The Ultimate Guide to Moving Boxes in Auckland

Moving to a new home? Whether it’s across the city or across the country there’s no doubt it’s an exciting and exhausting task. In the chaos of packing, organizing and coordinating one aspect that is often overlooked is the importance of choosing the right moving boxes.

I have for years struggled with boxes in my head, knowing that there is a perfect formula which I have tried to apply to moving jobs but have constantly been thwarted at every turn by unruly box manufacturers and importers who just don’t seem to value the science of equally divisible volumes, which is the main thrust of my first point:

Choosing the Right Type of Moving Boxes

Not all moving boxes are created equal. Different items require different types of boxes to ensure safe transportation, but different types of boxes means different size boxes, different size boxes can lead to a mover’s most disdainful dilemma – an unruly, unstackable load!

In a perfect world everyone would have enough money and time to go out and source the perfect size boxes but we understand this isn’t practical and since the ban on plastic bags and oil based products the ‘cardboard mafia’ seem to have taken over the “renewable” supply of wood pulp based products. Essentially new cardboard boxes needed in the amounts for moving have now become almost like unobtainium for a lot of people, forget about being choosy with the sizes.

But nonetheless there is a way to get it done and get it done economically. If we factor in the amount of time that is saved by having boxes which are volumetrically divisible by each other and we look toward sources such as recycled (second time around) boxes or even the local dairy/super market, we can get through the move without having to put fuel in the cardboard Godfathers super yacht.

What do you mean by equally divisible volume boxes?

Well I’m glad you asked because as a mover this issue has been doing my head in for well over two decades now. Moving and transport cartage loads are calculated in two metrics; weight and volume.

For things such as the truck carrying capacity, weight is important, but equally as important in the moving industry is volume, this dictates how big a box is needed on the back of the truck to fit your furniture. Volume of a truck box is measured in cubic meters.

Moving truck boxes come in two standard widths, 2.02 meters and 2.2 meters. We have found over the years that 2.02 meter truck boxes work best in the Auckland moving industry due to Auckland’s many weird and wonderful driveways and housing set ups. Using a 2.02 meter box has saved our clients so much time and money over the years we probably could have retired had we used bigger trucks. The height of the box comes in many wonderful flavors starting at 2 mtrs and goes all the way up to around 3.2 mtrs. Having boxes that are equally divisible into each other will make use of every single spare mm of space in the back of the truck and will avoid having big gaps and holes in the load stack, stacking your possessions efficiently will save a great deal of time and money on moving day.

Consider the humble Rubics cube. Let’s assume that we have small boxes which all equally have a 333*333*333 size which would give us 1/27^th of a cubic meter. How do I know its 1/27^th of a cubic meter, well it’s not because I’m quick at math, it’s because I’m looking at the cube now 27 of these boxes would make a near on perfect cubic meter stack in the back of a truck:

It’s not exactly a cubic meter but its close enough.

Now Im not saying people should run out immediately and find 333*333*333 size boxes but the point is that having different size boxes which can stack on top and next to each other that add up to the same volumes will always result in the perfect stack!

Now consider the Rubics cube in the picture above, its made up of 23 boxes not 27 (excuse the scale, its not right but it serves for demonstration purposes). I hope the point is becoming clearer , having boxes that are loosely divisible volumetrically of each other will ensure that the stack is as efficient as possible.

The Importance of the Quality Moving Box

Getting your hands on quality moving boxes matters. Movers in Auckland encounter various challenges, from navigating narrow streets to managing unpredictable weather conditions. Sturdy, well-constructed moving boxes provide the necessary protection to your belongings during transit and loading/unloading. They offer structural integrity, prevent crushing or collapsing and are also more resistant to water.

Double core boxes are recommended, if you intent to store your items for any extended period of time then going to a thicker box would be wise idea.

Where to Find Moving Boxes in Auckland

1. Local storage sites in Auckland stock a wide range of moving boxes in different sizes and types. They also offer other packing essentials such as bubble wrap, packing tape, and labels but they are not the cheapest option.

Auckland Moving Guys sometimes deals with Storage King Henderson when purchasing boxes, they have a good selection of more than reasonable second time round boxes but are not always available so it would pay to call ahead.

2. Recycling Centers: Consider environmentally-friendly options. Not only does this reduce waste, but it also saves you money.

Auckland Moving Guys deals with Packaging Recyclers when purchasing boxes, they have a massive range of boxes available and can offer both new and second hand options in a wide variety of sizes and thickness. They even have a lucky dip pile especially for moving at $1.50 per box.

3. Your local dairy, convenience store or supermarket for the on a budget or student option, supermarkets and stores are perfect for scoring used boxes that can be repurposed for your moving needs. Most store owners are indifferent to where the used boxes go they will usually gladly hand you a bundle for free as it means the bin takes longer to fill.

Tips for Packing Efficiently

Once you have your moving boxes sorted, packing efficiently does make a world of difference:

1. Label Everything: Clearly label each box with room it belongs to or create a numbering system. This not only helps the movers to place boxes in the correct rooms but also makes unpacking a lot easier.

2. Distribute weight evenly across boxes to prevent overloading and make lifting easier for movers. Pack heavier items at the bottom and lighter items on top, a general rule of thumb is if you cant lift it yourself then its not nice to ask others to lift it. Between 20 -25 kilos is a maximum weight for a box, (don’t put all the books in one box lol).

3. Use packing materials where you can, blankets old clothes and towels can double as packing material on packing day to keep fragile items safe while in transit. You could spend money on packing materials but they are one shot and environmentally irresponsible if they are used then thrown away, so using what you have around the place is a much better solution on a number of levels.