Cardboard vs. reusable totes: what it actually costs to move a 3-bedroom home

"Cardboard is free" is the most expensive thing people tell themselves about moving. We priced out a real Tampa Bay 3-bedroom move both ways, and the gap is bigger than most people expect.

The setup

We assumed a typical Tampa Bay 3-bedroom move: two adults, roughly 1,700 square feet of living space, a two-week turnaround between pickup and drop-off, and enough kitchen, books, and closet contents to fill about 55 medium boxes.

Cardboard, the honest price

• 55 medium boxes at $2.50 each: $137.50
• 10 large boxes at $3.50 each: $35
• 5 wardrobe boxes at $12 each: $60
• Packing tape, 6 rolls: $24
• Packing paper, bulk: $28
• Bubble wrap: $22
• A dolly rental from the hardware store: $35
• Time spent assembling, taping, and later breaking down 70 boxes: about 4 hours

Running total: $341.50 plus four hours of your life, and a driveway full of cardboard to get rid of. Most people forget that last part. A full recycling bin in Hillsborough is already overflowing from the previous week.

Our 3-bedroom package

• 55 stackable commercial totes: included
• 2 dollies: included
• Delivery to your door: included
• Pickup when you are done: included
• Time spent assembling, taping, and breaking down: zero

Our 3-bedroom package is $189 for a 14-day window. Add an extra week of one tote for $3 or a rush same-day delivery for $25 if your plans shift.

Beyond the price

• Totes stack, so they load into your car or a truck more efficiently.
• They protect fragile items better than cardboard. No sagging, no crushing.
• They do not absorb afternoon rain water in the driveway.
• There is nothing to flatten, haul to the curb, or guilt-donate to a neighbor.

When cardboard wins

Honestly, if you have a single room to move and you are driving the box yourself, cardboard is still fine. Our sweet spot is anything larger than a studio — the math tilts the moment you need more than 15 or 20 boxes.

Reserve in two minutes

Pick your size, pick your dates, and we handle the rest. If you are on the fence between sizes, go one tier up. Nobody has ever complained about having too many totes halfway through packing.