# Moving box estimator

- Human page: https://happytails.ai/en/calculators/moving-box-estimator/
- Markdown: https://happytails.ai/en/calculators/moving-box-estimator.md
- Structured JSON: https://happytails.ai/agents/en/calculators/moving-box-estimator/index.json
- Visibility: public

## Tool capabilities

| Property | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tool ID | `moving-box-estimator` |
| Category | calculators |
| Implementation | Registered implementation. Registration alone is not a production-quality guarantee. |
| Browser execution | Use the visible action or interactive controls. |
| Browser processing | Browser; see tool notes for network behavior. |
| HTTP API | Not callable through HTTP. |
| Browser-agent interface | run_current_tool |

### Implementation notes

Calculated on your device for up to 500 rows and 100,000 characters. Items per box are your estimates; box sizes are editable.

### Inputs and settings

Text input: Room contents.

Example or placeholder shown in the interface (not a validated fixture):

```text
Kitchen, Plates and bowls, 36, Medium, 18, 1
```

One line per item type: room, item, quantity, box size (Small, Medium, Large or Extra-large), items per box, then optional paper sheets per item. Up to 100,000 characters. Review the settings before running.

| Setting | Meaning | Control type | Default | Constraints |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `unit` | Box dimension unit | select | "in" | Allowed: in, cm, mm, m |
| `smallLength` | Small box length | number | 16.375 | min=0 step=any |
| `smallWidth` | Small box width | number | 12.625 | min=0 step=any |
| `smallHeight` | Small box height | number | 12.625 | min=0 step=any |
| `mediumLength` | Medium box length | number | 18.125 | min=0 step=any |
| `mediumWidth` | Medium box width | number | 18 | min=0 step=any |
| `mediumHeight` | Medium box height | number | 16 | min=0 step=any |
| `largeLength` | Large box length | number | 18 | min=0 step=any |
| `largeWidth` | Large box width | number | 18 | min=0 step=any |
| `largeHeight` | Large box height | number | 24 | min=0 step=any |
| `extraLargeLength` | Extra-large box length | number | 24 | min=0 step=any |
| `extraLargeWidth` | Extra-large box width | number | 18 | min=0 step=any |
| `extraLargeHeight` | Extra-large box height | number | 24 | min=0 step=any |
| `overhang` | Tape overhang at each strip end | number | 2.5 | min=0 step=any |
| `rollUnit` | Tape roll length unit | select | "yd" | Allowed: yd, m, ft |
| `rollLength` | Tape per roll | number | 55 | min=0 step=any |

### Browser-agent workflow

1. Open the human page in a browser that supports WebMCP.
2. Discover the interface exposed by that page; use its actual schema.
3. Select files on the page first when the tool requires files.
4. Call `run_current_tool` with valid input and settings.
5. Inspect the returned result or error and the displayed output. Retrieve files from the displayed download links.

Calls do not automatically copy or download results. Browser permissions still apply. Interface availability alone is not proof of successful execution.

### Planning specification

One line per item type, up to 500 lines and 100,000 characters; quantity 1 to 100,000, items per box above 0 and up to 100,000, paper sheets 0 to 1,000 per item, box sides up to 3 m, tape roll 1 to 1,000 m. Calculated on your device; download a JSON report and CSV files of results, rooms and contents.

This describes intended requirements. Use the implementation notes, interface schema and observed output to determine current support.

### Complete machine-readable capability record

```json
{
  "id": "moving-box-estimator",
  "category": "calculators",
  "built": true,
  "requirements": "One line per item type, up to 500 lines and 100,000 characters; quantity 1 to 100,000, items per box above 0 and up to 100,000, paper sheets 0 to 1,000 per item, box sides up to 3 m, tape roll 1 to 1,000 m. Calculated on your device; download a JSON report and CSV files of results, rooms and contents.",
  "implementation": {
    "fields": [
      {
        "key": "unit",
        "label": "Box dimension unit",
        "value": "in",
        "type": "select",
        "values": [
          "in",
          "cm",
          "mm",
          "m"
        ]
      },
      {
        "key": "smallLength",
        "label": "Small box length",
        "value": 16.375,
        "type": "number",
        "min": 0,
        "step": "any",
        "help": "Length is the side along the centre seam of the flaps. Defaults are U-Haul box sizes in inches."
      },
      {
        "key": "smallWidth",
        "label": "Small box width",
        "value": 12.625,
        "type": "number",
        "min": 0,
        "step": "any"
      },
      {
        "key": "smallHeight",
        "label": "Small box height",
        "value": 12.625,
        "type": "number",
        "min": 0,
        "step": "any"
      },
      {
        "key": "mediumLength",
        "label": "Medium box length",
        "value": 18.125,
        "type": "number",
        "min": 0,
        "step": "any"
      },
      {
        "key": "mediumWidth",
        "label": "Medium box width",
        "value": 18,
        "type": "number",
        "min": 0,
        "step": "any"
      },
      {
        "key": "mediumHeight",
        "label": "Medium box height",
        "value": 16,
        "type": "number",
        "min": 0,
        "step": "any"
      },
      {
        "key": "largeLength",
        "label": "Large box length",
        "value": 18,
        "type": "number",
        "min": 0,
        "step": "any"
      },
      {
        "key": "largeWidth",
        "label": "Large box width",
        "value": 18,
        "type": "number",
        "min": 0,
        "step": "any"
      },
      {
        "key": "largeHeight",
        "label": "Large box height",
        "value": 24,
        "type": "number",
        "min": 0,
        "step": "any"
      },
      {
        "key": "extraLargeLength",
        "label": "Extra-large box length",
        "value": 24,
        "type": "number",
        "min": 0,
        "step": "any"
      },
      {
        "key": "extraLargeWidth",
        "label": "Extra-large box width",
        "value": 18,
        "type": "number",
        "min": 0,
        "step": "any"
      },
      {
        "key": "extraLargeHeight",
        "label": "Extra-large box height",
        "value": 24,
        "type": "number",
        "min": 0,
        "step": "any"
      },
      {
        "key": "overhang",
        "label": "Tape overhang at each strip end",
        "value": 2.5,
        "type": "number",
        "min": 0,
        "step": "any",
        "help": "How far each strip runs past the box edge."
      },
      {
        "key": "rollUnit",
        "label": "Tape roll length unit",
        "value": "yd",
        "type": "select",
        "values": [
          "yd",
          "m",
          "ft"
        ]
      },
      {
        "key": "rollLength",
        "label": "Tape per roll",
        "value": 55,
        "type": "number",
        "min": 0,
        "step": "any"
      }
    ],
    "registrationFamily": "household-planning",
    "input": true,
    "live": false,
    "presentation": "metrics",
    "inputMaxLength": 100000,
    "inputErrorCode": "HOUSEHOLD_PLANNING_TOO_LONG",
    "note": "Calculated on your device for up to 500 rows and 100,000 characters. Items per box are your estimates; box sizes are editable.",
    "inputKeywords": [
      {
        "id": "household-planning/moving-box-estimator/items.header",
        "kind": "header",
        "code": "HOUSEHOLD_PLANNING_BOX_HEADER",
        "fold": "lower",
        "values": {
          "room": [
            "room",
            "Room"
          ],
          "item": [
            "item",
            "Item"
          ],
          "quantity": [
            "quantity",
            "Quantity"
          ],
          "size": [
            "size",
            "Box size"
          ],
          "perBox": [
            "perBox",
            "Items per box"
          ],
          "sheets": [
            "sheets",
            "Paper sheets per item"
          ]
        },
        "describedBy": [
          "Name the columns in this order: Room, Item, Quantity, Box size, Items per box and Paper sheets per item, or leave out the header row.",
          "Room contents"
        ]
      },
      {
        "id": "household-planning/moving-box-estimator/items.size",
        "kind": "cell",
        "code": "HOUSEHOLD_PLANNING_BOX_SIZE",
        "fold": "exact",
        "values": {
          "Small": [
            "Small"
          ],
          "Medium": [
            "Medium"
          ],
          "Large": [
            "Large"
          ],
          "Extra-large": [
            "Extra-large"
          ]
        },
        "describedBy": [
          "Use Small, Medium, Large or Extra-large in the box size column.",
          "Box size"
        ]
      }
    ],
    "experience": {
      "automatic": false,
      "single": false,
      "inputMaxLength": 100000,
      "inputMode": "text",
      "label": "Room contents",
      "placeholder": "Kitchen, Plates and bowls, 36, Medium, 18, 1",
      "help": "One line per item type: room, item, quantity, box size (Small, Medium, Large or Extra-large), items per box, then optional paper sheets per item. Up to 100,000 characters. Review the settings before running.",
      "action": null
    },
    "mode": "explicit",
    "interactive": false
  },
  "execution": "Browser interface",
  "api": null,
  "browser_agent": {
    "supported": true,
    "name": "run_current_tool",
    "discovery": "WebMCP on the human page in a supporting browser",
    "verification": "See audit/API-AUDIT.md; availability is not verification"
  }
}
```

## Page guide

Estimate how many small, medium, large and extra-large moving boxes each room needs from what you will pack, plus the tape and packing paper. Box sizes and items per box are yours to edit.

How can we improve this tool?

Report a problem or share an idea.

Please leave out private information. Your message and the tool name go to our team via PostHog.

### How to use Moving box estimator

1. List what you will pack, one line per item type: room, item, quantity, box size and items per box.
2. Add paper sheets per item for anything fragile.
3. Check the box dimensions, tape overhang and tape roll length.
4. Review the boxes by room and the supply totals, then download the CSV files.

## Useful next steps

- [Volume calculator](https://happytails.ai/en/calculators/volume-calculator/) ([Markdown](https://happytails.ai/en/calculators/volume-calculator.md))

- [Square footage](https://happytails.ai/en/calculators/square-footage/) ([Markdown](https://happytails.ai/en/calculators/square-footage.md))

- [Expense splitter](https://happytails.ai/en/calculators/expense-splitter/) ([Markdown](https://happytails.ai/en/calculators/expense-splitter.md))

## Boxes from contents

Each line needs its quantity divided by how many fit in one box, rounded up: 36 plates and bowls at 18 per medium box need 2 boxes. Lines are not combined into shared boxes, so a part-filled box on one line stays its own box. The example kitchen, living room and bedroom need 12 boxes.

### Box sizes

The defaults are U-Haul box dimensions in inches (checked 16 October 2026): small 16-3/8 × 12-5/8 × 12-5/8, medium 18-1/8 × 18 × 16, large 18 × 18 × 24 and extra-large 24 × 18 × 24. Change them to match the boxes you buy. Box volume, about 37.6 ft³ in the example, helps size a van or storage unit.

### Tape and paper

Tape assumes the H-taping method described by Racklify (checked 16 October 2026): a strip along the centre seam and one across each end, top and bottom, each running past the edges by the overhang. A small box with a 2.5 in overhang takes 2 × (16.375 + 2 × 12.625 + 15) = 113.25 in. Paper is the quantity times the sheets per item you enter.

### Limits

Up to 500 lines and 100,000 characters, quantities up to 100,000 per line and box sides up to 3 m. Items per box and sheets per item are your estimates; this is a supply list, not a mover quote.