UsedCardBoardBoxes.com – The Definitive Review
Fact Checked by: Here’s the quick answer: UsedCardboardBoxes.com is a legitimate online source for moving boxes, with affordable individual boxes and moving kits and free shipping to your door on most orders. The company has operated since 2006 and is the largest processor of used shipping boxes in North America, with more than 5,000 reviews on its moving kit product page.
This guide covers what UsedCardboardBoxes.com sells, how prices compare to Lowe’s, U-Haul, and Home Depot, and whether ordering online is worth it for your move. If you’re also planning to hire movers, compare quotes with our moving cost calculator or see our picks for the best rental trucks.
Jump to the UsedCardboardBoxes.com review info you’re looking for:
- Who is UsedCardboardBoxes.com?
- How do I choose the right moving boxes?
- What does UsedCardboardBoxes.com sell?
- What sets UsedCardboardBoxes.com apart from other retailers?
- How does it compare to Lowe’s, U-Haul, and Home Depot?
- What customers say about UsedCardboardBoxes.com
- Is UsedCardboardBoxes.com worth it?
- FAQ
Planning a full move? Here’s why nearly 400,000 people use moveBuddha each year:
- On average, moveBuddha users save more than 30% by comparing movers before booking.
- When you choose a moveBuddha Certified mover, you get $1,000 in added move coverage, plus dedicated support throughout your move.
- If something goes wrong, moveBuddha provides dispute mediation with Certified movers to help resolve the issue and protect your move.
Who is UsedCardboardBoxes.com?
UsedCardboardBoxes.com has been in business since 2006 and is the largest processor and broker of used gaylord totes and shipping boxes in North America. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, and operates under the UCBEnvironmental umbrella, which focuses on keeping once-used industrial packaging out of the waste stream by redirecting it to consumers and businesses.
Their model is straightforward. Warehouses and large distributors generate enormous quantities of sturdy shipping boxes after a single use. UCB purchases those boxes, inspects them, and resells them to consumers at prices well below new cardboard.
For movers who want reliable boxes without paying retail prices for new ones, it is a practical option. Reusing boxes before they reach the recycling stream also conserves the energy required to process fiber into new cardboard, a benefit the EPA notes as a meaningful advantage of reuse over recycling.
How do I choose the right moving boxes?
UsedCardboardBoxes.com is worth considering if you want sturdy, repurposed industrial boxes delivered to your door. Each box varies in capacity and weight rating, but all are inspected before shipment.
Before you order, think through what you’re packing and how you’ll transport it:
- Fragile items: Use small, sturdy boxes that are easy to carry. Smaller boxes limit the weight per load and reduce the risk of items shifting or getting crushed in transit.
- Short local moves: If you’re loading into a car or pickup and won’t be stacking boxes, lighter options will get the job done. You won’t need the extra stacking strength required for a long-distance truck load.
- Long-distance moves with a moving truck: Choose sturdier, stackable boxes. Boxes that hold their shape under the weight of other boxes reduce the chance of damage when items travel cross-country.
Keep size in mind, too. Overpacking a large box with heavy items makes it difficult to lift and carry safely.
Pro tip: Not sure how many boxes you’ll need? Use the moveBuddha Moving Box Calculator to get a room-by-room estimate before you order.
What does UsedCardboardBoxes.com sell?
UsedCardboardBoxes.com sources used packaging from warehouses and large distributors and sells it as moving boxes. The boxes are sturdy and range in size depending on their original commercial purpose.
The site also sells brand-new moving boxes for sizes that are out of stock in the used inventory. That means if you go back to reorder, you can usually find what you need. UsedCardboardBoxes.com also carries tape, bubble wrap, markers, and other packing supplies.
Pros and cons of UsedCardboardBoxes.com
- Wide selection of box sizes
- Used and new options available
- Fast, free shipping on most products
- Packing supplies available
- Costs money, unlike free alternatives
- Priced higher than buying locally
UsedCardboardBoxes.com carries specialty boxes, including TV boxes, dish boxes, wardrobe boxes, and more, that can be hard to find at general retailers.
What sets UsedCardboardBoxes.com apart from other retailers?
A few features distinguish UsedCardboardBoxes.com from picking up boxes at a hardware store or truck rental location.
Multiple box sizes
The site carries a range of sizes at any given time. When used inventory runs low on a specific size, new boxes are stocked as a substitute, so you’re unlikely to hit a dead end if you need to reorder partway through packing.
Specialty boxes
UsedCardboardBoxes.com carries specialty packaging that most general retailers don’t stock, including wardrobe boxes, dish boxes, TV boxes, picture frame boxes, and file boxes. These are useful when you’re moving items that won’t fit or survive in a standard box.
Moving kits
Most movers need more than one box size, which is why UsedCardboardBoxes.com bundles products into moving kits sized by the number of rooms you’re packing.
For example, the “1 Studio/Dorm” kit includes nine medium boxes, five large boxes, two extra large boxes, 3 lbs of paper, one tape roll, one marker, and one box cutter, everything you’d need to pack a dorm room in a single order. Moving kits starting from $64.95. UCB also sells a Pack Rat box kit with a mix of medium and X-large boxes plus extra tape.
How does UsedCardboardBoxes.com compare to Lowe’s, U-Haul, and Home Depot?
Buying boxes online is not always cheaper than buying locally. Here’s how UsedCardboardBoxes.com stacks up against the most common alternatives.
Lowe’s
Lowe’s medium moving boxes are often cheaper per box than UCB’s shipped kits, but prices and availability vary by location. If you have a Lowe’s nearby and time to pick up boxes in person, you’ll pay less per box. The trade-off is that Lowe’s in-store selection depends on what’s currently stocked at your location.
U-Haul
U-Haul’s medium box measures 18 1/8 x 18 x 16 inches and currently costs $2.27 individually, or as low as $2.04 each in a bundle of 20. U-Haul will also buy back used boxes in good condition if you keep your receipt, which can offset part of the original cost.
Home Depot
Home Depot stands out because it assigns a strength rating to all of its moving boxes, with three different strength levels available per size. If you’re packing heavy items or moving a long distance and want to know exactly how much weight a box can support, that specificity is useful. Prices vary by location, but taking advantage of bulk purchase options brings the per-box cost down.
Free boxes
Free boxes from grocery stores, neighbors, or online classifieds work well for short moves and non-fragile items. They’re harder to source consistently, range widely in size and condition, and some won’t have lids, which makes stacking difficult. See our full guide to finding free moving boxes for the best sources.
The bottom line on comparisons: If you have a Lowe’s, U-Haul, or Home Depot nearby and can pick up boxes in person, you’ll spend less per box. UsedCardboardBoxes.com’s advantage is convenience. Their boxes ship free and arrive fast, which matters when your moving timeline is tight, or you don’t live near a well-stocked retailer.
What customers say about UsedCardboardBoxes.com
UsedCardboardBoxes.com has accumulated more than 5,000 reviews on their Earth-Friendly Moving Kit product page, reflecting years of consistent consumer demand. The overall sentiment of the reviews we evaluated is positive, with fast delivery, included packing tape, and sturdy box construction getting cited most often.
- Next-day delivery: Many customers report receiving orders the next business day after shipment via FedEx. If your move is coming up fast, this makes UsedCardboardBoxes.com a more practical option than sourcing boxes locally on short notice.
- Tape included: Most kits ship with at least one roll of packing tape. It’s an easy supply to forget when you’re in the middle of planning a move.
- Quality variance: UsedCardboardBoxes.com performs quality control before shipping, and the large majority of boxes in any order arrive in solid condition. An occasional box may show minor surface wear since these are sourced from a range of industrial suppliers. Tape over any weak spots before loading heavy items.
UsedCardboardBoxes.com isn’t currently BBB accredited. Many reputable businesses operate without BBB membership, and the company’s 20-year history alongside thousands of consumer reviews reflect a well-established operation with a consistent record of fulfilling orders.
More than 5,000 customers have reviewed UsedCardboardBoxes.com’s moving kits, with next-day FedEx delivery and included packing tape among the most common highlights.
Is UsedCardboardBoxes.com worth it?
UsedCardboardBoxes.com is a reliable online source for moving boxes and supplies, with kits for every home size. When you order, choose the sizes that fit your home and err on the side of getting more than you think you’ll need.
The primary advantage over buying locally is that boxes ship directly to your door at no extra cost. That convenience carries a small price premium over in-store options like Lowe’s and U-Haul. If you have a well-stocked store nearby and time to go, you’ll spend less per box.
If you don’t, or your move timeline is tight, UsedCardboardBoxes.com delivers reliably. Most orders arrive the next business day via FedEx.
Home delivery of moving boxes saves time when your move timeline is tight.
The eco-friendly angle is also a genuine differentiator. These boxes would otherwise go through the recycling stream. UsedCardboardBoxes.com gives them a second life, and free, fast shipping makes ordering ahead of your move simple.
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
Frequently asked questions about UsedCardboardBoxes.com
Is UsedCardboardBoxes.com legit?
Yes. UsedCardboardBoxes.com has operated since 2006 and is the largest processor of used gaylord totes and shipping boxes in North America. The company is based in Los Angeles, California, and has accumulated more than 5,000 customer reviews on its moving kit product page.
Does UsedCardboardBoxes.com offer free shipping?
Yes. UsedCardboardBoxes.com offers free shipping on most products, and many customers report receiving orders the next business day after shipment via FedEx.
Are used moving boxes as good as new ones?
UsedCardboardBoxes.com sources its boxes from industrial warehouses after a single use, so they are typically very sturdy. Quality can vary slightly from box to box, but most arrive in solid condition. Tape over any weak spots before loading heavy items for added security.
Does UsedCardboardBoxes.com sell specialty boxes?
Yes. UsedCardboardBoxes.com carries specialty boxes for specific items, including TV boxes, dish boxes, wardrobe boxes, file boxes, and mirror boxes. These are harder to find at general retailers like Lowe’s or Home Depot.
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.
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