Moving in Brooklyn can be expensive, so it’s important to save money where you can. One way to cut moving costs is with your packing supplies and moving boxes. Whether you buy cheap moving boxes or find free cardboard boxes, here’s everything you need to know about where to get free or cheap moving supplies in Brooklyn, NY.
- Should You Buy or Get Free Moving Boxes?
- Where to Get Free Moving Boxes in Brooklyn
- Where to Buy Cheap Moving Boxes in Brooklyn
- Where to Recycle Moving Boxes in Brooklyn
Should You Buy or Get Free Moving Boxes?
You should get free moving boxes if you’re looking to reduce expenses and waste when preparing for a move, and you should buy inexpensive boxes if you are worried about the time it would take to collect them or the quality of used moving supplies. Whether you’re buying or reusing cardboard boxes for moving, here’s what else you need to consider to make the right choice for your needs.
Why you should buy new, cheap moving boxes:
- Uniformity: Having boxes that stack uniformly makes it easier to pack boxes and load a moving truck, which saves you time, space, and money.
- Specific Sizes: You have more ability to choose the box size you need for your items, which helps keep items more secure during the move.
- Quality: With new boxes, you won’t have to worry about cleanliness or sturdiness.
- Convenience: It’s faster and easier to buy new moving boxes than to try to find used ones.
Why you should get used, free moving boxes near you:
- Cost-Effective: Free boxes help you reduce your moving expenses.
- Sustainability: You can be more eco-friendly by reusing and repurposing cardboard boxes.
Where to Get Free Moving Boxes in Brooklyn
You can find free moving boxes in Brooklyn at a variety of places like liquor stores, grocery stores, and more! Or check online listings and local community ads for reusable moving boxes near you.
Online Exchanges in Brooklyn
Search through online marketplaces to find free moving boxes in Brooklyn. Check for listings on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, NextDoor, and the U-Haul Box Exchange. Or ask friends on social media if they have any spare boxes for you to use.
- Brooklyn Facebook Marketplace: For free boxes or people nearby selling them for lower prices than stores
- Facebook Groups: Bed-stuy Brooklyn Buy, Sell, Trade and Brooklyn NY Online Garage Sale are two popular groups for finding free moving boxes in the area. Be sure to message posters directly to confirm they still have free moving boxes available.
- Brooklyn Craigslist: Find moving boxes for free under the “Free Stuff” section
- Brooklyn NextDoor: Figure out which neighbors are giving away or selling moving boxes
- Brooklyn U-Haul Box Exchange: Save money by purchasing or getting used moving boxes from a platform dedicated to reusing moving supplies
Liquor Stores in Brooklyn
Liquor store boxes are a great option for moving because they are heavy-duty and often come with dividers, making them perfect for transporting glassware and other fragile items. There are several liquor stores in Brooklyn that unload sturdy boxes daily. Reach out to these popular liquor stores to see if they have reusable cardboard boxes suited for your needs.
- Liquor & Wine Outlet: Frequently receives shipments of wine and spirits in sturdy containers. Located in the heart of Brooklyn at 1645 86th St.
- Brooklyn Wine Exchange: Regular deliveries of wine and specialty beverages make Brooklyn Wine Exchange a reliable source for free moving boxes. Find them at 138 Court Street in Brooklyn.
- Smith and Vine: Large amounts of liquor and wine shipments should make it easy to find free moving boxes at 317 Smith Street.
Grocery Stores in Brooklyn
You can find free moving boxes in a variety of sizes at local grocery stores. Since these boxes are used to transport goods, they’re sturdy and great for moving items. When picking up moving boxes from grocery stores, make sure to check for any holes, food particles, or signs of pests to keep your items in good condition. Here are some grocery stores in Brooklyn you can reach out to about picking up moving boxes.
- Food Bazaar: Call ahead to reserve boxes at any of the eight locations throughout the borough.
- Trader Joe’s: Employees have been known to put aside boxes for customers upon request. There are three Trader Joe’s locations in Brooklyn.
- Stop & Shop: Find sturdy boxes at the three grocery stores throughout Brooklyn.
Recycling Centers & Dumpsters Brooklyn
Some recycling centers in Brooklyn may provide moving boxes for free, but you’ll need to call ahead and confirm. When you collect these boxes, it’s important to check for stains and pests to ensure the boxes are clean and sturdy before use. Additionally, you may need to reinforce them with tape. Here are recycling facilities in Brooklyn that may have free moving boxes.
- Balcones Recycling: As a large recycling plant in Brooklyn, you should be able to find free moving boxes at 472 2nd Ave.
- Cooper Recycling: Accepts cardboard and paper and creates new cardboard boxes out of donated pieces. They are located at 123 Varick Ave.
- Filco Carting Corporation: Find moving boxes in curbside bins or at the recycling plant at 197 Snediker Ave.
Other Stores & Retailers in Brooklyn
Boxes from retail stores are ideal for free moving boxes because they’re typically sturdy and well-suited for carrying heavy or fragile items. Retail stores in Brooklyn known to give away moving boxes include Burlington, Costco, and Target. Reach out to these stores for help finding the necessary supplies for your move without additional costs.
- Burlington: As a large retailer in Brooklyn, Burlington receives a lot of boxes that could be reused as moving boxes. There are six Burlington locations throughout Brooklyn.
- Costco: Known for providing customers with sturdy boxes rather than shopping bags when members shop there. Costco is located at 976 3rd Ave.
- Target: Because they constantly stock and restock merchandise, Target should have a surplus of reusable cardboard boxes. There are nine Target locations throughout Brooklyn.
Where to Buy Cheap Moving Boxes in Brooklyn
If you’re looking for individual cardboard boxes for sale, consider checking out home improvement stores and office supply stores. Home Depot offers some of the lowest prices on moving boxes in Brooklyn. For example, you can find small boxes for around $1.25, medium boxes for about $2.00, and large boxes for approximately $3.50. Shopping at these stores can help you find affordable options to suit your moving needs!
Home Depot
Home Depot sells moving supplies like moving blankets, mattress bags, stretch wraps, packing paper, and more.
- Sizes range from 15x10x12 to 24x20x21
- Prices range from $1.28 to $3.48 per box
- Two locations in Brooklyn
Life Storage
Life Storage in Brooklyn offers affordable moving boxes. Plus, this self storage facility has additional moving supplies like moving kits, newsprint, bubble wrap, tape, and more.
- Sizes range from 18.75×11.75×9.75 to 24x18x18
- Prices range from $3.09 to $5.39 per box
- 12 locations in Brooklyn
Lowe’s
With moving supplies like bubble cushions, stretch wraps, and moving blankets, Lowe’s hardware stores in Brooklyn have a full range of items to make your move easy.
- Sizes range from 16x12x12 to 22×21.5×22
- Prices range from $1.38 to $3.48 per box
- Two locations in Brooklyn
Where to Recycle Moving Boxes in Brooklyn
After you’ve settled into your new place, find eco-friendly ways to dispose of your moving boxes. There are plenty of Brooklyn recycling facilities that accept cardboard box drop-offs. Alternatively, you can donate boxes to organizations that give them a second life. And if your boxes are in good condition, you can even resell them online through platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. This way, you can have a zero-waste move, keep cardboard out of landfills, and possibly help someone else with their upcoming move!
Balcones Recycling
Balcones Recycling was formerly known as Sims Municipal Recycling and is one of the largest recycling centers in NYC. On 11 acres of land, the Sunset Park Material Recovery Facility recycles roughly 20k tons per month. Plus, they offer educational opportunities through their interactive recycling space.
- Accepts: Cardboard, paper, plastic, and more
- One location in Brooklyn (472 2nd Ave)
Cooper Recycling
Cooper Recycling is the largest construction and debris recycling plant in NYC. They process about 2,000 pounds of material daily! There is a small fee to recycle your moving boxes at this Brooklyn recycling facility.
- Accepts: Cardboard boxes, packing paper
- One location in Brooklyn (123 Varick Ave)
Filco Carting Corporation
Filco Carting Corporation is the highest-ranking recycling company in New York City. To recycle your moving boxes here, you can pay a monthly service for curbside pick-up or drop off your items for free.
- Accepts: Cardboard, newspaper, plastic
- One location in Brooklyn (197 Snediker Ave)
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Life Storage offers a variety of cheap moving supplies in Brooklyn to make your move easy. Check out our moving supplies guide to see what you can pick up in-store at one of our facilities in Brooklyn today!