Pack pots, soil, tools, and decor with confidence. Get smart box recommendations and weight checks. Move your garden supplies safely, neatly, and faster.
Tip: Use small cartons for soil and dense supplies. Use medium cartons for fragile decor and planters. Adjust buffers if you add padding.
Use this example to understand typical volumes and weights for common garden moves.
| Item group | Count | Liters each | Kg each | Line liters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pots / Planters | 6 | 12 | 1.2 | 72 |
| Soil / Compost Bags | 2 | 25 | 12 | 50 |
| Tools (hand tools) | 12 | 1 | 0.5 | 12 |
| Example totals | 134 L |
If you choose a 50×40×35 cm box (70 L) with 12% buffer and 1.08 waste, you’ll usually need about 3 boxes for this sample list.
Garden items waste space because shapes rarely stack tightly. The calculator totals item liters, then applies a waste factor and a cushioning buffer. This produces an effective packed volume that better matches real boxes. Use higher buffers when you add paper, wrap, or dividers. Keep totals realistic by entering average liters per item, not the outside size of every pot.
Soil, compost, and amendments create most lifting risk. The tool also totals kilograms and estimates average weight per box using the recommended count. If the average exceeds your target, split dense items into smaller cartons, or increase the box count. A practical target is 15–22 kg depending on stairs, vehicle height, and who carries. The warning helps prevent crushed boxes and injuries.
Ceramic planters and decor need extra clearance for padding. Mark fragile groups as level 2 to add an additional percentage to their volume contribution. This extra room supports corner guards, bubble wrap, and void fill. Combine that with clear labels and top‑load placement. Reducing pressure points is more effective than using one oversized box.
One box size rarely fits everything. The suggested mix is a heuristic that increases small boxes when heavy materials dominate, and keeps more medium boxes when fragile volume is higher. Small boxes protect heavy contents from bottom blowouts, while medium boxes improve stack stability. Large and XL boxes work best for light, bulky items such as empty trays and lightweight decor.
Stage boxes, labels, and liners first. Bag loose soil, close lids, and tape sharp tool edges. Place heavy items at the bottom, then cushion and fill voids to stop shifting. Keep live plants and damp materials ventilated and upright. Print the PDF for helpers and use the CSV as a labeling list. A consistent plan speeds loading and protects your garden supplies during transit today.
Use the internal space the item occupies in a box. For pots, estimate the bowl volume plus rim clearance. For tools, use bundled volume. When unsure, measure a sample container and convert cm³ to liters by dividing by 1000.
Use 1.05 for uniform items that stack well. Use 1.08 to 1.15 for mixed shapes like planters and decor. Increase toward 1.20 when packing odd angles, handles, or many small gaps.
Extra boxes usually come from cushioning buffer, fragile extra, or airflow care. These settings intentionally reserve room for padding and safe spacing. Reduce them only if you are confident your items pack tightly without protection.
Pack dense materials in small cartons and keep them below your weight target. Double-bag to prevent leaks, tape seams, and place liners under bags. Avoid combining soil with fragile pots in the same box.
The mix increases small boxes when heavy items dominate, and increases medium boxes when fragile volume is higher. It is a practical starting point, not a strict rule. Adjust based on what cartons you have available.
Yes. Download the CSV for a sortable packing list and labels. Download the PDF for a simple one-page summary with totals, box count, and a category breakdown. Share these files with anyone helping you load.
Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.