U-Haul U-Box Review: Is U-Box the Best Deal?
Here’s the bottom line: U-Haul U-Box is one of the cheapest ways to move a small home long-distance, and our Better Moves Project participants paid $1,614 – $4,523 for their interstate U-Box moves. Each container holds 257 cubic feet, about a room and a half of furniture, and shipping takes 7 – 14 business days. Our U-Haul U-Box review covers real customer costs, sizing, and how U-Box compares to our picks for the best moving container companies.
Why moveBuddha:
- On average, moveBuddha users save more than 30% by comparing movers before booking.
- When you choose a moveBuddha Certified mover, you get $1,000 in added move coverage, plus dedicated support throughout your move.
- If something goes wrong, moveBuddha provides dispute mediation with Certified movers to help resolve the issue and protect your move.
rating
4.15 / 5
Pros & cons of U-Haul U-Box
- Lowest quote for all four of our Better Moves participants
- Huge U-Haul location network
- Free date changes & cancellations
- Load at home or at a U-Haul location
- Ships to nearly any country
- One small container size (257 cubic feet)
- Slow transit (7 – 14 business days)
- No damage coverage unless you buy it
Jump to the U-Haul U-Box info you’re looking for:
What do U-Haul U-Box customers say?
U-Box customers praise its low prices and flexible scheduling but report delays and spotty communication. U-Haul International holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and has been BBB accredited since 2000. On Trustpilot, U-Haul has a 1.4 out of 5 TrustScore across 1,806 reviews as of October 2026, a score that covers all U-Haul services, not just U-Box.
To get a firsthand read, we interviewed four U-Box customers through our Better Moves Project, which has awarded more than $50,000 in grants to people who share their moving experiences. U-Box gave each of them the lowest quote they received.
Three of the four would use U-Box again. Janelle rated her move a 4 out of 5 but said she’d hire a full-service mover next time, since U-Haul doesn’t load or unload containers and the separate crew she hired scratched most of her furniture.
“The U-box could use some more internal tie-down connections. Thats about it. The whole process was very smooth.”
—Thomas M., U-Haul
“A larger moving container would be helpful. All employees were friendly and knowledgeable of their jobs at both the origin and destination of our move.”
—Shelly S., U-Haul
How much does a U-Haul U-Box move cost?
Our Better Moves Project participants paid $1,614 – $4,523 for long-distance U-Box moves of 1,400 – 2,840 miles. Your U-Box quote bundles container rental, delivery, pickup, shipping, and storage fees, plus any add-ons, so the total depends on distance, how many containers you need, and how long you keep them.
Here’s what four real U-Box customers paid for their moves:
| Move | Distance (miles) | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| MA to MN | 1,400 | $1,614 |
| UT to FL | 2,330 | $2,650 |
| CA to MD | 2,840 | $3,500 |
| CA to TN | 2,285 | $4,523 |
Janelle’s California to Tennessee move cost the most because she needed four U-Boxes for her two-bedroom apartment. Nancy paid the least of the group for her minimally furnished home, and her only other quote, from PODS, came in at $3,915, more than double her $1,797 U-Box quote.
Janelle compared two container companies and two full-service movers before choosing U-Box. Her quotes show how much less a container costs before you add labor:
| Company | Move type | Quote |
|---|---|---|
| U-Haul U-Box | Container (3 U-Boxes) | $4,303 |
| Safeway Moving | Full-service | $5,750 |
| U-Pack | Container (3 ReloCubes) | $6,004 |
| North American | Full-service | $11,680 |
Janelle’s U-Box quote covered containers and transport only. She paid a separate crew to load and unload, while the Safeway and North American quotes already included labor. If loading containers yourself isn’t realistic, the moveBuddha Mover Marketplace collects up to five no-obligation quotes from vetted movers with one request, so you can price full-service help against a U-Box quote plus labor.
U-Box lets you bring the cost down in a few ways:
- Pack at a U-Haul location. Load and unload your containers at a U-Haul facility instead of paying for delivery to your home. Nancy saved $183 when her container went to a U-Haul facility after her parking permit fell through.
- Tow it yourself. U-Haul rents custom U-Box trailers that carry one or two containers. A single trailer weighs 710 pounds empty, and a fully loaded container adds up to 2,500 pounds, so confirm your vehicle can tow about 3,200 pounds first.
- Order only what you need. U-Haul doesn’t charge for extra containers you reserve but don’t use, so you can book a spare without paying for it.
- Change dates for free. U-Haul doesn’t charge a fee to change your date or cancel your reservation, which lets you shift to a cheaper week if your plans change.
Pro tip: Add the cost of a loading crew to any U-Box quote before you compare it to a full-service mover. Our guide to the best moving labor companies shows where to book hourly help.
moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator weighs distance, home size, services, and access together, so you get a price range for your actual move to measure a U-Box quote against.
U-Haul U-Box services
U-Haul U-Box offers container moving, portable storage, or both in one reservation. You supply your own lock, and U-Haul ships containers on trucks with gentle-ride suspension.
U-Box moving
U-Haul delivers your containers to your home, or you can pack them at a U-Haul location. You load at your own pace, then U-Haul ships the containers to your new home or the U-Haul facility nearest it.
Most U-Box shipments arrive in 7 – 14 business days. U-Haul guarantees the arrival date and refunds $50 for each day a shipment runs late, up to the cost of shipping.
U-Box storage
U-Box storage keeps your packed containers on your property or in a secure U-Haul warehouse. U-Haul bills container rental by the month, starting on delivery day, and doesn’t charge a fee to access your containers in storage. Rates vary by market, so get a quote for your area.
U-Box moving & storage
U-Box combines moving & storage in one reservation, so you don’t have to rent a separate storage unit. Pack your containers, store them at a U-Haul facility, and have them delivered once your new home is ready, whether that’s one month or six months later.
U-Box damage coverage
U-Haul doesn’t insure your belongings in a U-Box by default during transit or storage. You can add SafeHaul to cover your containers in transit for $49.95 – $149.95 per container, or SafeStor to cover stored containers for $8.95 – $40.95 per container per month. Both offer $1,000, $5,000, $10,000, or $20,000 in coverage per container.
moveBuddha users save more than 30% on average by comparing moving quotes instead of booking the first one they receive.
Learn MoreHow big is a U-Haul U-Box container?
A U-Box container measures about 5 feet x 8 feet x 7.5 feet and holds 257 cubic feet, or about a room and a half of furniture. Each container holds up to 2,000 pounds and fits large pieces like a king-size mattress. See our guide to what fits in a U-Box to estimate how many containers you need.
U-Box comes in two versions: a pest-resistant plywood container with a weather-resistant vinyl cover, and a steel-framed container with composite panels. You get whichever model your location has in stock.
The single size is U-Box’s biggest drawback. Here’s how its container stacks up against other top container companies:
| Company | Container sizes |
|---|---|
| U-Haul U-Box | One size (257 cubic feet) |
| PODS | 8 ft., 12 ft. & 16 ft. (12 ft. for local moves only) |
| 1-800-PACK-RAT | 8 ft. & 16 ft. (12 ft. for local moves only) |
| U-Pack | One size ReloCube (308 cubic feet) |
Janelle needed four U-Boxes for her two-bedroom apartment. If you’re moving a larger home, the bigger containers from PODS or 1-800-PACK-RAT mean fewer units to load and pay for.
Where U-Haul U-Box is available
U-Box is available across the US and Canada, and U-Haul says it has the most U-Box locations nationwide. It also ships overseas to nearly any country.
Here’s a breakdown of U-Box’s availability:
- US & Canada. U-Haul reported more than 23,000 rental locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces, though not every location handles U-Box containers.
- Local & long-distance moves. U-Box handles both local and long-distance moves, and you can tow containers yourself on a U-Box trailer instead of paying for delivery.
- International moves. U-Haul ships containers from the US and Canada to nearly any country and had delivered to 75 countries as of February 2024.
- International perks. International customers get 30 days of free storage at origin and 24 free furniture pads.
How does U-Haul U-Box compare to competitors?
U-Box usually wins on price, while PODS, 1-800-PACK-RAT, and U-Pack offer larger containers or faster transit. Here’s how U-Box compares to other top container companies.
U-Box vs. PODS
U-Box is the better pick for small moves on a tight budget, while PODS suits larger homes. PODS offers 8-foot and 16-foot containers for long-distance moves, so larger homes need fewer containers than with U-Box.
Price is where U-Box pulls ahead. Nancy’s PODS quote came in at $3,915, compared with $1,797 for U-Box. See our full PODS vs. U-Box comparison for more.
rating
4.8 / 5
U-Box vs. 1-800-PACK-RAT
U-Box costs less, but 1-800-PACK-RAT offers sturdier all-steel containers in 8-foot and 16-foot sizes. PACK-RAT is worth the extra cost for a large home or long-term storage, when durability and fewer containers matter more than price.
rating
4.45 / 5
U-Box vs. U-Pack
U-Pack is the better fit for long-distance moves where speed matters. U-Pack’s metal ReloCube holds 308 cubic feet and up to 2,500 pounds, compared with 257 cubic feet and 2,000 pounds for a U-Box. U-Pack also averages 4 – 6 business days in transit, compared with 7 – 14 business days for U-Box.
U-Box still won on price for Janelle, whose three-container U-Box quote came in at $4,303, compared with $6,004 for three ReloCubes. Read our U-Pack vs. U-Box breakdown for a closer look.
rating
5 / 5
How moving with U-Haul U-Box works
Moving with U-Haul U-Box takes five main steps, starting with an instant online quote:
- Get a quote. Enter your move date, addresses, service type, and add-ons on the U-Haul website for an instant estimate.
- Choose delivery or pickup. Have containers delivered to your home, or load them at a U-Haul location to save on delivery.
- Load at your own pace. Pack the container yourself, or book loading help, and secure it with your own lock.
- Ship or store. U-Haul ships your containers in 7 – 14 business days or holds them in a U-Haul warehouse until you’re ready.
- Unload & return. Unpack at your new home or the destination facility, then schedule a pickup for the empty container.
Ready to book? Request a U-Box quote online, call U-Haul, or visit your nearest location, and compare it against quotes from movers on your route.
U-Box FAQs
What can’t you put in a U-Box?
You can’t put living things, perishables, hazardous materials, compressed gases, flammable liquids, or explosives in a U-Box. That rules out plants, food, propane tanks, gasoline, paint thinner, ammunition, fireworks, and firearms. Drain all fuel and oil from anything with an engine before you load it.
Is a U-Box waterproof?
No, a U-Box isn’t fully waterproof, but both U-Box models are weather-resistant. The plywood model comes with a vinyl cover, and the steel-framed model uses composite panels. Wrap water-sensitive items in plastic before you load them.
How long does U-Box shipping take?
U-Box shipping takes 7 – 14 business days for most moves. U-Haul guarantees the arrival date and refunds $50 for each day late, up to the cost of shipping. Book storage at your destination if your new home won’t be ready in time.
Does U-Box include insurance?
No, U-Box doesn’t insure your belongings by default in transit or storage. You can add SafeHaul for transit and SafeStor for storage, with $1,000 – $20,000 in coverage per container. Add both if your containers will sit in storage before delivery.
Can you ship a U-Box internationally?
Yes, U-Haul ships U-Box containers from the US and Canada to nearly any country. U-Haul had delivered containers to 75 countries as of February 2024. Contact U-Haul for an international quote, since rates depend on your destination.
Our rating methodology
At moveBuddha, we research moving container companies using our rating methodology, which scores each company on the following metrics:
- Customer satisfaction (30%): We interview Better Moves Project participants for their real-life perspectives and review third-party ratings on Google, Trustpilot, the BBB, and elsewhere.
- Standard services (20%): We compare how a container company’s services stack up against its competitors, including any added or missing services.
- Reputation (15%): This metric covers industry ratings, membership in professional organizations, compliance with government regulations, and insurance options.
- Add-on services (10%): We count the add-on services and perks a company offers beyond its standard services, such as climate-controlled storage and loading help.
- Availability (10%): We evaluate where each company operates and which move types it handles, including local, long-distance, and cross-country moves.
- Type of mover (5%): The type of service a company provides, such as full-service or DIY, directly affects your experience.
- Payment (5%): We assess how easy it is to review charges and pay, including the payment options available.
- Scheduling (5%): We look at how easy it is to schedule a move, what you need to get an estimate, and how the company handles delays.
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