Reusable Moving Boxes vs Cardboard Boxes: Which Is Better?

Moving house usually means finding somewhere to pack clothes, books, kitchenware, ornaments and everything else you have accumulated over the years.

Traditionally, that means buying or collecting piles of cardboard boxes. But reusable plastic moving crates are becoming a practical alternative, especially if you do not want to buy boxes that may only be used once.

So which is better for moving house: cardboard boxes or reusable plastic moving crates?

At Shift It Man and Van Removals, we handle house, flat and apartment and office moves across Birmingham and the West Midlands every week. Below, we compare the two options based on what actually matters on moving day: strength, convenience, stacking, protection, waste and cost.

Cardboard Boxes vs Reusable Plastic Moving Crates

Both can work well, but they have different advantages.

	Cardboard Moving Boxes	Reusable Plastic Crates
Strength	Can crush or soften	Strong rigid construction
Assembly	Usually need tape	Ready to use
Closing	Tape or folding flaps	Attached closing lids
Stacking	Can become unstable	Designed for secure stacking
Rain resistance	Poor	Much better
Reuse	Often limited	Designed for repeated use
Waste afterwards	May need recycling or disposal	Collected and reused
Storage	You need somewhere to keep them	Returned after your move
Long-term use	You can keep them	Hire crates are returned
Convenience	Need buying, assembling and disposing	Delivered ready to pack

Are Reusable Moving Crates Stronger Than Cardboard Boxes?

Generally, yes.

A good-quality cardboard moving box is perfectly capable of carrying normal household belongings, but cardboard has limitations.

Boxes can weaken if they are overloaded, stored somewhere damp or repeatedly stacked and moved. The bottoms also need to be taped properly, particularly when packing heavier items.

Reusable plastic moving crates have rigid sides and bases, so they retain their shape even when stacked.

This can be particularly useful when moving:

• books

• kitchen equipment

• ornaments

• paperwork

• office equipment

• shoes

• toys

• smaller household belongings

They are also easier to stack securely inside a removals van.

No Tape or Assembly Required

One of the biggest advantages of reusable crates is convenience.

Cardboard moving boxes normally arrive flat-packed. You then need to build each box and tape the bottom before packing it.

After the move, you have to cut the tape, flatten the boxes and decide whether to store, recycle or dispose of them.

Reusable moving crates arrive ready to use.

Open the lid, pack your belongings and close it again.

There is no need to assemble the boxes and no pile of flattened cardboard to deal with afterwards.

What Happens if It Rains on Moving Day?

Unfortunately, Birmingham weather does not always cooperate with moving day.

Cardboard and water are not a particularly good combination.

A box that becomes wet can soften, lose its shape and eventually fail, particularly if it contains something heavy.

Plastic moving crates provide much better protection against brief exposure to rain while belongings are being carried between the property and removals van.

They are not designed to be waterproof storage containers, but they are considerably more resistant to bad weather than ordinary cardboard boxes.

Plastic Crates Are Easier to Stack

Good packing inside a removals van is not simply about fitting everything in.

Items need to be loaded securely so they are less likely to move during transport.

Reusable moving crates are manufactured in consistent sizes with rigid sides, making them easy to stack.

Cardboard boxes vary enormously in size and condition.

This is particularly noticeable when people collect free boxes from supermarkets, friends, workplaces and online marketplaces. You can easily end up with ten different box sizes, some stronger than others.

Uniform moving crates make creating stable stacks much easier.

Are Reusable Moving Boxes Better for the Environment?

Both cardboard and reusable crates can have environmental advantages.

Cardboard is recyclable, particularly when it is clean and dry.

The problem is that many people buy brand-new cardboard moving boxes, use them for a single house move and then never need them again.

Reusable plastic moving crates are designed to be used repeatedly for many different moves.

Instead of every customer buying another set of boxes, the same crates can be delivered, used, collected and put back into service.

For someone who does not need permanent storage boxes after moving, hiring reusable crates can therefore reduce the amount of single-use packaging associated with the move.

When Are Cardboard Boxes the Better Choice?

Reusable crates are not automatically the best option for everyone.

Cardboard may make more sense if:

• you want to keep your belongings boxed for a long period

• you are moving items into long-term storage

• you already own plenty of suitable boxes

• you are moving very gradually over several weeks

• you need unusual box sizes

• you want boxes you can keep permanently

If you already have good-quality cardboard boxes available, there is no reason not to use them.

The biggest advantage of reusable crates is for customers who would otherwise have to buy a large quantity of cardboard specifically for one move.

How Many Moving Boxes Do You Need?

This varies considerably depending on the property and how much you own.

Two homes with the same number of bedrooms can require completely different numbers of boxes.

Someone living in a two-bedroom flat with relatively few possessions may need far fewer boxes than somebody with bookshelves, a large kitchen, wardrobes full of clothes and years of stored belongings.

From our experience carrying out house and flat removals, kitchens and books are two areas customers often underestimate.

Books

Books become extremely heavy when packed into large containers.

It is better to spread books between several boxes rather than filling one huge box that becomes difficult to lift.

Kitchenware

Plates, glasses, pans, food, appliances and cupboards can quickly use a surprising number of boxes.

Fragile items also need sufficient protection rather than being tightly packed together.

Clothes and Bedding

Clothes, towels and bedding take up plenty of space but are relatively light.

These can be useful for filling crates without making them excessively heavy.

Drawers

Not every drawer automatically needs to be completely emptied.

Light clothing can sometimes remain inside suitable furniture, depending on the construction and weight of the item.

Heavy, fragile or loose belongings should normally be removed before furniture is carried.

What Shouldn't Go in a Standard Moving Crate?

Not everything should simply be placed into a plastic crate or cardboard box.

Items such as:

• televisions

• large mirrors

• framed pictures

• large lamps

• very fragile ornaments

• oversized electronics

• furniture

usually need their own protection and handling.

For a professional house move, we use removal blankets, straps, trolleys and appropriate handling techniques for larger items rather than trying to put everything into boxes.

Reusable Moving Box Hire in Birmingham

If you would prefer not to buy dozens of cardboard boxes for one move, Shift It Man and Van Removals now offers reusable moving box hire in Birmingham.

Our current crate-hire package includes:

20 x 62-litre reusable plastic moving crates

£59 for 7 days

£25 for each additional week

Free delivery and collection within 10 miles of B31

The crates are delivered before your move so you have time to pack, then collected again once you have finished unpacking.

They are suitable for:

• house moves

• flat and apartment moves

• student moves

• office relocations

• temporary storage during a move

Why Hire Moving Crates Instead of Buying Cardboard?

For many customers, the biggest advantage is simply avoiding waste and hassle.

You do not need to:

• buy a large quantity of cardboard

• assemble every box

• use rolls of packing tape

• find somewhere to store empty boxes

• dispose of them afterwards

We deliver the crates, you pack and move, then we collect them again.

For customers already booking a house removal in Birmingham, apartment move, student move or office removal, reusable crates can also make preparing for moving day much simpler.

Cardboard vs Plastic Moving Boxes: Which Should You Choose?

There is no single answer for every move.

Choose cardboard boxes if you already have suitable boxes, want to keep them afterwards or need belongings packed for long-term storage.

Consider reusable moving crates if you want strong, stackable containers without buying and disposing of a large amount of cardboard.

For a typical short-term house or flat move, reusable crates offer a particularly convenient alternative because they arrive ready to pack and disappear again once you have unpacked.

If you are moving in Birmingham and would like to avoid buying piles of cardboard boxes, take a look at our reusable moving box hire service.