Guide
QR labels for moving boxes: three free ways to do it
Last updated: July 2026
QR labels on moving boxes work like this: you stick a QR code on the box, link it to a list of what's inside in an inventory app, and later you either scan the code to see the contents or search the app to find which box holds what. The code itself is just an ID; the app is what makes it useful. Below are three free ways to get labels on your boxes.
iPhone & iPad · iOS 17+ · Free to start
Method 1 — Detailed labels (Avery 5163)
Avery 5163 is a 2" × 4" shipping-label sheet, 10 labels per page. It's the format most people picture when they hear "moving box label." Each label carries the box number, a friendly name (e.g. "Kitchen — Baking"), the destination room, a short tag list, and a QR code linking to that box in your inventory.
The upside: someone can read the label without scanning anything, which matters on moving day when the movers are stacking boxes in rooms. The downside: you have to decide what's in the box before you print. If you're the "pack first, sort later" type, Method 2 is friendlier.
Use this method when: you're packing systematically, one room at a time, and you know what's in the box by the time it's taped shut.
Method 2 — Blank claim sheets (Avery 5160)
Avery 5160 is a smaller address-label sheet, 30 labels per page. Print one sheet — or two, or five — of blank QR codes at the very start, before you know what any of them represents. Each code is unique and unclaimed.
Then, as you pack, peel a blank label onto a box and scan it. That "claims" the code onto that specific box in your inventory. Now you can name the box, set its room, and add items — the sticker is already on. No trips back to the printer.
Use this method when: you want to pack fast, decide later, and don't want a printer in the packing loop. Most people end up preferring this after their first move.
Method 3 — Your own stickers
You don't have to use Avery sheets at all. Any QR or barcode sticker you already have works — packs of pre-printed unique codes from Amazon, leftover asset tags from work, even the barcodes on library-style archive labels. Scan the sticker in the app and it claims that code onto a box the same way as Method 2.
The scanner is universal: one code format, one scan flow, whether the sticker came from Avery, Amazon, or a drawer full of odds and ends. Use this method when: you want to use up stickers you already own, or you need a size Avery doesn't sell.
Choosing between the three
| Method | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Detailed (5163) | Systematic packers | Print after packing |
| Blank claim (5160) | Pack fast, decide later | Human eyes need the app to read the code |
| Your own stickers | Existing stickers, custom sizes | You buy the stock |
You can mix methods in a single move — detailed labels on the fragile-and-important boxes, blank claims on everything else. All three methods live in the same inventory and all three are free at every tier.
One scanner resolves all three methods. A detailed BoxSmartly label, a blank claim label, and a paired third-party sticker all resolve back to the correct box through the same in-app scanner — so whichever method you pick (or mix), the scan flow never changes. Point the camera at the code and the box opens.
Where to stick the label
Stick one label on the top of the box and one on a side you can see when the box is stacked. Two labels take ten seconds and save the moment where a box is buried in a stack, label-down, and you have to pull three boxes off to scan it. If the box is going into long-term storage, a third label on the opposite side is worth it — you rarely know which side will be facing you two years from now.
Keep the label flat. A QR code wrapping around a corner can still scan, but only from a narrow angle; a flat label scans from anywhere.
Printing rule: 100% / Actual Size
Always print at 100% or "Actual Size." Never "Fit to Page" or "Scale to Fit." Scaling stretches the QR module grid unevenly and can distort the code enough that phone cameras struggle to read it. In the print dialog on both macOS and Windows, look for the size or scale setting and set it explicitly. Print one test sheet on plain paper and scan a code before you commit a full pack of label stock. We can't promise every printer, in every ink and toner state, will produce a scannable code — the test sheet is 90 seconds of insurance.
Frequently asked
Do I need a special app to scan the QR labels?+
You need BoxSmartly (or an equivalent inventory app) to link the QR to a box's contents. A generic QR reader will just show the code's ID — it can't tell you what's inside without an app that owns that box's inventory.
What print setting should I use?+
Always print at 100% or 'Actual Size' — never 'Fit to Page' or 'Scale to Fit'. Any scaling can distort the code enough that a phone camera struggles to read it.
Paper or sticker sheets?+
Sticker sheets (Avery 5163 and 5160 both come in adhesive versions) hold up better through a move. Plain paper works if you tape the label on with clear packing tape.
Can I reuse the labels after the move?+
Yes. The labels stay linked to the box in your inventory as long as you keep it. Many people leave them on for long-term attic and garage storage — one scan tells them what's in the box without opening it.
Is this really free?+
Yes. All three labeling methods work on the free tier. Free is capped at 10 boxes, 10 items per box, and a 15-task checklist — enough for a small apartment. Upgrade to Pro if you outgrow those caps.
Grab the app and start labeling.
All three methods work on the free tier.
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