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How heavy can moving boxes be? Weight limits for movers
Movers have the equipment to handle a lot of weight, but how heavy is too heavy? Here's what you need to know.
If you're hiring a moving company, packing your own boxes can help save cash. However, even with professionals handling them, you should still follow common sense guidelines to avoid making them too heavy. Not only will this save your back while staging them in your home, it will keep things manageable for your movers.
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How heavy should you pack moving boxes for movers?
Most moving companies have general guidelines you should follow when packing boxes. Most that we've spoken to ask that you keep boxes to 50 pounds or less. This can vary based on the company, but it's a good rule of thumb.
The crews who work for moving companies are used to handling heavy objects, and they come equipped with plenty of dollies and other equipment to move them. However, keeping the weight of boxes to 50 pounds or less ensures they can be handled by one person. If you have boxes that require a team lift, you'll only slow down your move, potentially adding to its cost.
Don't forget that you also have to handle these boxes, even if you aren't the one loading them into the moving truck. While packing, staging your boxes for the movers means moving them around. Boxes that are too heavy can cause injuries.
If your boxes end up weighing more than 50 pounds, or you think they are, label them as heavy so your moving crew knows they may require special handling. You can easily do this with a marker or label; just make sure it's visible. Point these boxes out to your moving crew when they arrive as well.
How should you pack heavy moving boxes?
Whenever you're packing a significant amount of weight into a cardboard box, there are ways to ensure they're easier to handle. Generally, you want to pack heavier items at the bottom of a box, and lighter things on top. This keeps your box's center of gravity low, making it harder to tip.
It's also a good idea to line the bottom of boxes with padding to more evenly distribute the weight and prevent hard objects from puncturing the cardboard. Blankets and towels are good for this. You can also use packing materials like bubble wrap and packing foam.
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Finally, securely tape your boxes closed. Always use proper packing tape and double-tape the seams to make them extra-secure. Pay extra attention to this if you're repurposing used boxes.
Do boxes have weight limits?
The amount of weight a cardboard box can hold depends on its type, with standard boxes handling less than heavy-duty options. Home Depot's standard moving boxes, for example, hold up to 65 pounds no matter their size. Its heavy-duty boxes are rated slightly higher at 75 pounds.
While Home Depot lists the weight limits of its boxes, most retailers don't so it can be a bit of a guessing game. Instead, you'll often see them cite a metric called the Edge Crush Test (ECT) grade. This box from Walmart has a 32 ECT grade, which means it can withstand up to 32 pounds of weight on each edge before collapsing. That makes them great for stacking but doesn't tell you anything about how much weight it can hold.
Do moving companies charge extra for heavy items?
While moving companies won't flinch at 50-pound boxes, you should inform them if you have any extra-heavy belongings to transport. Most companies we've spoken with charge extra for these items. They should ask about them while getting an estimate, and they'll add an extra charge if you surprise them with one on moving day.
Charges can range from $100 to $800 for things like pianos and pool tables. When gathering rates from moving companies, we had several ask us to list any items that weigh more than 200 pounds separately. This can vary by moving company, so check with yours.
Weigh your options
Long-distance moves are often charged by weight, so you may want to get rid of heavy items to save money. You could also go with sturdier plastic moving boxes. Ultimately, be considerate and avoid overloading any one box.
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