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The short answer
Renting plastic crates is safer, cleaner, and more efficient than using cardboard boxes
Plastic crates are now the go-to choice for home and office moves. They keep out rain, take knocks and stack without collapsing. The hire company delivers them to your door and collects them from your new address once you have unpacked.
- Crates are made from tough, recycled plastic with attached interlocking lids.
- They don’t crush under weight the way cardboard boxes do, so fragile items stay safe.
- They keep your things dry if it rains while the van is loaded.
- The hire company delivers clean crates and collects them after you unpack.
- A typical 2-bedroom move requires around 30 to 40 standard crates.
What Are Moving Crates?
Moving crates are heavy-duty, reusable plastic containers built for packing and moving. Unlike storage bins, they have interlocking lids that fold shut and lock together, so you need no tape.
Empty crates nest inside each other, so they take little room before the move. Full crates stack firmly, using the height of the van safely. The rigid sides mean nothing inside gets crushed, however high they are stacked.
Plastic Crates vs. Cardboard Boxes
Cardboard boxes are the traditional choice, but crates are safer, stronger and easier, especially for city moves with stairs, kerbside loading and changeable weather.
1. Durability and Strength
Cardboard soaks up moisture, tears and collapses. Stack a heavy box on a weak one and the bottom box buckles, damaging what is inside. Crates are rigid and hold books, kitchenware and files without bending.
2. Weather Protection
British weather is hard to predict. A shower during loading can soften cardboard until the bottom drops out. Crates are waterproof, so your things stay dry in any weather.
3. Convenience and Speed
Boxes need folding, taping and labelling, then cutting down and recycling after the move. Crates need no assembly: open the lid, pack, close. They arrive ready to use and are collected when you are done.
Related reading: Crate Hire London: How Much Does It Cost? and Is a Professional Packing Service Worth It When Moving in London?
How Crate Hire Works in London
Crate hire fits around your moving date. Here is how it works:
1. Book Your Crate Package
Pick a package by property size, or by the number of desks for an office move. Hire is usually 1 to 2 weeks, which gives you time to pack before moving day and unpack afterwards.
2. Delivery to Your Door
The hire company delivers clean crates, labels and security seals to your current address in an agreed time slot.
3. Move and Collection
On moving day, the crew loads and stacks the crates quickly. Once you have unpacked, the hire company collects the empties, so there is no pile of cardboard to deal with.
Choosing Crate Sizes and Quantities
Getting the number right makes packing smooth. Here are the usual sizes and how many to order.
Standard Crate Sizes
- Standard Lidded Crate (LC3 / 80-Litre): The most common size, ideal for books, files, kitchenware, clothes, and general items. Measures approximately 710mm x 460mm x 368mm.
- Large Lidded Crate (LC6 / 138-Litre): Best for bulky but lighter items like bedding, pillows, cushions, toys, and plastic kitchen containers.
- Computer Crate (IT / 160-Litre): Specially sized to hold office desktop computers, monitors, keyboards, and cables securely.
Crate Quantity Recommendations
- 1-Bedroom Flat: 20–30 Standard Crates.
- 2-Bedroom Home: 30–50 Standard Crates.
- 3-Bedroom House: 50–80 Standard Crates.
- Office Relocation: 1.5 to 2 standard crates per desk, plus dedicated IT crates for computer equipment.
Tips for Packing Moving Crates Efficiently
A few habits keep things safe and make loading faster:
- Do Not Overfill: Keep everything below the rim so the lids close flat. If the lids won’t close, the crates can’t be stacked.
- Pack Heavy Items at the Bottom: Books and plates go in first, lighter things on top.
- Use Packing Paper for Fragile Items: Wrap plates, glasses and ornaments in paper or bubble wrap, and fill gaps so nothing shifts.
- Use Security Seals: For documents, jewellery or valuable electronics, lock the lids with plastic security ties or seals.
- Label Every Crate: Put removable labels on the side panels with the room and a short list of contents. Avoid the lids, where labels leave sticky marks.
Crate Comparison
Plastic crates vs cardboard boxes comparison
| Feature | Plastic Moving Crates | Cardboard Moving Boxes |
|---|---|---|
| Crush Resistance | Excellent (Hard outer shell) | Poor (Can buckle under weight) |
| Weatherproof | 100% Waterproof | Not waterproof (weakens when wet) |
| Assembly Required | No (Ready to pack instantly) | Yes (Requires tape and folding) |
| Stackability | Perfect nesting and stacking channels | Basic (requires careful balancing) |
| Eco-Friendliness | Reusable hundreds of times | Recyclable (often single-use) |
| Post-Move Waste | Collected by company (zero waste) | Must be folded and recycled manually |
Clear answers
Frequently asked questions
Standard crate hire periods are usually one or two weeks, which gives time to pack before the move and unpack afterwards. If you need longer, most providers let you extend the hire week by week. Plan the collection date around your unpacking, not just the moving day, and check the extension price before you book so a slow unpack does not turn into an unexpected cost at the end.
Renting crates can cost slightly more than buying cheap cardboard boxes at first. But crates save time because there is nothing to assemble or tape, they protect contents better, they stack securely in the van and they leave no cardboard to dispose of afterwards. For most flat and house moves, those savings make crate hire good value overall, especially when time or storage space is limited.
Yes. Professional movers prefer plastic crates because they are uniform, stack neatly, have built-in handles and do not collapse like overfilled cardboard boxes. They load securely on dollies and in the van, which can make loading faster. Fill crates evenly, keep heavy items at the bottom and make sure the lids close properly. That way they stack safely and nothing is crushed during the move.
Damage is rare because hire crates are made from heavy-duty plastic designed for repeated moves. If a crate is lost, or broken beyond normal wear, the hire provider usually charges a set replacement fee, which should be listed in the hire terms. Count the crates when they are delivered and again at collection, and keep them together in one place after unpacking so none go missing before collection.
