8 Places to Find Free Moving Boxes

Out of all the costs you have to worry about during moving, paying for moving boxes shouldn’t be one of them. Many places give out their leftover boxes for free or at a low price, and you just have to know where to look for them.

Here are some places where you can find boxes for free. Please note that safety should be of high concern. Unless you are with someone else, don’t agree to meet anyone at their home or at an undisclosed location. Public and well-lit places are ideal. And now the list:

1. Craigslist

Craigslist is one of the largest online communities where people can buy, sell or trade items. Searching for free boxes on this website is relatively easy, but check daily. They can go quickly, especially in the Spring and Summer, when most people move homes. You don’t have to only look at what is already posted. Create a post in the “wanted” section, so people in your area know that you’re looking for them too.

2. Book Stores

Because book stores, especially the larger ones like Barnes and Noble or Half Price Books, will have lots of sturdy boxes coming and going regularly.  Some will allow you to take some. Just call and ask when their shipments come in; this will be the best time to get boxes.

3. Online Freecycle Groups

Freecycle is an online community where people can post if they are giving away items. It promotes reducing, reusing, and recycling goods to avoid masses of unnecessary items piling up in landfills. There are posts for almost every city in the country. Just make an account and post that you are looking for moving boxes.

4. Liquor Stores

Similar to bookstores, liquor stores are a great place to look for boxes. Often, they have them sitting in the front of the store for people to come to pick up or for large purchases. Be sure to check with the manager on staff before you start taking them. Note that some liquor stores will have a limit on how many boxes people can take.

5. Facebook

Facebook is another place where people are avidly trying to get rid of boxes. There are also many different ways to network with people on Facebook, like community groups, Facebook Marketplace, or pages. Checking the condition of the boxes is critical when you’re getting them from an unknown person online.

6. Your Neighborhood

If you have friends or family near you, check with them to see if they have any extra moving boxes. Some people may set them outside next to their trash can before trash pick-up or recycling day, so taking a quick walk or driving around your neighborhood the night before or the morning could be beneficial. However, checking for quality is essential here, too, because of the weather. If the boxes have been sitting outside after it rains, they could be soggy or unusable due to water damage.

7. Big Box Stores like Target or Walmart

Perhaps one of the most accessible places to find boxes is large stores like Target or Walmart. Because they have shipments coming in 24/7, they always have an abundance of boxes available. However, they can go quickly because people often search these stores before going to smaller local grocery stores. Try the smaller stores if you don’t hit the jackpot at a larger organization.

8. Next door app

Nextdoor is a hyperlocal social networking service for neighborhoods. it is really the only way your neighbors can instantly connect to the people, businesses, and happenings near your home. It’s a great place to look for others who want to get rid of the boxes and allow you to post that you are looking for them as well. You’ll need your mobile phone to use it, but they support both Android and iOS phones.

A few parting tips

Before you go find all those moving boxes, note that you should never take boxes without checking with the owner of the organization or store first. Also, remember to make sure that the boxes you’re picking out are in good condition. Lastly, as noted above, be safe. Don’t go to a person’s home alone, don’t go at night to a dark place.

When you’re moving, the last thing you want to worry about is where you’re going to find moving boxes. Because they are essential to ensuring that your household items get from one home to the other safely, ensuring that you get high-quality boxes is also crucial.

In addition to having quality boxes, finding a moving company to help during your move is extremely helpful and can make the transition much less stressful for you and your family. At DFW Fireman movers, we can help you! For more information on our moving services, contact us here.