Shipping Moving Boxes: 6 Cheapest Ways To Ship Moving Boxes
Here’s the bottom line: The cheapest way to ship moving boxes is by parcel carrier such as USPS, UPS, or FedEx for small shipments, freight or a moving container for larger loads, and a rental trailer if you’re willing to drive.
The right choice depends on how much you’re shipping, how far it’s going, and how much of the work you want to do yourself. The best moving companies can help with heavier items, but this comes at a higher price point.
Moving container companies can fill in some of these gaps at a lower price point.
Our track record
Each year, 400,000+ people trust our moving recommendations. Here are a few reasons why:
- Founded in 2015
- 4,500+ moving companies analyzed
- $50,000 in moving grants delivered
- Up-to-date pricing info & industry data
- Fact-checked for accuracy
6 budget-friendly ways to ship moving boxes
The key to finding the cheapest way to ship moving boxes is to compare your options to see what fits your situation.
| Method | Estimated cost | Best for | Delivery time | Hands-on level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Ship by plane | $35–$75 per box | A few boxes of essentials when flying to your destination | Same day as your flight | Full DIY |
| 2. Ship by freight | $50–$500+ (negotiable) | Large volume or heavy items not worth a full truck | 3–14 days | Moderate |
| 3. Ship by car | Included in car shipping cost (up to 100 pounds free, but varies by company) | A few boxes if you’re already shipping your vehicle | 7–14 days | Low |
| 4. Use a trailer | $14.95–$100+ per day + gas | Short-to-medium distance moves if you’re already driving | You control it | Full DIY |
| 5. Ship by moving company | $550–$8,000+ | Large moves, fragile or high-value items | 1–14 days | Hands-off |
| 6. Use a parcel shipping carrier | $10–$35 per box | A few small or medium boxes of durable goods | 2–7 days | Full DIY |
Let’s look at six ways to ship moving boxes to family, friends, or your new home.
1. Ship by plane
If you’re flying to your destination, you could take household goods with you at a cost of between $35 and $75 per bag or box, depending on the airline.
Here’s what a few airlines charge to give you an idea:
- Southwest Airlines: Nine bags will cost about $525, roughly $60 per bag
- Alaska Air: $75 per bag
- Delta: $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for subsequent bags; United is similar. You may be able to get around some extra bag costs if you’re flying with a group.
Our take: Because many airlines have dimension and weight restrictions for checked luggage, it’s not the best option if you have bulk or heavy items. We also wouldn’t recommend this option for anything fragile.
Pros and cons
- Can be quicker than hiring a moving/shipping company
- More control over the location of your items
- Often cheaper than other shipping options for a few items
- Items could be damaged or lost in transit
- Airline restrictions may prevent shipping some items
- Not a good fit for extra large or heavy items
2. Ship by freight
Freight companies employ independent truck drivers with extra space on their trucks. If you’re moving internationally, you may also find ocean and air freight options.
Here are a few factors to consider:
- Cost: Shipping costs can vary depending on the distance and complexity of your move
- Availability: Availability is often limited to the truck driver’s existing route; you may not be able to secure a guaranteed delivery date
- Booking: You may have to purchase through a marketplace like uShip, which can take time and result in varying service quality
Our take: This is a cost-effective option if you need to ship a large volume of items but not enough to justify renting a moving truck. Freight shippers can also be a good option for pallets of boxes and large items.
Pros and cons
- Can usually haggle on prices
- Can ship heavy and large items
- Often the cheapest shipping option, especially for big moves
- At the mercy of the driver’s schedule
- Requires more time and effort to coordinate
- Handling can vary for fragile items
3. Ship by car
If you’re shipping your car already, don’t rule out stowing some personal items in it. While many companies have strict policies on this topic, some auto shippers allow up to 100 pounds of cargo without adding to the cost.
Our take: This option is best if you’re already shipping your car and have a few boxes of non-essential items like linens or lightweight household goods. If you’re shipping a car on your next move, check out our list of the best car shipping companies.
Pros and cons
- Can be included in your existing vehicle shipment
- Secure way to ship smaller moving boxes
- Keeps personal items together to minimize logistics
- Not all car shipping companies allow personal items
- May need to pay for additional insurance
|
|
|
|
|
4. Use a trailer
If you’re planning to drive your vehicle to your new home, towing a trailer can be a great option that doesn’t add much to your existing costs.
U-Haul has plenty of trailer options and locations to make one-way and local relocations seamless. Their trailer rentals start at $14.95, but watch out for hidden fees.
If you suspect you could get more mileage from owning a trailer, consider hunting down a deal on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace before your move.
Our take: We only recommend using a trailer for your move if you have experience hitching trailers to your vehicle. You’ll need to know your vehicle’s tow limits, hitching mechanisms, and safety precautions.
Pros and cons
- Complete autonomy over the shipping process
- Allows you to keep items with you
- U-Haul allows one-way rentals, making returns easier on long-distance moves
- Requires experience to operate safely
- Rental options may be limited in some areas
|
|
 rating
 
4.23 / 5
Licensed
 Insured
Price
|
5. Ship by moving company
Hiring professional movers isn’t the cheapest way to ship a few moving boxes or a piece of furniture, but it’s worth considering if you have many large boxes or heavy boxed items.
Many of the best long-distance moving companies have minimum labor or moving size requirements.
Our take: We recommend this option to ship boxes for a hands-off, full-service experience. It’s ideal if you have many boxes or heavy items and want the convenience of professional packing, loading, and transport.
Pros and cons
- Movers are likely more experienced handling fragile items
- Often provide guaranteed pickup and delivery dates
- Can help coordinate other parts of your move
- Likely the most expensive option
- May have minimum moving size restrictions
6. Use a parcel shipping carrier
If you’re only shipping a few moving boxes, using a parcel carrier like UPS, FedEx, or USPS can be one of the most straightforward options.
- Benefits: These services offer door-to-door delivery, tracking, and various delivery speeds depending on how quickly you need your items.
- Cost: Costs are typically calculated based on the weight and size of each box, as well as distance. USPS tends to be the most budget-friendly, especially with their Flat Rate boxes, while UPS and FedEx may offer better rates for heavier items or larger boxes.
- Contents: Parcel carriers are great for books, clothing, kitchenware, and other durable items that don’t require special handling. However, shipping fragile or oversized items this way can be expensive and risky.
Our take: Parcel shipping carriers are a good fit if you have a small number of boxes and want easy, trackable shipping without coordinating with movers or freight companies. It’s best for durable household goods but not ideal for fragile or large items.
Pros and cons
- Easy to arrange and schedule pickup or drop-off
- Provides tracking and delivery updates
- Good option for smaller, durable items like books and clothes
- Costs add up quickly for large or heavy boxes
- Not ideal for fragile or oversized items
- Less control over handling during transit
Ready to see your best shipping options?
Use our moving cost calculator to get instant quotes from several top-rated moving companies near you, no contact info required.
Movers that will ship boxes
There are a few DIY and hybrid moving solutions that can help you relocate more than a few boxes but less than a full-size move.
U-Haul U-Box
U-Haul U-Box is a great option if you need to store the boxes you’re shipping. The U-Box container is large enough to fit the contents of a studio apartment, and the company can ship your boxes locally, across the country, or internationally.
rating
3.95 / 5
Cost
You can further reduce your cost to ship boxes if you’re willing to pack and unpack the U-Box at a U-Haul facility instead of opting for door-to-door delivery.
Costs vary a lot based on the shipping distance and the rental space period, if you need that option. If you boxed up a two-bedroom apartment’s worth of belongings and shipped that less than 50 miles, we estimate you’ll pay about $1,368. These costs climb to $4,230 if you’re shipping long-distance.
How it works
Here’s what to expect when using U-Box:
- No fees for changing your date or canceling gate reservation
- The contents of about 1.5 rooms fits in a U-Box
- You only pay for the containers you use (even if you order too many containers)
- Choose from shipping and delivery service, transport it yourself, or visit a U-Haul location for packing
Our take: We recommend U-Box to customers who want to work with a reliable name in the moving industry and are moving their boxes near a U-Haul facility. U-Haul will allow you to rent as many U-Boxes as you need to complete the move of your boxes and take any back that you don’t use.
Want to see how a real-life U-Box mover fared? Check out Nancy’s moving experience with U-Box.
U-Pack ReloCube
U-Pack ReloCube is a great value and our top pick for the cheapest moving containers. Like U-Box, it can fit everything from one room into a single cube and it’s ideal for small studio apartments or one-bedroom moves.
rating
5 / 5
Cost
U-Pack is a particularly good option if you’re shipping many boxes to a rural area that other moving companies have a hard time accommodating.
While it isn’t always the cheapest moving container, its value is often the best. With a solid reputation for customer service, U-Pack prices won’t change once you accept the estimate.
How it works
- You load and they ship
- Rates include the cost of the driver and fuel, so you don’t have to worry about fees
- The cubes are lockable, and you keep the key, so you don’t have to worry about theft
- You can order more than one cube if your move is bigger than just one room’s worth; only pay for what you use
Our take: We wouldn’t recommend ReloCube to customers looking for the bottom-dollar bid for shipping their boxes, but it’s a solid choice if you’re shipping moving boxes to an area of the country other companies can’t reach.
MiniMoves
MiniMoves is centered around filling the gaps between full-service moving companies and small moves that may not meet the minimum hour or labor requirements. They specialize in moving small amounts of boxes from one state to another.
rating
4.8 / 5
Cost
Costs vary dramatically from project to project, but you can request an instant online quote, an increasingly rare feature in the moving industry.
How it works
MiniMoves is a broker that subcontracts to companies in all states except Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Vermont. The company vets its partners so you’re not going into this process blind.
- Pricing includes door-to-door box shipping service (pickup, transport, and delivery)
- Loading and unloading labor are included in the cost
- You can add packing and unpacking services for an additional charge
- You pay for the number of boxes you ship, with no minimum requirement
Our take: MiniMoves is a good choice if you only have a few boxes or small furniture items and are moving them to a standard one-bedroom or studio apartment. However, it might not be the best fit for customers who want a guaranteed trained team of experienced movers.
Ship Smart
Ship Smart is another company that will ship boxes by facilitating small cross-country moves nationwide. In fact, they’re one of our picks for best small-load companies, thanks in part to their white-glove services.
rating
4.2 / 5
Cost
ShipSmart’s costs are competitive, and they offer exclusive discounts to moveBuddha readers. To move boxes with ShipSmart, call (866) 333-8018 and mention moveBuddha to get a 10% discount from ShipSmart.
How it works
- Specialize in shipments under 2,000 pounds
- In-home drop-off makes it easy to get heavy items inside, or you can opt for curbside drop-off
- You can add professional packing and unpacking services
- They offer multiple insurance options so you have peace of mind
The company provides 24/7 real-time quotes.
Our take: We’d recommend Ship Smart to customers who may want more than the typical self-service moving solutions for shipping boxes, but don’t want to shell out for a full-service moving provider.
uShip
uShip is an online marketplace for customers looking to navigate the freight shipping industry and take advantage of its cost-effective solutions for shipping moving boxes and for household moves. Its streamlined user interface takes the hard work out of vetting truck drivers.
rating
3.9 / 5
Cost
The cost of shipping your boxes with uShip will vary since it’s a marketplace for multiple freight shippers. That being said, you can compare a variety of options there to find the one that best fits your budget.
How it works
- Start the process by inputting all the relevant details of your move
- Available truck drivers and carriers will bid on your move; bids will come with anticipated timelines and lists of services they can provide
- Review the offer and book your move
Our take: We recommend this option to customers who don’t mind holding out on booking a company while all bids come in. We wouldn’t recommend it to customers who want to work with a moving company that can guarantee service quality.
How to ship moving boxes
Here are the things you need to consider when you develop your plan to ship boxes.
Shop around
Before making any decisions, do your research. Review the pros and cons of each option and conduct a cost-benefit analysis to zero in on the best value for your needs. The cheapest option may not always be the best option.
Gather moving supplies
Make sure you have the right packing supplies to ensure your items arrive safely. Choose heavy-duty corrugated boxes and be mindful of each box size’s weight limits.
You’ll want a variety of box sizes because tightly packed boxes reduce the risk of items moving around during shipment and getting damaged.
You can buy boxes from a moving company or any major online retailer. Check out our guide to cheap and free moving boxes for more ideas.
Hire a packing service or DIY
You can hire a professional packing service like HireAHelper or carefully pack your items yourself. Give yourself at least a three-day cushion to ensure your packing isn’t rushed.
Give yourself more time if you’re DIYing or get creative and host a packing party with your friends and family.
It’s a good idea to keep an inventory of your belongings so you can check them off as they’re packed and when they arrive at their intended destination.
Confirm details and schedule
Whichever method you choose to ship your boxes, always get the details in writing, such as tracking numbers, intended delivery dates, and fees. Get your items’ exact pickup (or drop-off) dates to avoid delays and confusion.
Tips for shipping moving boxes
We’re seasoned in the moving industry. Here are a few of our top tips to ensure your items arrive safely in their new home:
- Request quotes and compare options. Don’t settle for the first company you contact. Always shop around to compare your shipping options, including timeline, cost, customer reviews, and available services.
- Research shipper’s requirements. Confirm that all your boxes meet the maximum size and weight guidelines set by your chosen shipper. You can use a postage or luggage scale to check your boxes’ weight as you go.
- Pack carefully. Make sure you take full advantage of bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and double-wall boxes when preparing your items for shipment.
- Focus on shipping labels. Legibly write or print shipping labels to minimize confusion, especially if you’re using UPS, USPS, or FedEx. Illegible or inaccurate shipping labels can result in delays, deliveries to the wrong location, and returned packages. Write fragile or “this side up” for boxes that need it.
- Double-check insurance. Many shipping companies include basic insurance in the shipping costs, but more is needed for high-value, sentimental, or irreplaceable items. If you need to upgrade your insurance, inquire about additional coverage options and check your home/renters’ insurance policy to see if you have any coverage there.
The best way to ship moving boxes
The best way to ship moving boxes depends on the size and scope of your move. If you’re moving with a few possessions that don’t weigh much, flying with checked luggage and parcel shipping services like USPS or FedEx are likely your best options.
If you’re already shipping a vehicle, ask if you can throw a few boxes in there. Just a heads up, not all car shippers allow personal possessions, so don’t bank on this option.
For larger moves or heavy items, we recommend looking at gig marketplaces like uShip and comparing your quotes to full-service moving companies. MiniMoves, U-Pack ReloCube, and trailer rentals can help you further cut costs, but you’ll have to do some or all of the heavy lifting yourself.
Ultimately, we recommend you investigate all your options, request quotes, and ask questions until you find the best fit for your time and budget constraints.
FAQ
How do I ship moving boxes across the country?
You can ship moving boxes across the country in several ways. The best methods will depend on the size of your belongings, the number of boxes, whether or not you’re shipping fragile items, and your overall budget.
Here are a few shipping options:
- Full-service moving company
- Gig marketplaces like uShip
- Parcel shipping companies like FedEx, UPS, and the U.S. Postal Service
- Train
- Bus
- Car shipping company (if you are also shipping your vehicle)
What’s the most cost-efficient way to ship moving boxes?
Parcel services are usually the most cost-efficient way to ship moving boxes. The U.S. Postal Service is cost-effective for items under seven pounds, while FedEx and UPS are competitive for heavier items. If you’re shipping a larger volume of items, check out uShip and MiniMoves to find extra space on existing truck routes.
We recommend investigating multiple shipping services to find the best option for your needs.
Where do I find moving boxes?
You can purchase moving boxes and packing materials from your chosen shipper or you can buy cardboard boxes in various sizes online. You can cut costs by asking local groups for moving supplies or visiting local retailers and requesting their leftover shipping supplies.
We suggest saving boxes from recent purchases and holding onto them until you’re ready to pack. Our guide to cheap and free moving boxes is also a helpful resource.
How much does shipping moving boxes cost?
The cost to ship moving boxes depends on:
- Your box sizes
- The weight of your items
- Whether or not you provide your own packing supplies
- Your selected shipping method
The U.S. Postal Service is the most affordable option per box, but full-service moving solutions may make sense if you need to transport a lot of items.
What is the cheapest way to ship boxes to another state?
USPS is typically the cheapest way to ship a small number of boxes to another state, especially using their flat-rate boxes, which start at around $10 and ship anywhere in the U.S. for the same price regardless of distance. For heavier or larger shipments, freight marketplaces like uShip can be more cost-effective since you’re sharing truck space rather than paying for dedicated transport. If you’re already driving to your destination, a U-Haul trailer starting at $14.95 per day is often the cheapest option.
How much does it cost to ship a box across the country?
The cost to ship a box cross-country depends on the size, weight, and shipping method you choose. A small box shipped via USPS flat-rate will cost between $10 and $35 regardless of distance. A medium box shipped via UPS or FedEx typically runs $20–$60 depending on weight. If you have multiple boxes, a moving container like U-Haul U-Box costs around $4,230 for a long-distance move, while a freight service through a marketplace like uShip can run $50–$500 or more depending on volume and distance.
Is it cheaper to ship boxes or use a moving company?
For small moves, such as a few boxes of clothes, books, or household goods, shipping via USPS, UPS, or FedEx is almost always cheaper than hiring a moving company. However, once you’re moving the contents of a full room or more, the per-box cost of parcel shipping adds up quickly and a moving container or freight option often becomes more cost-effective. Full-service moving companies make the most financial sense when you have heavy furniture, fragile items, or a large volume of belongings that would cost more to ship individually. Use our moving cost calculator to compare your options side by side.
Can I ship boxes ahead of my move?
Yes, and for many moves it’s a smart strategy. Shipping boxes ahead via USPS, UPS, or FedEx lets you travel lighter and gives you essentials waiting at your destination before the bulk of your belongings arrive. Services like MiniMoves and Ship Smart specialize in shipping small loads of boxes interstate with door-to-door delivery. Just make sure someone will be available to receive the shipment, and always get tracking information and delivery confirmation in writing before your boxes leave.
How we chose the best moving companies
The moveBuddha team has spent nearly 10 years evaluating moving companies using a rigorous review system to identify the best moving companies. Our thorough methodology evaluates each moving company's services, cost, customer service, and reputation:
Moving services (35%):
We verify operating authority, insurance, and service scope against FMCSA/SAFER and state databases. We confirm availability via standardized mystery-shopping calls (packing tiers, storage type, specialty handling, delivery windows, valuation), and then review contracts alongside complaint and claims patterns over time.
Customer feedback (28%):
We run structured post-move surveys through our Better Moves Project with verifiable documentation. We emphasize on-time performance, care of goods, and estimates’ accuracy, and we investigate outliers before they influence scores.
Online reviews (7%):
We aggregate ratings across multiple third-party sites to reduce platform bias, analyze overall trends and company response behavior, and discount obvious spam/fake signals such as sudden bursts, duplicate language, and low-history profiles.
State availability (12%):
We confirm USDOT numbers, broker vs. carrier status, and any required state permits, then score a state-by-state service matrix that accounts for coverage gaps, seasonal limits, and lane strength. We award additional credit for documented cross-border or specialty lanes.
Additional services (12%):
We verify whether add-ons are performed in-house or subcontracted, look for crew training/certifications for high-value or oversized items, count only documented offerings (tariffs, photos, written service descriptions) confirmed via mystery shopping, and reward robust pre-move planning (virtual surveys, itemized crating).
Quotes/Payment options (6%):
We test standardized move profiles to assess estimate type (binding, not-to-exceed, non-binding), line-item transparency, and disclosed surcharges, require clear written policies for deposits, refunds, and cancellations, and award points for secure, flexible payment methods and customer portals.
Not what you were looking for?
Check out other categories that can help you find the information you need!
