Moving in San Francisco can be expensive, regardless of the size of your home or amount of belongings you have. If you’re looking for places to cut the cost of moving over short distances or across the country, finding cheap or free moving boxes in San Francisco is a great idea!
Should You Buy or Get Free Moving Boxes?
When you plan your move, you’ll need to decide if you want to buy moving boxes or find free ones. Each option provides different advantages.
If you buy moving boxes, they’ll be more uniform and easier to stack, you’ll have more control over moving box sizes, and you can be sure of their quality. This option is also much more convenient than searching around for free moving boxes.
However, free moving boxes are a budget-friendly option that takes a chunk out of your moving budget. They’re also a more sustainable choice since you’re reusing used moving boxes that would otherwise be discarded.
Where to Get Free Moving Boxes in San Francisco
You can find free moving boxes in San Francisco at a variety of places, including online, at liquor and grocery stores, and even at pharmacies. Here are some places to check for free moving boxes in San Francisco.
Online Exchanges in San Francisco
Online marketplaces and apps are great options for finding free moving boxes in San Francisco! Ask people in your own social network to save boxes for you, or try checking the SF listings on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Nextdoor, Freecycle, and the U-Haul Box Exchange to find moving boxes—either for free or for a small fee, depending on the seller. You can also join public Facebook groups like Buy Nothing No Rules San Francisco, as well as private groups like SF & Bay Area Buy/Sell/Trade and San Francisco Free Stuff, Trade & Sell, to see if local residents have listed free boxes after a move or receiving deliveries.
Liquor Stores in San Francisco
Liquor store boxes are usually meant for transporting glass bottles safely—making them great options for heavy-duty moving boxes! They may also come with dividers, giving you a convenient way to pack glassware and other fragile items. Liquor stores like BevMo! and Total Wine & More may be able to set aside moving boxes for you to pick up, but you’ll need to call ahead and check first.
Grocery Stores in San Francisco
Grocery stores often give away sturdy boxes used for produce and other food products. These boxes are designed to withstand impacts during shipment, making them great options as free moving boxes! However, note that some options—like banana boxes—may not be suitable for packing small items due to the large holes in their sides. You’ll also need to inspect any grocery store boxes you receive for food stains, bugs, and other pests. Call ahead to grocery stores like Costco, Safeway, or Trader Joe’s to check for availability of free moving boxes in San Francisco.
Recycling Centers & Dumpsters in San Francisco
Some recycling centers may let you take recycled packing boxes from their facilities. However, you’ll need to check that they recycle cardboard and allow pickup. You’ll also need to check the moving boxes for stains, pests, and durability—and they’ll likely be broken down, so you’ll need to tape them up before you can start packing. Call recycling centers like Recycle Central @ Pier 96 and Blue Line Transfer to see if they have cardboard boxes available for pickup.
Other Stores & Retailers in San Francisco
Other stores like bookstores may have good boxes for moving, especially since these boxes are usually sturdy and damage-resistant to safely transport books. Check with local bookstores like City Lights Booksellers. Pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS also might offer free moving boxes that were used to transport medicine, toiletry products, and more. No matter where you plan to pick up free moving boxes in San Francisco, be sure to call ahead and check availability first.
Where to Buy Cheap Moving Boxes in San Francisco
You can buy cheap moving boxes in San Francisco at a variety of places, like hardware stores, specialty box and moving supplies stores, office supplies stores, and self storage facilities. Expect to pay anywhere from $1.49 to $8.99 for cardboard moving boxes in San Francisco.
Please note that listed dimensions for boxes with precise measurements are rounded to the nearest tenth.
The Container Store
The Container Store in San Francisco offers moving boxes ranging from 8x6x4 at $1.49 to 18x18x16 at $3.99. There is one Container Store location in San Francisco where you can buy boxes and other moving supplies, like plastic totes and bins, tape, and cushion wrap.
Lowe’s
Boxes at Lowe’s in San Francisco range from 16x12x12 at $1.75 to 22x21.5x22 at $3.75. Lowe’s has one location in San Francisco that sells moving boxes. They also sell other moving supplies, including bubble wrap, dollies, packing paper, and packing tape.
Office Depot
You can find plenty of different sizes and types of moving boxes—ranging from 6x6x6 at $1.89 to 20x20x24 at $8.99—at Office Depot in San Francisco. There is one Office Depot location in SF, selling boxes and moving supplies like packing tape, bubble wrap, packing paper, and labels.
Extra Space Storage
Find affordable boxes ranging from 16.5x12.5x12.5 at $2.69 to 24x18x24 at $5.99 at Extra Space Storage locations in San Francisco. There are four Extra Space Storage locations in San Francisco that sell moving boxes. These locations also sell other packing supplies—including bubble wrap, mattress and furniture covers, packing tape, stretch wrap, and tie downs.
ZippGo
ZippGo offers plastic moving box rental packages ranging from 25 boxes for $149 to 100 boxes for $349. Boxes range from medium to extra large, and there are a set number of sizes that come with each package—along with a set number of dollies. ZippGo will deliver and pick up the boxes for you, and they also sell other moving supplies like plate and glass dividers, packing paper, dollies, bubble wrap, zip ties, and mattress bags.
Where to Recycle Moving Boxes in San Francisco
After you’ve settled into your new home, recycle your moving boxes to stay eco-friendly! You can donate your boxes to a local charity, or resell or give them away online with platforms like like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and more. You can also take them to San Francisco recycling facilities like those listed below.
SF Transfer Station & Hazardous Waste Facility
SF Transfer Station & Hazardous Waste Facility accepts cardboard moving boxes, plus other moving supplies like styrofoam containers, plastic containers, and household batteries. Some items require a fee to recycle or dispose of them in bulk, but most household items do not. This facility’s hours are typically Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Find SF Transfer Station & Hazardous Waste Facility at 501 Tunnel Ave.
Recycle Central @ Pier 96
Recycle Central @ Pier 96 accepts cardboard moving boxes, and may accept other moving supplies like glass containers and packing paper—though their buyback services are for cardboard only. Customers can simply drive up and drop off their items. Recycle Central @ Pier 96 is typically open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Find them located at 1000 Amador St.
Blue Line Transfer Inc.
Blue Line Transfer accepts cardboard moving boxes, plus other moving supplies like plastic bags, plastic containers, and packing paper. No appointment is necessary, and their hours are typically Monday to Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Find Blue Line Transfer at 500 E Jamie Ct.
***
Getting ready to move? Extra Space Storage offers a variety of moving boxes and supplies available for in-store pickup at storage facilities in San Francisco!
