The Best Moving Container Companies

PODS stands out thanks to its clear and transparent pricing, some of the most affordable rates of the companies in this roundup, and its variety of container sizes. Its three options (8 feet, 12 feet, and 16 feet) can accommodate the contents of a dorm room or a studio all the way up to a two-bedroom home, and you can always book more than one container if you need to. PODS handles both local and long-distance moves in 44 states, so as long as you live in one of them it should get your stuff where it needs to go. It also lets you book add-ons like short- or long-term storage, third-party moving labor, and vehicle shipping services through its website. 

To learn how much a move with PODS will cost, you may be able to get a quote using its online chat feature, but you’ll likely have to speak to a representative by phone. You’ll need to provide them with the ZIP codes of your current and future addresses, the size of your home, and the date you want to get the container. Your initial quote will include a one-month container rental and a $10,000 content protection policy, which is meant to cover the container and its contents from burglary, fires, and other incidents. You can increase or decrease the coverage if you want. Payment is broken up into three installments: one before you receive the container, one during transit, and one when the container is delivered.

Unless otherwise noted, containers are rented on a monthly basis. This works out great if you live in a house with a driveway where the PODS team can drop off the container and leave you to pack at your own leisurely pace. If you live in an apartment building in a busy city like New York, though, you’ll probably need to use the PODS City Service, in which case you’ll only have four free hours to load your container and will be charged per hour for extra time.

When it comes to moving containers, size matters, and 1-800-Pack-Rat, like PODS, is one of the few in the industry that offers a variety of options: 8 feet, 12 feet, and 16 feet. It will also let you store your belongings in the container you’re using for your move and then store that in one of its climate-controlled facilities, meaning you don’t need to transfer your belongings to a separate storage container should your plans change at any point in your moving process. If you need to access your container while it’s in storage, simply provide 1-800-Pack-Rat with 24-hour notice, which gives its team time to place your container in a well-lit staging area for a more comfortable experience.

To get a detailed quote for 1-800-Pack-Rat’s services, you must call the company. Be aware that you’ll have to go through several automated menus before you can speak to an actual representative. The salesperson will ask you some basic details about your move, including your current and future ZIP codes, the size of your home, and your preferred container delivery date. If you have a better quote from a competitor, the company is not shy about price-matching to get your business. It will also probably take that as a cue to hype its containers’ barn-style doors, which are meant to allow for more storage room than its competitors’ containers.

You can book a delivery date with 1-800-Pack-Rat without a deposit, but if your move is considered long-distance, you’ll have to make a $500 deposit five days before your container arrives, and you’ll also need to provide full payment before the driver can commence delivery to your final destination. If your move is local, you’ll need to make three payments: one the day before your container is delivered, a second while it’s in transit, and a final payment upon delivery to your new address. You won't have access to GPS tracking to keep tabs on your container in real time, but you do get updates through your My PackRat online account telling you if the container is in transit or in a particular city or facility. 

Keep in mind that 1-800-Pack-Rat is only available in 30 states and Washington, D.C. The company’s online quote tool will let you know if your requested locations are outside the company’s coverage area.

When you’re moving across the country, Zippy Shell can reliably keep your things secure throughout the trip. Zippy Shell offers two container sizes: 10 feet and 15 feet, the larger of which can store the contents of two or three rooms, depending on how much furniture and possessions you own. Unlike typical weatherproof steel containers, these are cage-like structures, but they’re transported inside a trailer, ensuring your belongings are shielded from the elements and prying eyes. Notably, the design makes it easier to tie things down.

To get a quote you have to call the company, and an agent will ask you a few simple questions about your current and future ZIP code, your home size, how many boxes and pieces of large furniture you’re moving, and the date you need the container. Pricing depends on the size and number of containers you request, the distance you’re traveling, and your preferred dates; summer is typically more expensive than winter, as it’s a busier season for moving companies. Like its sister company, 1-800-Pack-Rat, Zippy Shell will price-match any rival offers. Quotes expire after seven days, so keep that in mind when researching.

Payment is pretty straightforward. You pay half your bill shortly before the container is delivered and the other half when it arrives at your destination. Be advised that if your move takes longer than a month, you may incur additional storage and rental fees. If you want to hire movers to help you load and unload your belongings, Zippy Shell can refer you to third-party vendors. It’s important to note that the company does not offer a real-time tracking tool for your container while it’s on the road. However, it does let you check its general status (en route or at a facility, for example) on its website. If you’re not moving but need storage solutions, the company’s got them. Just be aware that its cage-like containers aren’t stored in trailers at the warehouse; instead, they’re covered with plastic tarps.

U-Haul has spent nearly 80 years providing moving services and supplies. It has more than 21,000 locations across the U.S. and Canada, the most out of any company in this roundup, and it offers very competitive prices. On top of that, U-Haul provides a range of container delivery options. It can deliver a container to your home, of course, but it also gives you the option of hiring a local moving company to do it, usually for a lower price. Alternatively, you can pick your container up from one of U-Haul’s locations or load/unload your belongings directly in one of its facilities. Neither of these two options incurs any charges, helping you keep your overall bill down.

U-Haul provides instant quotes on its website. You’ll need to provide the exact addresses of your current and future homes to get an accurate delivery fee added to your estimate. If you don’t have the address of your new home yet, you can still book the service, and U-Haul will ship the container to the destination city and store it in one of its facilities. You need a credit card to secure your date, but you don’t have to pay immediately or put down a deposit unless you choose to hire a local moving company to deliver the container to your home, in which case you’ll need to pay those fees when you book. Otherwise, the first part of your payment, covering delivery and one month’s rent for the container, will be charged on the morning of delivery. Five days before your container is set to arrive at its destination you’ll be charged the shipping fees, and the remaining delivery fees will be charged on the morning of final delivery. U-Haul offers a guaranteed delivery date and will pay you $50 for every day your container is late. Note that if your move takes longer than 30 days, you’ll incur additional rental fees. Strangely, you can only get a partial quote for local moves, as U-Haul’s online tool doesn’t provide an option to add final delivery.

Called U-Boxes, U-Haul’s moving containers are made of wood and covered with bright orange water-resistant vinyl. They’re less than 8 feet long and can only hold up to 2,000 pounds, which is about half of what rival companies’ smallest containers are equipped to withstand. This means that you’ll probably need multiple containers if you’re moving more than one room or if you have a large, well-stocked studio apartment. For other U-Haul services, the company offers a live chat option for customer service questions, but for anything related to U-Boxes, you’ll have to call.

SmartBox is at the head of the class for student moving services. The company has a discount program specifically designed for college students, and it offers storage deals to sororities and fraternities that need to free up space and to students moving abroad for a semester who need somewhere to keep their belongings safe. It earns extra credit for providing $20 off delivery services to faculty members and college staff.

Getting a quote is relatively painless. Enter your current and future ZIP codes and the date you wish to receive a container, and SmartBox’s website will provide an instant estimate. As you go through the quote process, you’ll have the option of adding labor services to help with loading and unloading. Just be aware that labor costs vary by city and that SmartBox’s options may be more expensive than labor you hire on your own. When you’re done getting your quote, you can book your move on the spot.

SmartBox quotes are valid for 30 days, giving you ample time to research a range of companies. Local and short-distance moves are generally cheaper with SmartBox than with its competitors. Its long-distance services are on the pricier end of the spectrum, but it will price-match any other offers, and if you pay a 15-percent deposit, your rate will be locked in for 60 days. Containers are billed on a monthly basis, so if it takes you 10 days to travel from point A to point B, you’ll have 20 days to pack and unpack at your own pace.

SmartBox containers are made of wood, covered with a waterproof canvas, and allow for ground-level loading. They only come in one size, 8 feet, which can fit the contents of a room or room and a half, which will be sufficient for most students. The containers can hold up to 3,000 pounds and can fit a king-size mattress as well as couches less than 7.5 feet long. SmartBox provides a “space estimation” document on its website that lists how many containers you’ll need depending on the size of your home.

Unfortunately, SmartBox only operates in 23 states and Washington, D.C., and you may need to call customer service a few times to speak to a representative that can answer your questions. Late delivery seems to happen more frequently with SmartBox than with other companies in this roundup, so keep that in mind as you evaluate your options.