Supplies

Plan The Packing Materials Before Moving Day

The Supplies sheet is the whole-move reference for boxes, bags, pads, covers, kits, and other packing materials used by the MoverCalcs estimator. It gathers recommendations from the Room Sheets so you can review the material plan before the move begins.

Use it to prepare for loose contents, fragile items, furniture protection, and specialty containers while there is still time to buy, reserve, or discuss the materials with your mover.

On This Page

• Start with the Room Sheets
• How the estimator builds the plan
• Standard boxes
• Specialty boxes and kits
• Bags, covers, pads, and protection
• How to read the totals
• Review the rooms behind the numbers
• Use the numbers as a planning guide

Start With The Room Sheets

Supplies becomes more useful as the room inventory becomes more complete. On each Room Sheet, enter what still needs packing, count boxes that are already packed, and add the furniture and other articles being moved.

How The Estimator Builds The Plan

The estimator uses the packing measures and the Articles To Be Moved rows on each Room Sheet. Different inputs feed different supply types:

• Drawer space, shallow shelving, and deep shelving produce general box recommendations.
• Hanging clothes produce Wardrobe Box recommendations.
• Loose pillows, throws, and cushions produce Large Box recommendations.
• Books produce Book Box or Medium Double-Walled Box recommendations based on the book size and shelf frontage.
• Files produce File Box recommendations.
• Dishes and glasses produce Dish Pack Boxes, Dish Saver Kits, and Glass Pack Kits.
• Furniture and specialty articles can produce pads, bags, covers, mirror boxes, TV boxes, or other item-specific protection.

Do not enter the same contents in multiple packing rows. For example, do not count a shelf of books again as general shelving, and do not count packed boxes again as loose drawer or cabinet contents.

Standard Boxes

These are the primary box sizes used by the estimator. Each supply has a different job. Dimensions and CuFt capacities are maintained in the Master Item List; actual supplier boxes may vary slightly.

Small Boxes

Reference size: 16-3/8 x 12-5/8 x 12-5/8 in. Capacity: 1.5 CuFt.

Small Boxes are the everyday choice for light mixed contents, drawer contents, and shallow shelving. They are useful when the contents are easy to distribute but should not be packed into one oversized container. Drawer space and shallow shelving commonly feed this recommendation.

Medium Boxes

Reference size: 18-1/8 x 18 x 16 in. Capacity: 3 CuFt.

Medium Boxes are the general-purpose workhorse of the packing plan. Use them for ordinary household contents that need more room than a Small Box but do not need the added strength of a double-walled box. General shelving and mixed cabinet contents commonly feed this recommendation.

Medium Boxes Double Walled

Reference size: 18-1/8 x 18 x 16 in. Capacity: 3 CuFt.

Medium Double-Walled Boxes use the same reference footprint as Medium Boxes but are intended for denser, heavier, or higher-strength packing needs. Books, kitchen cabinet contents, and other concentrated loads may call for this stronger construction.

Large Boxes

Reference size: 18 x 18 x 24 in. Capacity: 4.5 CuFt.

Large Boxes provide more volume for bulky but relatively light contents. They are a natural fit for pillows, throws, cushions, and other soft goods that can fill space quickly without being especially heavy.

Large Boxes Double Walled

Reference size: 18 x 18 x 24 in. Capacity: 4.5 CuFt.

Large Double-Walled Boxes keep the Large Box footprint while adding strength for heavier contents. Choose the stronger construction when a large load could stress the box walls or when the contents need additional support.

XL Boxes

Reference size: 24 x 18 x 24 in. Capacity: 6 CuFt.

XL Boxes are for large, lightweight contents that need more volume than a Large Box. Their larger footprint can be useful for soft goods and other items that would be awkward to compress into smaller cartons. Do not use the extra volume as a reason to create an unsafe lifting weight.

Tall Boxes

Reference size: 15 x 15 x 42 in. Capacity: 3.3 CuFt.

Tall Boxes are narrow and vertically elongated. They are useful for tall or long box-shaped loads that do not fit comfortably in a regular carton. Pack the bottom carefully, keep the load stable, and confirm that the completed box can be carried safely.

Use the smallest box that fits comfortably, leave room for safe closure, and avoid making a box too heavy to lift safely. Double-walled boxes are a strength choice, not an automatic replacement for every standard box.

Specialty Boxes And Kits

The Supplies sheet may show specialty containers when the Room Sheet inputs or inventoried articles support them. These supplies solve particular packing problems rather than serving as general cartons.

Wardrobe Boxes

Wardrobe Boxes let hanging clothes stay on hangers during the move. They reduce folding and re-hanging work and are driven by the Linear Feet of Hanging Clothes input. Reference size: 24 x 24 x 48 in. Capacity: 16 CuFt.

Lamp Boxes

Lamp Boxes provide a tall, protected space for lamps and other narrow pieces. They are useful when a standard carton would force a lamp to lie awkwardly or when the shade and base need careful separation. The MIL does not assign a single CuFt capacity to Lamp Boxes because supplier sizes vary by lamp profile.

Book Boxes

Book Boxes are sized for dense books. Their story is weight control: fill them securely, but do not overfill them simply because the remaining space exists. Book shelf frontage feeds this recommendation. Capacity: 1 CuFt.

File Boxes

File Boxes organize documents and file contents into manageable loads. They are driven by file frontage rather than ordinary book volume and help keep records upright and easier to identify. Capacity: 1 CuFt.

Dish Pack Boxes

Dish Pack Boxes protect plates, bowls, and other kitchen dishware. They are paired with careful wrapping and should not be treated like ordinary loose contents boxes. Capacity: 1.85 CuFt.

Dish Saver Kits

Dish Saver Kits add dividers or fitted protection for dishes. They are a protection upgrade for fragile dishware, not a replacement for reasonable packing and labeling. Capacity: 1 CuFt.

Glass Pack Kits

Glass Pack Kits separate glasses and stemware so pieces do not strike each other in transit. The kit recommendation is driven by the amount of glassware, not simply by the number of kitchen boxes. Capacity: 1 CuFt.

Mirror/Picture Boxes

Mirror/Picture Boxes protect framed art, mirrors, and other flat fragile pieces. They are intended for careful vertical or flat handling according to the item, with the glass or finished face protected from contact. Capacity is item-sized; the MIL does not assign one fixed CuFt value to this specialty box.

Large Mirror/Picture Boxes

Large Mirror/Picture Boxes extend that protection to larger framed or mirrored pieces. Large dimensions do not make the item less fragile, so the box should be sized and handled as a specialty load. Capacity is item-sized; the MIL does not assign one fixed CuFt value to this specialty box.

Sport Utility Boxes

Sport Utility Boxes support long, irregular, or awkward sporting and utility items. They help contain items that do not fit well in standard cartons, but unusual shapes may still require a field review. The MIL does not assign one fixed CuFt value because the box must follow the item shape.

TV Box Medium, Large, And Extra Large

TV Boxes are item-specific protection for televisions. The Medium, Large, and Extra Large rows match the general size of the television and help protect the screen during handling. Confirm the actual television dimensions before buying or assigning a box. The MIL treats these as item-specific protection rather than fixed-capacity cartons, so capacity varies by television size and supplier.

Specialty boxes and kits appear as their own supply rows. They should not be silently folded into the standard Total Boxes number unless the Supplies sheet labels them as standard boxes.

Bags, Covers, Pads, And Protection

Protection materials are part of the supply plan even though they are not standard boxes. Each one protects a different surface or shape.

Soft Pack Bags

Soft Pack Bags hold soft goods and flexible packed contents. They are useful when the contents need containment and protection without the rigidity of a carton. Reference capacity: 4 CuFt.

Twin, Full, Queen, And King Mattress Bags

Mattress Bags protect mattresses from dirt, moisture, and abrasion. The size should match the mattress so the bag can be closed and handled without forcing the mattress into an unsuitable package.

Loveseat Bags

Loveseat Bags protect loveseat upholstery during carrying, loading, and placement in the truck. They are protective covers for the furniture, not a replacement for pads where the frame or finished surfaces need cushioning.

Sofa Bags

Sofa Bags protect larger upholstered sofas from dust, scuffs, and contact with other loads. Measure the sofa and account for cushions and removable parts when deciding whether the bag is appropriate.

Chair Covers

Chair Covers protect individual chairs and similar upholstered pieces. They are useful for keeping fabric clean while still allowing the crew to carry the piece safely.

Furniture Pads

Furniture Pads protect finished surfaces during handling and loading. They are general protective equipment and may be needed even when an item has its own bag, cover, or specialty box.

Pads, bags, and covers are protective materials, not additional cubic feet of boxed contents. Their presence in the plan does not mean another box should be added for the same item.

How To Read The Totals

The top of the Supplies sheet shows Total Boxes and maintained supply rows. Keep these distinctions in mind:

• Total Boxes is the standard box-planning total.
• Specialty boxes, kits, bags, pads, and covers appear in their own rows.
• Boxes entered under Already Packed remain separate from boxes still needed and do not inflate the recommended new-material total.
• A non-zero row means the estimator sees a planning need, not necessarily a final purchase quantity.
• Supply quantities and supply charges are separate. Use Billing when supplies or packing services should affect the estimate price.

Review The Rooms Behind The Numbers

The Room Details area shows where the recommendations come from. Use it to spot the rooms driving the box count or the need for special protection, then return to that Room Sheet if something looks incomplete.

Review the material plan after the room inventory is updated. A change to drawer space, hanging clothes, books, files, dishes, glasses, or a specialty article can change the recommended supplies.

Use The Numbers As A Planning Guide

Review the quantities with your mover or rental provider before purchasing supplies. Fragile items, personal packing choices, unusual shapes, supplier sizes, and last-minute inventory changes can affect what is ultimately needed.

The Supplies sheet is a planning tool. It does not replace safe lifting judgment, proper packing technique, or a final review of the actual items and materials available on moving day.

Related Pages

• Help Home – all MoverCalcs help topics.
• Room Sheets – enter inventory and packing detail by room.
• Packing – record what needs packing and what is already packed.
• Master Inventory List – review standard article names and sizes.
• Billing – add supply and packing-service charges to the estimate.

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