10 Best Places to Get Free & Cheap Moving Boxes in Rochester, MN

Moving in Rochester, MN? If you are moving on a tight budget, you will want to avoid unexpected costs and moving mistakes for a smooth moving experience. One way to prepare for your move and to save money is to find free or cheap moving boxes. To help you find free or affordable cardboard boxes in Rochester, here's a helpful guide!

Should You Buy or Get Free Moving Boxes?

Before you get ready to pack up for your move, you can choose whether to buy new moving boxes or find free ones near you. Both will come with considerations and benefits, and you can always decide to do both as you get closer to your moving day.

When you buy new moving boxes, the quality and uniformity will help you stack them in your moving truck. New cardboard boxes offer convenience when you need specific box sizes and types for different packing needs, which could be more difficult to track down with free boxes. Buying your boxes will also help those moving on short notice, since they can be found at most stores.

On the other hand, those moving on a budget will like the idea of sourcing free cardboard boxes, especially if they have time to plan ahead of the move. Additionally, searching for free moving boxes helps make your move more eco-friendly, giving usable materials a second life.

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Where to Get Free Moving Boxes in Rochester

You can find free moving boxes throughout the city online, at local businesses, liquor shops, and other spots. Check out the following locations for free moving boxes in Rochester.

Online Exchanges in Rochester

Rochester residents can check out multiple online marketplaces for free moving boxes. Check out online exchanges like Box Cycle, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, as well as local Facebook groups like Buy Nothing Rochester, Rochester MN Free Items Group, or People Helping People, Rochester, MN. You can also look at local community platforms like Nextdoor and TrashNothing for secondhand cardboard boxes. Only meet people you've talked with online in well-lit, public places—ideally bringing along a friend or family member and sharing your location with someone.

Liquor Stores in Rochester

Call liquor stores in Rochester for free cardboard boxes, which will be ideal for packing belongings like wine glasses. Wine and beer boxes are meant to offer heavy-duty protection for fragile items and may even come with convenient dividers. Rochester liquor stores like Apollo Wine and Spirits, Andy's Liquor Crossroads, or Total Wine & More may be able to set some shipment boxes aside for you.

Grocery Stores in Rochester

Grocery stores like Hy-Vee, Cub Foods, or Fresh Thyme receive a wide range of heavy-duty cardboard boxes. Nearby grocery stores get shipments weekly, so you can call to see if they would allow you to take any empty boxes. Be sure to check cardboard boxes for stains, food residue, and signs of pests. Be cautious of banana boxes—these boxes have ventilation holes in the sides that could allow small items to fall through.

Recycling Centers & Dumpsters in Rochester

Rochester dumpsters and recycling centers may also be a good place to search for used boxes. Locations like Recycling Center Plus, the Kalmar Landfill, or the Waste-to-Energy Facility usually separate cardboard from other waste. Recycled boxes are usually already broken down, so you'll likely need to reassemble and tape them back together. Be sure to check your recycled boxes for any dirt, stains, or pests before placing your items inside them.

Other Retailers & Organizations in Rochester

Stores and other businesses throughout Rochester regularly receive shipments and may have free moving boxes available if you call ahead to ask. Check with restaurants and food chains like Culver's, Wendy's, or Caribou Coffee for food boxes from their weekly deliveries, and check the delivery boxes to make sure they aren't stained. Call bookstores like Barnes & Noble, Garden Party Books, or Diatom Books for heavy-duty moving boxes to help carry your own book collection, or ask furniture stores like The Furniture Mart, HOM Furniture, or QW Furniture for large boxes for household items.

Where to Buy Cheap Moving Boxes in Rochester

Find cheap moving boxes in Rochester at retail stores, self storage facilities, home improvement stores, and more. Cardboard box sizes vary, with prices typically ranging from $1.12 for small boxes to $5.99 for larger options.

Please note that listed dimensions for boxes with precise measurements are rounded to the nearest tenth.

Walmart

Find cheap cardboard boxes ranging from 17x11x12 at $1.12 to 27x15x17 at $3.98 at the two Walmart locations in Rochester. Besides moving boxes, Walmart also sells other moving supplies like packing tape, stretch wrap, mattress bags, and more.

Home Depot

Home Depot moving boxes range from 10x8x10 at $1.28 to 20x24x20 at $3.78 in Rochester. The one Home Depot location in Rochester sells moving boxes and other packing supplies like moving blankets, moving kits, packing paper, and other kinds of moving boxes.

Lowe's

Cardboard moving boxes come in sizes ranging from 16x12x12 at $1.85 to 22x21.5x22 at $3.85 at Lowe's in Rochester. One Lowe's location in Rochester sells moving boxes and moving supplies like hand trucks, bubble wrap, furniture sliders, and more.

Target

You can buy Target moving boxes ranging from 16x12x12 at $1.99 to 24x16x19 at $3.99. There are two Target locations in Rochester that sells moving boxes. Purchase other moving supplies like packing foam, packing tape, dish packing kits, and more.

Extra Space Storage

You'll find affordable moving boxes from Rochester's Extra Space Storage facilities. Boxes range from 16.6x12.5x12.5 at $2.69 to 24x18x24 at $5.99. There are two Extra Space Storage facilities in Rochester selling moving boxes, bubble wrap, tie-down ropes, furniture covers, and more.

Where to Recycle Moving Boxes

After you've unpacked after your move, consider sustainable ways to get them off your hands. Offer them up on websites you previously checked for free moving boxes, like Box Cycle, Nextdoor, TrashNothing, or Facebook Marketplace. If you don't sell them, recycle them through your Rochester city recycling bin or a local recycling center.

Recycling Center Plus

Recycling Center Plus accepts cardboard moving boxes, plus other moving supplies like packing paper and more. They do not charge for recycling cardboard or packing paper. Their hours are typically Tuesday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Find Recycling Center Plus at 305 Energy Parkway NE.

WM

WM accepts cardboard moving boxes curbside, plus other moving supplies like plastic containers, paper packaging, bubble wrap, and more. Contact WM at 877-480-4439 to set up curbside recycling. Or contact another one of Olmsted County's licensed waste haulers.

Dodge County Recycling Center

The Dodge County Recycling Center accepts cardboard boxes plus other moving supplies like packing paper. There is no fee to dispose of these items. Make sure to flatten boxes and remove contents before placing in blue bins. Their hours are typically Monday morning through Saturday at noon. Enter through Gate C at 62236 240th Ave, Kasson, MN 55944.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time and day to get free boxes from stores?

The time for finding Rochester free cardboard boxes in stores is in the morning, specifically mid-week. Many stores receive new shipments and restock after the weekend at these times.

Can I legally retrieve boxes from store dumpsters or the recycling bin?

Do not retrieve boxes from store dumpsters. This may be considered trespassing or a breach of privacy, especially on private property. Instead, ask store employees or business owners if they can set aside empty boxes for you when you visit the store.

Does Extra Space Storage sell moving boxes and supplies in Rochester, MN?

Extra Space Storage locations in Rochester sell moving boxes—as well as packing supplies like bubble wrap, packing tape, mattress bags, and more—at convenient storage locations near you.

What moving box sizes are available at Extra Space Storage in Rochester?

Extra Space Storage facilities in Rochester, MN offer a range of moving box sizes, including:

• Small Boxes (1.5 cu ft): Best for heavy items like books, tools, and more.

• Medium Boxes (3 cu ft): Great for kitchenware, decor, and toys.

• Large Boxes (4.5–6 cu ft): Suited for linens, pillows, towels, and other bulky, lightweight items.

• Wardrobe Boxes: Include a bar for hanging clothes, coats, suits, and dresses.

• File Boxes: Ideal for keeping paperwork, records, and important documents secure and organized.

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Getting ready to move? Extra Space Storage offers a variety of moving boxes and supplies available for in-store pickup at storage facilities in Rochester, MN! And find more moving resources on our moving hub!