Best Boxes and Plastic Totes for Moving and Storage
When it's time to relocate to a new home or office, you have many decisions to make—whether to hire movers or do it yourself, downsize or keep everything, and use paper or plastic boxes.
The question between cardboard boxes or plastic bins is a tricky one because the answer depends on the types of items you have, your budget, and where you’re planning to store them. The moving and storage pros at Stop & Stor offer this comparison of moving boxes vs. plastic bins to help you make the best decision.
What Are Plastic Moving Bins?
Plastic bins are containers made from plastic, typically polypropylene and polyethylene. They are plastic boxes that are sold commercially, designed to be long-lasting, and usually come with removable lids.
People commonly use plastic totes for moving and storing items like computer parts, off-season clothes, paper documents, and cookware. Plastic bins come preassembled in a variety of sizes and colors, they're stackable, and they may have built-in handles for easy carrying.
Advantages of Plastic Totes for Moving
Plastic boxes offer strength and durability, and they can be reused over and over again for long-term cost-savings. They are visually appealing when stored inside and versatile enough to be used both during a move and after you’ve settled into your new home.
Among the other advantages of plastic totes are durability and water resistance. Plastic is more rigid, thicker, and more resilient than cardboard, which helps the bins withstand some wear and tear. Plastic totes for moving are also reasonably waterproof, and the very best boxes for moving even have watertight seals to protect your items once latched.
What Are Cardboard Moving Boxes?
Cardboard boxes offer a traditional and affordable way to move and store your belongings. They are made from paper pulp, which is typically derived from lumber, wood shavings, or recycled woodchips. Cardboard boxes are lightweight, affordable, and easily accessible from many retailers.
However, they are temporary moving and storage solutions and not designed to last a lifetime. Yet because of their versatility, it’s possible to use cardboard boxes for other purposes, too, such as pet bedding, garden planters, drawer dividers, and craft projects.
Benefits of Cardboard Boxes
Among the benefits of cardboard storage boxes are wide availability and ease of access. Moving and storage companies like Stop & Stor sell packing supplies, including small, medium, large, and extra-large boxes, plus tape to seal them up once filled.
Cardboard boxes for storage come in various sizes and collapse easily for space efficiency. It's possible to cleverly strategize your storage space using cardboard boxes of different sizes that you can stack on top of each other. When you're done using cardboard boxes, you can lay them flat and keep them for future use.
Comparative Analysis of Cons
Now that we’ve covered the positive aspects of plastic totes for storage and cardboard storage bins, let's look at their potential downsides to give you a complete picture of your options.
Cost of Plastic and Cardboard Storage Bins
Unless you already have a stash of boxes and bins in your garage or shed, you'll likely have to invest some money in moving supplies when you move.
Plastic bins cost more than cardboard boxes; however, plastic can be reused longer. You may need to replace cardboard boxes more frequently, but if you're moving on a budget, cardboard can help you save on costs in the short term.
Susceptibility to Weather Conditions
When comparing moving boxes vs. plastic bins, consider the weather conditions they will be exposed to. Plastic bins are water-resistant, while cardboard boxes are more prone to water damage.
Suppose you store items in a temperature-constant space, such as a climate-controlled storage unit. In that case, cardboard boxes may be sufficient to protect your items from heat, cold, and humidity because of the consistent conditions. But if you are storing items where temperatures and moisture fluctuate throughout the year, such as an attic or shed, plastic bins will provide an extra layer of protection for your valuables.
Pest Attraction
Another issue to consider is pests, such as rodents, ants, and termites. Cardboard storage boxes are more likely to attract pests than plastic bins because they can be chewed through and used for nesting materials.
Plastic totes are the way to go if you are concerned about pests where you plan to store your belongings. But if you are simply moving your items from one place to another and taking them out of boxes for good once you arrive, cardboard boxes may work perfectly well.
Difficulties with Stacking
Regardless of your chosen material, you'll likely want to stack your boxes or bins to maximize storage space. Plastic bins are stronger and can hold more weight. Cardboard is weaker and tends to cave in under heavy weight.
If you have many items to store long-term, understand that plastic boxes will be more stable but can slide and take up more space than cardboard ones. Meanwhile, the best way to store cardboard boxes is often to stack them high because they are less prone to sliding and space efficient.
Practical Advice: When to Use Moving Boxes vs. Plastic Bins
Do you only need the best boxes for moving but plan to unpack everything immediately? If your storage needs are only temporary, you may not need boxes with the most extraordinary longevity. But if your moving boxes will double as long-term storage solutions, you’ll need to plan ahead for weather, moisture, accessibility, ease of carrying, and convenient access.
This is why plastic totes for moving are ideal for long-term, visible, and moist environments. However, cardboard boxes work great for short-term use, large-scale moves, and temporary storage needs.
Environmental Impact
In today’s world, it’s also important to consider how sustainable your moving and storage solutions are to reduce your carbon footprint and care for our planet. Can your moving boxes be recycled when you’re done with them, and what is the overall environmental impact of your relocation?
For example, plastic boxes are long-lasting and less likely to end up in landfills. Cardboard storage bins are biodegradable and recyclable, but they may have print or wax that limits their recyclability. However, both options can be eco-friendly, depending on how you use them.
Choosing Your Own Best Boxes for Moving
We hope you now understand the pros and cons of different kinds of moving and storage bins and why they have these unique advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, it's essential to consider your own specific moving and storing needs before investing in a large quantity of cardboard moving boxes or plastic totes for storage. What works for your friend or neighbor might not be your best option, and that's okay!
Stop & Stor offers many ways to make your move and storage convenient and hassle-free, and we offer many helpful tips to guide you on our blog. We're happy to tell you about the best way to store cardboard boxes and use plastic totes to protect your storage items.
In addition to the various sizes of moving boxes, we offer a full range of useful supplies, including file boxes, dish packing boxes, wardrobe boxes, moving kits, furniture covers, mattress bags, moving bags, and packing wrap.
We invite you to browse available lockers and units at our storage facility locations near you and to contact us at 718-898-8000 with any questions you still have about the best boxes for moving.
Established in 1980, Stop & Stor is a family owned and operated business that has become New York’s Self Storage Leader by offering cutting-edge facilities in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.
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