Where are the cheapest boxes for purchase?

If I’m buying them, I find that the best seller varies, depending on what size I need. I like forzasupply and ecoswift on eBay and shippingsupply.com.

Try asking at some stores, I get most of my boxes for free from the candy store across the street from me. I think the guy is honestly happy to give them away, he doesn’t have to break them down this way…

Yes, the best seller/deal always varies, more so right now. Also depends greatly on what sizes you are buying.

You might want to try Staples. If you order online, and pickup at one of their stores, there is usually no shipping charge. Or, If you spend enough, they might ship free. Clear out your browser cookies and they used to give up some coupon codes when you visit their site.

I’m a huge scavenger of packing supplies and almost every box that comes INTO the house, goes out as a shipping box. I cut them open, remove labels, turn them inside out and tape up again. Yes, it’s a bit of a pain in the whatsit, but it’s been a bout 3 years since I actually paid for boxes, excluding my shipping supplies coupon, which I haven’t used in about three quarters.

If you let family and friends know you’re on the hunt for supplies too, you’ll end up with more than you need. I get donations of bubble wrap, polystyrene boards, air cushions.. more than I can handle. I never say no, I just recycle what gets too much and keep the good stuff. Turning them away shuts off the flow. Let it keep on truckin’!

Nothing beats free shipping boxes but there are never enough of right size. I ship a lot of first class packages.

I bought 2 bundles of smaller boxes at Staples.com this week. Prices are competitive.

Ship to home is Free right now, for a limited time.

Staples snail mailed me a coupon good for $30 Off on a $60 order.

So I had to double down on more cartons and some copy paper.

Ordered at Staples.com and with free delivery again.

I’ve noticed when employees are stocking shelves at dollar stores, they are throwing away a lot of small boxes that would be useful for first class. Worth asking if they will give them to you.

I used to get my boxes from Walmart. This method really will only get you larger sized boxes (this is how I get my FBA boxes and I’ve never had them complain). I’d go in around 11-12 (midnight) when they were stocking and ask if I could take the boxes when they were done. They’ll always let you because it’s less work for them. As long as you clear it with a manager ahead of time you can walk out with a shopping cart full of boxes. You’ll learn which boxes are the best (I ship to FBA mainly using laundry detergent boxes, they’re really strong and as a bonus smell nice).

edit: Keep in mind that not every carrier will honor insurance if you ship out with a used box.

I refuse to pay for boxes. I went to drop off a box at a fedex location near me and was told by FedEx that the box I was shipping was not acceptable because it had writing on it. I was in a hurry, and FedEx tried to sell me a box. I was already on the losing end of shipping said item, so I declined. I took the package and was on my way home to re-package it. Being in a rush, I cut through the alley of the FedEx, and voila! There it was. Row after row of empty boxes residents had tossed out from (mostly) Amazon orders. I grabbed one and ran back in to FedEx, re-packaged the item (I carry packing tape in my car) and shipped it on it’s way. The clerk, surprised, said, “wow, you must live really close!” I said “No, I just dug this box out from your alley!” P.S. This was pre-pandemic and I highly doubt I would do it now.

Also, for smaller items, I find that the Dollar Tree by me is happy to give me as many boxes as I want. I also have a relationship with the JoAnn Fabrics store by me, so I get packing material like bubble wrap from them. For larger boxes, the Jewel (grocery store here in Chicago) has “Egglands Best” boxes which are sturdy and I just either use wrapping paper to cover the lettering, or turn the box inside out.

I am working on death piles (a positive outcome result of the pandemic) and realized that I prefer selling items (fabric) I can just throw in a free ebay sleeve (store subscription), and ship it without wondering if it made it safely.

I know the sizes are limited, but I wanted to make sure you realize you can get boxes for free from USPS. I apologize if I’m telling you something you already know, but you can set up a free USPS account on their website and have them delivered for free. Otherwise, I just reuse boxes we get when we order stuff online. Also, you often can just go to a store that sells the type of thing you need to ship and they have boxes that match up pretty well. For example, I had to ship a bike frame and the local bike shop has a whole room full of boxes their inventory came in that they are happy to give away. As for turning boxes inside out before you reuse them, that’s not necessary. The carriers don’t care what is on the box as long as they can scan the label.