Free moving-planning tool

Packing Supplies Calculator

Estimate how many moving boxes and packing supplies you may need, then compare a traditional cardboard packing list with a reusable Raindrop moving-box package from Rainforest Moving and Storage.

Tell us what you're packing

This takes about one minute. No contact information is required to see your result.

1. Approximately how much furnished living space are you packing?

Include finished living areas. Do not include garages, sheds, storage lockers or unfinished storage areas; we ask about those separately.

Select the approximate square footage

• Under 500 sq. ft.
• 500-749 sq. ft.
• 750-999 sq. ft.
• 1,000-1,249 sq. ft.
• 1,250-1,499 sq. ft.
• 1,500-1,999 sq. ft.
• 2,000-2,499 sq. ft.
• 2,500-2,999 sq. ft.
• 3,000+ sq. ft.
• I'm not sure

2. How much stuff is in the space?

This corrects for two equally sized homes containing very different amounts of belongings.

• Light - Minimal furniture and uncluttered rooms
• Average - Typical furniture, closets and contents
• Full - Well-furnished rooms and full closets
• Very full - Dense contents or years of accumulated belongings

3. How much kitchen and fragile content are you packing?

Dishes, glassware and breakables usually need more smaller boxes and packing paper.

• Very little / kitchenette
• Average kitchen
• Large kitchen or lots of breakables

4. How many books or other dense, heavy items do you have?

Books, records, tools and dense pantry items are safer in smaller boxes.

• Very few
• Average amount
• A lot

5. How much hanging clothing do you want to keep on hangers?

• Very little / I'll fold it
• About 1 closet
• About 2-3 closets
• 4+ closets / lots of hanging clothes

6. Add any special packing needs

Select only areas or items that are actually moving.

• Garage
• Basement storage
• Storage locker
• Shed / workshop
• Large mirrors / framed art
• Flat-screen TVs needing protection

Mattresses moving

• Single / twin
• Double
• Queen
• King

Calculate My Packing Supplies

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Estimated packing list

Your recommendation will appear here

Complete the questions and select Calculate My Packing Supplies.

How Many Moving Boxes Do I Need?

Square footage gives a useful starting point, but it does not tell the whole story. A smaller home packed with books, dishes and long-term storage can require more boxes than a larger, lightly furnished home.

This calculator adjusts the recommendation for furnishing level, kitchen contents, books and other dense items, hanging clothing, extra storage areas and specialty packing needs.

Cardboard Boxes or Reusable Raindrop Boxes?

Traditional cardboard supplies

Different box sizes work better for different contents. Smaller boxes are useful for books and dense items, medium boxes are versatile for everyday household goods, and large boxes are best for bulky lightweight items.

View Current Supply Prices

Reusable Raindrop boxes

Rainforest Moving's reusable 70-litre Raindrop boxes arrive ready to pack and are available in published package sizes. The calculator recommends the closest package that should provide enough boxes for the estimated need.

View Raindrop Packages

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the calculator ask about square footage and furnishing level?

Square footage estimates the size of the living space, while furnishing level adjusts for how much is actually inside it.

Why are books and kitchen items treated differently?

Dense items and breakables are usually safer in smaller boxes. Kitchen contents also tend to use more packing paper and careful wrapping.

How many wardrobe boxes do I need?

The calculator estimates wardrobe boxes from the amount of hanging clothing you want to keep on hangers. Folding clothing into regular boxes can reduce the number required.

Should I buy exactly the number of boxes shown?

Treat the result as a planning range. Packing habits and item shapes vary, so having a few extra boxes is generally more useful than running short.

Can Rainforest Moving pack everything for me?

Yes. Rainforest Moving offers packing and unpacking services for customers who would rather have professional movers handle some or all of the packing.

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