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Packing materials guide

The common moving boxes and supplies, what each is for, how many a home typically needs, and how to sell them on an order in MoveBoard.

2 min readChecked October 4, 2026

Selling the right materials protects the customer's things and your claims record. Here are the usual items and what they're for.

Boxes

ItemSize (approx.)For
Small box (1.5 cu ft)16 × 12 × 12 inBooks, tools, canned food — heavy things.
Medium box (3.0 cu ft)18 × 18 × 16 inKitchen items, toys, small appliances.
Large box (4.5 cu ft)18 × 18 × 24 inLinens, pillows, lampshades — light, bulky things.
Extra-large box (6.0 cu ft)24 × 18 × 24 inComforters, cushions.
Wardrobe boxabout 24 × 20 × 34–46 in, with a hanging barClothes on hangers.
Dish pack (dish barrel)about 18 × 18 × 28 in, double-wallDishes, glasses and china, with cell kits.
Picture / mirror boxadjustable flat cartonFrames, mirrors, artwork, glass tabletops.
TV boxsized to the screenFlat-screen TVs.

Protection

  • Packing paper — clean newsprint for wrapping dishes and filling gaps.
  • Bubble wrap — for fragile and valuable items.
  • Mattress bags and sofa / chair covers — keep upholstery clean.
  • Stretch wrap — holds drawers and doors shut, protects upholstery.
  • Moving blankets (pads) — usually supplied by the crew, sometimes sold or rented.
  • Tape and labels.

How many?

A common starting point for full packing:

HomeSmallMediumLargeWardrobeDish packs
1 bedroom10–158–125–82–31–2
2 bedrooms15–2515–208–123–42–3
3 bedrooms25–3520–3012–184–63–4
4 bedrooms35–4530–4018–256–84–5

Book-heavy homes need more small boxes; families with lots of clothes, more wardrobes.

In MoveBoard