Studio, 2-Bedroom or Family Home: Which Moving Box Package Fits?
The most common question we hear is simple: how many boxes do I need? Too few and you're making a last-minute box run the night before the move. Too many and you've got a hallway full of spares.
The quick answer is about 12 Jump-Boxes per bedroom. In this guide we'll explain where that number comes from, how it maps to our four packages, when you should choose the next size up, and what else you might want to add to your order.
The 12-per-bedroom rule
Plan on about 12 Jump-Box totes for each bedroom in your home.
That number isn't just for the bedroom itself. It includes that bedroom's share of everything else: the kitchen, living room, bathroom, closets and hallway storage. A home with more bedrooms usually has a bigger kitchen, more linen, more books and more "stuff" in general, so counting bedrooms turns out to be a reliable shortcut.
Here's how it works out:
- Studio or 1-bedroom: about 12 to 16 boxes
- 2-bedroom: about 25 boxes
- 3-bedroom: about 35 boxes
- 4-bedroom: about 50 boxes
If you own a lot of books, kitchenware, sports gear or hobby supplies, plan on the higher end, or choose the next package up.
The four Jump-Box packages
Every package is built around a typical home size, and every package includes a label for each box, at least one furniture dolly, and delivery and pickup. Prices are for one week.
Light Pack: studios and 1-bedrooms
- 16 boxes and 16 labels
- 1 dolly
- For homes of about 200 to 500 sq ft
- From $99
The Light Pack suits most studios, 1-bedroom suites and smaller apartments, and it's a good choice for students and people moving into a furnished place.
Standard Pack: 2-bedrooms (most popular)
- 25 boxes and 25 labels
- 1 dolly
- For homes of about 500 to 800 sq ft
- From $125
The Standard Pack is our most popular package. It fits the typical 2-bedroom condo or townhouse, and it's also a good fit for a well-stocked 1-bedroom with a full kitchen and a home office.
Medium Pack: 3-bedrooms
- 35 boxes and 35 labels
- 2 dollies
- For homes of about 800 to 1,000 sq ft
- From $175
With two dollies, the Medium Pack lets two people load at the same time, which makes a real difference on a family move.
Deluxe Package: 4-bedrooms
- 50 boxes and 50 labels
- 3 dollies
- For homes of about 1,000 to 1,500 sq ft
- From $250
The Deluxe Package is built for family homes and larger houses. If you also have a garage, basement or storage locker to pack, you can add extra boxes to it.
| Package | Home size | Boxes | Dollies | From (1 week) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light Pack | Studio or 1-bedroom | 16 | 1 | $99 |
| Standard Pack | 2-bedroom | 25 | 1 | $125 |
| Medium Pack | 3-bedroom | 35 | 2 | $175 |
| Deluxe Package | 4-bedroom | 50 | 3 | $250 |
Need longer than a week? Extra weeks are available on every package and are charged at a lower weekly rate (roughly $15 to $50 a week depending on the package). See the full details on our packages page.
When to choose the next size up
The 12-per-bedroom rule suits an average household. These four situations are the most common reasons to go one package bigger.
1. You have a lot of books
Books are heavy, so you should only fill each tote about halfway with them and top up with lighter things. That means a big book collection uses more boxes than you'd expect.
2. You have a full kitchen
The kitchen is the room people underestimate most. Dishes, glasses, pots and pans, small appliances and pantry food add up fast, and they need careful packing with gaps filled. A small condo kitchen might fill 6 boxes, while a well-used family kitchen can easily fill 12 or more.
3. You have hobby or sports gear
Camping equipment, ski gear, craft supplies, instruments, tools and seasonal decorations often live in closets and lockers that are easy to forget until packing day.
4. You work from home
A home office adds files, paperwork, books, cables, monitors and accessories. Paper is heavy, so it needs to be spread across several boxes.
When in doubt, size up. It's much easier to have a few spare boxes than to run out the night before the move. You can also add individual extra boxes to any package when you book.
What most homes actually need
Here's what we typically see across the Lower Mainland:
- Most 1-bedroom apartments need 15 to 20 boxes. Our 16-box Light Pack fits many of them. If you have a full kitchen or lots of books, add a few boxes or choose the Standard Pack.
- Most 2-bedroom homes need around 25. That's exactly our Standard Pack, which is why it's our most popular choice.
- A 3-bedroom usually needs about 35, the Medium Pack.
- A 4-bedroom needs about 50, the Deluxe Package, plus extras for a garage or basement.
How many boxes did your last move take?
We asked our followers this question, with options of under 20, 20 to 40, 40 or more, and "I genuinely lost count." The "lost count" answer is more common than you'd think, and it's usually because cardboard moves involve a mix of sizes, replacement boxes for ones that split, and last-minute extras. With same-size totes and a package matched to your home, counting is easy.
Extras you can add when you book
Every package covers the boxes, labels, dollies, delivery and pickup. You can also add:
- Extra boxes if you're between package sizes
- Extra dollies if you'll have several people loading
- Wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes
- Mattress covers to keep beds clean and dry
Your package, in three questions
Still not sure? Our free moving box calculator goes live tomorrow. It asks three quick questions (how big your home is, how much stuff you have, and whether there's a garage, basement or storage locker to pack) and recommends the right package in under a minute.
Common box-count mistakes
These are the mistakes that most often leave people short on moving day:
- Forgetting storage spaces. Lockers, crawl spaces, garages and the top shelf of every closet hold more than you think.
- Counting only what's visible. Open every cupboard and drawer before you estimate. Bathroom cabinets and under-sink storage add up.
- Overfilling boxes with heavy items. A tote full of books is too heavy to lift safely, so heavy items need more boxes, not fuller ones.
- Planning to pack the last few things "loose." The final day always produces more than expected: cleaning supplies, chargers, the kettle, bedding. Keep three or four spare boxes for it.
- Assuming the new place is smaller so you'll need fewer boxes. You pack what you own now, not what will fit later.
Leave yourself a small buffer of three to five boxes and you'll avoid almost all of these.
What doesn't need a box
Not everything goes in a tote. Movers usually wrap and carry large items as they are, so you don't need boxes for:
- Furniture: sofas, beds, tables, dressers (drawers can often stay full if they're light)
- Large appliances
- Mattresses (use a mattress cover instead)
- Rolled rugs
- Lamps and large plants, which travel best by hand
Hanging clothes can go in wardrobe boxes, which you can add when you book.
Frequently asked questions
How many moving boxes do I need for a 1-bedroom apartment?
Most 1-bedroom apartments need around 15 to 20 Jump-Boxes. Our Light Pack includes 16. If you have lots of books or kitchen items, add a few boxes or choose the Standard Pack.
How many boxes do I need for a 2-bedroom?
Around 25 for most 2-bedroom homes, which is our Standard Pack.
How many boxes for a 3-bedroom house?
Most 3-bedroom homes need around 35 Jump-Boxes, which is our Medium Pack. Larger 4-bedroom homes usually need around 50, our Deluxe Package.
Can I add extra boxes?
Yes. If you're between sizes, you can add extra boxes to any package when you book.
Is it better to have too many boxes or too few?
Slightly too many. Running short on moving day costs far more in time and stress than a few spare boxes.
Ready to move?
Find your package with the free moving box calculator, compare all four on the packages page, and join the waitlist to book first when Jump-Box opens on November 21.
