Published by Chris Townsend
Last updated Nov, 29 2025
moving boxes san francisco
Whether you hire professional San Francisco movers or handle your move DIY style, it’s going to cost and you need to budget for it. In many cases, hiring a full-service moving company offering professional movers and packers to do all the work is just as cost-effective as a DIY move and more affordable than what you think about professional moving services. So your budget doesn’t have a lot of breathing room, every place you can save a buck is crucial. One of the first cost-cutting measures that come to mind is finding some free moving supplies. One of the moving supplies that are easier to find for free are moving boxes. There are few places in SF where you can find moving boxes san francisco, cardboard boxes, wardrobe boxes as well as green boxes for free.
What Size Moving Boxes Should You Look For In SF?
If you go to home improvement stores and moving truck rental companies, they sell San Francisco moving boxes in standardized sizes. We have put together the following information to help you determine the different box sizes to look for:
- Small (approx. 16”x12”x12”) – these can be used for books and magazines, CD’s and DVD’s, and kitchen gadgets.
- Medium (approx. 18”x16”x18”) – these are ideal for bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths
- Large (approx. 18”x18”x24”) – you pack a variety of items in these such as bedding, small appliances (can openers, toasters, etc.), and throw pillows
- Extra-large (approx. 24”x20”x24”) – use these for your bulkier, lightweight items like blankets, comforters, and pillows
Remember, the larger the moving box is, the more lightweight the items should be that you’re packing in them.
Types of Moving Boxes SF You Need
You will need different types of San Francisco moving boxes for different types of moves. A box that will work for a local move may not work for an international move. Here are the different types of boxes that you will need during a move:
- Normal Cardboard Boxes - These types of boxes are used to carry items that are small or do not have weird shapes. You cannot put anything that can be easily broken in these boxes.
- Plastic Bins - Plastic bins are the best options to carry electrical items. You can also put your clothes in plastic bins. Although you can put your clothes in other types of boxes as well, you will be able to easily locate your clothes inside plastic bins as they are quite transparent.
- Bankers Box - You only need this box for commercial moves. This box allows you to move your paperwork and other office items like pens, folders, e.t.c. in an organized manner. This box will save you time when moving an office.
- Wardrobe Boxes - This type of box has a rod present on the top of the box to hang your clothes. This type of box is needed when you don’t want to fold certain clothes.
- Dish And Glassware Boxes - For plates, glasses, and other types of kitchen wares, you will need this box. Space inside this box is well partitioned to make sure each kitchen wares have its separate space.
- Custom Boxes - When you are transporting valuable antique items, you’ll need custom boxes specially designed for them.
- Mirror Boxes - If you do not want your mirrors or pictures to break, you will need mirror boxes. These boxes are thin and long. Plus, it also has some extra protection.
Other Moving Supplies You Need
To complement your moving boxes, you’ll need some other packing supplies as well:
- Tapes - Most boxes do not come with their own glue. So, you’ll need tape to properly close the boxes.
- Bubble Wrap / Packing Peanuts - These products are made to protect your belongings inside a box.
How Many Moving Boxes Do You Need?
Now that you have an idea of the different box sizes to look for, it’s important to know how many you’re going to need. After all, you don’t want to be wasting time making multiple trips when considering where to find rent moving boxes in San Francisco CA. It makes more sense to set aside several hours or an entire day and get all the boxes you need rather than constantly running in and out looking for more.
We use the following information to determine the number and size of boxes needed for moving based on the size of the home that is getting packed up and loaded on our moving trucks:
- 1 to 2-room studio apartment – 8 small, 6 medium, 4 large, and 2 XL boxes
- 2 to 3-room apartment or small home – 10 small, 8 medium, 6 large, and 3 XL boxes
- 4 to 5 room home – 18 small, 15 medium, 15 large, and 4 XL boxes
- 6 to 7 room home – 30 small, 25 medium, 20 large, and 10 XL boxes
- 8 to 9 room home – 40 small, 30 medium, 30 large, and 12 XL boxes
Having a variety of boxes ensures that you’ll always have the right ones you need for every item you plan on packing up.
Where Are The Best Places To Find FREE Moving Boxes In San Francisco?
If you have a decent idea of where to find FREE moving boxes San Francisco, movers, and packers in San Francisco, you’re already a step ahead of the game. To make things easier for you, we've compiled the following list of places that can help you out when looking for FREE moving boxes:
- Bars and restaurants – there are hundreds of these in the city and all of them have empty boxes they’ll gladly let you haul off. This is especially true with bars that receive their shipments in boxes with dividers in them, which is perfect for packing glasses and stemware that break easily.
- Bookstores – another great place to score FREE moving boxes is places like Barnes and Noble or Borders bookstores. They have enough cardboard boxes available in their stores. Their customers rarely need any cardboard boxes so they wind up accumulating in the back room of these stores.
- Grocery and liquor stores – whether it’s canned goods, cheeses, or liquor bottles, they’re all packed in boxes that these places dispose of (unless they’re recycling). These are always a good choice for finding cheap moving boxes in San Francisco.
- Pharmacies – when you’re thinking about where to find FREE moving boxes in San Francisco, stores such as CVS and Walgreens typically have a lot of empty boxes to spare. Plus, they probably won’t get mad at you for saving them the time and trouble of disposing of them.
- Craigslist - this may not be a good option to get free boxes in most places. But, in San Francisco, people are really concerned about the environment. Many people in SF believe in recycling and reusing. So, you can find a few people on Craigslist asking you to take moving boxes that they do not need.
- U Haul – you can take help from U Haul to get moving boxes, SF, even when you are not hiring them as your movers. Just like Craigslist, U Haul will help you find people looking to get rid of their moving boxes through their message boards.
Where to Buy Moving Boxes in San Francisco?
You may not always get the boxes that fit your needs. In some cases, you may need to buy San Francisco moving boxes. Here are some of the good places to buy moving boxes in San Francisco:
Bellam Storage & Boxes
A company that specializes in providing moving boxes and other packing supplies. In addition to a large variety of boxes, they also provide portable storage units that can be delivered to your place for loading before being stored in their secure warehouse facility.
Check Amazon or United Parcel Service
They also sell moving boxes and supplies that you can order online and have delivered to your door.
ZippGo Moving Boxes
Reusable and sustainable moving boxes called ZippGo Moving Boxes are available for rent and can be used during a move. They may be quickly put together and taken apart for convenience, and they are made to be durable and portable.
BoxBee
BoxBee is a storage and moving company that provides its clients with different storage services. Reusable plastic containers are shipped by the company to clients' households or locations of business, where they can be used to pack and store stuff.
U Haul Box Store
They provide a wide range of packing materials, moving boxes, storage, and moving services.
Home Depot
The Home Depot carries a range of packing materials and boxes in San Francisco for relocating from one location to another.
Postal Annex Packing Area
They are experienced in moving boxes as well as other packaging and shipping supplies.
Craigslist
People who have recently relocated to San Francisco may be able to provide you with used boxes for free or at a discounted price.
Planning a move alone can be difficult. If you are already stressed at the idea of packing your home all by yourself, don’t wait any longer. Just give us a call and we’ll arrange the packing supplies like packing tapes and a team to help you pack your home safely. If you need any specific services, do let us know. We’ll help you every step of the way.
To learn more about the commercial and residential moving services we offer and the packing and moving supplies we offer, contact us today. We are here to alleviate your stress and help you move safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can often find free boxes at local grocery stores, bookstores, liquor stores, and neighborhood pharmacies, which restock daily and frequently give away sturdy cardboard. Many residents also use local reuse networks, including Freecycle and community boards on Craigslist. Availability varies by neighborhood density and timing of store deliveries. Because San Francisco buildings often require short loading windows, pick up boxes early to allow time for packing. If you prefer new supplies instead, check our guide to buying moving boxes.
The lowest-cost option for single, lightweight boxes is usually USPS Retail Ground or Priority Mail, depending on weight and zone. For multiple heavy boxes, consolidated freight carriers and pack-and-ship stores often provide lower per-box rates. Pricing depends on box dimensions, weight, pickup distance, and whether you need residential pickup in dense areas like SoMa or the Inner Richmond. If you’re shipping items as part of an interstate move, combining them with a long distance moving service can reduce overall transport cost.
Most apartments need 35–90 boxes, depending on size and lifestyle. Studios typically use 20–35, one-bedrooms 35–55, and two-bedrooms 55–90. High-rise units often need extra wardrobe boxes because closets are vertical and densely packed. Quantities vary by how many fragile items you have, whether you use a packing and unpacking service, and the number of movers available to load quickly during building elevator windows.
San Francisco allows curbside cardboard recycling, but boxes must be flattened and cut down to manageable sections to fit Recology collection guidelines. Many buildings require bundles to be tied or placed in designated recycling rooms. Typical weekly pickup limits apply, and oversized quantities may require a scheduled bulk pickup. Weather can affect collection, so avoid setting boxes out on rainy days to prevent contamination and rejection.
Renting reusable plastic crates is popular in dense neighborhoods because they stack easily and meet elevator and hallway clearance rules. Renting works best for short local moves and fast packing cycles. Buying cardboard boxes is better for long-distance moves, storage, or when you want flexible sizing. Consider access issues, parking restrictions, and whether your building requires closed-lid containers for lobby transport.
Use small boxes for books, canned goods, and fragile kitchen items; medium boxes for general household goods; large boxes for linens and lightweight items; and wardrobe boxes for closet clothing in high-rise buildings that have limited dressing space. Box size choices depend on the number of movers, elevator access, walk distances to the truck, and whether you’re packing for a local or interstate relocation.
