Where to get moving boxes in Phoenix: free, cheap or rented
Updated October 2026
The short answer
You can get moving boxes in Phoenix three ways. Free, from store empties, the Take A Box, Leave A Box shelf at U-Haul centers, and neighbors on Marketplace, Buy Nothing groups and Nextdoor. Cheap, from about $1.34 for a medium box at The Home Depot or $2.19 at U-Haul (October 2026 prices). Or rented, as plastic moving totes delivered to your door, from $63.75 for 7 days with Tote Relay in the East Valley, south Scottsdale and central Phoenix.
Free moving boxes in Phoenix
Free boxes cost time instead of money. Give yourself a week or two of collecting for a 1-bedroom move, and expect a mix of sizes.
- Grocery, liquor and big-box stores. Ask a manager which day the trucks arrive and come by that evening. Liquor boxes with cardboard dividers are the best free box there is for glasses.
- U-Haul centers. Many keep a free Take A Box, Leave A Box shelf of used boxes. Call your nearest one first. U-Haul also runs an online Box Exchange where people give away or sell used boxes.
- Facebook Marketplace, Buy Nothing groups, Craigslist and Nextdoor. Search "moving boxes" with your city name. People who just moved usually give the whole stack away at once.
- Your office. Copy-paper boxes have lids and are the right size for books.
Check free boxes before they come inside
In the Valley, cardboard that has been sitting in a garage or behind a store is a favorite hiding place for roaches and bark scorpions. Open each box, shake it out outside, and skip any that are soft or stained from a monsoon storm: a damp box loses its strength and can carry mildew into your new home.
Not USPS boxes
Free Priority Mail boxes are for Priority Mail only. USPS rules say its packaging must be used only for the mail service it is made for, so they are not a source of free moving boxes.
Cheap moving boxes: where to buy
The Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart and U-Haul all sell moving boxes in Phoenix, in small, medium and large sizes, plus kits with tape and paper. Of the two most searched, Home Depot was cheaper in October 2026: $1.34 for a medium box against about $2.19 at U-Haul, for the same 18 by 18 by 16 inches.
U-Haul makes up for its price with a buy-back on unused boxes when you keep the receipt, which takes the guesswork out of how many to buy. Whichever you choose, budget for tape: a 55-yard roll closes about 10 to 12 boxes.
The full price table, and what a whole move of boxes adds up to, is in our guide to moving box cost at U-Haul and Home Depot. To work out how many you need, see how many moving boxes do I need.
Renting moving boxes in Phoenix
Renting means plastic moving totes with attached lids instead of cardboard. You book online, the totes and dollies arrive at your door, you pack and move on your own schedule, and the empties are collected from your new home. No tape, no assembly and nothing to break down afterwards.
Tote Relay delivers in Ahwatukee, Central Phoenix, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Queen Creek, South Scottsdale and Tempe. Our packages are Studio (20 totes, $63.75), 1-Bedroom (35 totes, $89.25), 2-3 Bedroom (50 totes, $116.25) and 3-4 Bedroom (75 totes, $161.25) for 7 days, each with dollies, labels, delivery and pickup included. Prices are before tax. See the ZIP codes we deliver to.
U-Haul also rents plastic boxes at select locations. Those you reserve online, then collect from and return to the store yourself.
Free, bought or rented?
| Option | Cost | Your time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free boxes | Cost$0 | Your timeDays of collecting, checking and taping | Best forSmall moves with time to spare |
| Bought cardboard | Cost$1.34 to $2.19 per medium box, plus tape | Your timeStore trips, assembly and breakdown | Best forLong-distance moves and storage |
| Rented plastic totes | CostFrom $63.75 for 7 days, dollies included | Your timeDelivered and collected | Best forLocal moves inside our delivery area |
Not sure which suits your move? Compare plastic vs cardboard moving boxes.
Questions people ask
Something else? Call (480) 933-0185 or read the moving box rental FAQ.
- Where can I get free moving boxes in Phoenix?
- Ask grocery, liquor and big-box stores for their empties, and ask when their trucks arrive. Check the Take A Box, Leave A Box shelf at your nearest U-Haul center, and look on Facebook Marketplace, Buy Nothing groups, Craigslist and Nextdoor, where people who just moved give boxes away. Check free boxes for damp, roaches and scorpions before you bring them inside.
- Does USPS give free boxes for moving?
- No. Free USPS Priority Mail boxes are for Priority Mail only: postal rules say USPS packaging must be used only for the mail service it is made for. For moving, use store empties, buy cardboard or rent plastic totes.
- Where is the cheapest place to buy moving boxes?
- Of the big stores, The Home Depot. In October 2026 its medium box listed at $1.34, against about $2.19 for the same size at U-Haul. U-Haul does buy back unused boxes with a receipt, which makes overbuying there risk free.
- Can I rent moving boxes in Phoenix?
- Yes. Tote Relay rents plastic moving totes with delivery and pickup in Ahwatukee, Central Phoenix, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Queen Creek, South Scottsdale and Tempe. Packages are Studio (20 totes, $63.75), 1-Bedroom (35 totes, $89.25), 2-3 Bedroom (50 totes, $116.25) and 3-4 Bedroom (75 totes, $161.25) for 7 days, dollies and labels included. We do not deliver to north Scottsdale, the West Valley, or Phoenix outside central Phoenix and Ahwatukee.
Rent moving boxes, delivered to your door
Plastic moving totes and dollies from $63.75 for 7 days, with delivery and pickup included. Free cancellation until 6 AM on the delivery day.