The 5 Best Places to Buy Moving Supplies in Portland

Packing for a move can be stressful, especially if you have valuable or easy-to-damage belongings to transport. Most of us accumulate a lot over the years, so knowing where to begin can be tricky. But don’t worry. Whether you’re looking for a safe way to move that antique mirror or need cheap boxes now, this post will help you find the right supplies.

The best places to buy moving supplies will depend on your situation-whether you’re moving a household or transitioning to a new office space. The first step is to get organized and decide what you will keep, sell, donate, and toss. Once you know what is coming with you, it can help to ask yourself the following questions to determine what supplies you need:

Do You Have Odd-Shaped or Delicate Items to Pack?

Many personal belongings, household goods, or office items can be packed in standard moving boxes without a problem. But unique, odd-shaped, delicate, or valuable items require special handling and packing to ensure safe transport. Determine what you have in the way of breakables or unusually shaped items – large and small – that might need specially-sized boxes.

How Many Different Sizes of Moving Boxes Will You Need?

A good way to figure out the number and sizes of moving boxes you’ll need is to go room by room. After sorting and donating, list the things to be packed in each room. The checklist will help you get specific about box and packing needs (and will be a handy way reference throughout your move).

What is Your Budget?

Whether you do it yourself or hire professionals, moving costs money. You can expect moving expenses to include: Professional moving company or DIY truck rental and moving supplies; storage; transportation to your new home or office space (i.e. gas for a long-distance move); cleaning fees; childcare; pet care; utility hookup fees; time away from work. Make a moving budget and prioritize expenditures.

Are You Pressed for Time?

From planning to packing to moving and settling in, moving is a time investment. And the more prepared you are for moving day, the smoother it will go. Keep in mind that if time is limited and you’re in a hurry to move, it can be worth spending a little more on some things to ease stress and stay on schedule.

Where to Find the Best Box Selection

Do you need more than just a few different standard-sized boxes? Transporting delicate or oddly shaped belongings like mirrors, TVs, and dishes can be safer with boxes specifically sized for those items. You’ll often find the widest selection from companies that supply materials to professional movers and sell to the public. Here are two good examples:

1.     Pioneer Packaging

Pioneer Packaging is a Pacific Northwest family-owned packaging company that carries an extensive list of standard and specialty moving supplies, from wardrobe boxes to mattress bags to handcarts. Their products are available for delivery throughout the Western United States. If you live in Oregon, Washington, or Idaho, they’ll deliver your Just-in-Time order when you need it.

2.     Carton Service

Carton Service is another great local option that offers a wide variety of packing materials, including hundreds of box sizes. The website makes it easy to browse and sort their moving supplies, add items to your digital cart, and request a quote online.

Where to Find Inexpensive Moving Supplies

Looking for the best price? Don’t have time to wait for an online order to ship? It’s easy to get great quality moving supplies at a low price. When it comes to boxes, you’ll find the lowest prices at U-Haul, Home Depot, and Lowe’s. And don’t worry about overestimating your box needs. These stores have helpful return policies for boxes you don’t end up using. You can also check out our previous post about where to find free moving boxes in Portland.

3.    U-Haul

U-Haul is best known for truck rentals but also offers moving boxes and packing supplies. Ordering online is simple, with free shipping on large orders. Or, if you don’t have time for shipping, U-Haul’s many locations throughout the Portland area make it easy to drive over and grab supplies quickly.

4.    Home Depot

You might be surprised at the variety of moving supplies you can find at Home Depot, including wardrobe boxes for your clothes and moving kits based on the scale of your move.

Regardless of where you buy your moving supplies, Home Depot has a useful moving calculator to help you estimate the number of boxes you’ll need based on your current space.

5.    Lowe’s

Like Home Depot, Lowe’s also sells good-quality moving boxes and other supplies at a low price. You’ll find television boxes, bankers boxes for your files, and more.

Skip the Stress and Leaving the Packing to Priority

Your time is valuable, and thanks to moving, you have a lot on your plate. You may not want to spend hours packing. We get it.

Priority Moving is a trusted Oregon full-service moving company. Our professional packing services can save you time and hassle. You’ll know your delicate items are being properly packed and transported by experienced, licensed movers. And we provide all the packing materials so you can enjoy a smooth, stress-free move.

Want to work with our friendly team of movers? Have a few questions? Get in touch. We’re here to help!