If you’re planning a move, chances are you’ve already had this thought: “Should I just buy a bunch of cardboard boxes, or should I try those reusable plastic moving bins everyone keeps talking about?”
We hear this all the time from our customers. Some folks love the idea of reusable moving boxes, others are skeptical, and many are just overwhelmed by all the options. Since we work with moves every single day at United Prime Van Lines, we’ve seen both sides up close — the good, the bad, and the “wow, that could’ve gone better.”
Let’s walk through it together, like we would if you called or stopped by our Hallandale Beach office and asked, “Be honest… are reusable moving boxes actually worth it?”
When we say reusable moving boxes, we’re usually talking about:
They’re different from:
Most reusable boxes are:
We’ve handled thousands of these containers over the years, so we’ve seen how they behave in real moves — in South Florida humidity, California heat, and everything in between.
Let’s start with the upside, because there is a lot to like about them.
From a mover’s point of view, this is the biggest advantage.
Reusable plastic boxes:
We’ve had moves during sudden South Florida rainstorms where cardboard boxes got damp on the porch or while loading the truck. With reusable crates, that stress level drops way down. If you’re worried about books, electronics, or important documents, those heavy-duty bins are a lot more forgiving.
For long-distance moves — like going from Hallandale Beach to another state, or from Los Angeles out of Chatsworth to, say, Texas or Nevada — tough containers also help when boxes are being moved multiple times at origin, at a warehouse, and at destination.
From our crews’ perspective, reusable bins make loading more efficient because:
That means:
And that often translates into:
We don’t promise a magic time savings on every move, but in practice, when the whole household is packed in uniform bins, the day just flows smoother — for you and for us.
People underestimate how much packing headaches come from weird box sizes and sagging cardboard.
With reusable boxes:
Because they’re standardized, it’s easier to:
If you’re a very organized person (or want to pretend you are for this move), reusable boxes can be a big mental relief.
If environmental impact matters to you, reusable bins shine here.
Each plastic crate can be reused hundreds of times. Compare that to:
Yes, cardboard can be recycled, and we’re all for that. But there’s still energy used to produce, ship, and eventually recycle it. A well-run reusable box rental company keeps their bins in rotation for a long time, which spreads that impact out over many, many moves.
If you want a move that “feels” less wasteful — fewer piles of crushed boxes on the curb — reusable containers are a nice option.
Most reusable box companies:
So you’re not:
When we help coordinate moves that use these systems, our customers almost always mention how much easier the before-and-after part feels.
We’re movers, not salespeople for reusable box companies, so we’ll be straight with you: they’re not perfect for everyone.
The big question is always: will this cost me more?
It depends on:
For a typical 1–2 bedroom apartment, renting reusable boxes for a week or two is often competitive with buying new cardboard boxes — sometimes a little more, sometimes surprisingly close.
But if you:
…then costs can climb quickly.
Cardboard is more flexible on budget: you can:
With rentals, you’re committing up front to a package.
Here’s something people don’t always consider:
When you rent reusable moving boxes, there’s a timeline:
If you’re the type who wants to unpack slowly, or you’re not sure when you’ll be fully settled, having a pickup date hanging over you can feel like pressure.
We see this especially with:
With cardboard, you can unpack at your own pace, keep boxes around for a bit, and recycle when you’re ready.
If your situation looks like this:
…reusable rentals can get tricky.
You can’t really:
In these more complex, multi-stage moves, we usually recommend:
We can absolutely still pack and load rented boxes, but they fit better with straightforward “Point A to Point B within days” type moves.
Reusable boxes are great, but they’re not magic.
They’re less ideal for:
We end up using a mix on a lot of jobs:
So if you’re imagining a move with only reusable boxes, just know you may still need a few extras.
From our experience at United Prime Van Lines, there are situations where reusable boxes are a near-perfect fit, and others where we’d tell you, honestly, that cardboard might be better.
We strongly lean “yes, they’re worth it” when:
In these cases, reusable boxes:
We often advise skipping rentals and sticking with cardboard or owned bins when:
In those cases, the flexibility of:
…usually wins out over the structure of reusable rentals.
Let’s talk about what actually happens on moving day with and without reusable boxes, because this is where the difference really shows up.
With mostly cardboard boxes, our crews:
We do this safely and efficiently — that’s our job — but it is more of a puzzle.
With mostly reusable crates, our crews can:
Again, this doesn’t mean your move takes half the time. But the overall flow is smoother. Our teams notice it. Customers feel it too because everything seems more controlled and tidy.
In South Florida, we’re always mindful of:
In Southern California, it’s more:
Plastic crates:
We’ve done moves in Hallandale Beach where it rained out of nowhere during loading. Cardboard boxes needed to be shuffled fast under cover. Plastic crates? We still move quickly, but we’re not panicking that someone’s books or clothes will get ruined in seconds.
This is one of the first questions we get, especially since these bins get rented over and over.
Good reusable box companies:
If you use a reputable local provider, the bins you get shouldn’t be grimy or questionable. That said, if you’re very particular, you can always:
We’ve seen many customers do a light wipe-down just for their peace of mind. It doesn’t take long, and it can help you feel better about packing clothing, linens, or personal items.
If you’re thinking, “Okay, this might be right for us. What does the process look like?” — here’s how it usually goes, especially when we help coordinate around a move with United Prime Van Lines.
Most rental companies have “packages” like:
These are decent starting points, but we prefer to customize based on:
When you reach out to us for a moving quote, we can help you estimate how many boxes actually make sense for your home — we do this every day, so we can usually tell if you’re about to over-order or under-order.
A good rule of thumb:
You want enough time to pack without feeling rushed, but not so long that the rental period starts costing you extra.
Reusable boxes are strong, but you still don’t want to overload them.
Best practices we recommend to our customers:
Even with super sturdy containers, thoughtful packing makes a big difference in how your move feels on the other end.
On moving day, if you’re using reusable crates:
If you’d like, we can also handle the packing for you, placing your items into the reusable bins ourselves. That’s something a lot of busy families and professionals in South Florida and around Chatsworth appreciate — they just point, and we take care of the rest.
After your move:
Then the rental company comes back and picks everything up. No cardboard mountain, no multiple recycling trips.
We’re not in the business of pushing one single packing solution. Our job is to make your move smoother, safer, and less stressful — whether that’s with reusable bins, cardboard, or a mix.
Here’s how we typically help:
If you want, we can also:
We’ve moved families, retirees, students, and busy professionals all over South Florida and across the country. We know that no two moves — and no two households — are exactly alike.
Let’s boil it down in a real-world way.
Reusable moving boxes are usually worth it if you:
They may not be worth it if you:
From our side, as movers who handle both every week, we can say this:
If you’re still unsure, you don’t have to guess. When you reach out to United Prime Van Lines for a quote, tell us you’re thinking about reusable moving boxes. We’ll look at your specific move — where you’re going, how much you have, what your timeline looks like — and give you an honest, practical answer.
And whether you end up with plastic bins, cardboard boxes, or a mix of both, we’ll be there to get everything from your old place to your new one safely, calmly, and with as little stress as possible.
