When embarking on the journey of moving, the allure of extra-large boxes can be strong. At Safe Responsible Movers – Top Allston Movers, a trusted moving company serving the Boston area since 2008, we’ve seen it all. Our experience has taught us valuable lessons, one of which is the pitfalls of using extra-large boxes for moving. In this article, we’ll explore why these seemingly convenient solutions are more of a hindrance than a help.
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The Illusion of Efficiency
It’s tempting, we know. You’re preparing for a big move. Every single thing you own needs to get out of the house, into a large truck, and unloaded into your new home.
Your records, documents, jewelry, and more . . . you need to pack them all into boxes. So why not save time by packing everything into a few extra large boxes instead of many smaller boxes?
1. Gravity is Stronger Than Cardboard
No matter how well-packed your boxes are, cardboard itself can only handle so much weight. The bigger the box you use, the more items you can put inside. The more items you put inside, the more weight is pressing on that cardboard, potentially affecting the structural integrity of the box. If an extra large box is filled with heavy items like books or bricks, the box is almost guaranteed to fall apart, no matter how well-taped it is.
And this is an issue that extra muscle can’t solve. Even with two movers carrying an extra large box, the weight is still pressing in one direction: against the bottom of the box.
2. A Good Rule of Thumb: if a Box is Too Heavy or Awkward for You to Pick Up Yourself, Then You Should Re-pack and Split It Up Into Smaller Boxes.
Remember, your movers probably aren’t going to unpack your boxes for you. So if a box is too heavy for you to move once the movers leave, that box is too heavy. Think about it: during the unpacking process, you may want to shift some of your boxes around. If the box is too heavy or awkward for you to be able to pick up, then it’s going to be a problem for you to deal with while you’re unpacking.
3. Movers Can Take an Extra Box or Two if They Are Light Enough — but They Can’t Take Half a Box if One is Too Heavy
This is simple math. If you use extra large boxes and you pack them too heavy, two movers might be needed to move them safely. That slows down the move and ends up costing you more money. (Additionally, heavier boxes are less safe to pack in a moving truck.)
However, if you pack your items into small or medium boxes, you have an advantage. If a box is light enough, a mover can take two. Or three of them. This also makes the boxes easier to safely pack in a moving truck. This is an easy way we can speed up a move and save you money. But we can never move only half of a box.
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