March 18, 2026 · 7 min read
The 4 box sizes you actually need
Small (1.5 cu ft) for books and dishes, Medium (3.0 cu ft) for kitchenware and small appliances, Large (4.5 cu ft) for linens and lampshades, and Dish Pack (5.2 cu ft, double-walled) for fragile kitchen items. See how to pack fragile items for which goes in which.
Tape, paper, and the must-have specialty items
Use 2.5" wide acrylic packing tape (not duct tape, not masking). Buy 10 lbs of unprinted newsprint per bedroom. Add wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes and mattress bags for every bed — these two save the most time on moving day. Pair this with our 30-day checklist to know exactly when to start.
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