Moving is already expensive. Buying boxes on top of that does not have to happen. The truth is, free moving boxes are everywhere in South Carolina inside grocery stores, on Facebook, at liquor stores down the street, and in your own neighborhood. You just need to know where to look and when to go.
This guide covers 18 places to get free moving boxes in Charleston, Columbia, and Myrtle Beach. We also cover what to do if you cannot find enough free boxes in time, plus tips for making sure the boxes you grab are actually safe to use.
Should You Buy or Find Free Moving Boxes?
Here is the short answer: use free boxes for most of your move, and buy specialty boxes for anything fragile or valuable.
When Free Moving Boxes Make Sense
Free boxes work well for clothing, linens, towels, bedding, books, files, pantry items, toys, and decor. Basically anything that will not shatter if the box gets bumped.
When You Should Buy Boxes Instead
Buy new boxes for dishes, glasses, stemware, artwork, mirrors, and electronics. These need proper dish-pack cartons, mirror boxes, or original packaging not random used cardboard. If you are doing a long-distance move, buy new boxes too. Used ones may not survive being handled multiple times. If you are packing for an insurance pack-out or disaster recovery, consistency matters. A mix of random used boxes can slow down the process and create problems with your claim. In those situations, call STOMO and let our team handle it.
Online and Community Platforms
These are your fastest options. Post a request today and you could have boxes by tomorrow.
1. Facebook Marketplace and Buy Nothing Groups
Facebook Marketplace is the single best place to find free moving boxes online. Search “free moving boxes” in your city Charleston, Columbia, or Myrtle Beach and filter results by “Free.” You will find people who just moved and want their boxes gone fast. Buy Nothing groups are even better. These are local Facebook groups where neighbors give things away for free. Search “Buy Nothing Charleston” or “Buy Nothing Columbia SC” to find your local group, then post a simple request. Responses usually come within hours.
Pro Tip: Set up a search alert on Facebook Marketplace so you get notified the moment someone posts free boxes near you.
2. Nextdoor
Nextdoor is hyper-local, which makes it perfect for finding free moving boxes in your specific neighborhood. Post a quick message like: “Moving next month does anyone have cardboard boxes they’d like to give away?” People who just moved into your area are especially likely to respond.
3. Craigslist
Go to craigslist.org, select your South Carolina city, then click For Sale and choose Free. Search terms like “moving boxes,” “cardboard boxes,” or “packing supplies.” Good boxes go fast, check daily and respond within the hour.
Pro Tip: On Craigslist, be polite and flexible with pickup time. People are more likely to hold boxes for you if you make it easy for them.
4. Freecycle.org
Freecycle is a nonprofit network where people give away items locally so they stay out of landfills. Sign up for your local SC chapter — Charleston, Columbia, and Myrtle Beach all have active groups — and post a “Wanted: Moving Boxes” request. This one takes a day or two but is worth checking.
Local Retail Stores
Every major retailer in South Carolina gets regular shipments. Most of them break down and recycle the boxes the same day. If you ask the right person at the right time, those boxes are yours for free.
5. Grocery Stores
This is one of the most reliable sources of free moving boxes. Stores like Publix, Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Kroger, and Lowes Foods restock daily. Ask to speak to the store manager not a cashier and ask if they have boxes to spare. The best time to go is on a weekday morning, right after the delivery trucks have come through. Boxes are fresh, dry, and have not been broken down yet.
Pro Tip: Call your local Publix or Harris Teeter the night before and ask them to set boxes aside. Most managers are happy to help.
6. Liquor Stores
Liquor store boxes are the best free boxes you can find. They are built to hold heavy glass bottles without collapsing. Many also come with cardboard dividers built in which makes them perfect for dishes, glasses, and fragile kitchen items. ABC stores, Total Wine, and local bottle shops all work. Just walk in, ask the manager, and most times they will walk you to the back. Many stores do this regularly for customers.
7. Big Box Retailers
Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Sam’s Club receive huge shipments and deal with a lot of cardboard. Visit the customer service desk or ask at the receiving dock. Call ahead to find out which days their deliveries arrive that is when you will find the most boxes.
8. Bookstores
Barnes & Noble and independent bookstores use reinforced boxes made to handle heavy loads. These are great for packing books, files, and heavier household items that would crush a weaker produce box.
9. Office Supply and Copy Shops
Staples and Office Depot get regular shipments of printer paper and office equipment. Copy paper boxes are one of the best free moving boxes you can find. They are clean, dry, uniformly sized, and most come with lids. Perfect for documents, books, and small kitchen items.
10. Coffee Shops and Cafes
Your local Starbucks or independent coffee shop gets regular shipments of beans, cups, and supplies. Ask your barista if they have any empty boxes in the back. There is much less competition for boxes here than at a big grocery store, and the staff are usually happy to help.
Restaurants and Food Service Businesses
11. Fast Food Restaurants
McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, Bojangles’, and other fast food spots get ingredient deliveries multiple times a week. Stop in during off-peak hours — mid-morning or mid-afternoon — and ask the manager. Box quality varies, so inspect before you take them.
12. Pharmacies
CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid receive medical supplies and inventory in small to medium boxes that are typically clean, dry, and well-constructed. These are great for packing bathroom items, toiletries, and smaller valuables.
Community and Institutional Sources
13. Local Schools and Universities
USC, Coastal Carolina University, The Citadel, and the College of Charleston all receive regular deliveries of textbooks, supplies, and equipment. Contact the school’s office or facilities department directly. The best time to ask is at the start of a new semester or right after a major delivery period.
STOMO also helps college students store dorm items during summer breaks. Ask about our Columbia and Charleston portable storage options.
14. Military Commissaries (Fort Jackson and Joint Base Charleston)
South Carolina is home to two major military installations. Fort Jackson in Columbia and Joint Base Charleston both have commissaries and exchange stores that receive bulk shipments regularly. If you or someone you know has base access, this is one of the most overlooked sources of free, high-quality moving boxes in the state.
STOMO proudly serves military families across South Carolina. If you are PCSing or deploying, our team is ready to help with flexible storage and moving solutions that work around your schedule.
15. Recycling Centers
Charleston County, Richland County, and Horry County all have recycling centers that handle large volumes of cardboard. Many will set aside clean, reusable boxes if you call ahead and ask. Visit in the morning for the freshest selection before boxes get broken down or baled.
Other Places Worth Checking
16. Friends, Family, and Co-Workers
Before you do anything else, text your group chat. A friend or neighbor who recently moved is your fastest and most reliable source. You already know the boxes, you know how they were used, and you can ask about their condition directly. Ask people to save boxes for you in the weeks before your move date.
17. U-Haul Box Exchange
U-Haul has a program called Customer Connect that lets recent movers list their leftover moving boxes for free pickup. Visit uhaul.com/BoxExchange and enter your South Carolina zip code to find available listings near you. Boxes are often standard moving sizes in good condition.
18. Pet Stores and Local Farmers’ Markets
Petco and PetSmart use heavy-duty boxes built to hold weight — great for books and heavier household items. At farmers’ markets, vendors often have sturdy produce boxes left over at the end of the day. Ask politely near closing time and most will say yes.
Tips for Getting the Best Free Moving Boxes
Best Times to Go by Store Type
Timing makes a big difference. For grocery stores, go on a weekday morning between Monday and Wednesday, right after delivery trucks arrive. For liquor stores, mid-week during business hours is best — avoid Friday and Saturday when staff are busiest. For big box retailers like Walmart and Home Depot, call ahead to ask which days shipments come in, then show up that morning. For restaurants and coffee shops, mid-morning between 9am and 11am is the sweet spot between rushes. For Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor, check daily in the two to three weeks before your move date.
How to Inspect a Free Box Before You Use It
Not every free box is a good box. Press on all four corners first — if they feel soft or give way, the box is too weak to use. Check the bottom for water stains, dark spots, or warping, since wet cardboard loses most of its strength. Smell the inside, because food odors can attract pests during a move. Also look for small holes, droppings, or egg casings that could mean insects or rodents have been inside. Once you have checked all of that, reinforce the bottom of every box with two strips of packing tape before loading anything.
When in doubt, throw it out. A broken box mid-move costs more in time and damaged items than buying a new one would have.
When Free Boxes Are Not the Right Choice
Free boxes are a great option for most of a move. But there are times when using the wrong box can cost you more than the box itself. For fragile items like dishes, mirrors, and artwork, proper dish-pack boxes are a must if random used boxes will not cut it. For long-distance moves, boxes get handled multiple times and used ones may not survive the trip. For insurance pack-outs and disaster recovery, uniform boxes make documentation easier and protect your claim. And if you are on a short timeline, hunting for free boxes takes days you may not have bought is often faster and less stressful.
If you are in any of these situations, STOMO and MOVEMO can step in and take the whole process off your plate. We handle the boxes, the packing, the storage, and the delivery — all at a flat rate with no hidden costs.
Moving to South Carolina? STOMO delivers portable storage containers right to your door. You pack on your own schedule, and we handle the rest. Flat-rate pricing. No hidden fees. No hourly clock. Call 844-439-7866 or visit stomostorage.com for a free estimate.
What to Do With Moving Boxes After Your Move
Once you are unpacked, pass the boxes along instead of trashing them. Post them on Facebook Marketplace or in your local Buy Nothing group and they will go within hours. If they are too beat up to reuse, drop them off at your local SC recycling center. Keep a few flat for shipping, garage storage, or your next move. And if STOMO handles your move or storage, just let us know we can often coordinate a pickup on our next delivery run in your area.
Where to Get Cheap Moving Boxes (If You Cannot Find Free Ones in Time)
Sometimes your move comes up fast and you do not have time to track down free boxes. Here are the most affordable ways to buy moving boxes without overpaying.
Dollar Stores
Dollar Tree and Family Dollar carry small to medium cardboard boxes for around one to two dollars each. They are not the strongest option, but they work well for light items like clothing, linens, and pantry goods. Easy to find at any South Carolina location.
Home Improvement Stores
Home Depot and Lowe’s sell individual moving boxes and bundle packs that are often cheaper than U-Haul. You can also grab packing tape, bubble wrap, and mattress bags in the same trip which saves you a stop.
Office Supply Stores
Staples and Office Depot sell moving box bundles in mixed sizes, usually at under two dollars per box when purchased as a kit. Look for multi-box deals that come with small, medium, and large options in one package.
Amazon and Online Box Kits
If you are planning at least a week out, ordering a moving box kit on Amazon is often the most cost-effective option. Kits arrive at your door in the right mix of sizes. Compare the per-box cost across listings before you buy. Still not sure how many boxes you need? Call STOMO at 844-439-7866. Our team can help you estimate based on the size of your home and what you are moving.
Ready to Move? STOMO and MOVEMO Are Here to Help
Free moving boxes are everywhere in South Carolina once you know where to look. Grocery stores, liquor stores, Facebook Marketplace, your local Buy Nothing group start with these and you will have more boxes than you need before your move date arrives.
But boxes are just one piece of the puzzle. If you want someone to handle the heavy lifting from packing and portable storage to full-service moving, STOMO Mobile Storage and MOVEMO Moving Service have been doing exactly that for South Carolina families across Charleston, Columbia, and Myrtle Beach. We are not a national chain. We are a local, family-owned company that shows up on time, handles your belongings with care, and gives you a flat rate up front so there are no surprises at the end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the easiest place to get free moving boxes?
Facebook Marketplace and local Buy Nothing groups are the fastest and easiest options. Post a request with your city and move date and you will usually have offers within a few hours. Craigslist and Nextdoor are strong backups if Facebook does not come through quickly enough.
Do grocery stores give away free moving boxes?
Yes. Most grocery stores in South Carolina including Publix, Harris Teeter, and Food Lion will give away empty boxes if you ask the store manager directly. The best time to ask is on a weekday morning just after delivery trucks have restocked the shelves. Call the night before and ask them to save some boxes for you so you are not making a wasted trip.
What type of free box is best for moving?
Liquor store boxes are the best free option because they are built to hold heavy glass bottles and often come with internal dividers perfect for dishes and fragile items. Office supply paper boxes are excellent for books, files, and small appliances. Avoid flimsy produce boxes from grocery stores for anything fragile or heavy.
How many moving boxes do I need?
A studio apartment typically needs 10 to 15 boxes. A one-bedroom needs around 20 to 30. A two- to three-bedroom home usually requires 40 to 60 or more depending on how much you have accumulated. It is always better to have a few extra than to run short on moving day. If you are unsure, STOMO’s team can help you estimate just give us a call.
Is it safe to use free second-hand moving boxes?
Yes, as long as you inspect them first. Check every box for soft or wet spots, damaged seams, unusual odors, and any signs of pests before loading anything inside. Reinforce the bottom of every box with two strips of packing tape. Do not use damaged or questionable boxes for fragile, heavy, or valuable items buy proper specialty boxes for those.