Plastic Containers or Cardboard Boxes? What to Choose When Moving

Published: December 06, 2021

Moving is always a daunting task – you must be efficient as possible and ensure the safety of your items. With both cardboard boxes and plastic containers being two primary choices for packing materials, what do you go with? Plastic bins offer the possibility of countless reusability, while cardboard boxes tend to fall apart after a few uses. However, you’ll find yourself paying considerably more for plastic bins. Read on to discover the pros and cons of each.

Plastic Bins

Plastic containers can be rented from moving companies for the duration of your move, ranging between $50 and $200 per week depending on how many containers you need and how big you need them to be. The bins you’ll receive from moving companies are also easily stackable, so it’s easy to keep track of where all your items are. Household plastic storage bins can also be used sparingly, but are not very suitable for heavy duty moves.

Cardboard Moving Boxes

Sold by moving and storage companies (including many UNITS® Moving and Portable Storage locations) and often offered for free on sites like Craigslist, cardboard moving boxes are considerably more affordable than plastic bins. They’re also typically more widely available than the latter. 

Whereas the plastic bins you can get from moving companies are standard in size, there is a wide variety of sizes when it comes to cardboard boxes. One great packing strategy is to keep heavier items in smaller boxes so it’s easier to transport and move. Corrugated cardboard boxes are great for fragile items – the softer interior of cardboard boxes offer more cushion for breakable items than plastic bins do.

Additionally, there are specialized boxes made specifically for lamps, wardrobe, furniture and more, so it’s easier to find boxes made especially for hard-to-store items.

It’s up to you to pack your items, but for everything else, call UNITS® Moving and Portable Storage. Not only do we transport and deliver spacious, weather-resistant portable storage containers to your doorstep, but you can take as long as you need to pack and organize your container. There’s never any rush with UNITS®! Call any of our nationwide locations today to get started.