Looking forward to planning a move? The first step to making sure that everything goes as hassle-free as possible is selecting the right boxes.
The most significant reason choosing the best boxes for your move is essential is for protecting your belongings in transit. It is important to make sure that the boxes you choose are strong enough for the journey, and also that you are select the right type of boxes for the contents that you are packing.
The packing services company in NJ that you hire can also help you with the selection.
Determining the sizes of boxes you will need for the move
Once you are done surveying the contents of the home you will soon be walking away from, the size and shape of the boxes you are going to need for making an effective exit become clearer. At some point of time it may seem a bit counterintuitive, and you will most likely want to tuck heavier items like books and tools into smaller boxes, keeping your larger boxes for lighter, bulkier items like clothes and blankets.
Let’s see what goes into which size of box
- Small boxes (18” x 12” x 12”, or 1.5 cubic feet)
Tools, books, canned food, books and magazines, gaming consoles, DVDs and just about anything that’s heavy and will fit can be put into small boxes. One upside of small boxes is that they are hard to overload.
- Medium boxes (18″ x 18″ x 16″, or 3 cubic feet)
All your bric-a-brac such as photo albums, toys, kitchen utensils, small appliances and awkwardly-shaped things like your cool collection of straw beach hats belongs to medium boxes. These boxes are going to be used the most. Go ahead with stacking heavy items on the bottom and lighter ones on the top.
- Large boxes (18″ x 18″ x 24″, or 4.5 cubic feet)
All the larger, bulkier, hard-to-carry items will go into large boxes, especially those that make sense to group together, such as larger dishes, vases and lamps with soft blankets, pillows and linens.
- Wardrobe boxes (24” x 24” x 46”, or 13.4 cubic feet)
As the name pretty much suggests, this gap-mouth tall boy with its mountable, removable metal rod will allow you to transfer all of your hanging clothes directly from closet to box without removing their hangers. Additionally, you can fill in with taller, awkward lighter fare such as tennis rackets, brooms and vacuum cleaners.
Thanks to the recent developments, the invention of specialty moving boxes has made moving items such as extra-tough dish packs, mirrors, picture frames, flat-panel TVs, segmented boxes for glassware, custom shapes for musical instruments, standing lamps, bottled wine and mattresses, a hundred times easier. The most significant benefit of using specialty boxes for storage is that they make difficult things easier to pack, thanks to the inserts that keep items from moving around and shifting. They are slightly more expensive than traditional boxes, but offer added value in terms of convenience and security.
A complete guide to moving boxes
If moving experts are to be believed, boxes are extremely critical to ensuring a successful move. One thing you should know about moving boxes is – boxes that crush easily will not have contents that arrive undamaged to your new destination, and a box that doesn’t have a sturdy bottom will likely drop all of its contents on the driveway where you definitely do not want them.
One of the most widely used and versatile packing and shipping containers worldwide are the corrugated brown cardboard boxes for the following reasons
- Weight
Considering the fact that corrugated brown cardboard boxes are constructed of a fluted corrugated paper medium encased within two flat paperboard liners, these are strong and impact-resistant without weighing much.
- Strength
The strength of a corrugated box can be measured in two ways: the older Bursting Strength Test (BST), also known as the Mullen test, which measures in pounds the force it would take to rupture or puncture a box, and the newer Edge Crush Test (ECT), which gauges the stacking strength (max pounds per load) by measuring the minimal pounds per linear inch it would take to compress the edges of a box.
- Cost
The fact that these boxes are inexpensive to manufacture makes them appealingly affordable.
- Versatility
Home movers and industrial shippers both benefit from the relatively simple, name-your-size cardboard construction process.
- Earth friendly
Not only are cardboard boxes recyclable; they are also often made from recyclable materials. Their strength, as well as their typical one-time-use status, has spawned a strong secondary market in almost-new used moving boxes.
Looking at the most important factor – cost
One thing that cannot be ignored is that you will need a lot more boxes than you expected you will. Along with the boxes, you also need to keep things such as packing paper, bubble wrap, storage pads, and most important, the right tape handy.
The good thing, however, is that corrugated brown cardboard boxes are pretty inexpensive and several manufacturers offer moving box package kits to suit your particular requirement. It might come to you as a surprise but if you feel resourceful, a little research can lead you to places where you might find gently used boxes for free. Before you start collecting stuff, make sure you have a dry, temperate, out-of-the-way place to store them as you fill them. Not to forget that relocating un-taped, half-filled boxes can become a major hassle.
How about using plastic tubs instead of corrugated brown cardboard boxes?
Plastic tubs are large, waterproof, come with those easy-grip handles and easy-open tops, and best of all, they’re already assembled – why not use those instead?
Some plastic tubs are clear and thus, allow you to find items you may have misplaced easily and readily identify where you’ll unpack the contents on the other end. You do not even have to fear pests and insects, as is the case with most cardboard boxes.
Even though plastic tubs clearly are on the brighter side when compared to cardboard boxes, one cannot ignore the fact that they are pretty pricier. Also, these are typically thin, flexible and built for storage rather than moving, there’s a greater chance they’ll split or pop their top in transit. For short term storage purposes, you may not want to splurge on plastic bins as you won’t be able to break them down to store them when they’re not in use.
Keeping all the above mentioned factors in mind when dealing with storage boxes is sure to help you choose the right boxes for your next move!
A household name in every neighborhood, district office, and local business, Levic Van Lines is a moving services provider in New Jersey that has grown tremendously since its inception because of its commitment to prioritize customers first. From working with building management, dealing with building and elevator access, navigating traffic patterns, and dealing with parking, Levic Van Lines can handle every challenge and that is exactly why our customers love to refer us to their friends, co-workers, and family.
We also have several options for private storage facilities you can choose at a location near you. Our storage facilities are always climate-controlled to provide the ideal solution for storing personal or business-related items as it protects the stored items from severe hot or cold weather that can easily damage it. Maintaining a controlled environment minimizes the risk of mold, bacteria overgrowth, items cracking, splitting, yellowing or corrosion, mice, termites, and other vermin. We are on a mission to deliver top-notch moving services in New York and address the issues when something doesn’t go as per the plan. Get in touch with Levic Van Lines today for local moving, commercial moving, long distance moving, and packing services. To request a FREE moving estimate, call @ 855-785-3133 (TOLL FREE) now!
