Seasonal Demand for Moving Boxes: When to Stock Up & How to Forecast

If you own or manage a moving company, you know the demand for moving supplies doesn’t stay steady year-round. From busy summer relocations to holiday-season downsizing, the volume of moves, and the materials required to support them, can fluctuate dramatically.

Boxes, especially specialty ones like dish packs, wardrobe cartons, or TV boxes, can suddenly become scarce if you’re not prepared. Having the right packaging at the right time helps you complete jobs efficiently, as well as build trust with clients and boosts your margins.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the seasonal trends that drive demand for moving boxes, the types of cartons you need to prioritize, and how to forecast smartly so you can avoid costly inventory gaps.

Seasonal Trends in the Moving Industry

Peak Moving Season: May through September

The summer months are widely recognized as the busiest time of the year for moving companies. Why?

• Families prefer to relocate during school breaks
• College students are moving to and from dorms and apartments
• Warmer weather makes moving logistics easier
• Real estate transactions tend to close in Q2 and Q3

During this time, demand for standard moving boxes, wardrobe boxes, dish packs, and mattress cartons skyrockets. This is when you need to have ample inventory on hand.

Secondary Demand Spikes

Outside of summer, several other seasons can bring unexpected bumps in moving activity:

• December–January: Many people move between Christmas and New Year or right after due to job changes or fresh starts.
• February–April: Spring cleaning, tax refund season, and mild weather spark small local moves.
• August–September: College students return to campus, sparking short-distance moves that require small to medium boxes.

Understanding these smaller spikes can help you maintain appropriate levels of core SKUs year-round.

What Box Types See the Highest Demand

Certain box formats are more in-demand depending on the season and type of customer. Here’s what to prioritize:

• Standard Corrugated Boxes: Small (1.5 cu ft), medium (3 cu ft), and large (4.5+ cu ft) boxes are your bread and butter.
• Wardrobe Boxes: These are essential for higher-end or full-service moves, especially during peak season.
• Dish Packs & Glass Packs: Customers relocating kitchenware need extra protection, especially in summer and before holidays.
• TV & Art Boxes: More common during long-distance or high-value moves, these are crucial to keep in stock.
• Mattress Boxes: Often overlooked, but important for moves involving cross-country hauls or when required by building management.

Don’t forget the basics: tape, bubble wrap, shrink wrap, mattress bags, and packing paper. These are high-margin items that move fast during peak seasons.

How to Forecast Your Box Needs

1. Analyze Historical Job Data

If your company has been in operation for more than a year, you already have useful data:

• Track how many jobs you completed each month last year
• Break down box usage by job type: studio, 2BR, long-distance, etc.
• Use averages to estimate how many of each box type you’ll need for each type of job

2. Monitor Local Trends

Stay informed about your market:

• New housing developments: Large apartment complexes coming online may increase moves
• University schedules: If your city is home to a university, pay attention to semester start/end dates
• Weather events: Floods, fires, or storms often lead to sudden moving surges

3. Adjust for Marketing Campaigns

Planning a big push on Google Ads or a seasonal email promo? That should lead to more bookings. Make sure your supply chain and warehouse are aligned.

When to Place Your Box Orders

Order Early: 1–2 Months Before Peak

• Don’t wait until May 1st to order your summer boxes.
• Replenish inventory in March–April for peak season, and again in October for holiday movers.
• Suppliers often offer early-order incentives or discounts if you buy before the rush.

Work with Local Suppliers Like Box City

We are you local box supplier and can offer:

• Faster restocks
• Flexible MOQs (minimum order quantities)
• Just-in-time delivery for overflow storage

The closer your supplier, the less likely you are to be delayed by shipping bottlenecks or warehouse outages.

Tips to Manage Inventory Efficiently

• Stock popular SKUs in higher quantities: Medium boxes move fastest. Keep them at 2–3x your minimum stock.
• Bundle kits: Create 1BR, 2BR, or kitchen box kits to streamline packing supply sales.
• Label or QR code your inventory: Make it easy for warehouse staff to scan and track usage.
• Consider drop-shipping overflow inventory: Partner with your supplier to fulfill from their warehouse during spikes.

Need to Restock Moving Boxes?

Forecasting your moving box needs doesn’t have to be a guessing game. With a combination of historical data, market awareness, and a supplier relationship with Box City, you can stay ahead of demand and ahead of your competition.

When you’re prepared, your customers feel it. You deliver faster. Your crews waste less time. And your margins stay intact.

Box City offers local delivery, flexible minimums, and packaging expertise to help moving companies stay prepared all year long.