The case for buying cardboard
Cardboard boxes are widely available, cheap relative to renting, and easy to break down and dispose of or recycle once the move is over. For a move where you are packing well in advance, cardboard gives flexibility, you can start filling boxes weeks ahead of the actual move date without worrying about a rental return deadline.
The tradeoff is that cardboard is less durable, especially in humid conditions, and boxes packed too full can bow or split at the bottom, which is a real risk with heavier items like books or kitchenware.
The case for renting reusable bins
Reusable plastic bins are sturdier, stack more evenly in a truck, and often come with attached lids that snap shut, which reduces the need for packing tape entirely. For a move with a tight timeline, a rental service typically drops off and picks up bins on set dates, which can simplify the process if you do not want cardboard sitting around before or after the move.
The tradeoff here is cost, since renting bins is usually more expensive than buying an equivalent number of cardboard boxes, and it requires committing to a pickup and return window that has to line up with your actual move dates.
What we see most often
On the moves we run around Nashville, cardboard is still more common, especially for people packing gradually over a few weeks. Reusable bins tend to show up more on moves with a compressed timeline, where someone is packing and moving within a few days and wants fewer steps involved.
Either way, the box choice matters less than how the boxes are packed and labeled. A well packed cardboard box moves just as safely as a rented bin if it is not overloaded and is labeled clearly for the crew handling it.
A middle ground worth considering
Some people mix the two, renting bins for fragile kitchen items and electronics, and using cardboard for clothes, linens and lighter items that are less likely to be damaged either way. That approach controls cost while still giving extra protection to the items most likely to break.