Best value moving boxes

Brie

hazyjo said:

If you're using a removal firm, they'll often supply them. STRONGLY recommend getting them to pack too - then you don't have to worry about any packaging/boxes/tape/bubble wrap, etc.

I do agree that having a removal firm do all the work is lovely.  But we got caught out as we were told we would be charged for each box £2 for a smallish one, £4 for a large but that was refundable if we returned the boxes to the firm.  Of course once we had everything unpacked they didn't answer any phone calls from us so no refund happened.  Ended up freegling them.

hazyjo

Brie said:

hazyjo said:

If you're using a removal firm, they'll often supply them. STRONGLY recommend getting them to pack too - then you don't have to worry about any packaging/boxes/tape/bubble wrap, etc.

I do agree that having a removal firm do all the work is lovely.  But we got caught out as we were told we would be charged for each box £2 for a smallish one, £4 for a large but that was refundable if we returned the boxes to the firm.  Of course once we had everything unpacked they didn't answer any phone calls from us so no refund happened.  Ended up freegling them.

Sounds like you picked a bit of a dodgy firm there. I've never paid/been refunded, so perhaps future readers (and/or the OP) should say no thanks and find a firm that doesn't charge/refund. As far as I know (or maybe I've just got lucky!), it's not common to charge and refund. They usually just want cardboard wardrobes back - although I got to keep mine. Boxes can rarely be used over and over again - not sure I'd feel my belongings were particularly safe!

Skiddaw1

hazyjo said:

Brie said:

hazyjo said:

If you're using a removal firm, they'll often supply them. STRONGLY recommend getting them to pack too - then you don't have to worry about any packaging/boxes/tape/bubble wrap, etc.

I do agree that having a removal firm do all the work is lovely.  But we got caught out as we were told we would be charged for each box £2 for a smallish one, £4 for a large but that was refundable if we returned the boxes to the firm.  Of course once we had everything unpacked they didn't answer any phone calls from us so no refund happened.  Ended up freegling them.

Sounds like you picked a bit of a dodgy firm there. I've never paid/been refunded, so perhaps future readers (and/or the OP) should say no thanks and find a firm that doesn't charge/refund. As far as I know (or maybe I've just got lucky!), it's not common to charge and refund. They usually just want cardboard wardrobes back - although I got to keep mine. Boxes can rarely be used over and over again - not sure I'd feel my belongings were particularly safe!

I'm with the above.

Our remover firm supplied all the boxes we required plus packing materials and sticky tape to seal the boxes free of charge. So did the firm we used on our previous move.

Having said that, my best friend and her husband, who did a self-drive move recently, used freebie boxes from local supermarkets. Wine boxes are particularly good for books/crockery/ornaments because they're nice and sturdy.

Murphybear

hazyjo said:

If you're using a removal firm, they'll often supply them. STRONGLY recommend getting them to pack too - then you don't have to worry about any packaging/boxes/tape/bubble wrap, etc.

Very true.  I got the removal firm to pack all the kitchen stuff and glasses/china etc.  They did a miraculous job of packing .  They left loads of boxes, tape and bubble wrap for us.

if you are using a removals firm then read their terms & conditions carefully.  If they break something in a box that was packed by the owner they may not pay out.  I’ve moved 19 times in my life and so far never had any breakages.  

Letsgetmoving

I second the Ikea ones. They were cheaper, didn’t need taped up a held up pretty well as long as they weren’t full of books.

Freecycle were also good.

I bought a few from Homebase when we ran out and they didn’t quite fold up right and were expensive

F70

McDonald's chip boxes, free and a great size, I have used them in 2 moves and the removal guys loved them because you can't over fill them.

DigForVictory

If you don't mind what the new neighbours will think ask the supermarkets to hang onto the boxes spirits bottles come in for you. Double-corrugated, solid & still liftable even when stuffed with books. (It's the sight of over 30 cases of gin being lugged into the place can raise eyebrows & well, they are only 12 bottles big.)

squizz11

we went behind iceland and mcdonalds,  anything that held frozen food is normally sturdy,   there are normally crates behind these stores full of flattened boxes

Nebulous2

We've had a variety of free boxes including some from a relative who works in a biscuit factory. 

We've also bought boxes from Argos and there was an attraction to having new ones that were all the same size, despite paying for them.

Don't get large ones and don't overfull them. Label them as precisely as possible with what is in them and where they need to go. 

I'd second the tape dispenser idea, there is a skill to using them, but once you've got it it they are very effective. 

Pererin

Freecycle often have them.