Kitchens are box-heavy
Crockery, pans, pantry goods and countertop appliances can add many cartons without changing the number of bedrooms.
UK packing planner
How many boxes do I need to move?
Estimate a practical mix of small, medium, large and wardrobe boxes instead of relying on one generic “boxes per bedroom” number.
Moving box calculator
Build your box starting point
The mix intentionally puts dense contents into smaller cartons and lighter bulky contents into larger boxes.
Why bedroom count alone is not enough
Dense items need small boxes
Books, records, tools and bottled goods are easier to lift when spread over smaller cartons.
Lofts and garages get missed
Seasonal items, hobby equipment and stored belongings often create the biggest last-minute underestimate.
How to use the estimate
Buy or collect a mixed set rather than one box size. Start packing low-use rooms early and compare the real rate of box use with this estimate. Keep a small reserve unassembled for the final kitchen, bathroom and cleaning items.
What belongs in each size?
- Small: books, tins, records, tools and other dense contents.
- Medium: general household possessions, kitchenware, toys and ornaments.
- Large: bedding, cushions, lampshades and lightweight bulky goods.
- Wardrobe: hanging clothes where speed and crease protection matter.
Connect the box estimate to your move
The full MoveSize workspace adds furniture and appliances to the same inventory, then estimates packed volume, load weight, van class, trip count and self-storage space. That avoids choosing boxes, vans and storage from unrelated rules of thumb.
Planning estimate only.
Actual carton counts vary with box dimensions, packing style and how much you declutter. Do not overload large boxes with dense contents.