Moving Boxes in Atlanta: Where to Get Them Free or Cheap

Boxes are the first real expense of most moves, and they add up faster than people expect. A two-bedroom apartment can easily fill 40 boxes, and buying every one of them new can cost more than a hundred dollars before you count tape, paper and specialty cartons. The good news is that Atlanta has plenty of ways to get moving boxes for free or at a low price, as long as you know where to look and which boxes are worth taking.

This guide covers where to find free moving boxes around the city, which stores sell cheap moving boxes, how many you will need for your home and which sizes belong in which rooms.

Where to Get Free Moving Boxes in Atlanta

Free boxes take a little more legwork, but they can cover most of a small move. Start collecting three to four weeks before moving day so you are not scrambling at the end.

Neighborhood Groups and Marketplace Apps

Recent movers are usually happy to hand off their boxes rather than break them down for recycling. Search Facebook Marketplace and the free section of Craigslist for "moving boxes," and post a request on Nextdoor for your area. Many Atlanta neighborhoods also have local Buy Nothing groups, where neighbors give away boxes, packing paper and bubble wrap in batches. Ask for boxes that were used for a single move and stored indoors.

Liquor, Grocery and Retail Stores

Liquor stores receive sturdy boxes with cardboard dividers that are ideal for glasses, wine bottles and small jars. Grocery stores and pharmacies break down boxes after each delivery, so ask a manager when trucks arrive and request that a few be set aside. Bookstores are another good source, since book shipments come in small, strong cartons built to carry weight.

Your Office or Workplace

Offices go through paper and supply boxes every week. Copy paper boxes come with lids, stack neatly and hold books and files well. A quick message to your office manager can save you a dozen boxes.

Skip these: produce boxes with holes or moisture stains, boxes that have held food or chemicals, and anything soft, torn or stored in a damp garage. A weak box can split when it is lifted, and Atlanta humidity can leave stored cardboard musty or attract pests.

Where to Buy Cheap Moving Boxes

When free boxes run short, new ones are easy to find, and prices across major retailers are close. Small and medium boxes usually run about $1.50 to $3 each, while specialty boxes cost more. Prices change often, so compare before you buy in bulk.

Home Depot and Lowe's

Home Depot, which is headquartered in Atlanta, and Lowe's both stock full lines of moving boxes at stores across the metro, from small book boxes to wardrobe and TV boxes. Both sell multi-box kits sized for apartments and houses, which often cost less per box than buying them one at a time.

Walmart, Target and Costco

Walmart and Target carry basic moving boxes and supplies, which is convenient if you are already running errands. Costco sometimes sells box bundles in larger quantities, though stock varies by location.

Office Supply Stores and Online Retailers

Staples and other office supply stores sell boxes, tape and markers, and some stores carry heavy-duty options. Amazon and Uline ship boxes straight to your door, and Uline is a good choice if you want commercial-grade cartons in bulk. Factor in delivery time if your move is close.

How Many Moving Boxes Do You Need?

Box counts depend on how much you own and how much you decide to leave behind, but these ranges give you a reliable starting point:

Kitchens, home offices and garages tend to need more boxes than you expect, while bedrooms need fewer once clothes go into wardrobe boxes or suitcases. Buy about 10% more than your estimate, since running out halfway through packing costs more time than a few extra boxes cost money. A good moving checklist for Atlanta will help you schedule when to collect boxes and when to start packing each room.

Moving Box Sizes and What to Pack in Each

Using the right size matters as much as the number of boxes. A large box filled with books can weigh more than 70 pounds and becomes unsafe to carry.

• Small boxes (about 1.5 cubic feet): books, canned goods, tools and other heavy items
• Medium boxes (about 3 cubic feet): kitchen items, small appliances, toys and decor
• Large boxes (about 4.5 cubic feet): bedding, pillows, towels and lightweight bulky items
• Wardrobe boxes: hanging clothes, moved straight from the closet on a built-in bar
• Dish packs: double-walled boxes for plates, glasses and fragile kitchenware
• TV and mirror boxes: flat, padded cartons sized for screens, mirrors and framed art

Fragile kitchen items need more than a strong box. Our guide on how to pack a kitchen for moving explains how to wrap dishes, glasses and small appliances so they arrive intact.

Moving Supplies to Buy With Your Boxes

Boxes only protect what is packed well inside them. Plan to pick up:

• Packing tape: a heavy-duty tape and a tape gun make sealing faster and stronger
• Packing paper: clean, ink-free paper for wrapping dishes and filling gaps
• Bubble wrap: extra protection for electronics, glass and heirlooms
• Markers and labels: write the room and contents on at least two sides of each box

Tape the bottom of every box with an H pattern, keep each box under about 50 pounds and fill empty space so items cannot shift in transit.

Skip the Box Hunt With Professional Packing

Collecting, buying and packing dozens of boxes takes real time, and many people decide it is not worth the effort. With Falcon Moving's professional packing services, our crews arrive with the boxes, paper, tape and specialty cartons your home needs, and you only pay for the supplies we actually use. Our packers wrap and label everything before our movers load the truck, so your belongings are protected from the first box to the last.

If you plan to pack yourself, keep one Falcon Moving policy in mind: televisions must travel in a TV box. A screen moved without one is not covered for damage, so add a TV box to your shopping list early. You can also see how much it costs to move in Atlanta to compare packing yourself with letting experienced Atlanta movers handle it.

Gather Your Boxes Before Moving Day

The right moving boxes make every step of a move easier, from packing to carrying to unpacking at the new place. Collect free boxes early, buy the specialty sizes you need and keep heavy items in small cartons. Once your boxes are sorted, make sure the rest of your paperwork is ready too, starting with your change of address in Atlanta.