📦 Moving Box to Storage Bin Conversion Calculator
Already know how many moving boxes you have and want to switch to storage bins? Convert your box count to an equivalent bin count based on volume.
How the bin count is worked out
The conversion goes through volume, and the answer is always rounded up to a whole bin:
total volume = boxes × average box volume
bins = ceiling(total volume / bin volume)Twenty boxes averaging 1.5 cubic feet hold 30 cubic feet, which fills exactly ten 3 cubic foot bins. Add one more box and the total is 31.5, so the count goes to 11 - a bin is either bought or it is not, and the rounding never gives you a part-full one for free.
Getting the two volumes right
Both volume boxes want cubic feet. Multiply the inside dimensions in inches and divide by 1,728, or use these common sizes:
| Container | Size | Cubic feet |
|---|---|---|
| Small moving box | 16 × 12 × 12 in | 1.3 |
| Medium moving box | 18 × 18 × 16 in | 3.0 |
| Large moving box | 18 × 18 × 24 in | 4.5 |
| 18 gallon tote | - | 2.4 |
| 27 gallon tote | - | 3.6 |
If your boxes are a mix, work out the average by hand first: eight smalls at 1.3 and twelve mediums at 3.0 is 46.4 cubic feet over 20 boxes, so enter 2.32 rather than guessing a middle figure.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic feet is a medium moving box?
Three, at the usual 18 × 18 × 16 inches. Divide any box's inch dimensions by 1,728 to get its own figure.
How many gallons is a cubic foot?
7.48 US gallons. That is why a 27 gallon tote is listed here as 3.6 cubic feet and an 18 gallon one as 2.4.
Are storage bins better than boxes for long-term storage?
For anything in a garage, loft or basement, yes. Sealed plastic keeps out damp, dust and insects, and bins stack without crushing, which cardboard stops doing after a year under weight.