For light, dry things near the top of a stack, yes: a clean, sturdy free box with no damp, smell or food history does the job, whether you’re storing for a few weeks or several months. For heavy or fragile things, and for the bottom layer of any stack, new double-wall boxes are the safer choice, and a box that once held food is best left out altogether.
That’s our own packing advice too: use new, sturdy boxes of similar sizes so they stack evenly, and keep single-wall and grocery boxes away from anything heavy or fragile.
Why storage asks more of a box than moving day
On moving day a box only has to last a few hours in a van. In a storage unit it may carry several others for months. Damp and long periods under weight both weaken cardboard, and a free box has already been through at least one delivery or move, so a stack that stands up in week one can sag later.
| What’s going in | Free box? |
|---|---|
| Bedding, cushions, clothes, near the top of a stack | Yes, if it’s clean, dry and sturdy |
| Books, kitchenware, tools | Better in a medium double-wall box |
| Anything fragile | Double-wall, with each piece wrapped |
| The bottom layer of any stack | Double-wall, and new is safest |
| A box that held fruit, veg, meat or fish | Leave it out |
Old food boxes carry crumbs and smells that draw pests. Our sites have professional pest control, and keeping those boxes out of your unit helps keep it that way.
How to check a free box
- Look at the cut edge. Double-wall board has two wavy layers inside; single-wall has one.
- Press a corner. If it folds easily in your hand, it will fold under a stack.
- Look and sniff. Pass on water marks, mould, crushed edges, or any smell of damp or food.
- Close the flaps. The top needs to sit flat so the next box has something level to rest on.
Then fill each box to the top, so it doesn’t sink under the one above, but not so full of heavy things that it’s hard to lift.
Mix free and new to save money
You don’t have to choose one or the other. Use new medium boxes for heavy things and the bottom row, and your best free boxes for soft, light things on top. Every box in our Box Shop is double-walled, and in September 2026 a pack of ten medium boxes was £25. We deliver to your door, and our Burton-on-Trent, Bath, Chipping Norton and Dorking sites also sell boxes and packaging in store during office hours.
For clothes and bedding, skip plastic bags, which can trap moisture and lead to mould.
Where to find good free boxes
The best are proper moving boxes from someone who has just unpacked. Freegle, a UK charity for giving and getting things locally for free, is a good place to ask, as are local community groups. If you work in an office, printer-paper boxes are small, which suits books. Supermarket boxes are mostly produce boxes: fine for the van, not for your unit.
Once you know how many free boxes you’ll use, fill the gaps from our Box Shop. Still looking for a unit? Get a price online or call us on 0800 2545585.
Related questions
- How many boxes will I need?
- What boxes does the Wigwam Box Shop sell, and which size is for what?
- How do I pack boxes so they stack safely?
Further reading