 5-Pack ($47.09) |
| Mirror and picture box | Framed art, mirrors, glass tops; telescoping two-piece | 30x40x3.5 ECT-32 Mirror Boxes ($13.23); 40x60x3.5 ECT-32 Kraft Mirror Boxes Corrugated ($15.67) |
| Lamp box | Floor and table lamps; tall and narrow | 12 5/16x12 5/16x40 ECT-32 Kraft Outer Lamp Boxes 15-Pack ($59.25); 12x12x46 ECT-32 Kraft Lamp Boxes 15-Pack ($64.94) |
| File storage box | Letter and legal files with lids; stack in the truck | 15x12x10 Kraft Economy Corrugated File Storage Boxes 12/Case ($66.86); 24x12x10 Kraft Corrugated File Storage Boxes 12/Case ($84.17) |
| Telescoping box | Rods, poles, rolled rugs, long parts | 30.5x6.5x24 ECT-32 Telescoping Outer Boxes 10-Pack ($57.08); 4x4x48 ECT-32 Kraft Telescoping Inner Box 25-Pack ($61.14) |
How many moving boxes do I need?
| Home | Small | Medium | Large | Extra large | Wardrobe | Dish pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio or 1 bedroom | 10 to 15 | 10 to 15 | 5 to 8 | 2 to 4 | 1 to 2 | 1 |
| 2 bedroom | 15 to 25 | 15 to 25 | 8 to 12 | 4 to 6 | 2 to 4 | 1 to 2 |
| 3 bedroom | 25 to 35 | 25 to 35 | 12 to 18 | 6 to 10 | 4 to 6 | 2 |
| 4 bedroom and up | 35 to 50 | 35 to 50 | 18 to 25 | 10 to 15 | 6 to 8 | 2 to 3 |
Packing by box size
- Small boxes first. Books, papers, canned goods, tools, dishes wrapped in kraft paper; fill to the top so the box does not crush.
- Medium for the kitchen and closets. Pots, small appliances in their cords, folded clothes, toys; keep under 50 lb.
- Large and extra large for soft goods. Bedding, pillows, coats, cushions; they fill the box without weight.
- Tape the bottom in an H with 2 in carton sealing tape; a 55 yard roll seals about 30 boxes top and bottom.
- Label two sides with room and contents; stack heavy small boxes on the bottom of the truck and light large ones on top.
Strength and reuse
Moving boxes sold by carriers and truck rental companies are usually 32 ECT single wall, the same grade as the stocked shipping boxes on this chart; a double wall box (48 ECT) is worth it for books, records and anything that will be stacked in storage for months, as explained on the box weight capacity page. Boxes survive two or three moves if they are stored flat and dry between them; the reuse guide covers what to check. The full list of stocked sizes is on the box size chart, and the cubic feet chart converts any size.
Buy these sizes by the case
Moving sizes are sold in bundles. Each listing shows its box count, and the listed price is for the whole bundle.
Moving boxesShipping boxes by the bundleDouble wall boxes for books and storageCushioningRequest a bulk quote
Orders of one or two items with a product subtotal of $500 or more ship free when the checkout freight rate is $120 or less. Orders of three or more items get the volume discount instead of free shipping. See the shipping policy.
Frequently asked questions
What are the standard moving box sizes?
Small is about 16 x 12 x 12 in, 1.3 cu ft. Medium is 18 x 18 x 16 in, 3 cu ft. Large is 18 x 18 x 24 in, 4.5 cu ft. Extra large is 24 x 18 x 24 in, 6 cu ft. Book boxes are 12 x 12 x 12 in, and wardrobe, dish pack and mirror boxes cover specialty items.
What size box for books?
A small box, 12 x 12 x 12 or 16 x 12 x 12 in. Books are dense; a small box full of them already weighs 40 to 45 pounds.
How many boxes do I need to move a 2 bedroom apartment?
Roughly 15 to 25 small, 15 to 25 medium, 8 to 12 large, 4 to 6 extra large, 2 to 4 wardrobe boxes and a dish pack, depending on how much is furniture versus loose contents.
How much weight can a moving box hold?
The box is rated 65 lb (32 ECT) or 100 lb (48 ECT double wall); the practical limit is what one person can carry safely, about 50 lb.
What is a wardrobe box?
A tall box (about 20 x 20 x 45 in) with a metal bar so clothes move on their hangers; each holds 2 to 3 feet of closet rod.