Moving crates or cardboard boxes? More Londoners are choosing to rent moving boxes — sturdy plastic crates with lids — rather than buying flat-pack cardboard, especially for flat moves and office relocations. Crate hire in London is now a common service, but it isn’t automatically the right choice for every move. This guide compares the two honestly, gives a rough guide to how many crates you’ll need per room and explains how crate hire works.
Moving crates vs cardboard boxes at a glance
| Hired plastic crates | Cardboard boxes | |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | Rigid, stack without crushing | Good when new, weaker if reused or damp |
| Assembly | None — open and fill | Fold and tape each box |
| Weather | Water-resistant | Can soften in rain |
| Sizes | Usually one or two standard sizes | Wide range, including wardrobe boxes |
| After the move | Collected and reused | Flatten, store or recycle |
| Long-term storage | Usually hired for weeks, not months | Better suited to long stays |
| Cost | Hire for a set period | Bought outright |
In short: crates suit short, local moves where you’ll unpack quickly. Cardboard suits long storage, odd-shaped items and moves where unpacking will take weeks.
| Your move | Usually the better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Local flat move, unpacking within a week or two | Crates | Fast to pack, strong on stairs, collected afterwards |
| Office relocation over a weekend | Crates | Uniform, sealable and quick to load and unload |
| Move with weeks or months in storage | Cardboard | No hire period to worry about |
| Lots of hanging clothes, pictures or lamps | A mix | Specialist cardboard boxes for odd shapes |
| Long-distance move with a slow unpack | Cardboard or a mix | Unpacking may outlast a sensible hire period |
Plastic moving crates: pros and cons
Moving crates are rigid plastic boxes, usually with interlocking or hinged lids so they stack securely and can be sealed. They’re delivered to your door before the move and collected afterwards.
- Pro: no folding or taping — packing starts the moment they arrive.
- Pro: they don’t crush, so heavy items like books and kitchenware are safer.
- Pro: uniform sizes stack neatly in the van, which speeds loading.
- Pro: lids with tag holes can be sealed with cable ties for some security.
- Con: they take floor space while empty and full — a pile of crates in a studio is noticeable.
- Con: you need to unpack by the collection date, or pay for longer hire.
- Con: not ideal for very large, flat or oddly shaped items such as mirrors, lamps and artwork.
What we see on real jobs is that crates make the biggest difference on stairs. Crushed cardboard boxes at the bottom of a stack are a common cause of breakages; crates don’t have that problem, and their handles are easier to carry up a narrow staircase.
Cardboard boxes: pros and cons
Cardboard is still the default for most moves, and for good reasons.
- Pro: you can keep them as long as you like — handy if unpacking will be slow.
- Pro: a wide range of sizes, including wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes and picture boxes.
- Pro: suitable for longer-term storage.
- Pro: flat-packed boxes take little space before you start.
- Con: they need assembling and taping, which adds hours to packing.
- Con: they weaken when damp or overfilled, and reused boxes can split.
- Con: they create a pile of material to flatten and recycle afterwards.
If you go with cardboard, buy double-walled boxes for heavy items and don’t overfill large ones. Our packing materials kits (from £50) include boxes, tape, paper and wrap.
How many crates per room? A rough guide
This is a rough guide only — it assumes standard-sized crates and a typically furnished home. Book collectors, home cooks and anyone with a full loft will need more.
| Room or home | Rough guide (crates) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | 10–20 | Crockery, pans, food cupboards — the heaviest room |
| Living room | 6–12 | Books, media, ornaments |
| Double bedroom | 6–10 | Folded clothes, bedding, shoes |
| Single or spare room | 4–8 | Depends on whether it doubles as storage |
| Bathroom | 2–4 | Toiletries, towels, cleaning products |
| Studio flat (whole home) | 20–30 | Fewer if you travel light |
| 1-bed flat (whole home) | 30–45 | A common starting point for hire |
| 2-bed flat or house | 45–70 | Plus a few cardboard boxes for odd shapes |
Many people end up using a mix: crates for the heavy, regular-shaped things — books, kitchenware, shoes, toiletries — and a handful of cardboard or specialist boxes for lampshades, pictures and hanging clothes.
How crate hire works
- Tell us your property size and moving date, and we’ll suggest a quantity.
- Crates are delivered before the move, giving you time to pack.
- Pack, close the lids and label each crate by room.
- We move them with the rest of your belongings.
- Unpack at the new place, then the empty crates are collected.
Our moving crate hire is priced as a custom quote based on the number of crates, the hire period and the addresses. It can be combined with a removal or used on its own if you’re moving yourself.
Agree the collection date before you pack. Unpacking a kitchen and bookshelves takes longer than most people expect.
A few habits get the most out of crates:
- Fill crates to the top so lids close flat and stack safely — fill gaps with tea towels or soft items.
- Keep heavy items, such as books and tins, to a weight one person can lift comfortably.
- Still wrap glasses and plates individually; rigid sides don’t stop items knocking together inside.
- Label the ends as well as the lid, so you can read them when stacked.
- Number crates and keep a simple list of what’s in each one.
- Wipe crates out before collection — they’re reused, and it keeps the process quick.
The environmental angle
Crates are designed to be reused many times, so a single set can serve move after move instead of being made, used once and recycled. That means less packaging waste for you to deal with at the other end — no mountain of flattened boxes and tape in the hallway.
Cardboard isn’t a bad choice either. It’s widely recyclable, and reusing good-quality boxes from a previous move, or passing yours on to someone else afterwards, extends their life. The least sustainable option is buying new boxes, using them once and leaving them damp in a shed. Whichever you choose, keep packing materials dry and reuse what you can.
FAQs
Are moving crates cheaper than buying boxes?
It depends on how many you need and for how long. For short, local moves crates can compare well once you factor in tape and the time spent assembling boxes. For long storage, cardboard is usually better value.
How long can I keep hired crates?
It depends on the hire period you agree. Ask about extending if you’re not sure how long unpacking will take.
Can I use crates for storage?
They’re best for moves. For weeks or months in storage, cardboard boxes are usually more practical.
Do you deliver crates across London?
Yes — we deliver and collect crates across all 32 boroughs, with or without a removal booked.
Are crates good for packing a kitchen?
Very good. Their rigid sides protect crockery and pans from being crushed in the van. Wrap each item as you would in a box, keep the weight manageable and fill gaps so nothing moves. Our guide to packing a kitchen like a pro works just as well with crates.
Thinking about crate hire?
Tell us your property size and dates — we’ll suggest how many crates you need and quote delivery and collection.
See moving crate hire or contact us.
About the author
Writer
Sameer writes practical, no-nonsense moving guides for Londoners — drawn from real jobs across all 32 boroughs, covering vans, packing, permits and fixed-price removals.