Where can I get free moving boxes?
Quick Answer
Liquor stores (sturdy, uniform sizes), grocery stores (ask the produce department), Nextdoor and Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist free section, bookstores, and office supply stores. Go early in the morning when stores are restocking.
Free boxes can save you $100 to $300 on packing supplies. Here are the best sources and how to get them.
Best sources for sturdy free boxes: liquor stores and wine shops have the best free boxes. They are sturdy (designed to hold glass bottles), uniform in size, and often have dividers that are perfect for glasses and mugs. Ask the manager when deliveries come in (usually Tuesday or Wednesday) and offer to pick them up.
Grocery stores: ask the produce department for banana boxes (sturdy with handles and lids) or apple boxes. Go early in the morning when they are breaking down delivery pallets. Avoid boxes that held perishable items (they may smell or be damp).
Online sources: Nextdoor - post a request in your neighborhood feed. People who just moved often have boxes to give away. Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist free section - search "moving boxes." U-Haul Box Exchange (free section of their website). Freecycle.org.
Retail stores: bookstores (book boxes are small and sturdy - perfect for heavy items), office supply stores, Costco and Sam's Club (member services desk), and Starbucks and coffee shops (coffee shipment boxes).
Other sources: your workplace (copy paper boxes are uniform and have lids), schools and universities (especially at semester end), recycling centers (some sort boxes by size), and friends and family who recently moved.
Tips for collecting free boxes: start collecting 3-4 weeks before your move. Inspect boxes for moisture, mold, and pest damage (avoid any box that looks compromised). Reinforce the bottoms with packing tape before using. Break down extra boxes flat so you have backups.
What to buy rather than scrounge: wardrobe boxes (hard to find free), dish pack boxes (extra thick walls protect breakables), and packing tape (do not skimp - cheap tape fails).