Moving Company Boxes
Buying or sourcing moving company boxes is one of the first practical steps in any house move. The type, size, and quantity of boxes you use directly affect how safely your belongings travel and how efficiently the van gets loaded.
This guide covers the five standard box sizes used across the UK removals industry, where to source them for free or at the lowest cost, and how to calculate exactly how many you need based on your property size.
A 3-bed UK home needs 40 to 60 moving company boxes across five standard sizes. Free boxes are available from supermarkets and Facebook Marketplace.
Giant Van supplies full box kits from £48 delivered, or packs everything for you from £149.
Moving Company Boxes: What We Handle
UK removals companies work with five standard box sizes.
The book box (400mm x 300mm x 300mm) is the smallest and strongest, designed for heavy items like hardbacks, vinyl records, and tools.
The standard box (450mm x 450mm x 500mm) handles most household items: crockery wrapped in paper, pans, shoes, and toys.
The large box (600mm x 450mm x 450mm) suits bedding, cushions, and lampshades.
The wardrobe box (500mm x 600mm x 1200mm) has a metal hanging rail for transferring clothes directly from wardrobe to box without folding.
The picture and mirror box is a flat, telescopic design that adjusts to fit artwork up to about 1000mm x 750mm.
Giant Van supplies all five sizes as part of their packing materials service.
A complete kit for a 3-bed property, with 40 mixed boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and tissue paper, costs around £45 delivered.
Behind the Scenes of Moving Company Boxes Logistics
Moving Company Boxes: The Pre-Day Checklist
What Makes a Moving Company Boxes Booking Complete
Giant Van is a UK removals company operating across 50 cities.
Every move is handled by experienced, vetted crews.
There are no added surcharges on moving day and no fine print about stairs or parking.
Man-and-van bookings start from £48 regionally and £49 in London.
Full house removals start from £149.
How We Schedule Moving Company Boxes
- 01
Preparation is the biggest factor in a smooth moving day.
- 02
Start packing non-essential rooms two weeks before the move.
- 03
Use proper double-walled boxes for books, kitchen items, and fragile goods.
- 04
Label every box with the destination room, not just the contents.
- 05
Disconnect the washing machine and dishwasher the night before.
- 06
Strip beds on the morning of the move.
- 07
Remove pictures and mirrors from walls and wrap them separately.
- 08
Keep a 'day one' box with essentials — kettle, mugs, phone charger, toilet roll — that loads last and unloads first.
Our Moving Company Boxes Reach
A Giant Van booking includes the driver, the van, fuel, and goods-in-transit insurance as standard.
Full removals include transit blankets, straps, furniture dollies, and tool kits for dismantling and reassembling beds and wardrobes.
Packing services are available as an add-on and quoted separately.
Storage — either short-term during the move or long-term for items that will not fit the new property — is available through Giant Van's storage partners.
Vehicle transport (cars, motorcycles) can be added to a house move quote.
Piano and specialist-item moves require a separate survey but are handled by the same team.
Getting your moving company boxes right from the start prevents damage, speeds up loading, and reduces stress on moving day.
Order or collect boxes at least two weeks before the move so you can pack gradually rather than in a frantic rush the night before.
Start with rooms you use least: the spare bedroom, the loft, and the garage.
Leave kitchens and bathrooms until the final 48 hours.
Giant Van supplies complete packing kits from £48 and offers a full packing service from £149 where the crew handles everything.
For a quote, message us in the live chat.
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Moving Company Boxes — FAQs
Can I reuse moving company boxes for a second move?
Yes, if the boxes are still dry and structurally sound. Check the base and corners for soft spots. Boxes stored in heated, dry rooms between moves hold up well. Boxes that have been in a damp garage or shed should be recycled and replaced. Tape all seams again with fresh brown parcel tape before reuse.
What is the strongest type of moving company box?
Double-walled corrugated cardboard boxes are the strongest standard option. They have two layers of fluting between three layers of liner board, making them roughly twice as resistant to crushing as single-walled boxes. Use double-walled boxes for heavy or fragile items like books, crockery, and electronics. Single-walled boxes are fine for clothes, bedding, and soft furnishings.
Related Locations and Services
- Advice — Car Transport Service
- Advice — Moving House Insurance
- Advice — Packing Materials Guide
- Advice — Transport Services
- Advice — Moving House Cost Uk
- Advice — Delivery 2
- Advice — Man and Van Hire
- Advice — Moving House Quotes
- Advice — Delivery 8
- Advice — Courier 6
- Advice — Delivery 6
- Advice — Courier 12
- Advice — Delivery 14
- Advice — Change Address When Moving
- Advice — Courier 11
- Advice — Storage 9
- Advice — Storage 6
- Advice — Storage 11
- Advice — Storage
- Advice — 2
- Advice — Moving to Usa From Uk
- Advice — Moving with Children
- Advice
Sources and further reading
These are the official UK sources that set the rules for a job like this one. Each link goes straight to the source so you can check it yourself. Links open in a new tab.
- WRAP
WRAP's guidance on reuse and recycling, including what to do with packing materials and bulky items you no longer want.
- HSE — Manual handling at work: a brief guide (INDG143)
The Health and Safety Executive's guide to lifting and carrying heavy loads without injuring yourself.
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, s.49 (reasonable care and skill)
Section 49 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015: a service you pay for must be carried out with reasonable care and skill.
- Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013
The regulations covering what a trader must tell you before you book, and your right to cancel a service booked online or by phone.
All links checked on or after 1 August 2026.
Compiled by the Giant Van editorial team
Giant Van Ltd is registered in England and Wales, company number 16071027.