Cost guide · updated
Cardboard vs reusable moving crates.
Latchcrate is a reusable moving-box rental for DIY movers on the New Hampshire Seacoast. Cardboard is usually cheaper in cash. Buying plastic totes costs more up front and leaves you with storage. A Latchcrate rental sits in the middle: a flat 2-week price, delivery and pickup included, no leftover boxes.
How much do cardboard moving boxes cost in 2026?
A retailer comparison published by HireAHelper (updated August 7, 2026) listed these Home Depot standard-box prices:
| Size | Listed price | 20-count cash |
|---|---|---|
| Small | $1.78 | $35.60 |
| Medium | $2.28 | $45.60 |
| Large | $2.98 | $59.60 |
| Extra-large | $3.98 | $79.60 |
Heavy-duty Home Depot boxes in that same survey ran higher (medium $3.78, large $5.48, extra-large $7.98). Add packing tape, time to assemble and break down, and disposal. Local store prices change; treat the table as a dated snapshot, not a live cart.
Source: HireAHelper moving-box price comparison, 2026.
How many boxes do I need for a studio or 1-bedroom?
Latchcrate packages are starting counts for a typical Seacoast apartment, not a universal calculator:
- Studio / room: 20 crates + 1 dolly · $129 for 2 weeks
- 1-bedroom: 30 crates + 1 dolly · $159 for 2 weeks
- 2-bedroom: 40 crates + 2 dollies · $199 for 2 weeks
Books, dishes, and tools fill crates by weight. Clothing and linens fill them by volume. If you are between sizes, email [email protected] for a custom quote before checkout. NH Seacoast delivery and pickup are included on every package.
Is renting moving crates cheaper than buying cardboard?
No. Twenty cardboard medium boxes are about $46. Latchcrate's Studio package is $129. Cardboard wins on sticker price if you ignore time, tape, collapsed bottoms, and the pile left after unpacking.
| Cardboard (20 medium) | Buy 20 plastic totes | Latchcrate Studio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash outlay | About $46 + tape | Often $160–$200 | $129 rental + $100 refundable deposit |
| Delivery / pickup | You haul them | You haul them | Included on the NH Seacoast |
| After the move | Break down and dispose | You own and store 20 totes | We pick up the empties |
| Lids / tape | Tape every seam | Snap lids, mixed sizes | Attached lids, no tape, one footprint |
Buying 20 typical 27-gallon storage totes at a big-box store is often in the $8–$10 each range. That is cheaper than owning moving-grade crates, and more expensive than a Latchcrate Studio rental, and you still store the empties. We could not verify a live Home Depot tote SKU at publish time, so that row is a range, not a cart total.
Who each option is for
- Buy cardboard if cash is the only constraint and you will recycle the pile yourself.
- Buy totes if you already want 20 matching bins for storage after the move.
- Rent Latchcrate if you are doing your own move on the NH Seacoast and want uniform attached-lid crates delivered and picked up. We are not a moving company. You still pack, load, drive, and unpack.
Does Latchcrate move my stuff?
No. Latchcrate rents the boxes. Automated checkout currently serves Barrington, Dover, Durham, Exeter, Greenland, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Lee, Madbury, New Castle, Newington, Newmarket, North Hampton, Portsmouth, Rye, Seabrook, and Stratham. See the service area FAQ and live package prices.
Last updated: . Latchcrate prices are the published 2-week packages on this site. Cardboard figures are from the HireAHelper 2026 survey cited above, not a live store scrape.
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