Shipping Moving Boxes: 6 Cheapest Ways to Ship Moving Boxes
Here’s the bottom line: Parcel carriers like UPS, USPS, and FedEx are some of the cheapest ways to ship boxes to another state, along with freight companies, planes, trailers, and moving companies.
The cheapest way to ship boxes depends on their weight, size, contents, and the distance you’re shipping them. The best moving companies can help with heavier items, but this comes at a higher price point.
Moving container companies can fill in some of these gaps at a lower price point. Read on for the cheapest ways to ship moving boxes and see the pros, cons, and affordability of each option.
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6 ways to ship moving boxes
The key to finding the cheapest way to ship moving boxes is to compare your options to see what fits your situation. Let’s look at six ways to ship moving boxes to family, friends, or your new home.
1. Ship by plane
If you’re flying to your destination, you could take household goods with you at a cost of between $35 and $75 per bag, depending on the airline.
Here’s what a few airlines charge to give you an idea:
- Southwest Airlines: Southwest offers decent bag rates, with nine bags costing about $525, roughly $60 per bag.
- Alaska Air: This might be a more expensive option for some airlines. Alaska Airlines offers checked bags at $75 per bag.
- Delta: Delta charges $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for subsequent bags. United is similar, so you’ll need to factor additional baggage fees into your budget. You may be able to get around some extra bag costs if you’re flying with a group.
Our take: Because many airlines have dimension and weight restrictions for checked luggage, it’s not the best option if you have bulk or heavy items. We also wouldn’t recommend this option for anything fragile.
Pros and cons
- Can be quicker than hiring a moving/shipping company
- More control over the location of your items
- Often cheaper than other shipping options for a few items
- Items could be damaged or lost in transit
- Airline restrictions may prevent shipping some items
- Not a good fit for extra large or heavy items
2. Ship by freight
Freight companies employ independent truck drivers with extra space on their trucks. If you’re moving internationally, you may also encounter ocean and air freight options. Here are a few factors to consider:
- Cost: Shipping costs can vary depending on the distance and complexity of your move.
- Availability: Availability is often limited to the truck driver’s existing route, and you may not be able to secure a guaranteed delivery date.
- Booking: Another downside of freight shipping is that you often have to purchase it through a marketplace like uShip, which can take time and result in varying service quality depending on the bid you accept.
Our take: This is a cost-effective option if you need to ship a large volume of items but not enough to justify renting a moving truck. Freight shippers can also be a good option for pallets of boxes and large furniture items.
Pros and cons
- Can usually haggle on prices
- Can ship heavy and large items
- Often the cheapest shipping option, especially for big moves
- At the mercy of the driver’s schedule
- Requires more time and effort to coordinate
- Handling can vary for fragile items
3. Ship by car
If you’re shipping your car already, don’t rule out stowing some personal items in it. Some companies have strict policies, as putting something like skis in your car can present additional risks for damage.
There may also be restrictions on the number of boxes or suitcases you can put inside. Some auto shippers allow up to 100 pounds of cargo without adding to the cost.
Our take: This option is best if you’re already shipping your car and have a few boxes of non-essential items like linens or lightweight household goods. If you’re shipping a car on your next move, check out our list of the best car shipping companies.
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Pros and cons
- Can be included in your existing vehicle shipment
- Secure way to ship file boxes and other smaller moving boxes
- Keeps personal items together to minimize logistics
- Not all car shipping companies allow personal items
- May need to pay for additional insurance
4. Use a trailer
If you’re planning to drive your vehicle to your new home, towing a trailer can be a great option that doesn’t add much to your existing costs.
U-Haul has plenty of trailer options and locations to make one-way and local relocations seamless. Their trailer rentals start at $14.95—just be careful of hidden fees.
If you suspect you could get more mileage from owning a trailer, consider hunting down a deal on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace before your move.
Our take: We only recommend using a trailer for your move if you have experience hitching trailers to your vehicle. You’ll need to know your vehicle’s tow limits, hitching mechanisms, and safety precautions.
Pros and cons
- Complete autonomy over the shipping process
- Allows you to keep items with you
- U-Haul allows one-way rentals, making returns easier on long-distance moves
- Requires a lot of experience to operate carefully
- Few rental options available
5. Ship by moving company
Hiring professional movers isn’t the cheapest way to ship a few moving boxes or a piece of furniture, but it’s worth considering for bigger moves.
Many of the best long-distance moving companies have minimum labor or moving size requirements. However, self-service moving companies and the top moving container companies are great for smaller moves if you don’t mind doing some work on your own.
Our take: We recommend this option for a hands-off, full-service experience. It’s ideal if you have many boxes or heavy items and want the convenience of professional packing, loading, and transport.
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Pros and cons
- Movers are likely more experienced handling fragile items
- Often provide guaranteed pickup and delivery dates
- Can help coordinate other parts of your move
- Likely the most expensive option
- May have minimum moving size restrictions
6. Use a parcel shipping carrier
If you’re only shipping a few moving boxes, using a parcel carrier like UPS, FedEx, or USPS can be one of the most straightforward options.
- Benefits: These services offer door-to-door delivery, tracking, and various delivery speeds depending on how quickly you need your items.
- Cost: Costs are typically calculated based on the weight and size of each box, as well as distance. USPS tends to be the most budget-friendly, especially their Flat Rate boxes, while UPS and FedEx may offer better rates for heavier items or larger boxes.
- Contents: Parcel carriers are great for books, clothing, kitchenware, and other durable items that don’t require special handling. However, shipping fragile or oversized items this way can be expensive and risky.
Our take: Parcel shipping carriers are a good fit if you have a small number of boxes and want easy, trackable shipping without coordinating with movers or freight companies. It’s best for durable household goods but not ideal for fragile or large items.
Pros and cons
- Easy to arrange and schedule pickup or drop-off
- Provides tracking and delivery updates
- Good option for smaller, durable items like books and clothes
- Costs add up quickly for large or heavy boxes
- Not ideal for fragile or oversized items
- Less control over handling during transit
Movers that will ship boxes
There are a few DIY and hybrid moving solutions that can help you relocate more than a few boxes but less than a full-size move.
U-Haul U-Box
U-Haul U-Box is a great option if you’re not moving into your new home right away and need storage. The U-Box container is large enough to fit a couch, a king-size mattress, or the contents of roughly a studio apartment. The company can ship your boxes to another local address, across the country, or internationally.
rating
3.95 / 5
89% of users select this mover
Cost
You can further reduce the cost if you’re willing to pack and unpack the U-Box at a U-Haul facility instead of opting for door-to-door delivery.
Costs vary a lot based on the distance and length of the rental. For a two-bedroom apartment shipped less than 50 miles, we estimate you’ll pay about $1,368. These costs climb to $4,230 if you’re moving long-distance.
How it works
Here’s what to expect when using U-Box:
- No fees for changing your date or canceling gate reservation
- The contents of about 1.5 rooms fits in a U-Box
- You only pay for the containers you use (even if you order too many containers)
- Choose from delivery service, transport it yourself, or visit a U-Haul location for packing
Our take: We recommend U-Box to customers who want to work with a reliable name in the moving industry and are moving near a U-Haul facility. U-Haul will allow you to rent as many U-Boxes as you need to complete your move and take any back that you don’t use.
Want to see how a real-life U-Box mover fared? Check out Nancy’s moving experience with U-Box.
U-Pack ReloCube
U-Pack ReloCube is a great value and our top pick for the cheapest moving containers. Like U-Box, it’s designed to fit everything from one room into a single cube and it’s ideal for small studio apartments or one-bedroom moves.
rating
5 / 5
89% of users select this mover
Cost
U-Pack is a particularly good option if you’re moving to a rural area that other moving companies have a hard time accommodating.
While it isn’t always the cheapest moving container, its value is often the best. With a solid reputation for customer service, U-Pack also guarantees its prices, so they won’t change once you accept the estimate.
How it works
- You load and they drive
- Rates include the cost of the driver and fuel, so you don’t have to worry about fees
- The cubes are lockable, and you keep the key, so you don’t have to worry about theft
- You can order more than one cube if your move is bigger than just one room and only pay for what you use
Our take: We wouldn’t recommend ReloCube to customers looking for the bottom-dollar bid for moving services, but it’s a solid choice if you’re moving to an area of the country other companies can’t reach.
MiniMoves
MiniMoves is centered around filling the gaps between full-service moving companies and small moves that may not meet the minimum hour or labor requirements. They specialize in moving small amounts of boxes from one state to another.
rating
4.8 / 5
89% of users select this mover
Cost
Costs vary dramatically from project to project, but you can conveniently request an instant online quote, an increasingly rare feature in the moving industry.
How it works
MiniMoves is a broker, which means it subcontracts to companies in all states except Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Vermont. The company vets its partners so customers can feel confident they’re not going into the moving process blind.
- Pricing includes door-to-door service (pickup, transport, and delivery)
- Loading and unloading labor are included in the cost
- You can add packing and unpacking services for an additional charge
- You pay for the number of boxes you ship, with no minimum requirement
Our take: MiniMoves is a good choice if you only have a few small furniture items and are moving a standard one-bedroom or studio apartment. However, it might not be the best fit for customers who want a guaranteed trained team of experienced movers.
Ship Smart
Ship Smart is another company that will ship boxes by facilitating small cross-country moves nationwide. In fact, they’re one of our picks for best small-load companies, thanks in part to their white-glove services.
rating
4.2 / 5
89% of users select this mover
Cost
ShipSmart’s costs are competitive, and they offer exclusive discounts to moveBuddha readers. To move boxes with ShipSmart, call (866) 333-8018 and mention moveBuddha to get a 10% discount from ShipSmart.
How it works
- They focus on shipments under 2,000 pounds, perfect for small moves
- In-home drop-off makes it easy to get heavy items inside, or you can opt for curbside drop-off
- You can add professional packing and unpacking services
- They offer multiple insurance options, so you have peace of mind during the shipping process
The company provides 24/7 real-time quotes designed to help you cross items off your moving checklist quickly and efficiently.
Our take: We’d recommend Ship Smart to customers who may want more than the typical self-service moving solutions but don’t want to shell out for a full-service moving provider.
uShip
uShip is an online marketplace for customers looking to navigate the freight shipping industry and take advantage of its cost-effective solutions for household moves. Its user interface is streamlined, so a lot of the hard work is taken out of vetting truck drivers.
rating
3.9 / 5
89% of users select this mover
Cost
The cost of a move you book on uShip will vary since it’s a marketplace for multiple freight shippers. That being said, you can compare a variety of options there to find the one that best fits your budget.
How it works
- You can start the process by inputting all the relevant details of your move.
- From there, available truck drivers and carriers will bid on your move. A bid includes more than just the price. It will also come with an anticipated timeline and a list of desired services they can provide.
- Review the offer and book your move
Our take: We recommend this option to customers who don’t mind holding out on booking a company while all bids come in, but we wouldn’t recommend it to customers who want to work with a moving company that can guarantee service quality.
How to ship moving boxes
When it comes to moving, the best thing you can do is set a plan. Here are the things you need to consider when you develop your moving plan.
Shop around
Before making any decisions, do your research. Review the pros and cons of each option and conduct a cost-benefit analysis to zero in on the best value for your needs.
The cheapest option may not always be the best option, but the same is true for the most expensive option. Have a range of shipping options, so you can identify the best fit for your unique needs.
Gather moving supplies
Make sure you have the packing supplies to ensure your items arrive safely. Choose heavy-duty corrugated boxes and be mindful of each box size’s weight limits.
You’ll want a variety of box sizes because tightly packed boxes reduce the risk of items moving around during shipment and getting damaged.
You can buy boxes from a moving company or any major online retailer. Check out our guide to cheap and free moving boxes for more ideas.
Hire a packing service or DIY
You can hire a professional packing service like HireAHelper or pack your items yourself. Give yourself at least a three-day cushion to ensure your packing isn’t rushed.
Give yourself more time if you’re DIYing or get creative and host a packing party with your friends and family.
It’s a good idea to keep an inventory of your belongings so you can check them off as they’re packed and when they arrive at their intended destination.
Confirm details and schedule
This step should happen in tandem with your packing so you know what to expect.
Always confirm your booking and get details in writing, such as tracking number, intended delivery dates, and fees. You’ll want to get your items’ exact pickup (or drop-off) dates to avoid delays and confusion.
Tips for shipping moving boxes
We’re seasoned in the moving industry. Here are a few of our top tips to ensure your items arrive safely in their new home:
- Request quotes and compare options. Don’t settle for the first company you contact. Always shop around to compare your shipping options, including timeline, cost, customer reviews, and available services.
- Research shipper’s requirements. Confirm that all your boxes meet the maximum size and weight requirements set by your chosen shipper. You can use a postage or luggage scale to check your boxes’ weight as you go.
- Pack carefully. Make sure you take full advantage of bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and double-wall boxes when preparing your items for shipment. Don’t be stingy, especially with fragile and heavy items.
- Focus on shipping labels. Legibly write or print shipping labels to minimize confusion, especially if you’re using UPS, USPS, or FedEx. Illegible or inaccurate shipping labels can result in delays, deliveries to the wrong location, and returned packages. Write fragile or “this side up” for boxes that need it.
- Double-check insurance. Many shipping companies include basic insurance in the shipping costs, but more is needed for high-value, sentimental, or irreplaceable items. If you need to upgrade your insurance, inquire about additional coverage options and check your home/renters’ insurance policy to see if you have any coverage there.
The best way to ship moving boxes
The best way to ship moving boxes depends on the size and scope of your move. If you’re moving with a few possessions that don’t weigh much, flying with checked luggage and parcel shipping services like USPS or FedEx are likely your best options.
If you’re already shipping a vehicle, ask if you can throw a few boxes in there. Just a heads up, not all car shippers allow personal possessions, so don’t bank on this option.
For larger moves or heavy items, we recommend looking at gig marketplaces like uShip and comparing your quotes to full-service moving companies. MiniMoves, U-Pack ReloCube, and trailer rentals can help you further cut costs, but you’ll have to do some or all of the heavy lifting yourself.
Ultimately, we recommend you investigate all your options, request quotes, and ask questions until you find the best fit for your time and budget constraints.
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