Not all moving boxes are the same — and using the wrong size for the wrong item is one of the easiest ways to damage your belongings or throw out your back on moving day. Here’s a straightforward guide to every box type and exactly what goes in each one.
The Golden Rule
Before we get into sizes, one rule applies to every box: heavy items go in small boxes, light items go in large boxes. It sounds backwards but it makes total sense. A small box full of books is manageable. A large box full of books is a back injury waiting to happen. A large box full of pillows and blankets? Perfect.
Small Box — 1.5 Cubic Feet
This is your workhorse box. Small boxes are dense, strong, and designed for heavy or compact items. Use them for books, magazines, tools, canned food, small appliances, CDs, DVDs, collectibles, and anything fragile or valuable. Because of their size, they’re easy to carry and stack safely.
Medium Box — 3.0 Cubic Feet
Medium boxes are the most versatile size and the ones you’ll use most. They’re ideal for items that are bulky but not too heavy — clothes, shoes, kids’ toys, kitchen items, lamp bases, and electronics. When in doubt, reach for a medium box.
Large Box — 4.5 Cubic Feet
Large boxes are for lightweight but bulky items only. Think pillows, blankets, duvets, towels, linens, stuffed animals, and couch cushions. Never pack heavy items into a large box — the bottom can give out and the box becomes impossible to carry safely.
Wardrobe Box
A wardrobe box is a tall, sturdy box with a metal hanging rod across the top. Your clothes go straight from the closet onto the rod — no folding, no wrinkling. The bottom section can hold shoes, accessories, and soft goods. These are one of the most convenient boxes you can use and your dress shirts and suits will thank you. Brothers Moving supplies wardrobe boxes — just ask when you book your move.
Dish Pack Box
Dish pack boxes are roughly the same size as medium boxes but twice as thick, with cell dividers and foam pouches built in to protect plates, glasses, and fragile kitchen items. If you have a full kitchen of dishes and glassware, these are worth every penny. Fill every gap with packing paper — the more snugly packed, the safer your items will be.
Picture and Mirror Box
Flat, reinforced boxes designed specifically for framed artwork, mirrors, and flat screen TVs. Most come with foam corners for extra protection. If you still have the original box your TV came in, use that instead — it’s purpose-built.
File Box
A flat, sturdy box sized specifically for hanging file folders. If you’re moving important documents, use a file box — papers get damaged and lost quickly when packed loose with other items. Use dividers, label everything, and fill any gaps with packing paper to prevent shifting.
Where To Get Moving Boxes in Vancouver
You have a few options. Brothers Moving supplies packing materials directly — ask when you book. For free boxes, check Facebook Marketplace, Buy Nothing groups, and local liquor stores, which often have small sturdy boxes perfect for heavy items. Home Depot and U-Haul carry the full range of specialty boxes like wardrobe boxes, dish packs, and mirror boxes if you need specific sizes.
A Few More Tips From Our Movers
Always tape the top and bottom of every box — run tape in both directions. Never leave gaps inside a box; fill them with crumpled packing paper so contents don’t shift. Label every box on the top and sides with the room it belongs to and a brief description of contents. And if a box feels too heavy to carry comfortably, repack it into a smaller one.
Brothers Moving has been helping families and businesses relocate since 2008. We serve Metro Vancouver including Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, New Westminster, Delta, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Langley, Abbotsford, White Rock and Horseshoe Bay. We also move clients across Vancouver Island including Victoria, Nanaimo, Courtenay, Campbell River and Parksville, and throughout BC including Kelowna, Kamloops, Penticton, Chilliwack and Prince George.
Ready to move? Call us at 604-720-0931 or get a free quote online today.