Moving home is an extremely stressful period for most people, commonly referred to as the most stressful experience in one's life. The process involves selling your current home while simultaneously purchasing a new one, along with the organization of paperwork required by mortgage lenders and solicitors. It can all become quite tiresome. The actual moving process entails acquiring appropriate packaging materials and arranging for a removals company's assistance, or alternatively, renting a removal truck and doing it yourself if possible.
However, finding the right packaging materials can prove to be challenging, as you may be unsure about the types and quantity of cardboard boxes needed. So, how many boxes will you need to move home?
- The first and most accurate method is to count all the possessions within your home and determine the size of each item. This way, you can calculate precisely how many boxes you will need and what sizes they should be. However, this approach is obviously challenging and time-consuming, especially during a period when time is limited. Therefore, most people do not opt for this method due to its impracticality and instead prefer to make an educated guess or estimate.
- The second method is to use the rule of ten, which is applicable to averagely cluttered houses in the UK. According to this rule, you would purchase ten boxes per room of the house. It is advisable to acquire a variety of different-sized cardboard boxes to ensure you have enough space to accommodate most of the items in your home. However, it's important to note that this is a rough estimate, and the actual number of boxes needed can vary significantly depending on the number of items in each room.
- Most packaging companies offer "moving packs," which are pre-made packs designed to provide you with a good estimate of the number of boxes, along with bubble wrap and tape, needed based on the number of bedrooms in your home. These calculations are typically based on industry averages and can give you a reliable approximation of the required box quantity. Purchasing these packs is quick and easy, saving you a significant amount of time and effort. If you feel the need for additional boxes, you can always add a few more on top of the packs.
- You could take the view that you will purchase a small number of boxes at first, and then buy more when you run out. This is what most people tend to do, so if you buy just twenty boxes of different sizes to begin with, then you know you can always purchase more when you run out.
- The opposing viewpoint suggests ensuring you have an abundance of cardboard boxes for moving, erring on the side of having too many rather than running out. One option is to purchase a pack of one hundred boxes, guaranteeing ample supply to cover all requirements. The advantage of this approach is that the price per box decreases when buying larger packs, potentially resulting in cost savings. However, it may lead to a significant amount of unused boxes, resulting in wastage. It is crucial to prioritize the reuse or recycling of any leftover boxes to minimize waste.
- You could ask a friend or family member of their opinion of how many boxes you will need based on their past experience, because they are likely to operate in a similar way to you. This again won’t always work, because each and every home is different, and the different level of cluttering needs to be taken into consideration.
