Moving boxes are cheap one at a time. The total adds up once you count every box, the tape, and the trips to the store. Here’s what you’ll actually pay in 2026, with real prices, and how it compares with renting plastic bins.
What a moving box costs in 2026
U-Haul’s current prices (checked November 2026):
| Box | Size | Volume | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 16⅜ × 12⅝ × 12⅝ in | 1.5 cu ft | $1.85 each, or $1.49 each in a 25-pack |
| Medium | 18⅛ × 18 × 16 in | 3.0 cu ft | as low as $1.99 |
| Large | 18 × 18 × 24 in | 4.5 cu ft | as low as $2.78 |
| Packing tape | 6 rolls, 55 yards each | $9.95 |
Other big stores are in the same range. A summer 2026 price comparison found medium boxes at $1.82 at Walmart, $2.04 at U-Haul, $2.28 at Home Depot and $2.35 at Lowe’s, and large boxes from $2.26 to $3.08.
The total for a 2–3 bedroom move
Most 2–3 bedroom homes need about 50 bins or boxes. To match the space in our 2–3 bedroom package (40 large bins and 10 book bins, about 113 cubic feet), you’d buy roughly:
| Item | U-Haul | Home Depot |
|---|---|---|
| 30 medium boxes | $59.70 | $68.40 |
| 15 small boxes | $27.75 | $26.70 |
| 6 rolls of tape (U-Haul) | $9.95 | $9.95 |
| Total, before tax | about $97 | about $105 |
Home Depot box prices are from the summer 2026 comparison and can change. Your total also depends on how many boxes you really end up using. Running short in the middle of packing means another trip to the store.
What renting plastic bins costs
A Lidly 2–3 bedroom package is $209 for one week, $259 for two weeks or $359 for four weeks. It includes 40 bins, 10 book bins, 4 dollies, numbered zip ties and label cards, plus drop-off and pickup within about 25 miles of Bristow.
So on the price tag alone, cardboard is cheaper. Here’s what the difference pays for:
- Two trips you don’t make. The bins arrive at your door before you move, and we pick them up at your new place after.
- Dollies included. Four dollies come with the 2–3 bedroom package, so full bins roll out the door four at a time.
- No building or taping. Open the lid, pack, close it, add a zip tie. There’s nothing to fold and no tape gun.
- Nothing to crush or soak. Bins hold up to 100 lb, stack square in the truck and don’t go soggy on a wet day.
- Nothing to get rid of. No pile of broken-down boxes after you unpack. In Prince William County there’s no county curbside recycling, so cardboard means an HOA hauler or a trip to a drop-off. Fairfax County requires cardboard to be recycled, so a whole house of boxes can take weeks of pickups.
When cardboard makes more sense
Buying boxes is the better choice when:
- You’re moving far away and want to keep everything packed for months.
- You’re putting things in long-term storage.
- It’s a small move, like a dorm room or a few closets.
- Price is the only thing that matters, and you have the time to pick up free boxes.
If you go with cardboard, buy about 10% more than you think you need, and keep the receipt in case you can return the ones you don’t use.
When renting bins is worth it
Bins make the most sense for local moves where your time is tight: a full house, a move with kids, a job that starts the next Monday, or a move you’d rather not spend evenings taping boxes for. They’re also the easier choice if you hate the cleanup at the end.
Not sure how many you need? See how many moving boxes you need, room by room, or compare our packages.