Best Moving Container Companies in Colorado (2024)

When the time comes to move to a new home — either within Colorado or on the opposite side of the country — it’s well worth considering a portable moving container. Container rentals offer a solid middle ground between full-service moving companies and DIY moves, and they can be used for both local and cross-country relocations alike.

Pricing for moving container moves varies based on the size of the container and the distance of the move, but costs typically range from $225 to $850 for local moves and $450 to $7,600 for long-distance moves. Since you do the heavy lifting while the moving container company takes care of transportation, pricing is generally more affordable while still offering some perks like a professional driver.

For families considering using a moving container in Colorado, our top pick overall is U-Pack — though there are several others worth looking into as well. Here’s a closer look at the best moving container companies in Colorado.

The 5 best moving container companies in Colorado

• U-Pack: Best overall
• PODS: Best for long-distance moves
• MovingYourself: Best for large moves
• 1-800-PACK-RAT: Best containers
• Zippy Shell: Best for city moves

How we picked the best Colorado moving container companies

At moveBuddha, we use a comprehensive methodology to evaluate moving container companies. This allows us to give you the best information to help you plan your move.

Here are the factors we used to pick the best Colorado moving container companies:

• Customer satisfaction: Customer reviews play a big role in our evaluation. We don’t just rely on feedback on aggregator sites like TrustPilot and Google Reviews. Instead, we gather and analyze the candid opinions of our Better Moves Project participants. This gives us in-depth first hand insights into real-life experiences with moving companies that other sites just don’t have.
• Standard services: We consider the breadth of standard services a moving container company offers in comparison to its competitors.
• Reputation: We also look at factors that influence a moving container company’s industry reputation, including its BBB rating, whether it holds relevant insurance, and if it has U.S. Department of Transportation licensure.
• Add-on services: We also consider the variety of optional services — such as moving labor and car shipping — a moving container company provides.
• Availability: We look at which parts of the country a moving container company operates in, as well as whether they are available for local or long-distance moves.
• Payment: We consider how easy (or not) it is to review your charges and make a payment to your moving company.
• Scheduling: Streamlined scheduling can eliminate a lot of hassle from the moving process.

Comparing the best moving container companies in Colorado

Here’s a closer look at our picks for the best moving container companies in Colorado. Since each of these companies offers a free quote, we recommend that you get a quote from at least three using our moving cost calculator so you can compare your options and pick the best fit for your move.

*For a one-bedroom apartment from Fort Collins, Colorado, to Miami

U-Pack: Best overall

U-Pack is our clear-cut pick for the best overall moving container company thanks to transparent pricing, fast delivery time frames, and a broad service area that covers all 50 states.

U-Pack offers two shipping options: its ReloCubes, which are 7-foot moving containers, and a 28-foot moving trailer. You can order multiple ReloCubes.

Regardless of which option you pick, one area where U-Pack really stands out is its model of only paying for the space you use. You’ll only pay for the number of moving containers you actually pack or the space you use on the freight trailer.

With the ability to get an instant quote online, it’s easy to see how much your move will cost. It’s worth noting, however, that U-Pack does not service local moves.

Pros/Cons

How much does U-Pack cost?

U-Pack’s online quote system makes it easy to get and compare quotes. For example, we got a quote for $4,792 to move the contents of a three-bedroom home from Denver to Tallahassee, Florida, using an estimated 17 feet of space on a freight trailer. For a one-bedroom home move from Denver to Chicago, we got quotes of $1,219 for a single ReloCube or $1,382 for 5 feet of trailer space.

Here’s why we love U-Pack:

• Transparent quoting system: You can get an instant quote for using ReloCubes or a trailer in less than a minute. U-Pack’s quote generator defaults to whichever option will be cheaper for you.
• Excellent delivery timeline and availability: U-Pack has a reputation for excellent delivery timelines and safe, courteous drivers. It’s one of the best-reviewed companies in the industry. U-Pack even services rural areas where other companies might not deliver, as well as parts of Canada and Puerto Rico.
• Temporary storage options: While ReloCubes used for storage must be kept at one of U-Pack’s storage facilities, their flexible storage options make it easy to find a place to keep your stuff if you won’t be able to move into your new home right away.

PODS: Best for long-distance moves

The name most associated with portable moving containers is also our pick for long-distance moves into or out of Colorado. PODS has been in business since 1998, providing flexible solutions to help families with both local and long-distance moves.

Even though it isn’t available in all U.S. states, its name recognition, reputation, and abundance of physical locations in small and big cities alike makes it a reliable option for longer out-of-state or cross-country relocations.

PODS offers three container sizes ranging from eight to 16 feet, though its 12-foot containers are only available for local moves. As with U-Pack, you can rent multiple containers, as needed — and you can even stagger delivery times based on the needs of your schedule.

PODS makes it easy to prep for your move by offering 30 days of storage for free, giving you plenty of time to load and unload. You can even make changes mid-move if you need to adjust your plans.

Pros/Cons

How much does PODS cost?

For long-distance and cross-country moves, PODS costs range from $450 to $7,600, while for local moves, costs range from $225 to $850. Pricing varies based on the size and number of containers you use, as well as the total distance of your move.

Why we like PODS

Here’s why PODS is an excellent choice for long-distance moves:

• Good customer reviews: PODS has a good overall reputation among moving container companies, with positive reviews praising their fast service, friendly telephone reps, and competitive prices.
• Robust storage solutions: PODS offers multiple storage options if you need storage before, during, or after your move. The company has storage units at its own facilities, as well as options for temporary onsite storage at your own property in areas where that is allowed.
• Additional services: PODS partners with additional providers to offer services like car shipping and moving labor, so you can get all the help you need in one place.

MovingYourself: Best for large moves

For large households, moving containers generally won’t be big enough to get the job done. However, with MovingYourself, you’ll have plenty of space, even for a large home.

This new “you load, we drive” company provides a 52-foot trailer that you can use to transport your items. You can even use the trailer to ship your car!

Similar to U-Pack, you only pay for the space you use on the trailer. You can use the entire trailer or just a portion of it. The company offers efficient transportation, with move times ranging from one to eight business days depending on the distance of your move.

Like the other companies on this list, MovingYourself doesn’t provide any moving labor. The company only gives you three days to load and unload, which could be tricky if you plan on loading the contents of a large house on your own.

Pros/Cons

How much does MovingYourself cost?

MovingYourself requires that you fill out an online form or call them to request a quote. Your initial quote will be based on an estimate of how much space your items will take up in the moving truck. Your move price will be based on volume, rather than weight, so efficient packing can help you use less space and save.

Why we like MovingYourself

Here’s why MovingYourself is worth considering for larger moves:

• Large trailer: With a 52-foot trailer, you have an incredible amount of space to work with. You won’t have to wonder whether larger pieces of furniture can fit inside, like you would with a standard moving container. You could even load your car inside the trailer.
• Only pay for the space you use: Since you only pay for the space you need, efficient packing can help you save money on your move. You don’t have to worry about getting charged for empty space.
• Fast and efficient service: With delivery timelines of one to eight days, MovingYourself provides quick and efficient shipments throughout the continental United States.

1-800-PACK-RAT: Best containers

If you’re concerned about your items arriving safely after getting shipped in a moving container, 1-800-PACK-RAT offers weatherproof containers with all-steel construction. This puts them a notch above many other moving container companies, whose containers generally only use steel framing. As long as you pack effectively, you can expect your items to arrive in one piece.

1-800-PACK-RAT strives to compete closely with PODS. In addition to price matching with PODS, the company also has storage containers in the same eight-, 12-, and 16-foot sizes. They provide 30 days of storage for free on all rentals, giving you plenty of time for loading and unloading.

While 1-800-PACK-RAT services both local and long-distance moves, they aren’t as widely available as other competitors. In Colorado, they have locations in Colorado Springs and Denver. They only serve 31 states and Washington, D.C., so they may not be available at your destination for out-of-state moves.

PACK-RAT can’t assist with moves to or from: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, or Wyoming.

Pros/Cons

How much does 1-800-PACK-RAT cost?

1-800-PACK-RAT costs range from under $500 to more than $2,000 for local moves, and up to $6,000 for long-distance moves, with an average cost of $3,750. Remember, the company also does price matching with PODS and other competitors, so you might be able to lower your cost if you’ve already obtained other quotes first.

Why we like 1-800-PACK-RAT

Here’s why we like 1-800-PACK-RAT for moving container moves:

• Excellent moving container quality: 1-800-PACK-RAT’s containers feature all-steel construction, making them weather-resistant and providing added protection against bumps and collisions on the road. Combined with a level lift system, your items will be well protected during the move.
• Discounts: In addition to price matching with PODS and other competitors, 1-800-PACK-RAT offers a variety of seasonal moving container discounts (sometimes up to 50% off), as well as discounts for seniors, first responders, military members, teachers, and medical workers.
• Streamlined orders: While you have to call to get a quote or make a reservation, customers find that 1-800-PACK-RAT’s service reps are very efficient and can help you obtain an easy-to-understand quote in just a few minutes.

Zippy Shell: Best for city moves

Whether you’re navigating the streets of Denver or moving out of state to another urban area, standard shipping containers can sometimes be hard to work with. Zippy Shell offers unique street-legal containers that make city moves much more manageable.

Zippy Shell rents galvanized steel mesh containers in 10- and 15-foot options, as well as a street-legal 22-foot trailer. The unique design of the moving containers — which have wheels and function more like a tow-behind trailer — ensures they can be legally parked in areas where a standard container might not be allowed.

In addition to these containers that can be used for moving, Zippy Shell also offers 16-foot containers exclusively for storage. These containers have a weatherproof, all-steel design, and can be kept on your property or at a Zippy Shell storage facility.

Pros/Cons

How much does Zippy Shell cost?

Zippy Shell offers some of the most competitive prices among moving container companies, with an average quote coming in around $2,900. For a two- to three-bedroom move of less than 250 miles, you could expect to pay $750–$1,600. A cross-country move of the same size could be between $2,800 and $4,500.

Why we like Zippy Shell

Here’s why we like Zippy Shell:

• Unique moving container options: The unique design of Zippy Shell’s moving containers allows them to be parked on city streets without a permit, which can make coordinating your move much easier.
• Variety of storage options: In addition to using a Zippy Shell moving container for short-term storage, the company also provides storage containers that can be used for long-term needs. These containers can be kept at a Zippy Shell storage center or stored onsite at your property. Zippy Shell also offers climate-controlled storage at many of its facilities.

Moving container sizes

The size of your moving container is one of the biggest influences on your moving costs. Understanding what size of moving container you need for your move is an essential part of getting a quote and prepping your items.

Moving containers vs. full-service movers

Depending on the scope of your move, you may find yourself trying to decide between renting a moving container or using one of the best full-service moving companies. There’s not a one-size-fits-all answer to which is best — it ultimately comes down to your budget, how much work you want to do yourself, and your specific moving needs.

With moving container companies like U-Pack and PODS, the company will drop off your container and give you a set amount of time to pack and load everything yourself. Once you are done, the company will pick up the container and transport it to your new home, where you’ll have a similar amount of time to unload.

Because you do all the heavy lifting, pricing is much lower than if you used full-service movers. However, this can become tricky if you have bulky furniture or items that require special handling. This is especially true for larger moves, which may require a freight trailer to fit everything.

With professional movers like American Van Lines, you gain access to a much broader range of moving services. At a minimum, these providers will load, transport, and unload your items. However, you can also get add-on services like packing and unpacking or custom crating for fragile items. This can be especially helpful for large moves, but it comes with pricing that is typically much higher than moving containers.

Our take

As with any other moving experience, you get what you pay for when you choose moving containers as your moving solution. For people with the time and physical capability, using a moving container is a great way to save money without having to drive a moving truck. Though not as cheap as even the best rental moving trucks, containers are far less expensive than professional movers, offering a great middle ground between DIY and full-service.

If a moving container company seems appealing to you, we recommend starting with quotes from U-Pack and PODS, since they offer the widest availability and good container options. For larger moves, definitely look into MovingYourself, while either Zippy Shell or 1-800-PACK-RAT could be good options for local moves.

FAQ

Which moving container company is the most reliable in Colorado?

U-Pack is the most reliable moving container company in Colorado, based on our research. The company has stellar customer reviews and availability in all 50 states, so you will have no trouble getting your items to your new home in a timely manner.

How much does Zippy Shell cost?

Zippy Shell costs around $2,900, on average, though your exact costs will vary based on the size of the container you use and the distance of your move.

How much does moving shipping containers cost from Colorado to Texas?

Moving shipping containers from Colorado to Texas costs between $1,775 and $3,158 for a two- to three-bedroom home. Moving the contents of a home with four or more bedrooms will cost $2,381 to $4,334.

Exact costs will depend on which company you use and the total distance of the move. You can use our moving cost calculator to get pricing information from multiple companies on your specific move.

What cannot be moved in a pod?

Items that cannot be moved in a pod include:

• Gas
• Liquids
• Chemicals
• Lawn mowers
• Motorized vehicles
• Illegal items

Check with your rental company for a full list of prohibited items.

Which moving container company offers the best value for long-distance moves in Colorado?

U-Pack offers the best value for long-distance moves in Colorado, with transparent pricing and competitive rates. Competitors like Zippy Shell and 1-800-PACK-RAT also offer good pricing, but they aren’t as widely available for out of state moves.