Moving Boxes Calculator
Estimate how many small, medium, large and wardrobe moving boxes you need by room, plus the packing tape to seal them.
Running out of boxes halfway through packing, or buying far too many, are both common moving headaches. This calculator estimates how many small, medium, large and wardrobe boxes to get from the rooms you are packing and how much you own, then works out how much packing tape you need to seal them.
How to use this tool
- Enter how many of each room you are packing.
- Pick how full your home is: minimalist, average or lots of belongings.
- Choose whether to add 10% spare boxes and how you will tape them.
- Read the box count by size and the number of tape rolls.
Formula
Boxes of each size = Σ (rooms × allowance per room) × packing level × spare factor, rounded up
Tape per box = 2 × (length + 6 in) for one seam strip, or 2 × [(length + 6) + 2 × (width + 6)] in for H-taping
The allowances are planning figures shown in the table: a bedroom, for example, allows 2 small, 4 medium, 3 large and 1 wardrobe box, and a kitchen 6 small, 8 medium and 2 large. The packing level multiplies them by 0.7, 1 or 1.35. Tape strips are assumed to run 3 in down each side, on the top and bottom, from 55-yard rolls.
Example
A two-bedroom apartment with one living room, a kitchen and one bathroom, packed at the average level, needs 15 small, 22 medium, 12 large and 2 wardrobe boxes: 51 boxes. With 10% spare that becomes 59 boxes (17 small, 25 medium, 14 large and 3 wardrobe), about 189 cubic feet of boxes. H-taping them takes 5 rolls of 55-yard tape (about 224 yards).
Frequently asked questions
Which box size should I use for what?
Pack heavy things such as books, tools and tins in small boxes, everyday items like kitchenware, toys and shoes in medium boxes, and light, bulky things such as bedding, pillows and lampshades in large boxes. A box too heavy to lift comfortably is the one that splits.
Why does my mover estimate a different number?
Every home is different, and these are allowances rather than a count of your things. A quick walk through cupboards, the garage and the loft is the best check; collections, hobby rooms and full bookcases add up fast.
Is it better to buy too many boxes?
A small buffer saves a last-minute trip, which is why the 10% spare option is on by default. Spare boxes are also useful while unpacking, and some retailers take unused boxes back.
Last updated: 2026-10-30