Rental moving totes are water-resistant rather than fully waterproof. The solid plastic walls and latching lid keep rain, snow, and slush off your belongings during a move — which is exactly the protection cardboard can't offer — but they're not sealed containers you could submerge.
What "water-resistant" covers
- Carrying totes through rain or snow between the house and the truck
- Totes sitting briefly on a wet driveway or truck ramp
- A damp garage or a truck that's been out in weather
In all of these, the contents stay dry. A cardboard box in the same conditions goes soft and can fail.
Where the limit is
The lid latches down but isn't gasket-sealed, so a tote left sitting in standing water or under a steady downpour for a long time could let some moisture in around the lid seam. They're built for the transit part of a move, not for outdoor storage.
Practical tips
- For a rainy moving day, still load totes lid-side up and don't leave them open outside
- Put a towel or trash bag over anything especially moisture-sensitive as an extra layer
- Don't use totes for long-term storage outdoors or in a spot that floods
Compared to cardboard
This is one of the clearest advantages of totes for a winter or spring move in the Chicago area — a wet moving day that would turn cardboard to mush is a non-issue with latched plastic totes.
See tote packages by home size and book your delivery date.
View Residential PricingFrequently Asked Questions
Will my stuff stay dry in moving totes if it rains?
Yes. Solid plastic walls and a latching lid keep rain and snow off your belongings while you carry totes between the house and the truck. They're water-resistant for transit.
Are moving totes completely sealed?
No. The lid latches but isn't gasket-sealed, so totes aren't submersible and shouldn't be left in standing water or heavy rain for long periods. They're built for moving, not outdoor storage.
Are totes better than boxes for a winter move?
Much better. Latched plastic totes shrug off the slush and wet driveways that turn cardboard boxes to mush during a Chicago-area winter or spring move.
Questions about sizing, coverage, or what's included? Check our FAQ page or email info@nicetotesrental.com.