The honest answer: most people underestimate by about a third. Bearded Bros has run more than 10,000 moves out of our Brighton depot since 2013, and the single most common packing problem we see is not bad technique or fragile items -- it is simply running out of boxes on the morning of the move. This guide gives you a room-by-room breakdown so you can order the right quantity before the stress starts.
These figures are based on what our crew actually loads on a typical Bearded Bros move. They assume a normally furnished home where the occupants do their own packing. Add 15-20% if you are a collector, have a full loft, or have not decluttered recently.
After the table, every property type is covered in more detail below.
| Property size | Total boxes (estimate) | Wardrobe boxes | Large boxes | Medium boxes | Small/book boxes |
| Studio / bedsit | 15-25 | 1-2 | 4-6 | 6-10 | 5-8 |
| 1-bed flat | 25-40 | 2-3 | 8-12 | 10-16 | 7-12 |
| 2-bed flat or house | 40-60 | 3-4 | 12-18 | 15-22 | 10-18 |
| 3-bed house | 60-80 | 4-6 | 18-24 | 20-28 | 15-22 |
| 4-bed house | 80-120 | 6-8 | 24-32 | 28-36 | 20-30 |
Ranges reflect lighter versus heavier households. If you are a family of four who has lived in a 3-bed for six years, sit at the top of the range. A couple renting for two years, probably at the bottom.
Property-wide totals are useful for ordering, but it helps to know where those boxes actually go. Here is how the Bearded Bros crew typically sees a move break down by room.
Kitchens consistently take more boxes than owners expect. Plates, glassware, pots, appliances, and pantry stock add up fast. A typical kitchen in a 2-bed property needs 10-15 boxes: 4-6 small boxes for glassware and crockery (packed individually in packing paper), 2-3 medium boxes for dry goods, 2-3 medium boxes for pots, pans, and appliances, and 1-2 large boxes for lightweight bulky items like colanders and mixing bowls. If you have a well-stocked wine rack or a large coffee machine collection, add another 2-3 boxes.
The lounge looks empty but packs surprisingly full. Books are the main culprit -- they go in small boxes only (a medium box of books will snap the bottom out on the stairs). Allocate 4-6 small boxes for books and DVDs, 3-4 medium boxes for ornaments and soft furnishings, and 1-2 large boxes for cushions, throws, and lightweight decorative pieces. Pictures and mirrors travel in purpose-built picture cartons rather than standard boxes.
Clothing is the big variable. A wardrobe box (a tall, rail-fitted carton) keeps hanging clothes crease-free and saves you an hour of ironing at the other end. One wardrobe box per double wardrobe is a reasonable rule. Folded clothing, bedding, and pillows go in large boxes -- they are light but bulky, so large is correct here. Bedside tables, books, and small accessories go in medium or small boxes.
Small boxes only. Toiletries, medicines, cleaning products, and towels pack well in 3-5 small boxes per bathroom. Seal bottles in zip-lock bags before boxing them -- lids work loose in transit.
Documents, files, and books go in small boxes. Electronics (monitors, printers, desk lamps) go in medium boxes with plenty of padding. If you have original packaging for your tech, use it -- it is the best fit available. Allocate 5-8 boxes for a typical home office.
This is where estimates go wrong most often. Loft and garage contents are irregular in shape and dense in volume. Add 10-20 extra boxes if you have a full loft, a workshop, or a garage used for storage. If you have not been up there in a year, a pre-move declutter saves money and van space.
Fewer boxes is not always the goal -- you want the right number. But these steps reduce waste and cost before you place your order.
Boxes alone do not cover everything. Here is what the Bearded Bros packing list includes beyond standard cartons.
All of these are available in the Bearded Bros box shop alongside full packing kits sized for different property types.
If the thought of boxing up a whole house is more than you want to take on, that is exactly what the Bearded Bros packing service is for. Our team arrives the day before your move with materials included, works through the property room by room to a labelled plan, and hands you a neatly stacked set of cartons ready for the van the following morning. It is a popular add-on for families and anyone with a job or childcare running alongside a move.
For a quote that covers packing, boxes, and the move itself, request a removals quote and let us put together a figure for the full service.
For a typical 2-bed house or flat, plan for 40-60 boxes: around 3-4 wardrobe boxes, 12-18 large boxes, 15-22 medium boxes, and 10-18 small or book boxes. Add 15% if you have a full loft, a garage in use, or a lot of books. If you want to check before ordering, run through the room-by-room breakdown above and add up the rooms that apply to your property.
Yes. The Bearded Bros box shop carries double-walled cardboard boxes in small, medium, large, and extra-large sizes, plus wardrobe boxes, picture cartons, and packing materials. Standard delivery covers Brighton, Hove, and surrounding areas. Order a few days before you plan to start packing so the boxes are on hand when you need them.
For local moves within Brighton and Hove or shorter runs across East and West Sussex, reusable plastic crates are a practical alternative. They stack securely on the van, do not collapse under weight, and you return them after unpacking so there is no recycling to arrange. The Bearded Bros box shop offers crates to hire alongside cardboard cartons -- you can mix and match depending on the room.
Call us. If your move is with the Bearded Bros crew and you are short on boxes, our team carries a small reserve of cartons on the van for exactly this situation. For self-packers who are not using our removals service, top up from the box shop and arrange delivery ahead of time -- leaving it to the morning of the move is a risk with same-day availability.
Order from the Bearded Bros box shop for delivery across Brighton, Hove, and the wider East and West Sussex area. Or if you want the team to handle packing as well as the move itself, request a full removals quote and we will price the whole job. Call Simon on 01273 917898 if you'd rather talk it through first.
