Packing Guide
How Many Moving Totes Do I Need?
The short answer: about 20 totes for a 1 bedroom, 40 for a 3 bedroom, and 60 or more for a larger home. Here is how that breaks down room by room, and what to do if you run short mid-move.
Quick answer by home size
| Home size | Totes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Studio or dorm room | 10 to 15 totes | One closet, a small kitchen, and personal items |
| 1 bedroom apartment | 20 totes | Our most common apartment order |
| 2 bedroom home or apartment | 25 to 35 totes | Two closets plus a full kitchen |
| 3 bedroom home | 40 totes | Our most popular package for houses |
| 4+ bedroom home | 60 or more totes | Custom quoted by quantity and rental length |
| Office or business move | Custom quoted | Based on desks, files, and equipment |
Room by room estimates
Kitchens use the most totes of any room. Dishes, glassware, small appliances, and pantry goods usually take 6 to 10 totes on their own because you pack them lighter than books or linens.
Bedrooms run about 4 to 6 totes each once you include closet clothing, shoes, bedding, and nightstand contents. Kids rooms often run higher because of toys and books.
Living rooms are usually 3 to 5 totes for electronics, media, decor, and throw blankets. Furniture, lamps, and art travel separately.
Bathrooms, linen closets, and home offices are typically 2 to 3 totes each. Garages, basements, and bonus rooms vary the most, so walk yours and count shelves before you order.
What a 27-gallon tote actually holds
Each tote is a 27-gallon rigid plastic bin with a snap-on lid, roughly the capacity of a medium cardboard box. The difference is that a tote holds its shape when stacked, so you can load four or five high without the bottom one crushing.
Load heavy items like books and dishes in the bottom third of the tote and keep each one to a weight you can carry comfortably. Every order includes a Tote Taxi rolling cart, so you roll a stack to the truck instead of carrying totes one at a time.
If you run short
Call or text us and we will add totes to your active rental. Rush totes are available on request for an additional fee when inventory allows, and extensions are available if packing takes longer than your two-week window.
Not sure which package fits? Use the instant quote tool on our homepage and pick your home size, or compare totes against cardboard boxes before you decide.
Common questions
- How many moving totes do I need for a 1 bedroom apartment?
- About 20 totes covers a typical 1 bedroom apartment, including the kitchen, one closet, and personal items. That is our 20 tote package at $109 for a two-week rental.
- How many totes do I need for a 3 bedroom house?
- Most 3 bedroom homes in Cabarrus County land around 40 totes. If you have a large kitchen, a garage, or a bonus room to pack, plan closer to the high end.
- What if I run out of totes mid-move?
- Call or text us and we will add totes to your existing rental. Rush totes are available on request for an additional fee when we have inventory open.
- How much does one 27-gallon tote hold?
- A 27-gallon tote holds roughly the same as a medium cardboard box but stacks better and will not collapse. Two totes are about the practical limit for one person to carry, which is why every order includes a Tote Taxi.
- Is it better to order too many or too few totes?
- Order slightly more than you think you need. Unused totes cost nothing extra within your package, while running short mid-pack usually means a delay or a trip to buy boxes.
Ready to pick a package? See our residential tote rentals, our commercial and office moves, or photos from real Cabarrus County moves.
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Service Area
Cabarrus Tote Rentals delivers throughout Cabarrus County, including Concord, Harrisburg, Kannapolis, Midland, and Mount Pleasant, plus China Grove and Landis, where extended delivery is available for an additional fee.