Skip to content Standard moving boxes currently cost about $1.39 to $3.49 each at the low end of published U-Haul pricing, while wardrobe and other specialty boxes can cost roughly $7 to more than $20 apiece. The total cost of moving boxes depends on how many you need, the mix of box sizes, whether you buy in bulk, and how many specialty packing products you add.
Current published prices put a small standard moving box as low as $1.39, a medium at $2.04, a large at $2.48, and an extra-large box at $3.49. A household buying 50 standard boxes can easily spend around $100 on the cardboard alone before adding tape, packing paper, bubble cushion, wardrobe boxes, taxes, or other protection.
Standard cardboard boxes are usually the least expensive part of the packing-material budget. U-Haul's current published prices provide a useful national baseline because moving supplies are available through locations in both Oakland and Reading.
| Moving Box | Dimensions | Current Published Price | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 16⅜ × 12⅝ × 12⅝ in. | As low as $1.39 | Books, canned goods, tools and heavier small items |
| Medium | 18⅛ × 18 × 16 in. | As low as $2.04 | Kitchen items, toys, decor and general household contents |
| Large | 18 × 18 × 24 in. | As low as $2.48 | Clothing, pillows, lampshades and lightweight bulky items |
| Extra Large | 24 × 18 × 24 in. | As low as $3.49 | Comforters, linens, large pillows and other bulky items |
| Book Box | Specialty compact box | $1.50 | Books, records and dense belongings |
Pricing source: U-Haul standard moving boxes . Prices shown are published starting prices reviewed in August 2026 and may vary by quantity, location, pickup method, and availability.
| Specialty Box | Current Price | Why Someone Might Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Laydown Wardrobe Box | $6.99 | Folded or hanging clothing that needs more protection |
| Small Wardrobe Box | $16.95 | Shorter hanging garments |
| Medium Wardrobe Box | $17.95 | Closet contents kept on hangers |
| Large Wardrobe Box | $21.50 | Longer garments and larger hanging loads |
Two households can each use 50 boxes and still have very different packing budgets. A move using mostly standard boxes may stay close to $100–$150 for cardboard, while adding multiple wardrobe boxes, dish protection, tape, paper, bubble cushion, and specialty containers can push the total substantially higher.
If you're unsure how many boxes your home is likely to require, start with our guide to estimating how many moving boxes you need before building your packing-supply budget.
Buying the boxes is only part of a realistic packing budget. Tape, packing paper, cushioning, stretch wrap, furniture protection, labels, and specialty containers can equal or exceed the cost of the cardboard itself.
| Packing Supply | Current Example Price | Budget Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Paper packing tape — 55-yard roll | $7.25 | Recurring supply on larger packing jobs |
| Packing paper — 200 sheets | $19.99 | Useful for dishes, glassware and cushioning |
| Large-bubble cushion — 100 ft. | $25.99 | Often reserved for fragile or higher-risk belongings |
| Medium wardrobe box | $17.95 each | Several boxes can quickly add $50–$100+ |
Current examples: U-Haul moving and packing supply pricing .
To make the numbers easier to understand, we built an illustrative 50-box shopping basket using current published U-Haul starting prices. This is a planning example rather than a quote because exact pricing depends on bundle quantities, local inventory, and checkout options.
| Item | Quantity | Published Price Used | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small boxes | 15 | $1.39 | $20.85 |
| Medium boxes | 20 | $2.04 | $40.80 |
| Large boxes | 10 | $2.48 | $24.80 |
| Extra-large boxes | 5 | $3.49 | $17.45 |
| 50 Standard Boxes | 50 | — | $103.90 |
| Paper packing tape | 1 roll | $7.25 | $7.25 |
| Packing paper | 200 sheets | $19.99 | $19.99 |
| Large-bubble cushion | 100 ft. | $25.99 | $25.99 |
| Medium wardrobe boxes | 2 | $17.95 | $35.90 |
| Total Example Packing Supplies | — | Before sales tax | $193.03 |
The 50 cardboard boxes themselves account for about $103.90 in this example. Once we add just four common packing-supply categories, the same shopping trip rises to about $193.03 before sales tax. That is why budgeting only for boxes can underestimate the real cost of packing a home.
Not necessarily at the shelf. National moving-supply retailers can advertise the same merchandise prices in different parts of the country. The clearer regional difference in our comparison comes at checkout because Oakland and Reading have different sales-tax rates.
U-Haul lists moving-supply locations in both markets, including U-Haul Moving & Storage of Oakland Coliseum at 8000 San Leandro Street and Reading Self Storage at 527 N 3rd Street in Reading. Both locations advertise boxes, tape, packing supplies, cushioning, moving tools, and related products.
| Market | Pre-Tax Basket | Sales Tax Used | Estimated Checkout Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland, California | $193.03 | 10.75% | $213.78 |
| Reading, Pennsylvania | $193.03 | 6% | $204.61 |
| Difference | Same merchandise | 4.75 percentage points | About $9.17 |
Tax sources: California Department of Tax and Fee Administration and Pennsylvania Department of Revenue .
It would be misleading to say moving boxes automatically cost more in California. An identical national-retailer box may have the same advertised price in Oakland and Reading. In this controlled example, the measurable regional difference is sales tax, which adds about $9.17 to a $193.03 supply basket in Oakland compared with Reading.
Customers packing in Northern California can also review Ace Moving Co.'s Oakland packing services and Bay Area packing services . For moves originating in Southeastern Pennsylvania, see our Pennsylvania packing services and Reading movers .
The easiest way to overspend is to buy every box individually, use specialty boxes for belongings that do not need them, or purchase far more packing material than the move requires. A little planning can cut the bill without sacrificing organization or protection.
U-Haul currently lists its large box at $2.87 individually versus $2.48 each in a 15-box bundle, and its medium box at $2.27 individually versus $2.04 each in a 20-box bundle.
Five $17.95 medium wardrobe boxes cost $89.75 by themselves. Folding appropriate clothing into standard boxes can reduce that expense.
Buying too few boxes creates extra trips, but buying far too many ties up money unnecessarily. Start with a room-by-room estimate and adjust as packing progresses.
U-Haul currently advertises a 100% buy-back guarantee on unused U-Haul boxes with a receipt at corporate U-Haul centers.
Clean, dry, structurally sound used boxes can work for lighter and less fragile belongings. Avoid weak, damp, contaminated, or heavily crushed boxes.
Clear room labels and contents labels make unloading and later retrieval easier, especially when boxes are going into storage or being opened over several days.
For a deeper organization strategy, see our contents inventory and box labeling guide .
Before buying large quantities of tape, blankets, wrap, or specialty packing materials, ask your moving company what is included with your service and what is billed separately. Professional packing may make sense for fragile items or rooms that would otherwise require a large amount of specialty material.
A standard cardboard moving box currently starts around $1.39 for a small box and about $3.49 for an extra-large box using published U-Haul starting prices. Individual pricing can be higher than bulk pricing.
A 50-box mix using current published starting prices comes to roughly $104 for the cardboard alone in our example. Adding tape, packing paper, bubble cushion, wardrobe boxes, and sales tax can push the total close to or above $200.
Compared with standard boxes, yes. Current U-Haul wardrobe-box examples range from about $6.99 for a laydown wardrobe box to $21.50 for a large hanging wardrobe box.
It can be. Some box bundles have a lower per-box price than purchasing the same box individually. Compare the required bundle quantity with the number of boxes you actually expect to use.
Not necessarily before tax. National retailers may advertise identical merchandise pricing in both markets. In our standardized $193.03 supply-basket example, Oakland's higher sales-tax rate increases the checkout total to about $213.78 versus about $204.61 in Reading.
Yes, when the boxes are clean, dry, strong, and appropriate for the contents. New moving boxes are generally a better choice when consistent sizing, stacking strength, or added protection is important.
Ace Moving Co. provides packing and moving support for customers in the Bay Area and Southeastern Pennsylvania, from partial packing assistance to full household preparation.