I Moved from Utah to Florida with U-Box: What I Paid and What I’d Do Again
Springville, UT → Tampa, FL
$2,650
1 bedroom, about 1,000 lbs
$2,650
$0 in add-on fees
2,330 mi
Long-distance, interstate
- I compared quotes from four container companies before I booked U-Box for my Utah to Florida move.
- My final bill was $2,650, matching my original quote exactly, and the crew at delivery unloaded the container for free.
- I shared all of it, my quotes, my bills, and my ratings, as part of moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project.
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This account is based on a conversation with Jarom, who moved from Springville, Utah, to Tampa, Florida, in June 2022 using U-Box. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
My move from Utah to Florida
My wife and I moved from Springville, Utah, to Tampa, Florida, in mid-June 2022 for work. We were only moving the contents of a one-bedroom apartment, about 1,000 pounds of boxes and furniture, and I wasn’t interested in driving a van 2,330 miles across the country. A portable container made far more sense.
I knew about the relocation roughly six months ahead of the move date, so I had time to be thorough. I spent nearly a week on research: Google searches, online reviews, and conversations with friends who had done cross-country moves.
I also used moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to get a sense of the market and compare quotes. According to moveBuddha, users who compare movers that way save more than 30% versus taking the first quote they get.
My U-Box experience at a glance
U-Box delivered on every front. Here’s how the move broke down from start to finish.
- Communication: U-Box communicated effectively throughout the process, reaching out by both text and phone to confirm services and delivery dates.
- Pricing accuracy and transparency: My quote came in at $2,650, and that’s exactly what I paid. Nothing changed between booking and delivery.
- Container placement: There weren’t any issues with container placement. The drivers asked where I wanted the container at both origin and destination to make loading and unloading as easy as possible.
- Timeliness: My container arrived in Florida on schedule, exactly as U-Box had promised.
- Loss and damage: Everything arrived accounted for and undamaged.
- Would I use U-Box again? Yes, and I’d recommend U-Box to anyone moving a relatively small shipment from one state to another. You can compare U-Box against other container companies with moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator.
over my original U-Box quote
Find out what a move from Utah → Florida actually costs before a mover tells you.
Why I chose U-Box
Keeping moving costs low was a priority, but working with a reliable, experienced company mattered just as much. I also had no interest in driving a moving van from Utah to Florida, and since we were only moving a one-bedroom apartment with a few pieces of art and nothing fragile or especially valuable, a container was the obvious call.
U-Box came through with the lowest quote of the four companies I priced, and that number included transportation and one month of storage. Strong reviews sealed it. I planned to handle all the loading and unloading myself.
- More than 20,000 locations with prominent pricing
- Rental options include everything from pick-up trucks to 26-foot moving trucks
- Gentle-Ride Suspension add protection to avoid damaging your items during transit
- U-Box moving containers available if you don't want to drive
My move at a glance
Here are the basics of my relocation, including what I was quoted and what I ended up paying for my Utah to Florida move.
| Move date | Mid-June 2022 |
|---|---|
| Moving from | Springville, UT |
| Moving to | Tampa, FL |
| Distance | 2,330 miles |
| Move size | One-bedroom apartment (about 1,000 pounds) |
| Moving company | U-Box |
| Moving quote | $2,650 |
| Actual cost | $2,650 |
We found that when you use moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator, you can save 30% on moving costs compared to customers who go with the first quote they receive.
Quotes I compared
After finding moveBuddha and using the calculator to compare, I put together a shortlist of four container companies and gathered a quote from each one. Every one had its pros and cons, but U-Box came back with the lowest number.
- U-Box: $2,650, the lowest quote I got, covering transportation and one month of storage with me handling all the labor.
- PODS: Priced but came in higher than U-Box for the same one-bedroom shipment.
- 1-800-PACK-RAT: Also quoted and also higher than U-Box on this route.
- U-Pack: The fourth quote I collected, and another one U-Box beat on price.
How I booked and prepared
I booked my container online but verified everything over the phone. U-Box followed up with helpful information about what to expect on move day and how to load the container properly.
In the weeks before the move, I finished packing and made sure everything was staged and ready to go. I bought additional insurance and paid a $1,200 deposit the month before my move date. Going into move day, I felt confident my things were in good hands.
rating
4.15 / 5
Pickup day
U-Box confirmed my services and move dates by both text and phone. The truck arrived on time at 9 a.m. on move day, and the driver placed the container exactly where I wanted it. Everything was already packed and staged, so loading took less than two hours. Afterward, I called U-Box to let them know the container was loaded and ready for pickup.
Delivery day
I got a text when my container arrived in Tampa and another confirming the delivery date at my new address. A local U-Box partner handled the final leg. My quote didn’t include labor, but the movers who dropped off the container helped me unload it free of charge so they wouldn’t have to come back later.
My container arrived on time, nothing was missing or damaged, and I got free unloading labor on top of it. I paid the remainder of the bill by credit card on delivery day and got a post-move survey from U-Box by email afterward.
Final thoughts
There were no surprises or headaches anywhere in this move. I was satisfied with how it went and honestly a little surprised by how smoothly it all played out.
For anyone moving a studio or one-bedroom apartment across state lines, I’m not sure there’s a more affordable or efficient option than U-Box. It was cheaper than every other company I compared, and cheaper than renting a moving van once you factor in gas, food, lodging, and tolls. If you’ve ever wondered how much you can fit in a U-Box, I can tell you from firsthand experience that it handles a full one-bedroom apartment without any trouble. Steve had a similar container experience moving into Florida, which lined up with mine.
I’d use U-Box again and would recommend them to anyone planning a similar move.
Use moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to compare quotes and find the best container option for your route.
More moving resources
Tips for future movers
These are the practical steps we recommend based on Jarom’s experience:
- Price containers against a rental truck, not just against each other: Jarom’s U-Box quote beat renting a van once he added up gas, food, lodging, and tolls for a 2,330-mile drive. Run that math before you assume driving yourself is cheaper.
- Confirm what the quote covers: His $2,650 included transportation and one month of storage but no labor. Ask what’s in and what’s out so a low number doesn’t turn into a surprise at delivery.
- Pack and stage everything before the container lands: Because Jarom had boxes ready to go, loading took under two hours. Containers usually give you days, but a staged apartment saves you from burning them.
- Tell the driver where you want the container: Jarom was asked at both ends, and placement made loading and unloading much easier. Think about the spot ahead of time, including parking rules and how far you’ll be carrying boxes.
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