Where to Get Moving Boxes in the Hill Country

Boxes are the one packing supply almost everyone underestimates — and running out mid-move on a Saturday afternoon is a special kind of frustrating. The good news is that San Antonio and the Hill Country have plenty of free and low-cost sources if you know where to look, plus a few situations where paying for a purpose-built box is genuinely worth it.

Free sources worth trying first

Grocery stores

H-E-B locations across San Antonio and the Hill Country receive deliveries daily and usually have a surplus of boxes to give away. Early morning or late evening, right around delivery times, is your best shot. A quick word with a manager goes a long way — most are happy to set boxes aside if you ask ahead rather than just showing up and digging through the back.

Liquor stores

Liquor store boxes are some of the sturdiest free boxes you’ll find, and many already have built-in cardboard dividers — perfect for glassware, kitchenware, or anything else you don’t want clinking around during transport. Most liquor stores are glad to hand these over, especially if you swing by shortly after a delivery truck has come through.

Warehouse and big-box stores

Costco, Sam’s Club, and similar warehouse retailers generate a steady stream of large, sturdy boxes. Ask at customer service or near the loading area — staff usually know exactly which boxes are about to be broken down and recycled anyway.

Bookstores and libraries

Bookstores go through box shipments constantly and their boxes are typically built to handle serious weight, which makes them ideal for your own book collection. Libraries receive similar shipments and are often just as willing to part with empty boxes.

Facebook Marketplace and local Buy Nothing groups

Search “moving boxes” on Facebook Marketplace for San Antonio, Boerne, or Kerrville and you’ll usually find several listings from people who just finished unpacking and want the boxes gone. Local Buy Nothing groups work the same way — post that you’re looking, and someone nearby likely has a stack sitting in their garage right now.

Your own workplace

Don’t overlook where you work. Offices, retail stores, and restaurants all receive regular shipments, and coworkers are often happy to save a few boxes if you simply ask a week or two ahead of your move.

When it’s worth buying new

Free boxes work well for the bulk of a move, but a few categories are worth paying for:

• Dish packs — reinforced, cell-divided boxes built specifically for plates, glasses, and bowls.
• Wardrobe boxes — tall boxes with a hanging bar so clothes travel on hangers instead of getting folded and wrinkled.
• Mattress boxes or bags — protect mattresses from dirt and moisture during loading and transport.
• Picture and mirror boxes — flat, adjustable boxes sized for artwork and mirrors.

U-Haul locations in Kerrville and Boerne, along with Home Depot and Lowe’s throughout the San Antonio area, carry all of these new. It’s a reasonable trade: a small purchase for the items most likely to be damaged by an ill-fitting, reused box.

Where to look: quick comparison

Source	Cost	Best for	Watch out for
H-E-B / grocery stores	Free	General household items	Inconsistent sizes; ask early or late in the day
Liquor stores	Free	Glassware, kitchenware	Limited quantity; visit after a delivery
Costco / Sam’s Club	Free	Large, bulky items	Bulkier sizes, less uniform
Facebook Marketplace / Buy Nothing	Free	Whole sets in one trip	Requires timing and coordination
U-Haul / Home Depot / Lowe’s	Paid	Dish packs, wardrobe, mattress, picture boxes	Only worth it for specialty categories

How many boxes will you actually need?

There’s no single right number, but a workable rule of thumb is roughly 10 boxes per room for an average household — adjusted up or down based on how much you own. A studio or one-bedroom apartment typically needs a modest stack. A larger Hill Country home, especially one with a garage full of tools or outdoor and ranch equipment, will need noticeably more. It’s always better to gather a few extra than to run out with half a room still unpacked.

How to vet a free box before you trust it with your stuff

Not every free box deserves to hold your belongings. Before you fill one, check for:

• Dampness or water stains — a weakened box can collapse under weight partway through a move.
• Torn seams or crushed corners — structural damage that will only get worse once it’s loaded.
• Any sign of pests — inspect thoroughly, especially boxes that have been sitting in a garage or storage area.
• A lingering smell — a box that smells like its previous contents (particularly from liquor or grocery deliveries) may transfer that smell to your things.

A quick thirty-second inspection per box is worth it. Reject anything that fails, since a collapsed box mid-carry is a genuine safety risk, not just an inconvenience.

If gathering boxes isn’t worth your time

If box-hunting sounds like one more thing on an already long list, RiverHills Moving can bring quality boxes and packing materials directly to you as part of our packing services — sized and stocked for your specific move, with no scavenging required.

Ready to plan your move? Contact us or call (830) 329-7272 for a transparent, no-obligation quote covering packing, boxes, or the whole move from start to finish.