Moving Boxes in Australia: Where to Buy, Rent, or Get Them Free (2026 Guide)
Your 2026 Guide to Box Prices, Sizes, and How Many You Need
MOVING BOXES, SORTED
In Australia you can buy new moving boxes from a variety of retailers including Bunnings and Officeworks. Your removalist will generally supply boxes too, and don't forget storage venues like Kennards. Look online and you'll find options to rent reusable plastic crates, and there's always the option to source them free from supermarkets or Facebook Marketplace listings.
A 2-bedroom home typically needs 25-40 boxes. The cheapest option is free supermarket cartons - but beware that for larger moves their differing sizes can make packing more difficult and less efficient. The easiest option is a pre-built moving pack with the right mix of sizes delivered to your door.
| Most people underestimate boxes by half - then make three late-night runs to Bunnings. Based on Instamove's estimations, a standard medium carton holds about 0.06 m3, so a single residential move can easily swallow dozens of them before the furniture even goes on the truck. |
Where to buy moving boxes in Australia
You can buy new moving boxes from major retailers, hardware stores and self-storage chains across Australia. As of June 2026, single cartons run from about $2 to $14 each, and every chain sells value packs that work out cheaper per box.
Physical stores you can buy from:
- Bunnings - widest range and cheapest singles. Wrap & Move cartons from about $2.70 (52 L), a 104 L tea-chest carton around $5.82, and a 257 L port-a-robe about $16.02.
- Officeworks - the common PPS boxes: small 40 L about $3.75, medium 52 L about $4.75, large 104 L about $6.00; a 10-pack of small around $22, and a Visy port-a-robe about $19.
- Kennards Self Storage - dearer per box but a full specialty range, 20% off when you buy 10 or more, and a buy-back on unused boxes.
Or, if you'd rather order online:
- Kmart (online) - the same PPS boxes; small 40 L about $3.75, sold as singles and 10-packs.
- Big W (online) - value multipacks, such as an 8-pack of 60x40x30 cm heavy-duty cartons from about $2.80 a box.
Removalist supply - Instamove will happily arrange delivery of a ready-made move pack suited to your move size, including boxes, tape and wrap.
How much do moving boxes cost in Australia (2026)?
Expect roughly $2 to $6 for a standard single carton in 2026, dropping to about $2 to $4 a box when you buy a value pack. Specialty boxes like port-a-robes and picture/mirror cartons run $7 to $19. The cheapest singles are at Bunnings, while the best multi-buy discounts and unused-box buy-back are at Kennards.
| Box (use) | Approx. size | Bunnings | Officeworks | Kmart (online) | Kennards (1 / 10+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small / book | ~38 litres | from ~$1.68 | $3.75 | $3.75 | $3.90 / $3.10 |
| Medium | ~52 litres | ~$2.73-$5.13 | $4.75 | ~$4.75 | $3.10 / $2.50 |
| Large tea chest | 104 litres | ~$4.62 | $6.00 | ~$6 | $4.90 / $3.90 |
| Heavy-duty large | 104 litres | ~$5.82 | $8.50 | n/a | $6.10 / $4.90 |
| Port-a-robe | 257-315 litres | $16.02 | ~$22 | n/a | $18.60 / $14.90 |
| Picture / TV | flat | $5.60-$32.49 | n/a | n/a | $7.50 / $6.00 |
| Budget pack | mixed | ~$24 / 10 | $51 / 10 | $51 / 10 | 20% off 10+ |
- Bunnings is cheapest for plain singles and has the broadest one-off range.
- Officeworks and Kmart sell identical PPS cartons - Kmart is online only, so check delivery; otherwise buy wherever's closer.
- Kennards' two levers: 20% off 10 or more, plus a buy-back refunding ~$1-$4 a box.
- Packs beat singles - usually 20-40% cheaper per box.
How many moving boxes do you need?
Add 10-15% as a buffer.
| Home size | Boxes (estimate) | Space those boxes fill* |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1-bedroom | 10-20 | 0.6-1.2 m³ |
| 2-bedroom | 25-40 | 1.5-2.4 m³ |
| 3-bedroom | 40-60 | 2.4-3.6 m³ |
| 4+ bedroom | 60-90+ | 3.6-5.4 m³+ |
*At 0.06 m³ per medium carton. Box counts are general planning ranges, not measured Instamove data.
Moving box sizes explained
- Book / small boxes (about 0.06 cubic metres, 40-50 litres) - books, tinned food, tools, anything dense.
- Large boxes (about 0.085 cubic metres, 70-90 litres) - bedding, pillows, lampshades, soft furnishings.
- Port-a-robes (wardrobe boxes) - hang clothes straight off the rail, no folding.
- Picture / mirror cartons - flat, telescoping boxes for framed art, mirrors and TVs.
- Archive boxes - small, lidded, handle-cut; ideal for documents and the home office.
A practical mix is roughly 60% small-to-medium and 40% large, plus a couple of port-a-robes and one picture carton per few rooms.
Where to get free moving boxes
- Supermarkets - Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, IGA; ask for the morning restock window.
- Liquor stores - wine and spirit boxes are compact, strong, with glassware dividers.
- Facebook Marketplace and 'Buy Nothing' groups - people who just moved offload boxes free.
- Bookshops, chemists and offices - uniform, sturdy cartons.
Two cautions: free boxes can carry damp or pests, and because they come in all different sizes they don't stack squarely. On a larger move especially, that size mismatch makes packing slower and less efficient and wastes truck space - so for a big home it's worth using matched new boxes for the bulk of the move and saving the free ones for odds and ends. Flatten and inspect before you load.
Buy vs rent vs free: which is right for you?
| Option | Cost | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free cartons | $0 | Tight budgets, flexible timelines | Mismatched sizes, must collect early |
| New cardboard | ~$2-$6/box ($2-$4 in packs) | Long-distance and interstate moves | Single-use; recycle, resell, or Kennards buy-back |
| Reusable crate hire | Weekly rental | Eco-conscious, fast packers | Booked window; return required |
| Removalist moving pack | Bundled | 'Sort it for me' convenience | Tied to a booking |
For interstate moves especially, box quality matters: a Sydney-to-Melbourne load gets handled more, so flimsy free cartons are a false economy.
How to pack moving boxes properly
Pack heavy items low, fill every gap, and label every box on the side (not the top) so it’s readable when stacked. A well-packed box is full but liftable — around 10- 16 kg is a comfortable ceiling for a carton most people can carry.
- Line the base with packing paper or a towel for fragile boxes.
- Heaviest items first, lighter on top, no gaps — empty space is where things break.
- Wrap glassware and crockery individually; stack plates vertically like records, not flat.
- Fill voids with paper, linen or socks so nothing shifts in transit.
- Tape the base in an H-pattern — one strip down the seam, one across each edge.
- Label the side: room + contents + “FRAGILE” where needed.
If packing isn’t how you want to spend your last week, Instamove’s packing services run at $59 per hour per packer in Sydney and Melbourne — often the difference between a calm move and a chaotic one.
When to start collecting boxes
Start gathering boxes two to three weeks before moving day, packing non-essentials first. Friday is Australia's most popular moving day, so demand for boxes, trucks and packers peaks heading into the weekend.
Based on Instamove bookings in May 2026, 27% of moves were scheduled on a Friday. If you're moving on a Friday, buy or reserve boxes by the Monday before.
FAQ's
How many moving boxes do I need for a 2-bedroom home?
Most 2-bedroom homes need 25-40 boxes, equal to roughly 1.5-2.4 cubic metres of cartons at 0.06 cubic metres per medium box (Instamove volume estimator). Kitchens and book collections push the number toward the top of that range. Add a 10-15% buffer so you don't stall mid-pack.
Where can I get moving boxes for free in Australia?
Supermarkets (Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, IGA), liquor stores, bookshops and offices regularly give away sturdy cartons. Facebook Marketplace and 'Buy Nothing' groups are full of free boxes from people who've just moved. Start collecting one to two weeks ahead, and inspect for damp or pests before loading.
How much do moving boxes cost?
In June 2026, a standard single carton runs about $2-$6 (Bunnings from ~$2, Officeworks and Kmart small boxes ~$3.63-$3.75, a 104 litre large box ~$5-$6), dropping to roughly $2-$4 a box in a value pack. Specialty boxes like port-a-robes cost $13.50-$19. Kennards adds 20% off 10+ and a buy-back. Free supermarket cartons cost nothing but take time to gather.
What size moving boxes should I use?
Use small 'book' boxes (~0.06 cubic metres) for heavy, dense items and large boxes (~0.085 cubic metres) for light, bulky things like bedding. Add port-a-robes for hanging clothes and picture cartons for art, mirrors and TVs. Heavy items in small boxes is the golden rule.
Are reusable plastic crates better than cardboard?
Reusable crates stack perfectly, need no tape, and cut waste, making them ideal for eco-conscious or fast-paced moves - you rent them by the week and return them. Cardboard is better for interstate moves where boxes get handled more. Many people mix both.
How many boxes fit in a removalist truck?
It depends on volume, not count: at about 0.06 cubic metres per medium carton, roughly 16-17 cartons make up 1 cubic metre. The free Instamove volume estimator converts your boxes and furniture into cubic metres and the right truck size in about 60 seconds.
When should I start packing boxes before a move?
Start two to three weeks out, packing non-essentials first. Friday is Australia's most popular moving day (27% of Instamove moves, May 2026), so reserve boxes and trucks early in the week.
How to pack a moving box that won't break (step by step)
- Choose the right box. Small/book box for heavy items, large box for light and bulky ones.
- Reinforce the base. Tape the seam, then an H-pattern across each base edge.
- Cushion the bottom. Paper, a towel, or linen for fragile loads.
- Pack heaviest first. Lighter on top; keep each box around 10-16 kg.
- Fill every gap. Paper, clothing or socks so nothing shifts.
- Wrap fragiles individually. Plates on their edge; glasses one by one.
- Seal and label the side. Room, contents, 'FRAGILE' where relevant.
Sources & methodology
- Friday = most popular moving day (27%). Instamove CRM Conversion Analysis, 1-31 May 2026.
- Medium carton about 0.06 cubic metres; large about 0.085 cubic metres; ~16-17 cartons per cubic metre. Instamove volume estimator, 2026.
- Packing service about $59/hr per packer (Sydney/Melbourne). Instamove packing-services pricing, 2026.
- More than 40% of Australians change address every five years. Australian Bureau of Statistics.
- Retailer box prices and sizes. Checked June 2026.
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