What Box Should I Use?

The boxes you use to pack your household goods are important in more ways than one. Make sure the cartons you use are suitable for transporting your goods in order to minimize damage. Also, ensure that you are not packing boxes too heavy as they can break open, or too light as they can crush as they get stacked in the moving van.  Your sales representative can assist you in locating and purchasing the appropriate cartons. Follow these moving tips and advice for different types of moving boxes to avoid any damage to your possessions.

Some general purpose cartons and moving box sizes available at any moving company or box supply outlet are:

This is the smallest of the general-purpose containers. As a rule of thumb, the smallest and heaviest items are generally packed in the 1.5 carton. Such items would include:

• Books, records, VCR tapes, CD’s
• Canned goods
• Heavy Tools

This is the workhorse carton. Smaller and heavier items are usually packed in these containers. Some examples are:

• Small kitchen appliances
• Lamp bases
• Small outdoor tools
• Pots and pans
• Electronic gadgets

As the size of the container increases, the weight of the individual items going into the container should decrease. This carton is another of the workhorse cartons. This carton should be considered for the following:

• Non hanging clothes
• Larger lamp bases
• Lamp shades
• Linens
• Non breakable kitchen goods (Tupperware, baking sheets, etc.)
• Children’s toys

This is the largest of the general purpose cartons. This carton should only be considered for the lightest and bulkiest items such as:

• Stuffed toys
• Blankets, pillows
• Area rugs
• Winter coats

This is the safest of all the cartons because of its extra-strength, multi-layer construction. All breakable kitchenware, china, and crystal should be packed in these cartons for safety.  Lamp bases, small antiques, and brick-a-brac are also packed in dishpacks.

Just as mattresses and box springs come in different sizes, so do the cartons for shipping them in. Standard sizes are crib, twin, double, queen and king. Other than the beds in a residence, be aware, that some waterbeds, futons and sleep sofas may also require cartons for shipping. For king size beds, double check that the box springs are either king size or two singles.

As with mattress cartons, mirror cartons come in a number of sizes. Many mirror carton pieces can be fitted together to offer a great deal of flexibility for such items as: pictures, mirrors or small glass table tops.

Wardrobe boxes are the largest of the standard cartons and will either be standup or lay-down (usually used for international). The cartons are constructed in such a manner that hanging clothes will remain hanging during the move. You may want to consider the wardrobe for shipping drapes and curtains (neatly folded and on hangers) to help reduce wrinkling during shipment.

There are specialized cartons for very specific needs, such as pole lamp cartons, bicycle cartons, grandfather clock boxes and crates. The ultimate specialty carton is a crate which is for extremely fragile pieces, such as marble and glass. These cartons are built to order and need to be ordered prior to your move. Ask your Premier Relocations representative for details.