Need packing materials for an upcoming move or shipment near you? This guide covers where to buy quality boxes, bubble wrap, tape, and more while sticking to your budget.
Getting ready to pack up your home for a big relocation? Finding the right packing materials near me can eat into moving budgets fast if you aren’t strategic.
Discover where to source quality boxes, bubble wrap, tape, and everything else you need at prices that won’t break the bank.
Check Local Classified Listings
- A great place to find used packing supplies affordably or even for free is your local online classifieds like Craigslist or Nextdoor.
- Tons of people who just finished moving have full sets of gently used boxes and other packing materials to get rid of.
- You may even find someone local moving out of a bigger home into a smaller apartment willing to give boxes away for free if you come to pick them up.
- Search tip: Use keywords like “moving boxes free” or “packing supplies” plus your city name to find deals in your area.
Inquire at Nearby Retail Stores
Many retail stores receive inventory shipments in quality cardboard boxes perfect for packing fragile possessions.
Develop a relationship with managers at local outlets to negotiate either deeply discounted or free boxes when they unpack stock. Target options like:
- Furniture shops
- Pet stores
- Appliance providers
- Craft stores
- Bookshops
Bonus tip: Ask if they can set clean, intact boxes aside for you to pick up on the store’s designated cardboard recycling day.
Visit Nearby Shipping Stores
Local packing and shipping outlets can provide affordable boxes, bubble wrap, tape and other supplies for the DIY mover:
- UPS Store: Offers a 25% moving discount on boxes and padding purchased in-store.
- U-Haul: Sells a variety of discount moving kits that bundle common items like tape, markers and ropes with new boxes.
- FedEx Office: Provides redirectable delivery so you can ship supplies to any U.S. address when purchased online. Frequent promos take up to 50% off.
When buying, don’t feel pressured into getting boxes right then and there. Visit to price check boxes and packing materials first.
Then you can revisit later if the location you check out offers the best deals in your area.
Check Dollar Stores
Dollar stores like Dollar Tree and Dollar General sell select moving supplies like:
- Tape
- Tissue paper
- Bubble wrap
- Inflated packing pillows
- Foam sheets
- Markers
While most products come in smaller quantities, the deeply discounted prices make these shops an ideal stop for supplemental items to use alongside free or low-cost boxes acquired elsewhere.
Additional Tips for Affordable Supplies
Call Local Hardware Stores
Hardware stores usually stock large contractor packs of boxes able to handle heavy tools or awkwardly shaped items. Options to check include:
- Home Depot
- Lowes
- Ace Hardware
- True Value
Let the retailer know you have an upcoming move and ask if they can offer any discounts on large box orders.
Providing exact dimensions of specialty items needing custom boxes improves your chances of securing a lowered price.
Head to Local Liquor Stores
Sturdy liquor boxes with built-in dividers work wonders for packing fragile kitchen wares or decorative items needing separation.
Most states prohibit liquor stores from buying or selling packaging materials, but many happily hand over discarded boxes at no cost.
Don’t Overlook Local Factories
Manufacturing plants constantly utilize bulk quantities of cardboard boxes and industrial bubble wrap for shipping parts.
Connect with operations managers at nearby factories that align with your move date timing.
Ask if they have new or quality-checked used boxes to spare rather than tossing them into the recycling compactor.
Offers to haul away excess boxes at no charge increase your chance of success.
Talk to Local Farmers
Crates for harvesting crops or transporting agricultural products to markets make durable moving containers that can handle bumpy weather rides across town.
Chat with neighborhood farm owners and orchard owners to find free or cheap wooden apple crates, berry baskets, and reinforced produce boxes ideal for heavy books and odd-shaped wares.
