Most people packing a move compare two options: buy or scrounge cardboard boxes, or rent plastic bins for the duration. Both work. They just fail in different places.
Effort before packing
Cardboard has to be sourced, transported, assembled and taped. Rental bins are delivered to your door already usable. If your evenings are already short, that difference is the whole argument.
During the move
- Rigid bins stack predictably and do not sag when a lower box is overloaded
- Attached lids stay with the bin instead of needing a separate flap-fold
- Cardboard is lighter and easier to squeeze into odd gaps in a vehicle
- Odd-shaped items sometimes suit a custom cardboard box better
After the move
This is where cardboard costs the most time. Every box has to be emptied, cut down, flattened and recycled or stored. Rental bins get emptied, nested and collected on a scheduled pickup.
Cost
Buying boxes and tape for a full household is not cheap, and the money is gone once the move ends. A rental is a fixed weekly price with delivery and pickup included in our standard area. Compare your own box estimate against the package prices before deciding.
When cardboard still makes sense
Plenty of people use both. Specialty boxes for artwork, wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes and long-term storage boxes all have a job. Bins cover the bulk of the household; cardboard fills the gaps.
Ready to skip most of the cardboard?