Why Totes?
If you're moving once, you don't actually want totes. You want a 2-week solution that doesn't leave a pile of cardboard in your driveway. Here's the math.
Benefits
- Stack securely without crushing - keeps glassware and electronics safer
- Snap-tight lids stay closed during the move
- Roll a stack of 5+ totes at a time on the included dolly
- Waterproof - rain on moving day isn't a disaster
- No assembly, no tape, no breakdown
- Nothing goes to the landfill when you're done
The Smarter Choice
For a 2–3 bedroom move, here's what the same job costs three different ways.
- Delivered & picked up free
- Dollies included
- Nothing to store after
- Assemble & tape every box
- Break down & haul to recycling
- Doesn't stack as well, less protection
- Huge up-front cost
- Store them forever
- Pickup truck or 2nd trip required
You don't have a tote problem - you have a 2-week problem. Why buy what you only need for 14 days?
The Real Math
Same 2–3 bedroom move, three ways. Dollars, hours, and what you're left with after.
| Cost | Renting totes (40) | Cardboard boxes | Buying totes (40) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up-front price | $169 | ~$140–165 | ~$450 |
| Tape, labels, supplies | $0 (included) | $15–25 | $10–20 |
| Dollies | Included | Rent or buy separately | ~$80–120 |
| Delivery & pickup | Free, both ways | Your trips to the store | Pickup truck or 2 trips |
| Time on assembly/breakdown | ~0 hours | 2–3 hours (≈35 boxes) | ~0 hours |
| What's left after | Nothing — we pick up | Recycling pile | 40 totes to store forever |
See the full breakdown by home size on the pricing page.
Built for the Job
These aren't bins from the hardware store. They're commercial-grade totes designed to survive a real move.
Rain, snow, sleet — your books and linens stay dry from doorstep to truck to doorstep.
Stack four high on a dolly without sagging. Dishes and electronics ride on top, safe.
Lids latch flush. No bowing open, no tape, no surprise contents on the lawn.
Cardboard collapses when it gets wet. Plastic doesn't. Simple as that.
The Hassles Nobody Counts
The sticker price on cardboard looks cheap. The actual experience is a different story.
- Assembly: folding, taping, and labeling roughly 35 boxes before you can even start packing.
- Tape runs: you'll burn through more rolls than you planned, usually mid-pack.
- Mismatched free boxes from the grocery store don't stack and waste space in the truck.
- Used boxes from a garage can carry roaches, silverfish, or rodent droppings into your new home.
- After the move: a flattened cardboard mountain in the driveway and a trip to recycling.
See exactly how the rental flow works on our how it works page.
How Many Totes Do You Need?
One 27-gallon tote holds about as much as 1.5–2 medium cardboard boxes — and stacks far better.
Not Just for Moving
Sort and label without buying bins you'll later toss.
Pack the personal stuff out of sight while your home's on the market.
Protect a kitchen or office while the contractors take over.
Stack, roll, return. No cardboard piling up in the dorm hallway.
Haul décor, linens, and supplies without trashing the trunk.
Reusable Beats Recyclable
Every tote in our fleet gets reused for hundreds of moves before it retires. Cardboard, even the recycled kind, is used once and then trucked, pulped, and reprinted. Convenience first — but the lighter footprint is a real bonus.
When Buying Makes More Sense
We'll be honest: renting isn't the right answer for everyone. Buying totes is the better long-term call when:
- You need permanent storage in a basement, attic, or garage.
- You move every 12 months or less and have somewhere to keep totes between moves.
- You're doing a one-way long-distance move where the totes can't be returned to us.
For most folks moving across town in Lee's Summit or the surrounding metro, this is a 14-day project — and renting wins.
Common Questions
Is it cheaper to rent or buy moving boxes?
For a one-time 2–3 bedroom move, renting totes is cheaper than buying totes and competitive with new cardboard. Our 40-tote package is $169 for two weeks (delivered and picked up free), buying 40 totes plus dollies runs around $450, and new cardboard for the same move typically lands at $140–165 once you add tape.
Are plastic moving totes better than cardboard boxes?
For most moves, yes. Totes are waterproof, crush-proof, snap shut, and stack four-high on a dolly without sagging — so dishes and electronics travel safer. Cardboard wins only if you need permanent storage or a one-way move where nothing comes back.
How many totes do I need for a 3-bedroom house?
Most 2–3 bedroom moves use our 40-tote package ($169 for two weeks). A studio or 1-bedroom usually fits in 20 totes ($99), and a 4+ bedroom home is more comfortable with 60 ($219). One 27-gallon tote holds about as much as 1.5–2 medium cardboard boxes.
Do rented totes come clean?
Every tote is sanitized between rentals. They show up stacked, lids on, ready to load — no dust, no bugs, no mystery stains from someone's garage.
What if I need them longer than 2 weeks?
Just let us know. Extensions are easy and inexpensive — most people add a few days for a small daily rate rather than rushing the unpack.
Skip the cardboard — reserve your totes
Free delivery and pickup. Two-week rental. Takes less than 2 minutes.
Reserve now