Calculation method
How the moving-box calculator works
The calculator uses its own transparent planning model. External rules of thumb are used only as plausibility checks and are not presented as scientifically exact standards.
Quick mode: the formula
First, the basic requirement for standard moving boxes is calculated. Separately selected book, wardrobe and crockery boxes plus storage areas are then added.
Standard boxes before storage areas 0.28 × floor area (m²) + 1.5 × rooms + 1.8 × people + 0.35 × years in the home. Years in the home are capped at 20. The household-volume factor is then applied to this value.
| Input | Definition in the calculator |
|---|---|
| Household contents: low / average / high | −20% / base value / +25% on the basic standard-box requirement. User definition: low = cupboards and shelves mostly less than 50% full or heavily decluttered; average = mostly around 50–80%; high = mostly over 80% or many small items. |
| Kitchen | 1 / 3 / 5 crockery boxes |
| Books and files | 1 / 4 / 9 book boxes |
| Clothing | 1 / 2 / 4 wardrobe boxes |
| Cellar / storage room | +3 / +6 / +9 standard boxes |
| Attic / garage / outdoor area | +3 / +4 / +2 standard boxes |
Detailed mode: what do low, average and high mean?
These labels are no longer hidden categories. The resulting box count is shown directly in the selector. Mathematically, the levels correspond to 55%, 100% and 155% of the base value for the relevant item group. If you know the quantity more precisely, you can enter an exact number of boxes instead.
Box types, volume and weight
| Type | Planning volume per unit | Approx. packed weight |
|---|---|---|
| Standard moving box | 0.067 m³ | 15 kg |
| Book box | 0.07 m³ | 22 kg |
| Wardrobe box | 0.405 m³ | 10 kg |
| Crockery box | 0.1 m³ | 18 kg |
One data source across the portal The moving-box calculator and load-volume calculator use the same box values. This prevents different volume or weight assumptions between the tools.
Reserve and transfer to the load-volume calculator
The selected box reserve is added to each box type and rounded up to whole boxes. These exact visible quantities are then transferred to the load-volume calculator.
After a box transfer, the separate load-space buffer starts at 0%. This prevents the box reserve already included from being counted a second time as a volume reserve. You can still deliberately add an additional load-space buffer afterwards.
External plausibility values
There is no generally binding standard formula for the number of moving boxes. Published rules of thumb vary: Stadtwerke Münster, for example, mentions around 30 boxes for a single-person household and an additional 20 to 25 boxes for each additional person; umziehen.de gives around 20 to 25 boxes for single-person households and about 15 to 20 per additional person in larger households. We use such values only as broad plausibility ranges.
Limits of the estimate
- No guaranteed box or material quantity
- Households of the same size can contain very different amounts of belongings
- Weight figures are planning values and do not replace weighing
- Volume does not replace checking the vehicle payload
- Your own measurements and exact box quantities are more precise than categories