As you're getting ready to move, you're going to need a lot of boxes. You could buy all of them, but then you'll have to figure out what to do with them when you're done. Depending on where you live, you may have the option to rent bins and totes instead. However, it's not always easy to determine where to rent moving boxes in your area.
Moving crate rental companies have popped up all over the U.S., offering bundles of totes and bins for affordable prices. Best of all, they'll often (but not always) drop them off and pick them up at your house, giving you one less thing to worry about. Unfortunately, most of them only operate in specific regions, meaning you might not be able to find one if you're located outside a major metro area.
Here are four more quick reasons you might want to consider renting reusable moving bins and boxes:
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Reusable plastic boxes (that may also be recyclable) are durable and can last a long time, making them far more sustainable than their cardboard counterparts.
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Plastic moving bins are stronger than traditional boxes, meaning they'll protect your belongings more effectively.
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Most reusable moving boxes come in standard sizes, and they're meant to be stacked, potentially saving room in a rental truck and possibly letting you rent a smaller, more affordable truck.
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Many reusable boxes seal tighter than cardboard boxes, making the plastic boxes better suited for moving in tough weather or long-term storage in harsh environments.
Here are some of the best options for renting reusable moving boxes.
Where to rent plastic moving boxes, bins and totes
1) U-Haul
U-Haul not only offers truck rentals, but most of its locations sell cardboard boxes and moving supplies. The company also now rents out "ready-to-go" plastic moving totes.
U-Haul's plastic tote rentals aren't available in every store, but are as close to nationwide as you'll get. The company says the service is offered at select locations, and you'll find tote rentals available at stores in most decently sized cities and towns. You may have to travel to pick them up if you live in a smaller town. None of the stores in my town offer tote rentals, for example. However, U-Haul's store locator says they are available at a couple of locations in a small city about an hour away. For most rural locations, you'll likely see something similar.
Notably, U-Haul won't deliver or pick up its rental totes. You also have to return them to the same store you got them from, which eliminates U-Haul as an option for long-distance moves and could add considerable travel time to your plans.
The totes are spacious, at 24 inches by 20 inches by 12 inches (LWH). They're also water-resistant and can be nested together when empty. U-Haul also promotes its totes as sustainable, noting that old rental totes are ground up to be recycled into new ones.
As for pricing, U-Haul charges slightly different rates depending on location. In a brief survey of various cities, we saw rates between $1.50 and $3.50 per box for the first week. For each additional week, the per-box rate is reduced by anywhere from $0.50 to $1.
U-Haul
U-Haul's "ready-to-go" crates are available in locations around the U.S. at an affordable price. Note that you'll have to pick them up and drop them off at the same location, however, so long-distance moves are out of the question.
- Spacious boxes
- Available around the country
- Affordable prices
- Easy online reservations
- Must be returned to same location
- Not available at every store
2) Rentacrate
Though it only services select cities, Rentacrate is a great option if you want totes delivered directly to your door. Available in Dallas, Houston, Seattle, and the D.C. metro area, Rentacrate has several affordable packages and includes dollies for tote transport. Each package is broken down by the number of bedrooms your house has, with a recommended number of crates and dollies.
Prices vary based on the package but generally range from $150 to $450 for a one-week rental. A one-bedroom home move includes 20 crates and five dollies for $150. Every room after that adds 20 more crates, five more dollies, and another $100. A three-bedroom move, for example, includes 60 crates and 15 dollies for $350.
The crates are made of sturdy plastic and measure about 24 inches by 15 inches by 13 inches (LWH). They can be stacked up to four high on the provided dollies, with each package providing enough dollies to hold all of the crates. The lids latch, and containers can be nested together when empty.
In addition to the bins and dollies, Rentacrate includes two zip ties and one label per crate. Rentacrate also offers a "Packing Pro" bundle that includes bubble wrap, mattress bags, packing tape and foam TV pouches starting at an additional $100 for a one-bedroom move.
Rentacrate's downside is its limited regional availability for residential moves. The company offers a commercial moving service with wider availability across more states, but residential services are limited to the four cities listed above.
Rentacrate
Rentacrate offers a great rental service at solid prices. However, it's fairly limited to a regional service area of only four cities.
- Delivery and pick-up
- Packages for up to 5 rooms
- Dollies, labels, and zip ties included
- Limited to Dallas, Houston, D.C., and Seattle
3) Stack
Stack is another regional crate rental company, covering a wider area than Rentacrate across much of the Southeast. Stack operates out of 14 major cities and services anywhere within a 50-mile radius of one of its locations. It also offers city-to-city rentals if you move between two cities where it operates.
Stack operates in the following major metro areas:
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Dallas, Texas
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Austin, Texas
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St. Louis, Mo.
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Nashville, Tenn.
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Memphis, Tenn.
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Washington, D.C.
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Arlington, Va.
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Alexandria, Va.
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Charlotte, N.C.
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Atlanta, Ga.
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Jacksonville, Fla.
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Orlando, Fla.
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Tampa, Fla.
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Miami, Fla.
Stack has several package rentals that cover everything from a small student move to a five-bedroom home. Prices start at $129 and top out at $274 for a one-week rental, making Stack one of the more affordable options. For the average three-bedroom home, you'll get 50 bins, 50 labels, and three dollies for $179.
Stack's crates are 24 inches by 15 inches by 13 inches (LWH) at the bottom, which is about standard for bin rentals. They're made of a hard plastic shell with latching lids. They can also be stacked together when empty, making for easy storage.
Like Rentacrate, Stack delivers its totes directly to your home and picks them up after the move. When ordering crates online, you can enter your drop-off and pick-up addresses, along with the dates on which you'll need your crates. Stack handles everything from there.
Stack services many metro areas in the Southeastern U.S., and they offer affordable city-to-city rentals if you're moving between areas where they operate. Limited availability means you're out of luck outside of those metros, however.
- Delivery and pick-up
- Affordable
- Dollies and labels included
- Packages for up to 5 bedrooms
- Limited to 14 metros
Rent moving boxes from your local moving company
Plastic moving bin rental companies are regional, with most operating out of a single major city or two. If none of the above options work for your move, it's worth looking around to see what local companies are available in your town. Some of the more notable regional options include:
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Boxbee (L.A., San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose)
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EZ Bins (New York City area)
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Bin It (New York City, New Jersey, Nashville, Philadelphia, Indianapolis)
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Redi-Box (Chicago)
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Bronko Box (Austin)
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Cheetah Crate (Kansas City metro area)
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Keep It 3 (Georgia)
Many local moving companies also offer plastic box rentals as an additional service, so it's worth inquiring about.
If you need storage boxes for your next home, you might also want to buy some plastic boxes and use them to move. You can find them at large retail stores like Walmart and Home Depot, and they can go a long way to protecting stuff you have stored away in your basement. You might even consider picking up some cardboard boxes ( potentially for free ) to supplement your move.
If you're looking for some ideas on how to get started, check out our full guide to essential packing tips and tricks from professional movers .
More Yahoo Local-approved U.S. movers
Best California movers
Bakersfield / Berkeley / Escondido / Fremont / Fresno / Huntington Beach / Irvine / Long Beach / Los Angeles / Norwalk / Oakland / Sacramento / San Diego / San Francisco / San Jose / Santa Cruz / Santa Rosa
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Boca Raton / Bradenton / Fort Lauderdale / Fort Myers / Gainesville / Jacksonville / Melbourne / Miami / Naples / Ocala / Orlando / Pompano Beach / Sarasota / St. Petersburg / Tallahassee / Tampa / West Palm Beach
Best New York movers
Albany / Binghamton / The Bronx / Brooklyn / Buffalo / Clifton Park / Hamburg / Ithaca / Kingston / Manhattan / New Rochelle / Poughkeepsie / Queens / Rochester / Syracuse
Best Texas movers
Amarillo / Arlington / Austin / Beaumont / Corpus Christi / Dallas / Denton / El Paso / Fort Worth / Houston / Katy / Midland / Odessa / Plano / Round Rock / San Antonio / Tyler / The Woodlands / Waco
