If you’re friends with me, you likely know three things because I’ve repeatedly shouted them into the side of your face:
I’m a Virgo, I firmly believe Survivor is the best show on television, and I think plastic moving boxes are one of the most genius solutions I’ve stumbled across
The very first time I used plastic bins to move, it spoiled me on cardboard boxes for life and turned me into a big-time proselytizer (that means I’m a fan).
What are plastic moving bins and why should I care?
Great question. To get super basic, plastic bins (in a moving context) are durable plastic boxes that are designed to be rented for the duration of your move. Then, usually, you return them to wherever you rented them from.
Plastic moving bins are typically:
- Stackable (!)
- Sturdy, dry and secure
- Have handles
- Standardized in sizes
- Eco-friendly
The specific company I rented from was called Gorilla Bins, which is now far outside my grasp in L.A., given that it’s local to New York City, which I left in 2019. But there are plenty of plastic moving box companies scattered across the country, just waiting to transform your move.
“It will vary a lot by company and location, but usually, plastic bins come in just shy of $100 for around 10-20 of them, plus weekly charges.”
My offerings at Gorilla Bins were both stackable and nestable, equipped with ergonomic handles, came with enough stick-on labels for each bin, and closed with hinged lids securable with zip ties. (So no need to clear a massive section of floor while you collect cardboard or wrestle with that temperamental tape gun that you completely forget how to operate in between moves.)
How does ordering plastic moving bins work?
You generally order however many you need online, or over the phone, just like most things.
Then, depending on who you go with, you either go to their store to pick them up, or someone will come drop them off at your place. And generally, you pay for plastic bins by the week. You may also come across moving companies that provide plastic bins as an add-on to your scheduled move for extra money.
Every company works with its own version. Check out a few of the bigger plastic moving bin companies near you:
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U-Haul Ready-To-Go Box®
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U-Haul’s version of plastic bins at participating locations
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Rentacrate
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Moving concierge service with nationwide-ready supplies to rent
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Bin-It
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Delivery and pick up bin service in some midwestern and east coast cities
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Bungobox
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Delivery and pick up bin service in Florida and the south-eastern United States
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MakeSpace
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Delivery, moving, and storage bin service
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Who should use plastic moving boxes?
There is one major caveat: most moving bin companies are almost always for local moves only. This may not be the case if the company has two stores exactly in proximity of both your origin and arrival destinations, but even U-Haul requires you to return their plastic bins to the exact store you rented them from.
What if there are no moving bin companies in my area?
Speaking of options available in your area, there’s a good chance you don’t live close enough to NYC to take advantage of Gorilla Bins specifically. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck.
Of course, first try Googling “plastic moving boxes” and your town or city to see if there are reputable companies working nearby. You can also check HireAHelper.com to book a similar moving service that suits your needs for a comparable price to a plastic bin service. I like this option because it’s more flexible and adaptable; maybe you only need a couple of people and not a whole team, for example, especially if you already have your own vehicle and don’t need to pay for a truck.
See prices for movers by the hour – instantly.
Read real customer reviews.
Easily book your help online.
But are moving bins better than cardboard boxes? They are definitely far more environmentally friendly than cardboard boxes (even recycled free boxes). And unless the one part of moving that you absolutely love is scrambling to amass a collection of cardboard boxes that could get squashed or soaked during your move, the value of plastic moving bins security and portability should be obvious.
Moving bins also make labor-only moves (or any moving service without packing) much more efficient, which may save you serious money if you’re paying movers by the hour.
How much are plastic moving bins?
I got my bins as part of my whole moving package. I paid $462 including tax, tip, and tolls for movers, a truck, plus bins. And that was moving from busy Manhattan to busy Queens, so you can probably do even better than I did.
What about a la carte bin prices? It will vary a lot by company and location, but usually, plastic bins come in just shy of $100 for around 10-20 of them, plus weekly charges.
For me in New York, they came in sizes ranging from “Studio” (20 bins for $87), up to the “Family Package” (60 bins for $207), and each has a mix of medium and large boxes to suit all your needs. Often, these companies offer things like dollies and other pieces of equipment in their packages, too. For me, I was moving out of a studio, but I went with the “One Bedroom” package because I’d been living in the same place for seven full years, accumulating items like a greedy little magpie.
You can budget for them however you want, of course, but I highly recommend my particular method: pairing the boxes themselves – no labor included – with a moving company for your own version of a Hybrid Move. That combo offered me control in the areas I wanted while lifting the burden of responsibility off of me and onto others.
How long can you keep your plastic moving boxes?
It depends on the company, but it’s usually for a window of time, probably weekly.
“…(E)ven U-Haul requires you to return their plastic bins to the exact store you rented them from.”
During checkout, I was asked to choose a two-week window during which I’d have possession of the bins—with an option to add a third week in, if need be. I selected one with my move date centered right in the middle, so I could use the week following delivery to pack up my old place, and the week prior to pick-up to unpack at my new place.
It initially felt kind of fast, to me, but I ultimately really appreciated the pick-up deadline, because it meant that I actually unpacked instead of living out of boxes for days or weeks (or let’s be honest, months) like I have in the past.
How do plastic storage bins stack up against other options? (pun very much intended)
Are plastic bins better than cardboard boxes? Heck yes. Are they more expensive? Sure, and way more than free boxes. Are they safer? A lot more. But if you can pair them to your move, try them out. I am a plastic bin convert.
But…I know this whole post has been me gushing about how great my experience with Gorilla Bins was, and all of that still stands. However, one thing I need you to know is that whether you realize it or not, if you have a budget for plastic moving bins, it’s highly likely you can afford actual movers—either in addition or instead.
Check out what other moving options you have, and compare prices at a glance.
See prices for movers by the hour – instantly.
Read real customer reviews.
Easily book your help online.
For me, my plastic bin move was my first adult move, by which I mean my first time hiring movers… and I was genuinely shocked at how affordable it was compared to what I thought it’d be. My assumption up to that point was that big-girl moves were a four-figure proposition, and I’d be better off shredding my relationships to smithereens by trying to do them myself.
But folks, that is very much not the case.
No matter how micro your moving budget, do yourself (and your relationships) a favor and just run the numbers through a mover marketplace before you start, just to see what’s out there. After that, whether you opt for a plastic moving bins company like Gorilla Bins, a boxes-plus-labor arrangement like MakeSpace, a full-service move, or ignore my advice altogether, I fully support you. Just know your options.
PODS offer customers the chance to rent up to three different sized containers based on their needs. Others, such as Smartbox, rent out just one size container. (In their case, it’s 8 feet wide and 7 feet tall.) Containers are also made of different materials, depending on which company you choose. PODS are steel-framed. U-Pack’s containers are made of “weatherproof metal.” Some others are made of wood and usually include some weatherproof type of covering instead.
But there’s a catch with that flexible schedule. Sure, you can keep the container for long periods of time. 
