Packing Materials Estimator
Tell us how many boxes you’re filling and how breakable the contents are, and we’ll estimate the packing paper, bubble wrap, and tape to buy.
Packing materials to buy
Tape assumes standard 55-yard rolls and about 5 ft to seal and reinforce each box. Buy a little spare paper — it doubles as cushioning and drawer-fill.
Enough supplies, not a cupboard of leftovers
Under-buy packing supplies and you’ll stop mid-move for an emergency shop; over-buy and you’re left with half a case of bubble wrap and rolls of tape you’ll never use. Tying the quantities to your actual box count and how fragile things are gets you close on the first trip — enough paper to wrap and cushion, enough tape to seal every box properly, and bubble wrap only where it earns its place.
Wrap fragile items individually, fill every void so nothing shifts, and tape boxes along the seams rather than a single strip down the middle. Sturdy, well-filled boxes are what survive a move and a stack in storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much packing paper do I need?
It depends on the box count and how much wrapping the contents need. This estimator uses roughly 15 sheets per box for sturdy loads, 30 for mixed household goods, and 55 for boxes full of fragile items, then multiplies by your number of boxes. Packing paper also doubles as void fill, so a little extra is never wasted.
How much bubble wrap should I buy?
Bubble wrap is for the genuinely breakable things, so the amount scales with fragility rather than box count alone. The tool estimates about 3 feet per box for a mixed load and 8 feet per box when there's a lot of glass, china, or electronics, and none for sturdy items that only need paper.
How many rolls of tape will I use?
Sealing and reinforcing a box takes about 5 feet of tape — the top and bottom seams plus a little overlap. Against a standard 55-yard (165-foot) roll, that's roughly 30 boxes per roll. The estimator rounds up to whole rolls so you don't run out on the last few boxes.
How many boxes should I enter?
Use the number you're actually packing. If you don't know it yet, estimate it with the Moving Box Calculator from your room count first, then bring that total here to work out the paper, wrap, and tape to go with it.
Do I need anything the estimator doesn't list?
For most moves, also keep a couple of markers for labelling, some stretch wrap for drawers and furniture, and a few furniture blankets. Those don't scale neatly with box count, so they're left off — but they're worth adding to the cart.
A planning estimate based on typical per-box usage. Fragile, oddly-shaped, or heavy items use more — buy a little spare paper and one extra roll of tape rather than run short.