You can usually get free cardboard boxes by asking at supermarkets and larger shops, and by posting on Freegle, Freecycle or Facebook Marketplace. Morrisons is the one large chain that has publicly said it gives boxes away. It announced in May 2024 that free boxes would be at the checkouts in all its UK stores. Everywhere else, asking politely at the customer service desk is the way in.
This guide covers where to look in Yorkshire, which boxes are worth taking, and what to do with them afterwards.
Which supermarkets give away free boxes?
Morrisons said in a May 2024 announcement that it was bringing back free cardboard boxes at the checkouts in all its stores. The boxes are meant for carrying shopping, but nothing in the announcement stops you taking a few for a move. How many there are depends on the store and the day.
For other supermarkets we could not find a published national policy, and we have not made one up. In practice:
- ask at the customer service desk, not at a busy till
- ask when deliveries are unpacked, because boxes pile up then, before they are baled for recycling
- be specific, for example “about ten boxes, sturdy ones with lids if you have them”
- go back if the answer is “come back tomorrow morning”
Which other shops are worth asking?
Any shop that receives stock in boxes has them to spare. Good places to try are:
- Off-licences and wine shops: small, very strong boxes, often with dividers, which are ideal for glasses and heavy books
- Greengrocers and market stalls: banana boxes are strong and have lids, but check they are dry and clean
- Chemists, stationers and bookshops: small boxes that suit heavy items
- Furniture, electrical and bike shops: large, thick boxes for bedding, lampshades and cushions
- Your workplace: post rooms and stores flatten good boxes every day
Always ask before you take anything from a shop’s back door or bale area.
Can you get free moving boxes on Freegle or Freecycle?
Yes, and these are often the best source of proper removal boxes, because people who have just moved want rid of theirs.
- Freegle has local groups across the country. You enter your postcode to find yours, then post a “wanted” request or reply to offers.
- Freecycle works the same way, with a local group for each town or area.
A “wanted” post works better than waiting for an offer. Say how many boxes you need, when you are moving and that you can collect. Collecting a full set from someone whose move has just finished can save a lot of trips to the shops.
Is Facebook Marketplace good for free boxes?
Often, yes. Search Marketplace for “moving boxes” or “removal boxes” and set the price filter to free. Local “buy nothing”, community and village groups are worth a post too.
A few pointers:
- arrange to collect, and take the car seats down first
- check for damp and smells before loading, because boxes that have been in a garage can be musty
- people often include packing paper and bubble wrap if you ask
In the East Riding, the council’s reduce and reuse register lists local reuse outlets. It is aimed at furniture and goods rather than boxes, but it is useful for passing things on before you move.
Which boxes are worth having?
Not every free box is a good one. Take:
- double-wall boxes, which have two layers of corrugation that you can see at the cut edge
- boxes with intact flaps, so they close flat and stack
- small and medium sizes, because big boxes filled with books are too heavy to lift
- clean, dry boxes that did not hold raw meat, fish or anything leaking
Leave behind:
- crushed corners and torn flaps
- boxes with holes in the sides, like most fruit trays, unless you are using them for shoes or bulky soft items
- anything damp, mouldy or smelling of something
The usual rule is heavy items in small boxes and light items in large ones. Our moving checklist says the same, and it covers what to pack when, from eight weeks out.
Should you just buy boxes?
Sometimes. Free boxes are mixed sizes and need collecting, which takes time. If you are short on time, a combination works well: free boxes for books, kitchen items and the loft, and a few bought wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes. Clothes moved on the rail arrive without creases and fill the wardrobe in minutes at the other end.
What do you do with the boxes after the move?
- Pass the good ones on: post them on Freegle, Freecycle or Marketplace the day after you move
- Flatten the rest for your council cardboard collection or the recycling centre
- Let the van take them: if you are moving with us, flattened boxes, packing paper and anything you have decided not to keep can leave on the van and be disposed of legally
Moving with CL Clearances
CL Clearances runs a man and van service from Howden for small moves across East Yorkshire, Hull, Goole, Selby, York, Doncaster and North Lincolnshire. Charlotte Leighton drives and lifts on every job. As an upper-tier waste carrier (CBDU291452), we can also take away the empty boxes and anything else you are not keeping on the same trip. Prices and what affects them are in how much do removals cost.
For a fixed written price, send the from, the to and a rough list by WhatsApp to 07783 430775, or email hello@cl-clearances.co.uk.
