1-800-PACK-RAT Review 2025

1-800-PACK-RAT is a moving container and storage company that operates in 37 states. It's the only major moving container company aside from PODS to offer three container sizes, and that alone makes 1-800-PACK-RAT a strong favorite among our editorial team. Who wants to pay for a half-empty unit?

1-800-PACK-RAT is great for people who are transporting valuable items because it's the only company with 100% steel containers (most only have steel frames) to protect your belongings. Nothing is getting into this container easily. And if that's not enough, you can buy up to $75,000 in additional insurance coverage to protect the container's contents.

If you think you have to pay an arm and a leg for an industry-leading company, think again. 1-800-PACK-RAT's quotes were among the lowest we collected thanks to the company's price matching policy. 

Bottom line: 1-800-PACK-RAT is one of our favorite moving container companies. It has the industry’s strongest containers and boasts prices lower than the industry average. On the downside, it's not available nationwide.

1-800-PACK-RAT is our pick for the second-best moving container company. It has low rates (after price matching) and features the industry’s only all-steel moving containers. Quotes from 1-800-PACK-RAT are some of the lowest we collected, beaten only by Zippy Shell. On the other hand, it falls short in availability (only 37 states).

1-800-PACK-RAT offers the following:

• Archival storage
• Emergency storage
• Furniture storage
• Home renovation storage
• Home staging storage
• Local moves
• Long-distance moves
• Military moving
• Portable moving containers
• Real estate storage
• Student storage
• Transitional storage

1-800-PACK-RAT partners with third-party vendors to help customers get related services, such as:

• Car shipping
• Moving supplies
• Professional labor
• Packing and loading help

1-800-PACK-RAT’s containers stand out compared to what else is on the market. Most containers keep your belongings safe, no matter the materials. But 1-800-PACK-RAT gives you extra peace of mind. The durable, all-steel containers provide additional protection against bad weather, mold, and mildew.

Plus, 1-800-PACK-RAT has three sizes. That means you can pick a container that matches the size of your home. The end result is that you don’t pay for unused space or extra containers. It’s a big deal when considering that many companies charge a delivery fee for each container. Having an 8, 12, and 16-foot container to choose from can save you money.

Note: 1-800-PACK-RAT’s 12-foot container is available for local moves only.

We say that 1-800-PACK-RAT has “surprisingly” low prices because your initial quote isn’t always what it seems. For example, some of 1-800-PACK-RAT quotes are fairly close to the industry average. There’s nothing super sexy about that. But when you talk to its customer service representatives, they offer to match prices with PODS. And that takes the price from “meh” to “wow!”

Plus, 1-800-PACK-RAT is Zippy Shell’s sister company. That’s important because Zippy Shell is our pick for this year’s cheapest moving container company. You can technically find this information online, but representatives from both companies keep it hush-hush when you call.

Pro tip: There’s a trick you can use to lower your price. Tell either company (1-800-PACK-RAT or Zippy Shell) that you already have a quote from the other. Then, the customer service reps will acknowledge the partnership and provide quotes for both companies. More often than not, it will be the cheapest rate on the market.

Price-matching with 1-800-PACK-RAT can save big bucks

1-800-PACK-RAT has some of the industry’s best storage features. That capitalizes on the “portable storage” nature of moving containers. In other words, moving containers aren’t just for moving. You can also use them to store household belongings if your home floods, if you're renovating your home, or if you rent out your college student’s room for the semester. But not all container companies have the same storage services.

For example, some companies limit your storage time to three days. That’s helpful for moving, but not much else. Other companies allow you to keep the storage containers at a company facility, but not your home. And others provide storage facilities and at-home options but don’t allow you to visit the company warehouses.

1-800-PACK-RAT has all of those storage features:

• Monthly storage options. Use your moving container as a portable storage unit for a monthly fee.
• At-home storage. 1-800-PACK-RAT can deliver storage containers to your home. That means you can access your household belongings whenever you want.
• Storage facility options. You can ask 1-800-PACK-RAT to keep your storage container in one of its company warehouses. That’s especially helpful if you need long-term storage or don’t have room in your driveway to accommodate one of its 8, 12, or 16-foot containers.
• Storage facility access. 1-800-PACK-RAT will move your container from storage into a staging area so that you can drop off or pick up belongings. Just call the warehouse 24 to 48 hours in advance.
• Storage perks. There are so many extra bells and whistles that it’s tempting to confuse 1-800-PACK-RAT with one of our best storage unit companies. It has 24/7 surveillance, climate-controlled storage, and easy on-site access. For an extra fee, it will even bring the container to your home so you can get what you need.

The average cost to move with 1-800-PACK-RAT is approximately $3,080 for a long -distance move. The container company provides services for local moves and long-distance moves and can handle all home sizes. Prices range from about $1,500 to move a one-bedroom apartment 100 miles to more than $6,000 to transport your belongings across the country.

1-800-PACK-RAT makes it easy to understand your final price. While some companies have scores of confusing line items, 1-800-PACK-RAT breaks down your invoice into three easy-to-understand categories:

1. Monthly rental. 1-800-PACK-RAT charges a monthly rental fee for your container. Our analysis of 24 company quotes found a $300 average container charge. However, the monthly fee varies depending on your location, container size, and time of year.
2. “Everything else.” We love the way 1-800-PACK-RAT representatives simplify the shopping process. They laid out the monthly rental costs and then gave us a total for “everything else.” It includes things like transportation costs, delivery charges, and discounts.
3. Total. Your monthly rental plus everything else. It usually takes about 30 seconds to walk through your entire quote. We’ve spoken with a container moving company that sometimes takes 30 minutes to walk through nearly a dozen charges, so we appreciate 1-800-PACK-RAT's convenient process. 

1-800-PACK-RAT sells coverage for its moving containers (basic plan) and your belongings (silver plan). Monthly costs for the Contents Protection Plan range from $9.95 to $149.95, depending on the coverage amount. The typical 1-800-PACK-RAT deductible is $100.

Here's what you can expect when booking with 1-800-PACK-RAT:

1. Enter basic details online: 1-800-PACK-RAT's online form asks for the start zip code, destination zip code, container drop-off date, and your email address.
2. Choose your container size: Pick from 8-foot, 12-foot, or 16-foot containers and see pricing information for each size. You must call to mix-and-match container sizes.
3. Share information about delivery site: 1-800-PACK-RAT wants to know if the container will be in a driveway or road, a curved or straight driveway, on a slope, or around any obstacles. You can also specify whether you want the container opening to face the home or the street.
4. Choose insurance coverage: There's no way to opt out. It costs $9.99 for a container damage waiver and $34.95–$149.95 to cover the container's contents.
5. Pay for a specific delivery time: This is optional, but 1-800-PACK-RAT allows you to request AM or PM delivery for an extra $50.
6. Accept agreements: Read the Contents Protection Agreement, Rental Agreement, lien information, and active military service information and check that you accept the terms.
7. View quote and book: You won't be charged until the container is delivered, but you do need to enter your payment information upfront. You don't need to enter delivery information yet.
8. Receive the container: Your 1-800-PACK-RAT container is delivered on a truck and hoisted to the ground with a special integrated crane that works in narrow areas. It takes about 10 minutes to unload from start to finish.
9. Pack the container: You have at least 30 days to load the container, which is a long time in this industry. If you need more time, 1-800-PACK-RAT is happy to extend your container rental for another monthly payment. 
10. Schedule pick-up: 1-800-PACK-RAT will come get the container whenever you're ready. The crane lifts the container without tilting it, so all of your belongings stay put. The company can take it to your new home or bring it to a facility for temporary or long-term storage.
11. Schedule delivery: Delivery can take up to 10 days, depending on how far the container must travel.
12. Unload the container: Once the container has been delivered to your new home, you have another 30 days to unload it.
13. Schedule final pick-up: When the container is empty, call 1-800-PACK-RAT one more time to have it hauled away. 

Move.org values candid feedback about their moving experiences. See what some real-life customers said about moving with 1-800-PACK-RAT:

• Mike’s Move: In 2020, Mike moved 1,350 miles cross-country with 1-800-PACK-RAT and got them to price match another company's quote after a little back-and-forth with customer service. 
• Scott’s Move: In 2021, Scott moved from the west coast to the east coast and chose 1-800-PACK-RAT after vetting seven other companies. He got a discount after a delivery delay. 

Both Mike and Scott experienced some hiccups, but that's just part of the story. 1-800-PACK-RAT seems to have taken customer feedback to heart and prioritized improving the customer experience. Positive customer reviews have dramatically outnumbered negative reviews ever since April 2024. This wasn't just about mouth service—the company's average customer service rating (from Facebook, Google, Trustpilot, and Yelp) has improved by 58% over the past year.

Move.org follows a six-step process to identify the nation’s best moving container companies:

1. Compare quotes. We obtained and analyzed nearly 300 quotes from 7 of the nation’s largest moving container companies over 3 years.
2. Mystery shopping. We do a top-to-bottom analysis of each company’s website and even call posing as customers. It helps us get a feel for what real-life customers experience.
3. Analyze reviews. We read dozens of reviews for each company to see what most impresses (and turns off) customers. We also conducted a meta-analysis of more than 16,000 reviews to calculate an industry customer review average.
4. Pay real-life customers for honest feedback. Move.org routinely gives away $500 moving grants in exchange for candid feedback about using moving container companies.
5. Site visits. We invite industry experts and company executives to visit our headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT. We grill them on everything from pricing and customer reviews to insurance coverage and the latest industry trends.
6. Annual review. Every year, we repeat the process to ensure that our list of the best moving container companies stays current. That means our top recommendations and industry prices may change each year.

1-800-PACK-RAT is worth considering if:

• You're worried about traffic accidents or water leaks damaging your belongings and want an all-steel container for the best protection.
• You need long-term storage at an accessible storage facility.
• You need short-term storage either on your property or in a facility.
• You want to pick and choose between three container sizes to keep your bill as low as possible.
• You don't want to rush to fill the container before pickup.
• You don't mind loading and unloading the container yourself or hiring a third-party to do it for you.
• You plan to shop around and want to work with a company that price matches. 
• You're looking for convenient and affordable insurance coverage for the container's contents.

You might want to avoid 1-800-PACK-RAT if:

• The company doesn't serve your area.
• You don't live near a storage facility and anticipate needing access to your items while they're in storage.
• You want a white-glove packing service where employees help pack your items and load and unload the container.

Thanks to its all-steel containers and price-matching feature, it's our second-best container company. Our analysis of 300-plus quotes shows that you can save hundreds of dollars on the average move. 1-800-PACK-RAT also has three different container sizes and provides 24/7 surveillance at its company storage facilities. The biggest drawback is availability: 1-800-PACK-RAT is available in only 37 states.

Looking for low prices and high quality?