Bins or boxes
The comparison, with the figures we can prove.
The site has long claimed the bin beats cardboard. Here is what that rests on: dimensions, volumes and firm prices. And, further down, what we do not quantify — because we do not know it.
Per container
The bin holds 63% more.
These are not new measurements: they are the two formats our FAQ has compared since the old site. The calculation is a division — 1.63 ordinary boxes per bin, at equal volume.
| Measurement | GoBAC bin | Ordinary cardboard box |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 27″ × 17″ × 12″ | 18″ × 15″ × 12.5″ |
| Volume | 3.19 cu ft | 1.95 cu ft |
| Lid | Attached, nothing to assemble | To fold and seal |
| After the move | Collected at your door | To empty, flatten and put out for recycling |
Per home
How many containers, and for how much.
The left column is our packages exactly as sold. The box column is how many would be needed to carry the same volume — a calculation, not a hardware-store quote.
| Home | GoBAC bins | Volume | Ordinary boxes, at equal volume | GoBAC price, first week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio or 1 bedroom · ~600 sq ft | 25 | 79.69 cu ft | 41 | $79 |
| 2 bedrooms · ~1,000 sq ft | 35 | 111.56 cu ft | 57 | $109 |
| 3 bedrooms · ~1,400 sq ft | 50 | 159.38 cu ft | 82 | $149 |
| 4 bedrooms · ~1,800 sq ft | 70 | 223.13 cu ft | 114 | $219 |
| 5+ bedrooms · ~2,200+ sq ft | 90 | 286.88 cu ft | 147 | $279 |
Prices are before tax and without transportation, which is calculated separately by driving distance from our depot. The box count is rounded to the nearest unit. See all prices →
What we do not know
What we do not quantify, and why.
A numbers comparison built on invented numbers turns against whoever published it the day a customer checks. So here is what is missing, stated plainly.
We do not sell cardboard and therefore have no price of our own. The market price depends on the supplier, the size and the quantity. Compare our prices, which are firm, with your own invoice.
We have not timed the assembly of a cardboard box. What we do know is on the other side: the bin arrives assembled, its two lids are attached, and there is no tape.
How many rolls for a move? It depends on the size of the boxes and on the person. The bin needs none.
A bin comes back, is washed and goes out again. We do not publish a number of reuses: that would be an inventory average, not a measurement.
Common questions
Bins or boxes, in practice.
Volume, quantity, what happens to the bin — and why the price of cardboard is not on this page.
Does one bin replace exactly one box?
It holds more: 3.19 cu ft against 1.95 cu ft for an ordinary cardboard box, which is 63% more volume per container. For the same volume you therefore need fewer bins than boxes.
How many bins for my home?
Our packages are built on that: 25 bins for a studio or one bedroom, 35 for two bedrooms, 50 for three, 70 for four, 90 beyond that. The calculator on the home page refines it by type of home.
What happens to the bin after my move?
We come and collect it on the agreed date. It is washed and rented again. You have nothing to flatten, nothing to carry down to the recycling and nothing to store "just in case".
Why do you not compare your prices with new cardboard?
Because we have no cardboard price of our own, and the market price depends on the supplier, the size and the quantity. Inventing a figure to win the comparison would lose it the day a customer checks. Our prices are firm: compare them with your own invoice.
Does the bin hold up in rain and below freezing?
Rigid plastic does not soften in a downpour and does not crack below freezing, and the attached lids stay closed between the door and the truck. It is the difference our customers mention most.