If you already own a set of suitcases and duffel bags, packing your whole move into them can look like a way to skip renting or buying containers altogether. It works for part of a move — not usually all of it.
Where Suitcases and Duffels Actually Work
For clothing, shoes, and soft items, suitcases and duffel bags do a genuinely fine job — they're built to be carried, they close securely, and most households already own several. If your move is small and mostly clothing, this can meaningfully cut down on how many containers you need.
Where They Fall Short
Most households don't own enough suitcases and duffels to pack an entire home, and neither is designed to protect breakables, stack safely under weight, or hold irregular kitchen and household items. Suitcases also have wheels and structure that add bulk relative to their storage capacity, and duffels offer no rigidity at all.
A Practical Combination
Use what you already own — suitcases and duffels for clothes, toiletries, and soft goods — and rent totes for everything else: kitchenware, books, decor, electronics, and anything else that needs a stackable, protective container. That combination usually needs fewer rented totes than packing the whole house into boxes from scratch.
See tote packages by home size and book your delivery date.
View Residential PricingFrequently Asked Questions
Can I move using only suitcases and duffel bags?
For a very small move that's mostly clothing, possibly. For a full household, most people don't own enough of either, and neither protects breakables or stacks safely under weight.
Should I use my suitcases at all if I'm renting totes?
Yes — using suitcases and duffels for clothing and soft items alongside rented totes for everything else is a practical way to reduce how many totes you need.
Do totes offer any advantage over suitcases for clothes specifically?
Totes stack more predictably in a truck and protect items packed nearby, but for clothes alone, a suitcase you already own works fine. See our comparison of totes vs. wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes specifically.
The Short Version
Suitcases and duffel bags cover clothing and soft goods well, but they aren't a substitute for a rigid, stackable container for the rest of a household. Most moves work best combining both.
See How to Pack Moving Totes Efficiently for a room-by-room packing order, or view Residential Pricing to book totes for everything else.