Individual or family moving costs can add up quickly whether you’re moving out of state or across town in San Antonio. A great way to save money while moving is to find cheap, half-price, or free moving boxes in San Antonio from local businesses, online groups, and your local community. Read our guide to learn where you can find free and cheap moving boxes in San Antonio.
Should You Buy or Get Free Moving Boxes?
An important choice you’ll need to make while moving is whether to buy new moving boxes in San Antonio or find used ones for free. There are important considerations to keep in mind for both buying moving boxes new or getting used moving boxes for free.
If you buy new moving boxes, you can trust their sturdiness to keep your items secure and prevent them from breaking during your move. Getting new, uniform boxes can help make packing your moving truck easier, and it also saves time. Additionally, new boxes are clean, which means you won’t have to worry about them attracting pests or getting your items dirty during the moving process.
While buying boxes can be more convenient, finding free cardboard boxes will help you move on a budget. Through the use of online groups and by visiting local businesses you might be able to find a variety of used moving boxes at little to no cost for all the different things in your home. If you’re striving for an eco-friendly moving process, then using recycled moving boxes can also help to reduce your carbon footprint.
Where to Get Free Moving Boxes in San Antonio
Wondering where to find free moving boxes in San Antonio? You can get free packing boxes in San Antonio at liquor stores, online marketplaces, grocery stores, and more. Here are the top spots to find free moving boxes near you.
Online Exchanges in San Antonio
One of the best places to find cardboard boxes for free in San Antonio is online marketplaces. Some of the top online marketplaces that can help with your San Antonio move include Facebook Marketplace San Antonio, and groups like Buy Sell Trade San Antonio or Buy Nothing San Antonio. Check out other online platforms like Craigslist San Antonio, and Nextdoor San Antonio for additional opportunities to find affordable moving boxes. You can visit the online San Antonio U-Haul Box Exchange or visit a local store in person to take advantage of the Take A Box, Leave A Box program at several U-Haul Box Return locations in San Antonio. You’ll find a large amount of free boxes in San Antonio or affordable ones with a lower price compared to brand-new packing supplies. Some safety tips to keep in mind when meeting strangers from online include meeting in a public space, bringing a friend, and meeting during daylight hours.
Liquor Stores in San Antonio
Liquor stores are another great place to find free moving boxes in San Antonio. These stores get a consistent shipment of sturdy cardboard boxes that are designed to hold heavy and breakable products, and some might have built-in dividers that are perfect for storing fragile items like wine glasses or china. Some liquor stores in San Antonio to try and find free cardboard packing boxes include Liquors on Main, Total Wine & More, Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods, and more. Contact them today to see if they have any boxes they’re willing to give to you free of charge. You could also check out local breweries in San Antonio like Back Unturned Brewing Co., Dos Sirenos Brewing, and Künstler Brewing for free.
Grocery Stores in San Antonio
A good place to get boxes for moving at no cost is a grocery store near you! Grocery stores get a consistent shipment of cardboard boxes that are sturdy enough to hold heavy products like produce, meat, dairy, and more. Before you begin placing your things into used cardboard boxes from the supermarket, make sure to check for food remnants, stains, and evidence of pests that could damage your things. Make sure you’re mindful of what boxes you’re using too. For example, avoid using banana boxes with large holes for things like jewelry that might fall out when in transit to your next home. Call grocery stores in San Antonio like HEB, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and other markets to check ahead of time if they can give you packing boxes for free.
Recycling Centers & Dumpsters in San Antonio
San Antonio recycling centers can also be a great place to find free boxes for moving. Give them a call before heading over to find out if they offer used boxes for free. Some recycling centers and dumpsters in San Antonio include Bulky Waste Collection Centers, Great Northwest Recycling, and Balcones Recycling. Before you begin packing your things in the used boxes, check their structural integrity, and look for signs of pests, stains, and other things that could damage your belongings. Keep in mind that cardboard boxes are often broken down to save space, so you may need to tape them back together before you can pack moving boxes efficiently.
Other Stores & Retailers in San Antonio
Some other San Antonio stores to check out for free used moving boxes include electronics outlets, pet stores, and any other retailer that receives large product shipments regularly. These stores typically use boxes that are made to handle heavy items, which means they can work great at storing many of your belongings. Local stores like Nowhere Bookshop, K&G Fashion Superstore, and Intertex Electronics Inc. are places in San Antonio where you may be able to find free boxes for moving.
Where to Buy Cheap Moving Boxes in San Antonio
Need to find moving boxes for cheap in San Antonio? Some of the best places to find low-cost moving boxes for your needs include self storage facilities, office supply chains, local packing supply stores, and more. Moving box prices in San Antonio typically range from $1 to as high as $7.80—these also come in a variety of sizes to fit all of your packing needs. Please note that precise box measurements are rounded to the nearest tenth for readability.
Walmart
One of the cheapest places to get moving boxes in San Antonio is Walmart. You’ll find sturdy moving box options in a range of sizes from 17x11x13 at $1.00 to 24x16x19 at $2.10. There are 29 San Antonio Walmart locations that sell affordable moving boxes, as well as helpful moving supplies like packing peanuts, packing tape, and stretch wrap.
Home Depot
If you end up needing to buy moving boxes, you can find inexpensive moving boxes ranging from 15x10x12 at $1.28 to 24x20x21 at $3.68 at Home Depot locations in San Antonio. There are 13 Home Depot locations in San Antonio that sell moving boxes, in addition to other packing supplies like moving blankets, furniture sliders, and packing paper.
EcoBox
Looking for high-quality used and new moving boxes? You can purchase moving boxes that range in size from 16.5 x 12.6 x 12.6 at $1.34 to 24x18x24 at $3.50 at EcoBox in San Antonio. There is one EcoBox location in San Antonio that sells moving boxes. They also sell quality moving supplies like bubble rolls, tape guns, and floor protection.
Mission City Container
You can buy a variety of affordable moving boxes from 19x11x8 at $2.55 to 27x17x12 at $7.80—in addition to a wide variety of specialty moving boxes—at Mission City Container. There is one Mission City Container location in San Antonio that sells moving boxes, as well as other moving supplies like corrugated sheets, tape, bubble cushion, and more. This local San Antonio moving supplies business can also create and design custom moving boxes to fit your needs.
Extra Space Storage
High-quality San Antonio moving boxes and packing supplies can be found at your nearest Extra Space Storage facility! Moving boxes are available in sizes ranging from 16.6x12.5x12.5* at $2.69 and 24x18x24 at $5.99 at Extra Space Storage in San Antonio. There are 60 Extra Space Storage locations in San Antonio that sell moving boxes, as well as other moving supplies like locks, protection kits, storage bags, and more.
Where to Recycle Moving Boxes in San Antonio
Once you’ve moved into a new house or apartment, you can choose to get rid of all of your moving boxes in an eco-friendly way. The city of San Antonio has four Bulky Waste Collection Centers available to recycle your boxes. You can also give your boxes a second life by donating them to someone in need through local organizations or platforms like Buy Sell Trade San Antonio, Craigslist San Antonio, and Nextdoor San Antonio. Here are some recycling centers where you might be able to drop off used moving boxes!
Great Northwest Recycling
Great Northwest Recycling accepts flattened cardboard moving boxes, plus other moving supplies like packing paper. Make sure to contact them ahead of time to help identify which cardboard you can recycle. This location operates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on the first and last Saturdays of each month from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Find Great Northwest Recycling at 7386 Grissom Road.
Bitters Brush Recycling Center
Bitters Brush Recycling Center, one of the city’s Bulky Waste Collection Centers, allows for dropping off cardboard moving boxes and other moving supplies. To recycle at this location, you will need to show a recent CPS energy bill and photo ID. No household trash is accepted, and bulky items are limited to four cubic yards. Their hours are typically 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Find Bitters Brush Recycling Center at 1800 Wurzbach Pkwy.
Balcones Recycling
Balcones Recycling accepts cardboard moving boxes, plus other moving supplies like packing paper. Make sure to call ahead of time to double-check any drop-off rules and potential fees. Their hours are typically 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Find Balcones Recycling at 6006 Freeport Rd.
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Moving to San Antonio? Extra Space Storage offers a variety of moving boxes and supplies available for in-store pickup at storage facilities in San Antonio!
