Creating profitable moving kits requires more than just bundling boxes. To succeed, retailers must understand what customers actually need and how to add value that justifies the price. This guide provides a clear blueprint for building kits that sell.

This wholesale kit guide covers the essential items for a standard apartment, how to source components like bags and tape, and strategies for custom branding. These steps help retailers create high-margin products that meet customer demand.

The “Moving Kit” Business Model: Bundling for Profit

💡 The “moving kit” model bundles physical supplies like boxes and tape for resale. While it’s a potential revenue stream, professional movers find much higher profit margins by bundling high-value services. For example, franchisees who focus on services can achieve margins of 25-30%, a significant jump from the industry average.

Defining the Moving Kit Concept

A moving kit is a pre-packaged bundle of essential supplies designed to simplify the customer’s packing process. The goal is to create a convenient, all-in-one solution that generates an additional sale.

These kits typically target direct-to-consumer sales or act as a value-add for clients of a moving company. Common items include:

• ✅ A variety of cardboard box sizes
• ✅ Packing tape and dispensers
• ✅ Markers for labeling
• ✅ Protective materials like bubble wrap or packing paper

Service Bundling: The Real Profit Driver for Movers

While selling supplies can add to the top line, data shows that moving companies boost profitability by bundling services, not just physical products. High-margin services are the core of a successful moving business, with supplies often playing a supplementary role.

The difference in profitability is stark. While the moving industry’s average profit margin hovers around 4.3%, franchisees who master service bundling can push that figure to 25-30%.

Strategy	Focus	Potential Margin
Product Bundling (Kits)	Reselling physical goods like boxes & tape	Lower (supplements core revenue)
Service Bundling	Packing, storage, specialized item handling	High (25-30% for top performers)

Market Gaps and Opportunities for Wholesalers

There’s a notable lack of specific data on the profitability and market demand for pre-assembled moving kits. This information gap isn’t a dead end—it’s an opportunity for wholesale suppliers to step in and create value for moving companies.

🚀 Wholesalers can fill this void by providing moving companies with turnkey solutions. Instead of leaving movers to source and assemble kits themselves, suppliers can offer:

• Ready-Made Kits: Tiered packages (e.g., “1-Bedroom Kit,” “3-Bedroom Kit”) that are ready to be branded and resold.
• Market Insights: Data, case studies, and pricing guidance to help movers sell these kits effectively.
• Full Customization: In our experience, offering customizable options—from box sizes to branded heavy-duty moving bags—allows moving companies to create unique, high-value bundles that align with their brand and service tiers.

Essential Items for a 1-Bedroom Apartment Kit

💡 A standard 1-bedroom apartment moving kit typically includes 18-31 boxes of varying sizes, such as small, medium, large, dish, and wardrobe boxes. It also comes with essential supplies like packing tape, bubble wrap, packing paper, and markers for a complete packing solution.

Core Box Composition and Count

For retailers stocking moving supplies, a typical 1-bedroom apartment kit serves as a foundational offering. These kits are designed to provide a comprehensive solution for a small-scale move. In our experience, the total box count is a key selling point, generally ranging from 18 to 31 boxes per kit.

The assortment is just as important as the quantity. A well-balanced kit contains a strategic mix of standard and specialty boxes to handle various household items. The standard composition includes:

• ✅ Small & Medium Boxes: For heavier items like books, kitchen gadgets, and tools.
• ✅ Large Boxes: Ideal for lighter, bulkier items such as linens, lampshades, and clothing.
• ✅ Dish Boxes: Specially designed with reinforced walls to protect fragile kitchenware like plates and glasses.
• ✅ Wardrobe Boxes: Equipped with a metal bar for hanging clothes, preventing wrinkles and simplifying unpacking.

Essential Packing and Sealing Supplies

A moving kit is incomplete without the necessary supplies to secure and protect its contents. These non-box items are critical for ensuring items arrive safely, making them a vital component for any wholesale package.

A complete 1-bedroom kit should contain a practical assortment of materials. Common inclusions are:

• Sealing Materials: Expect 2 to 8 rolls of high-quality packing tape. Many kits also include a dispenser or cutter to improve packing efficiency.
• Protective Materials: Cushioning is non-negotiable. Kits typically provide 10-24 lbs of packing paper for wrapping everyday items and bubble wrap for more delicate valuables.
• Labeling Tools: One or more permanent markers are standard. Clear labeling helps movers place boxes in the correct rooms and simplifies the entire unpacking process.

Market Pricing and Logistics Standards

Understanding the market benchmarks for pricing and logistics is crucial for retailers. These figures help in setting competitive prices and managing customer expectations regarding delivery.

Based on industry data, here are the common standards for a new, comprehensive 1-bedroom moving kit:

Metric	Wholesale Benchmark
Standard Pricing	$225 – $255 per kit
Total Assembled Weight	78 – 80+ lbs
🚀 Common Delivery Terms	Free shipping with a 2-3 business day window

Custom Branding Your Kits for Resale

Custom branding kits for resale is a strategy where moving supply retailers add their logo and branding to packaging. This creates a memorable customer experience, drives referrals, and offers a permanent marketing tool during critical moments like moving day.

The Strategic Benefits of Custom Branding

Putting your brand directly on moving kits transforms a simple product into a powerful marketing asset. When your customers move, your logo is on display for friends, family, and new neighbors to see, generating organic referrals at the exact moment people are thinking about moving services.

• ✅ Permanent Marketing: Your branded kits act as a mobile billboard during the entire moving process, boosting brand recall and generating new leads.
• 🚀 Unforgettable Impression: A professionally branded kit communicates quality and attention to detail, strengthening customer trust and loyalty from the start.
• 💡 Enhanced Visibility: Branding reinforces your company’s presence at every touchpoint, making your business the go-to choice for future moves or supply needs.

Key Cost-Saving Features for Resellers

We’ve structured our wholesale program to lower the barrier to entry for resellers. You can start offering custom-branded kits without a massive upfront investment, making it easier to manage cash flow and test new product lines.

• ✅ Ordering Flexibility: In our experience, high minimums can stifle growth. That’s why we often require no minimum order quantities, allowing you to order what you need, when you need it.
• ✅ Eliminated Fees: We provide free die plate setups and free nationwide shipping on qualifying orders. This removes hidden costs and simplifies your budget.
• ✅ Bulk Savings: As your business scales, your savings grow. We offer tiered discounts, frequently starting at 5% for orders over $1,000, to reward your continued partnership.

Streamlined Production and Logistics

Getting your custom-branded inventory shouldn’t be a logistical headache. Our process is designed for speed and reliability, so you can keep your shelves stocked and meet customer demand without long waits.

This allows you to align your inventory levels with seasonal demand or promotional campaigns effectively.

• Standard Turnaround: The average production time for custom orders is just 4-6 business days.
• Rush Options: For in-stock items, we can often expedite the process and have your order ready in as little as 2-3 business days.

Available Branding and Customization Options

Your brand is unique, and your packaging should reflect that. We offer a wide range of customization options to create a kit that stands out and aligns perfectly with your company’s identity. Our team can provide free mockups, often within 12 hours, to help you visualize the final product.

• Logo and Brand Name: Print your logo directly on kits using high-quality methods like silk screen or full-color heat transfer for a durable, professional finish.
• Unique Color Palettes: Choose from dozens of material colors or provide a Pantone code for precise brand matching.
• Complete Branded Solutions: Extend your branding beyond the primary kit. We can also produce custom-branded tape and poly mailers for a cohesive and fully professional customer experience.

Pricing Strategy: How to Markup Your Kit

Marking up your wholesale kit is a straightforward cost-plus process. First, calculate your total costs, including all materials, labor, overhead, and shipping. Then, add a standard profit margin—often 20-30%—to determine your wholesale price. This price should typically be about 40% below the final retail price you set for customers.

Calculate Your Total Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)

Before you can set a profitable price, you need to know exactly how much each kit costs to create and deliver. This baseline number, your Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), is the foundation of your entire pricing strategy. A precise calculation prevents you from accidentally selling at a loss.

Break down your expenses into these key areas:

• Direct Materials: Account for every physical component in the kit. This includes the boxes themselves, packing tape, bubble wrap, labels, and any specialty items like our durable, reusable moving bags.
• Direct Labor: Factor in the time and wages required for your team to assemble each kit.
• Overhead: Allocate a portion of your fixed business expenses, such as warehouse rent, utilities, and other operational costs that support production.
• Shipping & Freight: Include the cost of getting the finished kits from your facility to your retail locations or distribution centers.

Implement a Cost-Plus Pricing Model

Once you have a solid COGS figure, you can use a cost-plus pricing model to ensure profitability on every sale. This method involves adding a predetermined profit margin directly to your total cost.

Here’s how it works in practice:

• ✅ Set a Wholesale Price: Add a standard profit margin, typically between 20-30%, to your total COGS. For example, if your COGS is $10, a 30% markup would make your wholesale price $13.
• ✅ Determine the Retail Price: Work backward from the retail price (MSRP) you want to offer. Your wholesale price should generally be around 40% lower than the final retail price. So, a $13 wholesale price would support a retail price of approximately $21.67.
• ⚠️ Protect Your Margins: As a rule of thumb, ensure your wholesale price is never more than a 50% discount off the retail price. This protects your profitability and leaves room for promotions without erasing your earnings.

Use Strategic Tactics to Maximize Profitability

Basic cost-plus pricing gets you in the game, but strategic adjustments help you win. Going beyond a simple markup can increase your average order value (AOV) and encourage larger, more frequent purchases from customers like professional moving companies or storage facilities.

Consider these proven tactics:

• 💡 Tiered Volume Discounts: Encourage bulk purchases by offering escalating discounts. For example, you might offer 5% off for orders of 100+ kits and 10% off for 500+ units. This incentivizes larger clients to consolidate their orders with you.
• 🚀 Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs): Set an MOQ to make sure that every transaction, no matter how small, is profitable after accounting for labor and processing costs. In our experience, this is critical for managing wholesale accounts efficiently.
• 📦 Product Bundling: Increase the perceived value and AOV by bundling complementary items. You could create a “premium” moving kit by bundling standard boxes with high-value items like our custom-branded, heavy-duty moving bags and specialty padding.
• 📈 Dynamic Pricing: Adjust your prices based on market factors. You can slightly increase prices during peak moving season (spring and summer) and offer promotions during slower months to manage inventory and stimulate demand.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should be in a moving kit?

A complete moving kit typically includes three main categories of supplies:

• ✅ Boxes & Containers: A variety of sizes is essential, including small, medium, large, and wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes.
• ✅ Cushioning & Securing: This includes materials like bubble wrap and ink-free packing paper to protect items, along with heavy-duty packing tape to secure boxes.
• ✅ Tools & Equipment: Organizational tools like labels and markers are crucial for tracking contents. For protection and efficiency, you’ll also need moving blankets for furniture, a hand truck or dolly for heavy items, and work gloves for safety.

How many boxes do I need for a 3-bedroom house?

For an average 3-bedroom house, a good starting point is around 74 boxes. This usually includes a mix of small, medium, large, extra-large, and wardrobe boxes.

However, the total can vary significantly, with estimates ranging from 70 to 125 boxes. The final number depends on factors like how long you’ve lived in the home, the number of occupants, and the overall volume of your belongings.

Where can I buy complete moving kits?

You can purchase complete moving kits from major wholesale suppliers that specialize in packing and moving materials. Some of the well-known providers include uBoxes, The Boxery, and StarBoxes.

These companies are ideal for businesses like moving companies or realtors because they offer bulk discounts, pre-packaged kits for different home sizes, and wholesale programs.

Is it cheaper to buy a moving kit?

Yes, buying a moving kit is almost always more cost-effective than purchasing each item individually. The bundled price takes advantage of bulk savings.

Items like tape, bubble wrap, and packing paper can add an extra $50 to $100 if bought separately. For example, a 42-box kit with supplies might cost around $89, whereas the individual items could total between $126 and $158.

How do I start a moving supply business?

Starting a moving supply business involves a few key steps:

1. Plan and Register: Create a solid business plan, register your company legally, and secure all necessary business licenses and insurance.
2. Source and Store Inventory: Invest in initial inventory like boxes, tape, and packing materials. You will also need to secure a warehouse or storage facility.
3. Set Up Operations: Implement systems for payment processing and inventory management to handle orders efficiently.

💡 A major advantage is that a supply business has lower startup costs than a full-service moving company. You don’t need to invest in commercial vehicles or obtain transportation-specific licenses like a USDOT number.

What are the best moving kits on Amazon?

Our research did not include a direct comparison or ranking of specific moving kits sold on Amazon.

To find the best option for your needs, we recommend searching on Amazon directly. You can then evaluate different kits based on their contents, pricing, customer reviews, and seller ratings to make an informed decision.

Final Thoughts

Building a profitable moving kit business is about more than just bundling cardboard boxes. The market is shifting toward durable, reusable bags as the centerpiece of a premium offering. By sourcing high-quality components and adding custom branding, you can create a product that stands out. This approach transforms a moving kit from a disposable commodity into a valuable, professional solution that reflects a commitment to quality and leaves a lasting impression on customers.

This strategic shift isn’t just about modernizing your inventory; it’s about building a more resilient revenue stream. Branded, high-quality kits command better margins and act as powerful marketing tools, generating referrals long after the move is complete. Partnering with a supplier who understands these components and offers flexible, custom solutions simplifies the entire process, allowing you to focus on growing your business.