Room by room
If you would rather count it yourself, walk the house with this list. The numbers are in bins; add a fifth for medium boxes.
- Kitchen: 12 to 18. Always the most. Dishes, glasses, small appliances and the pantry.
- Living room: 6 to 10. Books, electronics, blankets, games.
- Each bedroom: 8 to 12. Clothes, shoes and whatever is in the closet. Kids' rooms run high.
- Each bathroom: 2 to 3. Towels, toiletries, the cabinet under the sink.
- Office: 6 to 10. Paper is heavy, so don't fill these to the top.
- Garage or storage: 8 to 20. The wildcard. Walk it before you order.
The longer version, with the mistakes that make people run short, is in how many moving bins do I need.
If you are buying cardboard boxes
Box sizes are standard across most stores: a small box is about 1.5 cubic feet, a medium is 3.0 and a large is 4.5. Use small boxes for books and anything heavy, medium boxes for kitchen things and most of the house, and large boxes only for light, bulky things like bedding and pillows. A large box full of books is how backs get hurt and bottoms fall out.
Add tape, a tape gun and markers to the list, plus the trips to get it all. When the move is over you will have a pile of flattened cardboard to get rid of. Our guide to where to get moving boxes in Houston covers buying new, finding free ones and renting.
If you are renting bins instead
Bins come already built, with lids, so there is nothing to tape or fold. They stack four high on a dolly and roll, which means fewer trips to the truck. In Houston we deliver them to your door and pick them up from the new place when you are done. Packages start at $119 for 25 bins for a week, with two dollies, labels and zip ties included. See all packages and prices.
Questions people ask
How many boxes do I need for a 1 bedroom apartment?
About 30 medium boxes, or 25 rented bins, for a normal amount of stuff. Go up by a quarter if you have a lot of books or kitchen things.
How many boxes do I need for a 2 bedroom apartment or house?
About 48 medium boxes, or 40 rented bins. That is our Just Right package.
How many boxes do I need for a 3 bedroom house?
About 66 medium boxes, or 55 rented bins. A garage or a home office adds 10 to 20 more.
How many boxes do I need for a 4 bedroom house?
About 90 medium boxes, or 75 rented bins.
What if I run out on moving day?
With cardboard, it means another store run. With our bins, text us and we bring more: extra bins are $4 each for the rest of your rental.
Is a moving bin bigger than a moving box?
Ours are 27 gallons, about 30 by 20 by 15 inches, or 3.6 cubic feet. That is a little more than a medium moving box (3.0 cubic feet) and a little less than a large one (4.5).
Last updated October 2, 2026.