For a typical 2-bedroom apartment in South Florida, plan on 60 to 90 boxes total, split roughly into 25 to 40 small boxes, 20 to 30 medium boxes, 8 to 15 large boxes, 5 to 8 dish-pack boxes, and 2 to 4 wardrobe boxes. The exact number depends on how much you own, how minimalist your kitchen is, and whether you have a home office or hobby space. Below is the room-by-room breakdown that has helped thousands of customers in 30 years of Wadjet moves. Use it as a starting point and adjust by 10 to 20 percent based on your lifestyle.
Box sizes explained
- Small (1.5 cubic feet, 16 x 12 x 12): books, canned goods, dense items. Should never exceed 50 pounds.
- Medium (3.0 cubic feet, 18 x 18 x 16): kitchen items, decor, mixed household. The workhorse box.
- Large (4.5 cubic feet, 18 x 18 x 24): linens, pillows, lampshades, light bulky items.
- Extra-large (6.0 cubic feet, 23 x 23 x 16): comforters, blankets, large but light items.
- Dish-pack (5.0 cubic feet, double-walled): glassware, china, fragile kitchen items.
- Wardrobe (10 to 15 cubic feet): hanging clothes; usually rented and returned.
- Mirror or picture box (varying sizes): framed art, mirrors, glass tabletops.
Room-by-room box count for a typical 2-bedroom
Kitchen
- Dish-pack boxes: 4 to 6 (everyday dishes, glassware, china, mugs)
- Medium boxes: 6 to 10 (pots, pans, small appliances, pantry)
- Small boxes: 4 to 6 (canned goods, baking supplies)
- Large boxes: 1 to 2 (storage containers, light bulky items)
Total kitchen: 15 to 24 boxes. South Florida kitchens are surprisingly box-heavy because many homes have hurricane-prep stored food and beverage supplies.
Primary bedroom
- Small boxes: 4 to 6 (books from nightstand, jewelry boxes, dense items)
- Medium boxes: 4 to 6 (folded clothing, shoes, accessories)
- Large boxes: 3 to 5 (bedding, pillows, light blankets)
- Wardrobe boxes: 1 to 2 (hanging clothes, dresses, suits)
- Picture or mirror boxes: 1 to 2 (framed art on walls, mirror)
Total primary bedroom: 13 to 21 boxes.
Second bedroom or guest room
- Small boxes: 2 to 4 (books, knickknacks)
- Medium boxes: 3 to 5 (folded items, decor)
- Large boxes: 2 to 3 (bedding, pillows)
- Wardrobe boxes: 1 (hanging clothes)
- Picture or mirror boxes: 1
Total second bedroom: 9 to 14 boxes. Reduce if it is a home office instead of a guest room (see office section).
Living room and dining room
- Small boxes: 4 to 6 (books, photo frames, dense decor)
- Medium boxes: 4 to 6 (lamps, vases, decor, electronics accessories)
- Large boxes: 1 to 2 (pillows, throws)
- Picture or mirror boxes: 2 to 4 (wall art, framed photos, decorative mirrors)
Total living and dining: 11 to 18 boxes.
Bathrooms (combined)
- Small boxes: 1 to 2 (toiletries, towel sets if compact)
- Medium boxes: 2 to 3 (toiletries, cleaning supplies, larger items)
- Large boxes: 1 (towels, light bath rugs)
Total bathrooms: 4 to 6 boxes.
Home office or den (if applicable)
- Small boxes: 4 to 8 (books, reference materials, dense supplies)
- Medium boxes: 3 to 5 (electronics accessories, files, mid-density items)
- Large boxes: 1 to 2 (light bulky items)
Total home office: 8 to 15 boxes.
Closets, linen closets and storage
- Small boxes: 2 to 4 (dense storage items)
- Medium boxes: 3 to 5 (mixed storage)
- Large boxes: 2 to 4 (linens, bedding sets, light items)
- Wardrobe boxes: 1 (extra coats and seasonal hanging items)
Total storage: 8 to 14 boxes.
Add up the typical totals
- Light packer: 60 to 70 boxes total
- Average packer: 70 to 80 boxes total
- Heavy packer: 80 to 95 boxes total
Add 10 to 15 boxes if you have a home office, a hobby room (sewing, art, sports gear), or a wine collection.
Materials you also need
- Packing tape: 6 to 10 rolls of 2-inch tape
- Packing paper: 1 to 2 large bundles (25-pound packs)
- Bubble wrap: 1 large roll for fragile items
- Permanent markers: 4 to 6
- Labels or printed inventory stickers
- Box cutters: 2
- Mattress bags: 1 to 3 depending on bed count
Where to buy or source boxes
New boxes
Big box retail stores, U-Haul, public moving suppliers, and your moving company all sell new boxes. Quality matters; old or weak boxes break in transit. Budget about $4 to $7 per box at retail.
Used boxes
Marketplace listings, neighbor exchanges, and recycling centers can yield free or cheap boxes. Always check for crushed corners, water stains, and pest activity. Reject boxes with food residue or pet odors. Budget $0 to $2 per used box.
From your mover
Many moving companies sell new boxes in starter kits matched to your home size. A 2-bedroom kit usually includes 60 to 80 mixed boxes plus tape and paper. Prices range from $250 to $450.
Smart packing strategy
- Pack books and dense items in small boxes only
- Pack light, bulky items in large or extra-large boxes
- Use dish-pack boxes for glassware, ceramics and china
- Use original boxes for electronics when possible
- Label each box with destination room and a short content list
- Reserve 3 to 5 boxes for last-day essentials (toiletries, chargers, medications)
- Pack heavy items at the bottom of each box and light items on top
- Tape both the top and bottom seams with two strips of tape minimum
What about wardrobe boxes?
For a 2-bedroom, plan on 2 to 4 wardrobe boxes total: one or two for the primary bedroom and one each for the second bedroom and the hall closet. Wardrobe boxes are usually rented for $15 to $25 each and returned at delivery. They save hours of unpacking time because clothes go straight from one closet to the next.
Tips that reduce box count
- Donate or sell items before the survey; every reduced box saves time and money
- Use suitcases for clothes and shoes; they hold the equivalent of 3 to 4 medium boxes each
- Use Rubbermaid totes for bathroom items and pantry; they double as storage at the new home
- Pack pillows and bedding into trash bags as filler for awkward truck spaces, not boxes
- Pre-fold and consolidate towels and linens; many people pack these too loosely
How professional packers count boxes
When we send packers to a 2-bedroom apartment, our standard kit includes about 75 mixed boxes plus 5 wardrobe boxes and 5 mirror boxes. Final usage almost always lands between 60 and 90 boxes. We bring extra material and only bill for what is used. If you would like a packing quote that includes all materials, call +1 (305) 970-6538 or email info@wadjetlogistics.com.
How a typical 2-bedroom pack-out unfolds
For visual learners, here is how a professional pack-out actually rolls through a 2-bedroom apartment.
Day before: setup and prep
If we are packing, the lead packer drops off materials the evening before: boxes, paper, bubble wrap, tape and labels. The customer walks the home with the packer to identify priorities, fragile items, and any do-not-pack items.
Morning: kitchen first
Kitchens take the longest, so they start first. Packer A handles glassware and dishes in dish-pack boxes. Packer B handles pantry, small appliances, and cookware in medium boxes. By lunch, the kitchen is usually 70 to 90 percent packed.
Late morning: living room
Lamps, decor, electronics, and decorative items are packed. Picture and mirror boxes are assembled for wall art. Books go into small boxes only.
Afternoon: bedrooms
Each bedroom takes 2 to 4 hours. Closets first: hanging clothes into wardrobe boxes, folded clothes into medium boxes, shoes into small boxes. Then nightstands, dressers, decor.
Late afternoon: bathrooms and storage
Bathrooms move quickly (1 to 2 hours total). Storage closets and linen closets follow.
End of day: labeling and inventory
Every box is labeled with destination room and a brief content list. The lead packer compiles a master inventory. The customer signs off.
Common 2-bedroom apartment packing mistakes
Underestimating the kitchen
Most people think their kitchen will fit in 10 to 12 boxes. The actual count is usually 15 to 24. Pots and pans alone often take 3 to 4 medium boxes. Pantry items can fill another 3 to 5 boxes. Glassware needs proper dish-pack boxes, not regular boxes.
Mixing fragile and non-fragile items
Putting glasses in the same box as books or canned goods invites breakage. Use dish-pack boxes exclusively for fragile kitchenware.
Using used boxes from the grocery store
Used boxes lose strength. Banana boxes, in particular, are not designed for stacking and often have ventilation holes that compromise structural integrity. Use new boxes for anything fragile or stackable.
Overloading boxes
The 50-pound rule exists for a reason. Overloaded boxes burst in transit, hurt movers, and trigger valuation claims. Lift each packed box to test; if it is too heavy for one person to carry comfortably, repack into a smaller box.
Forgetting to label
Unlabeled boxes turn unpacking into a guessing game. Label every box on at least two sides with room and brief content.
Cost of materials for a 2-bedroom DIY pack
- Small boxes (30): $90 to $180
- Medium boxes (25): $100 to $200
- Large boxes (12): $60 to $120
- Dish-pack boxes (6): $54 to $90
- Wardrobe boxes (3, rental): $45 to $75
- Mirror boxes (3): $36 to $60
- Packing tape (8 rolls): $30 to $50
- Packing paper (1 bundle): $35 to $50
- Bubble wrap (1 roll): $30 to $50
- Markers and labels: $15 to $25
Total: $495 to $900. Plan for the higher end if you have many fragile items.
The case for buying boxes in a kit
Most moving companies sell 2-bedroom packing kits that include the right mix of box sizes plus materials. Kit prices typically range from $250 to $450. The kit approach saves 15 to 35 percent compared with buying individual boxes at retail, and it ensures you have the right ratio without guesswork.
What about specialty boxes?
Wardrobe boxes
Hanging clothes go straight from one closet to the next. Time saved: 1 to 3 hours per closet.
Dish-pack boxes
Double-walled cardboard with reinforced bottoms. Designed for stacking. Use exclusively for glassware, china, ceramics.
Mirror and picture boxes
Telescoping cardboard with corner protection. Use for framed art, mirrors, glass tabletops.
TV boxes
Specialized for flat-screen televisions. Original boxes are best if you have them; otherwise rent or buy.
Mattress bags
Heavy-duty plastic that fits around the mattress. Protects against humidity, dirt, scuffs and pests.
Packing materials checklist for 2-bedroom
- 30 to 40 small boxes
- 20 to 30 medium boxes
- 10 to 15 large boxes
- 5 to 8 dish-pack boxes
- 2 to 4 wardrobe boxes
- 2 to 4 mirror or picture boxes
- 1 to 2 TV boxes if not using originals
- 6 to 10 rolls of packing tape
- 1 to 2 bundles of packing paper
- 1 roll of bubble wrap
- 4 to 6 markers
- Labels or stickers
- Box cutters (2)
- 1 to 3 mattress bags
Final tips that save time and money
- Start packing the lowest-priority items first (off-season clothes, books, decor)
- Save the kitchen and bathroom for last, the night before the move
- Keep a clearly labeled essentials box for the first 24 hours at the new home
- Photograph cable connections before disassembling electronics
- Use clothing and bedding as filler around fragile items in boxes
- Stack packed boxes in one designated room as you finish each space
- Build an inventory spreadsheet with box numbers and contents for the most important items