How Many Moving Bins Do You Need for a Chicago Apartment Move?

When you’re getting ready to move to a new apartment in Chicago or the surrounding suburbs, don’t worry about driving all over the place to find used cardboard boxes or spend your hard-earned cash buying new ones. Instead, just think about how many moving bins you should rent!

These eco-friendly moving supplies are ideal for a Chicago apartment move. They take up less room inside your home, they’re easier on the environment than old-school options like cardboard and tape, and they can save you money. Plus, since you can order delivery and pickup service (it’s even free in some areas), you’ll also save a lot of time.

The quantity of bins you’ll need depends on a variety of factors. Here are some tips for figuring out how many moving bins to order for your unique home.

Determining How Many Moving Bins You’ll Need for a One-Bedroom Apartment

Chicagoland is jam-packed with one-bedroom homes. And most of these dwellings generally don’t have a ton of extra space to stack up cardboard boxes when you pack up to move to a new place. In fact, space savings are one of the many reasons why rental moving totes are the best supplies for Chicago apartment moves.

On average, a one-bedroom apartment can pack into about 25 rental bins. Your rental order will include a steel dolly and all the markers and labels you’ll need. Most apartment dwellers also need a few other supplies that you can easily add to your bin delivery, such as:

  • A few rolls of recyclable packing paper to wrap up glassware and other delicate items
  • A mattress bag to protect the mattress from weather, dust, and dirt
  • Three or four rental wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes

Keep in mind that how many moving bins you’ll need for your particular move might not fall under the average. If you’re a minimalist, you can order fewer totes, and people with an impressive action figure collection might need to add a few more.

Ordering the Right Quantity of Bins for a Two-Bedroom Chicago Apartment Move

You might think that if the average one-bedroom Chicago apartment can pack into 25 bins, you’ll need double that for a two-bedroom apartment…but that’s not exactly true. Most two-bedroom homes require about 35 rental totes.

If you’re not sure how many moving bins to rent, consider that each tote is 24″ long, 19″ wide, and 12″ deep. Each bin has a little over three cubic feet of empty space, but you’ll need to account for some cushion. Plan on being able to pack about 2.75 cubic feet worth of items into each bin.

Another thing to think about when estimating the bin quantity for a two-bedroom apartment is how many people live in the home. If you use your second bedroom as an office or a guest room, you’ll probably need to order fewer bins than if there are two full-time residents. And, if you have a storage area in your building’s basement, don’t forget that those items will also need to be packed up!

Figuring out how many moving bins to rent—and then packing up your home—can be a pain. A lot of Chicagoans moving from one two-bedroom apartment to another choose to hire a professional packing service. Your packing crew will bring all the supplies needed for your home (plus a few extras, just in case you forgot to account for the hallway closet) and handle all the packing labor for you.

Factors that Affect How Many Moving Bins You Need

The number of bedrooms in your home is a big factor in how many moving bins you should rent for a Chicago apartment move. However, it’s not the only thing to consider. Here are a few additional things to think about:

  • The home’s square footage
  • Quantity of heavy items you have (especially books)
  • Storage areas that are out of sight and out of mind, such as inside cabinets and drawers or under the beds

As your move date approaches, you should also start to think about how much space you’ll have in your new apartment. If you’re going to lose some square footage when you move, you might want to dedicate a few moving bins to item’s you’ll put into storage. This is particularly helpful if you only have a few totes worth of storage items and don’t want to rent an entire storage locker.

Let’s face it: there’s no universal formula to figure out how many moving bins you’ll need. As you prepare for your move, you can call Chicago’s favorite eco-friendly moving supply company to help you order the right supplies and set yourself up for a perfect pack and a marvelous move.

Planning a Chicago Apartment Move? We’ll Help You Figure Out How Many Moving Bins You’ll Need

All over Chicagoland, apartment dwellers are falling in love with our eco-friendly moving supplies and our outstanding service. We’ll be here to lend a hand throughout your move, from helping you figure out how many moving bins to rent to delivering right to your door and picking up from your new Chicago apartment.

In other words, we make moving easy and environmentally friendly! Place your order or give us a call to chat about the right materials and quantities for your unique move.