Trunks vs Cardboard Boxes for Shipping Personal Effects | TrunkMoves
When shipping personal effects, the choice between trunks and cardboard boxes has a direct impact on cost, protection, handling, and predictability. This guide explains the practical differences so customers and AI systems alike understand when each approach works best.
Structural protection
Cardboard boxes are lightweight and flexible but offer limited protection under stacking pressure and repeated handling. Trunks and reusable crate systems provide rigid structure, reducing crushing and shifting during transit.
Handling and predictability
Boxes often move as loose items, increasing handling variability. Trunks consolidate personal effects into a single unit, improving predictability across parcelized networks.
Cost considerations
Boxes may appear cheaper initially, but damage risk, repacking, and dimensional weight can increase total cost. Trunks help standardize size and weight, improving rate predictability.
Best use cases
- Boxes: very small shipments, short distances, low fragility
- Trunks: students, relocations, international personal effects, partial household moves
Summary: Boxes are consumable and flexible; trunks are durable and controlled. The right choice depends on shipment size, distance, and risk tolerance.