Where to Find Moving Boxes in Los Angeles

Moving in Los Angeles is its own thing, and figuring out where to get moving boxes sorted is just the start of everything you’ll need to organize before moving day.

Parking restrictions can complicate loading, apartment buildings may require elevator reservations and lease dates don’t always line up as neatly as you’d like.

With nearly 948,000 renters(opens in new tab) living across 272 neighborhoods, plenty of Angelenos know the routine.

Fortunately, moving boxes are the one area where you have real flexibility, with plenty of options depending on what you’re packing and how much you want to spend. Los Angeles has places to buy them new or pick them up for little to no money.

Here’s a breakdown of the best options in Los Angeles, from the most convenient to the most budget-friendly.

Self storage facilities that double as supply shops

If you’re renting a storage unit as part of your move, check whether the facility sells moving boxes and packing supplies before making a separate stop. Many self storage facilities in Los Angeles(opens in new tab) stock boxes in several sizes along with tape and more specialized supplies such as mattress covers, so you can pick up what you need when you visit the unit.

A storage unit(opens in new tab) can also help when there’s a gap between leases or the new apartment doesn’t have room for everything coming out of the old one. LA apartments average around 810 square feet(opens in new tab), and with many facilities offering month-to-month rentals, you can keep furniture and packed boxes there for the stretch of time you need rather than committing to a long lease. Buying packing supplies at the facility cuts another stop from an already busy moving day.

These self storage facilities sell packing supplies on site, so you can take care of the boxes while you’re there:

Public Storage – 3636 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Right in the middle of the city between Silver Lake and Koreatown, the Public Storage(opens in new tab) facility is easy to get to whether you’re coming from the east side or the west. It has retail moving supplies available on site and offers a solid range of unit sizes, from compact lockers to larger units that can handle the contents of a full apartment. Importantly, the units here are climate-controlled(opens in new tab) — a real consideration in LA, where summer can deteriorate anything sensitive if left in a standard unit for weeks. Other features include contactless renting, gated access, security cameras, an elevator and an on-site manager.

Crenshaw Self Storage – 6725 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Crenshaw Self Storage(opens in new tab) is well positioned for moves around South LA and nearby Inglewood, with a retail area where you can pick up moving supplies while visiting your unit. The property is gated and monitored by security cameras, while contactless rentals let you take care of the paperwork ahead of moving day. Public transit nearby also gives you another way to get there when you’d rather leave the car behind.

L.A. Security Storage – 6372 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Having moving supplies and truck rentals at the same location can save some back-and-forth when moving around West Hollywood or Hollywood. You can pick up your boxes, load the truck and head out from there, while gated entry and security cameras cover the storage side of things. L.A. Security Storage(opens in new tab) also has parking and RV storage for larger vehicles.

Rent reusable plastic bins instead of buying cardboard

Los Angeles has another option for getting through a move without buying a stack of cardboard boxes. Several local companies rent reusable plastic bins and deliver them directly to your home, then return to collect them once you’ve unpacked. The bins arrive assembled with lids attached, so tape and the inevitable post-move cardboard pile are taken out of the equation.

Renting also changes what happens to the boxes once the move is over. Rather than buying cardboard that you then need to flatten, recycle or pass along, the plastic bins go back to the company and head out for another move. That model has found a foothold in LA, with services operating across much of the city and surrounding areas.

Another advantage of going with plastic bins is that they stack neatly in the moving truck and won’t buckle if they get damp, while delivery and pickup mean you don’t have to find somewhere to store them afterward.

For reusable moving boxes in Los Angeles, these companies are worth checking out:

RentAMovingBox

Locally owned since 2017 and serving Los Angeles and Orange County, RentAMovingBox(opens in new tab) offers next-day delivery Monday through Friday. The bins are made in the USA from recycled plastic, crush-proof and water-resistant, and rented by the week. They guarantee no no-shows on delivery — which, after reading enough moving horror stories, is not a small thing. If you find a lower price elsewhere, they’ll match it.

ReBow System

ReBow(opens in new tab) serves the greater LA area with free curbside delivery and pickup. Packages start at $160 for a two-week rental of 20 large boxes, which is competitive with the cost of buying new cardboard boxes. Reviewers consistently call out how clean the bins arrive and how smooth the pickup process is.

Stack Moves

Stack Moves(opens in new tab) covers all of Los Angeles County, including Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank, and includes free dollies, labels, and delivery/pickup with every bundle. They also handle commercial moves, so if you’re relocating a small office or studio space alongside your home, they can handle both in one go.

Boxbee

Boxbee(opens in new tab) goes a step beyond renting moving boxes by offering on-demand storage as well, so your packed bins can be picked up and stored until you’re ready for them at the new place. An online inventory keeps track of what you’ve stored, which can come in handy when your move-out and move-in dates leave you with a gap in between.

Local moving companies that sell supplies

Many LA moving companies sell packing supplies separately, so you don’t have to book a full move to shop with them. Their boxes are made with moving in mind and can hold up better once they’re loaded into a truck. You can also ask the staff how many boxes you’ll need or whether certain belongings call for more specialized packing materials, which takes some of the guesswork out of buying supplies.

NorthStar Moving

Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Northridge, NorthStar(opens in new tab) is one of the most established movers in the LA area, with locations that also cover San Francisco, Newport Beach and beyond. They carry a full range of packing supplies and run their fleet on biodiesel with a focus on recyclable packing materials, making it a strong option if sustainability is a priority for your move. Even if you end up doing the move yourself, the supplies you can source here are the same quality their crews use on the job.

Piece of Cake Moving

Piece of Cake(opens in new tab) has handled enough LA moves to know what makes them complicated, including the less glamorous parts of moving here, such as elevator booking windows and temporary no-parking permits. They can also recommend supplies based on your building and moving setup.

Excalibur Moving & Storage

Based in Van Nuys, with offices in Downtown LA and Santa Monica, Excalibur Moving & Storage(opens in new tab) has been handling LA moves since 2000 and sells packing supplies directly through its website. The selection goes beyond standard moving boxes, with options made for harder-to-pack belongings such as framed artwork and hanging clothes, plus packing materials to go with them. Prices are listed online as well, so you can work out what the supplies will cost before placing an order.

Look to your community for free moving boxes

If you have a few days to spare before moving, it’s worth checking whether someone nearby has boxes they’re ready to pass along before buying new ones. In a city with as much renter turnover as Los Angeles, moving boxes often have plenty of life left after their first trip across town.

Buy Nothing Project

The Buy Nothing Project(opens in new tab) is a good place to start, with local groups operating throughout Los Angeles and neighboring communities. People who have recently unpacked often post their moving boxes for someone else to pick up, and everything shared through Buy Nothing is free rather than sold or traded. Search for your local group through the app or Facebook, and if nobody has posted boxes yet, put up a request of your own.

Freecycle

Freecycle(opens in new tab) works in a similar way, but the “Wanted” feature lets you ask for moving boxes directly rather than waiting for someone to post them. Someone who has recently unpacked can respond to your request, and you may end up taking a stack of boxes off their hands at just the right time.

Check local businesses for free moving boxes

Local businesses go through plenty of cardboard as part of their normal deliveries, and some of those boxes can get another use before heading to recycling. Grocery stores and office buildings are two places worth asking, although it’s always best to check with staff rather than taking boxes without permission.

Grocery stores

Grocery stores receive shipments throughout the week, leaving behind boxes in a range of sizes that are often broken down once the shelves are stocked. Produce boxes can be a good pick for heavier belongings because many are made to carry weight, but check for moisture, stains or food residue before bringing them home. Asking at the service desk earlier in the day may give you a better chance of catching boxes before they’re flattened for recycling.

Office buildings

Office mailrooms can be another source, particularly for clean shipping boxes that have only made one delivery. If you work in a larger building, ask the front desk or building manager whether they can set a few aside as packages come in. These boxes tend to be better suited to books, decor and other household belongings you’d rather not pack in a box that previously carried food.

Boxing up your LA move

Finding moving boxes in Los Angeles can be as straightforward or as budget-conscious as your move calls for. You can buy them alongside a storage rental, have reusable bins delivered or give perfectly good cardboard another trip across town through a community group. Starting the search early gives you more room to compare what works for your budget rather than grabbing whatever boxes are available a day before the truck arrives.

LA already gives you enough to coordinate between moving dates and getting everything from one address to the next. Having your boxes sorted early means one fewer decision on moving day.