The short answer
Renting plastic crates is safer, cleaner, and more efficient than using cardboard boxes
Hiring plastic moving crates is the modern standard for both residential and commercial London moves. These heavy-duty containers protect your belongings from rain and impacts, stack perfectly without collapsing, and are delivered directly to your door and collected from your new address once your move is completed.
- Plastic moving crates are made from tough, recycled plastic with attached interlocking lids.
- They prevent crushing and damage to fragile items, unlike cardboard boxes which collapse under weight.
- Ideal for London weather, crates protect your belongings from rain and moisture during loading.
- Crate rental services handle the logistics by delivering clean crates and collecting 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 specifically designed for packing and transporting items during relocations. Unlike standard storage bins, moving crates feature integrated interlocking lids (lidded crates) that swing open and seal shut securely, eliminating the need for packing tape.
These crates are designed to nest inside one another when empty, saving space in your home or office before the move. When full, they stack securely on top of each other, utilizing the vertical space in removal vans safely. Their rigid structure ensures that the items inside are never crushed, regardless of how high they are stacked.
Plastic Crates vs. Cardboard Boxes
While cardboard boxes have been the traditional choice for packing, plastic moving crates offer significant advantages in terms of safety, durability, and convenience, especially for moves within busy urban environments like London.
1. Durability and Strength
Cardboard boxes are susceptible to moisture, tearing, and collapsing. If a heavy box is stacked on top of a weaker one, the bottom box can buckle, damaging your valuables. Plastic crates are rigid and crush-resistant, capable of holding heavy items like books, kitchenware, and files without bending.
2. Weather Protection
London weather is famously unpredictable. Carrying cardboard boxes to and from the van during a sudden rain shower can weaken the cardboard, causing the bottom to drop out. Plastic crates are completely waterproof, keeping your belongings dry and secure in any weather condition.
3. Convenience and Speed
Building cardboard boxes requires folding, taping, and labeling. Once the move is over, you have to cut the tape, fold the boxes down, and find a way to recycle them. Plastic crates require no assembly—you simply open the lid, pack, and close. They are delivered ready-to-use and collected when you are done, saving you time and effort.
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
Renting moving crates is a straightforward process designed to fit around your relocation schedule. Here is the step-by-step workflow of how it works:
1. Book Your Crate Package
Choose a crate package based on your property size or the number of office desks you need to relocate. Standard hire periods are usually 1 to 2 weeks, which gives you ample time to pack before moving day and unpack at your new home.
2. Delivery to Your Door
The crate company delivers clean, sanitized plastic crates, along with moving labels and security seals, directly to your current address at a scheduled time slot.
3. Move and Collection
On moving day, your removals team loads and stacks the crates quickly in the van. Once you arrive at your new property and finish unpacking, the crate company collects the empty crates, saving you from dealing with pileups of empty cardboard waste.
Choosing Crate Sizes and Quantities
Determining how many crates you need is key to a smooth packing process. Here are the typical crate sizes and package recommendations for different property layouts.
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
To maximize the safety of your belongings and speed up loading on moving day, follow these practical crate packing tips:
- Do Not Overfill: Ensure items do not spill over the top edge of the crate so the interlocking lids can close flat. If the lids cannot close, the crates cannot be stacked.
- Pack Heavy Items at the Bottom: Place heavier items like books or plates at the bottom of the crate, and lighter items on top to maintain stability.
- Use Packing Paper for Fragile Items: Wrap plates, glasses, and ornaments in packing paper or bubble wrap before placing them in the crate. Fill any empty gaps with packing paper to prevent items from shifting.
- Use Security Seals: If you are packing sensitive documents, jewelry, or high-value electronics, use plastic security zip-ties or seals to lock the lids shut.
- Label Every Crate: Apply removable labels to the designated side panels of the crates, listing the destination room and brief contents. Avoid placing labels directly on the plastic lids as they can leave sticky residue.
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 London 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.
