How many moving boxes do I need for a 1 bedroom apartment?
Plan on roughly 20 medium boxes, or 20 reusable moving bins, for a typical 1 bedroom apartment. Add about 5 more if you have a well-stocked kitchen or a large book collection.
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How many moving boxes do I need?
Most people guess low and end up making a late-night run for more cardboard. Answer three quick questions and you'll get a realistic count — plus what it costs to rent that many reusable moving bins in Hamilton and Burlington.
Quick reference: boxes by home size
| Home | Boxes / bins | First week with Binsley |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | 10–15 | $60.00 for 12 bins |
| 1 bedroom | 17–25 | $100.00 for 20 bins |
| 2 bedroom | 27–40 | $160.00 for 32 bins |
| 3 bedroom | 41–60 | $240.00 for 48 bins |
| 4+ bedroom | 56–83 | $330.00 for 66 bins |
These ranges assume an average amount of belongings. Storage lockers, garages and collections are the usual reason a move needs more than the table suggests.
Three ways people get the count wrong
- Counting rooms, not contents. Two homes with the same floor plan can differ by 20 bins. Closets, kitchens and basements drive the number.
- Forgetting the awkward stuff. Lamps, cleaning supplies, pantry items and the junk drawer all still need somewhere to go on moving day.
- Ordering exactly enough. Aim about 10% over. Unused bins go back with the pickup and rigid bins stack safely when they're full.
Moving box quantity: common questions
How many boxes for a 2 or 3 bedroom house?
A 2 bedroom home usually needs around 30 to 40 boxes and a 3 bedroom house around 50 to 60. Basements, garages and home offices are what push most moves over these numbers, so count those spaces separately.
Is it better to have too many or too few boxes?
Too many. Running out mid-pack means a store run on your busiest day. With Binsley you rent by the bin, so ordering a few extra costs $5 each for the first week and nothing is wasted if you don't fill them all.
How big is one moving bin compared to a box?
Each bin holds 102 litres — close to a standard medium moving box, but with rigid walls and a snap-on lid. Interior dimensions are 23.5 in L x 14.5 in W x 13 in H (59.7 x 36.8 x 33 cm).
What if I underestimate and need more bins?
Give us a call at (289) 642-BINS and we'll bring more on the next Monday, Wednesday or Friday run. Extra bins are billed at the same $5 first-week rate.
Related: Moving boxes in Hamilton · Moving boxes in Burlington · Pricing & booking
Rent exactly the number you need
No preset bundles — choose any count from 10 to 100 bins, delivered across Hamilton and Burlington on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Your estimate
20 bins