Packing
How to Get Free Moving Boxes in New York City
New boxes add up quickly, and not every budget has room for them. The good news is that New York is full of businesses with more cardboard than they know what to do with.
Packing · June 3, 2025 · 4 min read
Moving companies and home improvement stores sell boxes, but you do not have to pay for every carton. With a little planning and a few polite questions, you can collect most of what you need for free.
Moving within the city soon? Here are the best places to look for free moving boxes in NYC.
Where to Find Free Moving Boxes
- Step 1
Grocery stores
Supermarkets and corner markets receive deliveries constantly, and the empty cartons usually pile up in the back. Produce boxes in particular are sturdy and easy to carry. Ask a manager or the owner whether you can take some extras off their hands.
- Step 2
Warehouse clubs and big-box stores
Large discount and bulk retailers move enormous amounts of inventory, so the customer service desk can often point you to a stack of empties. Most of that cardboard is headed for recycling anyway, so you are saving the staff a step.
- Step 3
Neighborhood appliance shops
Appliance boxes are big and strong, and a single refrigerator carton can hold a surprising amount of bulky bedding or cushions. Some shops reuse them for deliveries, but it never hurts to ask. The worst you will hear is a friendly no.
- Step 4
Your own online orders
If your move is a few weeks or months away, start saving the boxes from your deliveries now. Seasonal sales and holiday shopping are a great chance to build up a collection of clean, sturdy cartons without spending anything extra.
- Step 5
Fast food restaurants
Quick-service restaurants get frequent shipments of supplies in small, solid boxes. Stop by your local spot once a week and ask. These smaller boxes are perfect for odds and ends that need a snug container.
- Step 6
Liquor stores
Wine and liquor boxes are built to carry heavy glass, which makes them ideal for books, records and media. Ask for boxes that still have lids, since some come with only a bottom and cardboard dividers.
- Step 7
Coffee shops
Busy cafes often receive several deliveries a week in a mix of sizes. If you are a regular, ask the staff to set some aside for you so you can pick them up on your next visit.
- Step 8
Community swap and giveaway groups
Neighborhood giveaway networks and local online groups are full of people who just finished moving and want their boxes gone. New listings appear daily, and the boxes are usually in good, reusable shape.
- Step 9
The post office
The US Postal Service offers certain free shipping boxes and envelopes that can be ordered online and delivered to your door. They are best for smaller items and documents.
Are Free Boxes the Right Way to Move?
Collecting boxes for free can save a modest amount on a small move, typically somewhere in the tens of dollars (typical range; your written quote is final). The trade-off is that mismatched sizes are harder to stack, so you will need to pack and load them more strategically. Check every free box for dampness, pests, torn seams and weak bottoms before you trust it with anything valuable.
For many households, a set of uniform boxes is worth the cost because they stack neatly, protect better and load faster. MPs New York can supply quality cartons and specialty boxes as part of our packing services, and our local movers can take care of the loading and unloading so moving day stays calm.
The best free boxes are usually right in your own neighborhood. Notice which businesses get the most deliveries, then talk to the people who run them. Whether you are moving in Manhattan, Brooklyn or Queens, a little legwork goes a long way.
Skip the Box Hunt
Get a free quote from MPs New York with packing supplies and professional packing included.