How Many Moving Bins Do You Need?

Every moving company has a rule of thumb for box count, and they're all rough estimates for a reason — a minimalist studio and a book collector's studio need very different amounts of packing space. Still, a starting number beats guessing blind, so here's what actually works in practice.

Rough bin count by home size

• Studio: 15 bins
• 1 Bedroom: 20 bins
• 2 Bedroom: 30 bins
• 3 Bedroom: 40 bins
• 4+ Bedroom / House: 55 bins

These numbers assume a normally furnished home — closets with clothes, a kitchen with dishes, some books and decor, nothing hoarder-level and nothing minimalist. If you know you have an unusually large book collection, a home office, or a kitchen you actually use, add 15-20% to whatever size you land on.

What actually drives the count up

1. Kitchens. Dishes, small appliances, and pantry items eat bins fast — a well-stocked kitchen alone can run 5-8 bins.
2. Books and media. Heavy and dense — a single full bookshelf is often 3-4 bins on its own.
3. Kids' rooms. Toys take up more volume than weight suggests. Budget more bins than the room size implies.
4. Garages and storage areas. Often the most underestimated space in the whole move.

What doesn't need a bin

Furniture, mattresses, TVs, and anything already boxed (like a stand mixer in its original packaging) don't need to go in a moving bin — save the bins for loose items that would otherwise be wrapped in paper or thrown in a trash bag.

One more thing worth knowing: with a reusable bin rental, going slightly over your package isn't a problem — extra bins are priced per unit, so it's cheap insurance to round up if you're between sizes rather than run short mid-pack.