Packing Supplies You Actually Need — And What to Skip
Every moving company and home improvement store wants to sell you a mountain of packing supplies. Most of it is unnecessary. After thousands of DFW moves, here's the honest list of what you actually need, what works just as well for free, and what's a waste of money.
What You Actually Need
Boxes — The Right Sizes
Small boxes (1.5 cubic feet): Best for books, records, tools, and anything heavy. Fill with dense items and keep under 30 pounds.
Medium boxes (3 cubic feet): The workhorse of any move. Kitchen items, toys, electronics, office supplies, miscellaneous items.
Large boxes (4.5 cubic feet): Pillows, bedding, lampshades, lightweight bulky items. Never use for heavy items.
Dish pack boxes: Heavy-duty double-walled boxes with cell dividers specifically for kitchen fragile items. Worth every cent for a kitchen with real dishes.
Wardrobe boxes: Optional but convenient for formal wear.
Where to get free boxes: Liquor stores (strongest free boxes available), Costco and Sam's Club, Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, grocery stores.
Tape — Don't Skimp Here
Heavy-duty packing tape (2 inches wide) is non-negotiable. Buy more than you think you need. Weak tape is the leading cause of box failure.
The H-tape method: Tape across the box seam AND down each side flap edge, forming an H shape. This dramatically increases bottom strength for heavy boxes.
A tape gun (dispenser) is worth buying — it makes the job significantly faster and more consistent.
Markers
Permanent markers for labeling. Buy several — they dry out. Label every box on all four sides (not just the top) with room and general contents.
Packing Paper
Clean, unprinted packing paper for wrapping fragile items. Available at moving supply stores and U-Haul locations.
The free alternative: Clothing, towels, sheets, and blankets work just as well for most items and you're moving them anyway. Use what you have.
What You DON'T Need
Bubble wrap (for most items): Clothing and packing paper work just as well for most items. Reserve bubble wrap for truly irreplaceable fragile items only.
Foam peanuts: Messy, hard to dispose of, and packing paper works better. Skip them.
Moving blankets (to buy): Eco Tech Movers provides moving blankets. If your mover doesn't include them, rent them. Buying moving blankets you'll use once is wasteful.
Specialty boxes for everything: Mirror boxes, TV boxes, mattress boxes — your mover may already provide these or have better alternatives.
Box labels that you peel and stick: Just use a marker. Label stickers fall off and are slower.
The Free Supplies That Actually Work
Garbage bags: Perfect for soft items — clothing, bedding, pillows, stuffed animals. Fast to fill, easy to carry.
Suitcases and duffel bags: The most efficient containers you own. Use them for clothing and personal items.
Laundry baskets: Excellent for last-minute miscellaneous packing. Leave items in laundry baskets — movers can carry them as-is.
Ziploc bags: Label with marker and use for hardware, small parts, cables, and anything small that gets lost.
How Much to Buy
A rough guide for DFW home sizes:
| Home Size | Small Boxes | Medium Boxes | Large Boxes | Tape Rolls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | 10-15 | 10-15 | 5 | 3-4 |
| 2 Bedroom | 15-20 | 20-25 | 8-10 | 4-5 |
| 3 Bedroom | 20-30 | 30-40 | 12-15 | 6-8 |
| 4 Bedroom | 30-40 | 40-55 | 15-20 | 8-10 |
Buy from the lower end and get more if needed — it's easier to return unused boxes than to run out mid-pack.
Reusable Alternative — Cratezy Boxes
Eco Tech Movers offers Cratezy Box rental — reusable plastic crates delivered before your move and picked up after. At $3.39/crate/week, they're often cheaper than buying cardboard boxes for a full home move — and you skip the breakdown and disposal.
📞 Call or text: (469) 466-1380 💻 ecotechmovers.com
Frequently asked questions
How many boxes do I need to move a 3-bedroom home in DFW?
A 3-bedroom DFW home typically requires 20-30 small boxes, 30-40 medium boxes, and 12-15 large boxes, plus 6-8 rolls of packing tape. Buy from the lower end of those ranges first — it's easier to pick up more boxes than to return extras. Small boxes handle books and heavy items, medium boxes cover kitchen and office supplies, and large boxes are for lightweight bulky items like bedding.
Is bubble wrap worth buying for a move?
Bubble wrap is not necessary for most household items. Clothing, towels, and unprinted packing paper cushion the majority of fragile items just as effectively — and you're already moving those materials anyway. Reserve bubble wrap only for truly irreplaceable fragile pieces. Foam peanuts are also worth skipping: they're messy, hard to dispose of, and packing paper outperforms them.
What is the H-tape method and why does it matter for packing boxes?
The H-tape method means applying packing tape across the center seam of a box bottom and then down each side flap edge, forming an H shape. This significantly increases bottom strength, which matters most for heavy boxes packed with books, tools, or kitchen items. Use 2-inch heavy-duty packing tape — weak tape is the leading cause of box failure during a move.
Where can I get free moving boxes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area?
Liquor stores offer the strongest free boxes available and are one of the best sources in DFW. Costco, Sam's Club, grocery stores, Facebook Marketplace, and Nextdoor are also reliable free sources. Suitcases, duffel bags, laundry baskets, and garbage bags are equally useful free alternatives — garbage bags work well for clothing and bedding, and laundry baskets can be carried by movers as-is.
Are reusable plastic moving crates cheaper than buying cardboard boxes for a full home move?
Reusable plastic crates from Eco Tech Movers' Cratezy Box rental program cost $3.39 per crate per week and are often cheaper than purchasing cardboard boxes for a full home move. The crates are delivered before your move and picked up afterward, so you skip the time spent breaking down and disposing of cardboard. The cost advantage is most significant for larger homes that need 60 or more boxes.
Do I need to buy moving blankets before my DFW move?
No. Eco Tech Movers provides moving blankets as part of the move. If your mover does not include them, rent rather than buy — moving blankets purchased for a single move are wasteful and costly. The same logic applies to specialty boxes like mirror boxes, TV boxes, and mattress boxes: confirm with your mover first, since they may already supply or have better alternatives for those items.
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