Moving homes, at the best of times isn’t cheap, but this is especially true when you’re moving in London. So, if there are any savings you can make, it’s always worth making them.
One item you’ll definitely need when moving is cardboard boxes – they come part and parcel with the whole moving process – and luckily there are many ways to get them for free in London.
Where are the best places to get free cardboard boxes, for packing and moving, in London?
1) Supermarkets, grocery stores and other stores
Supermarkets, off licences and the like will usually have spare cardboard boxes lying around from all their stock deliveries and are usually happy to pass them on to their customers for free to ensure they’re not wasted.
Indeed, Morrissons proudly boasts that, at its various stores across the country, they offer free carboard boxes to any of their customers.
The likes of Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, Asda, Waitrose, and Sainsbury’s also offer the same.
2) Libraries and bookstores
Your local bookstore is another excellent option especially if you’re a bit of a bookworm yourself.
The likes of The Works and Waterstones and bigger bookstores like them, will certainly have sizeable boxes they’d be happy to pass on to a fellow reader in need.
They’ll also be grateful for someone to help them with their recycling given the sheer number of books they’ll receive on a monthly, if not weekly, basis.
3) Businesses in the food and beverage sector
For boxes of the more robust variety, it’s definitely worth popping by your local restaurant or coffee shop.
The types of items they tend to receive are heavier than your standard shop, with large stocks needed at all times but especially during the busier rush hour periods.
We encourage you to visit your local restaurant, pub or coffee shop and ask a member of staff if they have any cardboard boxes in good condition that they’d be happy to give away.
4) Schools and universities
Local schools and universities should definitely have a large number of cardboard boxes to spare.
With educational institutions regularly needing to replenish their supplies, they are a great group to reach out to when you’re in need of a few cardboard boxes.
You should be able to find out if they have any to spare by speaking with the reception staff at your local school or visiting the information centre at your local university.
5.)Recycling centres
Many recycling centres have a designated area where they store boxes that are in good condition.
Before you head to your nearest recycling centre, it’s a good idea to call ahead and ask if they have any boxes available.
6) Friends and family
Possibly the easiest way to get a hold of cardboard boxes for free is by turning to your friends and family to see if they have any available. If they don’t have any, it’s also worth asking your neighbours, especially if they’re new neighbours that recently moved in.
Simply approach them and ask them if they have any carboard boxes that they no longer need. We’re sure they’d be more than happy to help if they can.
7) Online
Consider using platforms like Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace to search for terms like “free cardboard boxes near me” or “free cardboard boxes London.” You’ll find that a lot of people are advertising cardboard boxes they want to give away for free especially if they have a lot of them lying around.
If you find that there are no free cardboard boxes listed on these sites when you look, try looking on Freecycle as well as on the Olio app. These apps are all about reusing and reducing waste in the process, so you’ll likely find some listed there.
What types of cardboard boxes should you use
We generally recommend using smaller boxes for heavier or more fragile items like books and crockery and larger boxes for lighter items like clothes. As a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to keep each box under 20 kg to make it safer to handle.
Ideally, look for cardboard boxes made with thicker cardboard to ensure the box handles the weight of your items. Also consider using extra strong tape along the bottom folded flaps before wrapping the box in cling film for extra support and added protection.
Practical tips for packing
Labelling
To make packing easier, we recommend labelling your boxes with a pen. Decide what boxes you want to use for packing up which rooms and label them as living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, etc.
If you want, you can also write a few bullet points, listing out what’s included in each box to speed up the unpacking process later.
Keeping your fragile items safe
It’s always advisable to use bubble wrap or packing peanuts when packing away your more fragile items such as your plates or cups.
However, just in case you don’t have any lying about, you can also use your clothes, blankets, or duvets as a lining for your boxes or for wrapping individual things to keep them safe inside your boxes.
Decluttering
Moving homes is the perfect time to get rid of anything you don’t need. You can do this as you pack by considering if you’re actually using the things you’re packing—if the answer is no, you can sort them into different piles with things to throw away or to give away.
Some things may be damaged or in bad condition and would need to be thrown away, but it might be worth considering if there are any items that you could donate to a local charity, whether that be clothes, books, or trinkets.
Once you’ve packed everything up, if you do find you don’t have enough space for everything you actually do want to keep, at Attic Self Storage we offer a number of storage solutions that’ll provide you with a safe, secure and accessible home for them.
Happy packing!
Posted on 31st March 2023 by Shanaiqua Desa | Last updated on 16th April 2025
