Packing Supplies Checklist: Boxes, Tape, and Wrap You'll Actually Need
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Box quantities by size
Small boxes (1.5 cu ft) suit books and dense items; medium boxes (3 cu ft) fit most kitchenware and general items; large boxes (4.5-6 cu ft) work for lightweight bulky items like linens and pillows. Most households need roughly 2x more medium boxes than small or large.
Tape and wrap quantities
A rule of thumb is one roll of packing tape per 8-10 boxes, and one roll of bubble wrap or a bundle of packing paper per 15-20 boxes for households with average amounts of fragile items.
Specialty supplies worth the cost
Wardrobe boxes save significant packing time on hanging clothes, and dish-pack kits (with built-in dividers) meaningfully reduce breakage risk for kitchenware compared to standard boxes with loose paper.
Where to source supplies affordably
Free boxes from grocery/liquor stores work for non-fragile items; new boxes are worth the cost specifically for fragile or heavy items where box integrity matters most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I estimate my exact box count?
Yes; total cubic footage divided by roughly 4 (average box size) gives a reasonable box-count estimate, which the SpacU Fit Score calculates automatically.
Should I buy specialty boxes for electronics?
Original manufacturer boxes are ideal when available; otherwise a snug box with 2+ inches of padding on all sides is the general rule.