7 Best Moving Container Companies

Over the last few years, moving container companies have become an increasingly sought-after alternative to full-service moving companies and rental trucks. Moving containers offer a great DIY hybrid option, as you can save money by packing and loading everything yourself, while transportation is left to a professional driver.

At moveBuddha, we’ve reviewed dozens of moving container options by talking to real-life customers through our Better Moves Project, reviewing third-party evaluations, and focusing on factors like each company’s price, services, and availability to determine our rankings for the best moving container companies.

Based on our research, we recommend U-Pack for best overall value and PODS for its nationwide availability.

Keep reading to delve into all of our top picks so you can choose the best moving container company for your upcoming move.

7 best moving containers 2024 – Our picks

After reviewing dozens of moving container options, here are our top picks if you’re considering this type of move.

• Best overall value: U-Pack
• Best nationwide coverage: PODS
• Most container options: 1-800-PACK-RAT
• Best for city-to-city moves: Zippy Shell
• Best for large moves: MovingYourself
• Best for college students: U-Box by U-Haul
• Best for price matching: SMARTBOX Portable Storage

U-Pack: Best overall value

Pros/Cons

With widespread availability, transparent pricing, instant online quotes, and an only-pay-for-what-you-use system, U-Pack provides the best overall value among the top shipping container companies.

As a well-established leader in the DIY moving space, U-Pack offers two shipping options: their eight-foot ReloCube storage containers and a 28-foot moving trailer. You can order multiple ReloCubes for your move, if needed.

With both options, you only pay for the space you actually use — meaning you won’t pay for empty space on the trailer or for any ReloCubes you don’t end up using.

Better Move Project participants like Chloe and Ryan offer consistent praise for U-Pack’s moving process thanks to the company’s quality communication, accurate and transparent pricing, and timely deliveries.

U-Pack tends to consistently beat the competition on pricing for moves of around 250 miles, and offers good prices for longer distances, as well. We like U-Pack vs. U-Haul U-Box, another leader in the moving container industry. You can easily get a quote online to see how they compare.

While U-Pack serves the entire continental U.S., as well as Puerto Rico and Canada, they do not handle local moves. U-Pack only offers three days each to load and unload your moving container. Storage is available, but only at off-site locations.

PODS: Best nationwide coverage

Pros/Cons

PODS invented the portable storage container in 1998 and has been an industry leader in containerized moving and storage ever since. While their brand name can sometimes come with a higher price tag, their experience performing nearly four million deliveries and widespread availability makes them one of the best in the industry.

There’s a lot to love about PODS, especially their three container sizes, flexible storage options, and local and long-distance moving and storage services. If you’re moving locally (within 50 miles), you can use an eight-, 12- or 16-foot container. The 12-foot container is only available for local moves, however. If you’re moving further than 50 miles, you’ll need to opt for one of the other two container sizes.

All container rentals allow for open-ended monthly storage. You can store your containers on your property or at a nearby PODS storage facility.

PODS is a particularly good option if you’re staging a home or need a lot of time for loading or unloading. They also offer additional insurance options and third-party moving labor to help load your container.

PODS’ cost is often higher than competitors, especially if a PODS location ismore than 50 miles away from your location. They can also book up fast due to their popularity.

1-800-PACK-RAT: Best container options

Pros/Cons

1-800-PACK-RAT is a leader in the moving container space, thanks to their sturdy steel containers, competitive prices, and multiple container sizes and insurance options.

1-800-PACK-RAT offers the same container size options as PODS: eight-, 12-, and 16- feet. While many competitors have plastic or wood-constructed containers, 1-800-PACK-RAT containers have steel frames, walls, and doors.

The metal construction provides weather resistance, so you don’t have to worry about your things getting wet, moldy, or mildewy during storage. This degree of protection makes 1-800-PACK-RAT an excellent choice if you’re moving antiques or specialty items.

1-800-PACK-RAT’s containers make moving less hassle by offering door-to-door local and long-distance container services. The containers feature barn-style doors, making loading and unloading easier than elevated containers with ramps.

Plus, the door design increases the usable space inside the container so you can fit more stuff. For example, when Desmond rented one of the company’s 16-foot containers, he was easily able to fit the contents of his three-bedroom, 2,000-square foot home.

All containers come with 30 days of storage included in the base price. You can store the container on your property or at a 1-800-PACK-RAT storage facility, some of which are climate-controlled. However, the company only has physical locations in 34 states and Washington, D.C. You can find PACK-RAT in: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Despite this, the company says it can accommodate moves in all 50 states, but storage facility availability near you may be limited. If you don’t live in one of the states with a PACK-RAT branch, we recommend contacting the company directly to ensure they can handle your relocation and storage request.

Zippy Shell: Best for city-to-city moves

Pros/Cons

Zippy Shell is changing the way people move from city to city with their innovative, metal cage containers that make parking on busy city streets easy. Their containers are street legal and can be parked just like cars, removing a lot of permitting headaches. This makes the company a great option for young professionals relocating within a big city or from one metropolitan area to another.

The company offers 10-foot and 15-foot containers, as well as a 22-foot trailer. The internal capacity of the containers is slightly smaller than competitors, so be sure to compare sizes when evaluating Zippy Shell vs. PODS and other top companies.

We like that Zippy Shell makes it relatively easy to add loading and unloading help, and their base package includes 30 days of storage. They also have several insurance options to protect your goods in case of an accident.

Each of the company’s three insurance plans — Standard, Plus, and Premium — come with $50,000 in coverage, but with varying deductibles. The Standard plan comes with no added cost but has a $5,000 deductible. The Plus plan cuts that deductible in half for a fee of $149, and the Premium plan has a $1,500 deductible but costs an additional $399.

Like 1-800-PACK-RAT, Zippy Shell is only available in 34 states and Washington, D.C. Zippy Shell can be found in: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

You cannot get an instant quote online, and their customer reviews aren’t as strong as other moving container companies.

MovingYourself: Best for large moves

Pros/Cons

For moves that are larger than what moving containers can hold, MovingYourself is a great DIY moving solution. Rather than renting a container, you only pay for the space you use on a moving truck driven by professional movers. If you’ve got a lot of items to relocate, MovingYourself’s 53-foot trucks provide ample room. If you don’t use all that space, you won’t be charged for it!

This makes MovingYourself hard to beat for large moves. The trailer comes equipped with all the moving pads, straps, and dollies you’ll need. You can even transport a car in the trailer directly with your home goods.

For smaller moves, MovingYourself also has smaller moving trucks that are 22 feet in length. Whatever truck size you choose, you’ll load it up and they’ll drive everything to your destination.

Like many other moving container companies, MovingYourself only offers up to three days to load and unload. In addition, the company doesn’t provide local moves or instant online quotes.

U-Haul U-Box: Best for college students

Pros/Cons

Yes, even the truck rental giant U-Haul has gotten into the portable storage container game with their very own U-Box wooden container.

While not the highest-quality or largest container option on the market, U-Haul boasts a huge number of locations and very competitive pricing, making it a good choice for college students and others like Jamon or Nancy who are planning a smaller move without many high-value items.

From our research, U-Box pricing is almost always very competitive with other container options. We also can’t get over how easy U-Haul’s website makes it to book a moving container. It’s one of the best booking experiences in the moving and storage industry.

The company also has more locations than any other company, making it easy to find a local store.

U-Haul’s container has the smallest internal dimensions of any moving container on the market and is made out of fairly thin wood. It’s certainly not the most durable option, since most competitors use steel or metal for their containers. We have seen complaints about the containers falling apart and water damage.

But for college students and others on a tight budget and looking for the most affordable way to ship, U-Box is definitely worth looking into. In less than 30 seconds, you can get a price from U-Haul’s website for pretty much any interstate move.

SMARTBOX Portable Storage: Best for price matching

Pros/Cons

In business since 2002, SMARTBOX is all about providing low-cost moving container options, and that’s why we’ve included them on this list. The company prides itself on its low rates and price-matching policy. If you’re a savvy shopper in search of a deal, SMARTBOX can be a great way to save some money.

The primary issue with SMARTBOX is a lack of locations. The company only services roughly 50 metro areas within the U.S. Keep in mind that if you’re moving long-distance, you will need a SMARTBOX location on both ends of the move.This means they might not be the best bet for you if there SMARTBOX isn’t available in your current and future locations.

SMARTBOX’s wooden portable storage containers also aren’t the best moving container on the market. Though they feature a weather-proof covering, they are more susceptible to damage – something to keep in mind if you’re shipping nice furniture or expensive items.

Overall, if SMARTBOX has a location in your area and your move is relatively small, you should at least get a free quote, especially since they are likely to price match quotes you receive from other companies.

Factors to consider when choosing a moving container company

With so many options to pick from, how do you select the right moving container company for your needs?

Here are the key factors to keep in mind:

• Availability: Check if the company operates in your area and has containers available on your timing.
• Container sizes: Make sure they offer a container big enough to fit your stuff or that you can rent multiple containers, if needed. Don’t cram everything in and risk breaking your belongings.
• Extra services: See what’s included or can be added if you need extra assistance, like packing help, appliances servicing, and storage insurance. Customer service: Look for responsiveness and knowledgeable support. How do their representatives communicate throughout the shipping process, especially when scheduling container drop off and pickup?
• Reviews: Read reviews and look for consistent satisfaction. Pay close attention to positive and negative traits that are consistently mentioned in online reviews.
• Cost: Compare total costs (including storage unit prices, if applicable), not just container rental prices. Watch for hidden fees, such as pickup or delivery charges.
• Policies: Review the company’s cancellation, refund, and damage coverage policies. The fine print matters!

How much do moving containers cost?

For local moves, portable moving container costs can range from $150 to $400 for a single container and one month of storage. For larger moves that require multiple containers, costs can range from $800 to $1,100.

If you’re moving long-distance, moving costs can range from $1,000 to $7,000 or more depending on the distance and number of containers your move requires. On average, long-distance moves will cost around $3,000 when using a moving container.

To get a ballpark estimate of what you should expect to pay when using moving containers, check out our moving cost calculator.

Moving container sizes

The container size that is right for your move will depend on the total volume of all the items you’re moving and which size containers the company offers. Many companies let you rent multiple containers if needed. Here’s a quick look at how the most common moving container sizes compare:

Note: these estimates are based on average household sizes. You should work directly with each company to determine what size and how many containers you need.

How we chose the best moving container companies

At moveBuddha, we conduct extensive research on moving container companies using our unique methodology so we can provide reliable recommendations. Each company’s analysis is determined by the following metrics:

• Customer satisfaction (30%): For this metric, we interview Better Moves Project participants for their real-life perspectives and look at third-party reviews on Google, TrustPilot, the BBB, and elsewhere.
• Standard services (20%): We look at how a moving container company’s services stack up against its competitors — especially any added or missing services.
• Reputation (15%): This metric is based on industry ratings (including membership in professional organizations), compliance with government regulations, and insurance options.
• Add-on services (10%): We look at the number of add-on services and perks —such as climate-controlled storage and third-party labor help — the company offers in addition to their standard services.
• Availability (10%): We evaluate the availability of the company in each state, as well as the types of moves (local, long-distance, and cross-country) it offers.
• Type of mover (5%): The type of service a moving company provides — such as full-service vs. DIY — can directly impact your experience.
• Payment (5%): We determine how easy it is for moving customers to review their charges and make a payment, including the type of payment options available.
• Scheduling (5%): We also look at how easy it is to schedule your move, including what is needed to get an estimate or how the company addresses delays.

FAQ

Who is better: PODS or PACK-RAT?

Whether PODS or 1-800-PACK-RAT is better depends on your unique moving needs. PODS has a much wider coverage area than PACK-RAT, and more container availability overall. In our research, 1-800-PACK-RAT’s prices usually come out a bit lower, and their containers are a bit tougher with all-steel walls, doors, and framing.

What is the cheapest moving container company?

U-Pack is the cheapest moving container company in terms of overall value. With U-Pack, you only pay for the space or containers you use. Other low-cost options like U-Haul U-Box and SMARTBOX could potentially be cheaper than U-Pack, but their containers are not as high-quality.

We recommend that you get quotes from three moving container companies in your area to compare your options.

Who is PODS’ biggest competitor?

PODS’ biggest competitors are U-Pack and U-Haul U-Box. 1-800-PACK-RAT is also a major competitor for PODS.

What other moving container companies are there besides PODS?

Other moving container companies besides PODS include our top picks:

• U-Pack
• 1-800-PACK-RAT
• Zippy Shell
• U-Haul U-Box
• MovingYourself
• SMARTBOX