2021 1-800-PACK-RAT Review

Name: 1-800-PACK-RAT 2020 Review: Pricing & Services
Item: Pack-Rat
Rating: 4.0
Author: Joe Roberts

By Kurt Manwaring | Writer | Updated: December 22, 2020

Bottom line: 1-800-PACK-RAT has high initial fees, but you can’t beat the combo of high-quality containers and post-discount prices.

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

Get a Quote

Call 800-722-5728

Get a Quote

Call 800-722-5728

1-800-PACK-RAT is the only portable storage company with all-steel containers. It has high prices as a result, but 1-800-PACK-RAT nearly always price matches PODS—and it offers more discounts than all other moving container companies. The combination of high quality and low post-discount prices makes 1-800-PACK-RAT worth considering.

Pros

High-quality containers
Local and long-distance delivery
Tons of discounts
Price matching with PODS

Cons

High pre-discount prices
Confusing payment structure

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

1-800-PACK-RAT costs approximately $3,290 for the average move. Costs range from roughly $1,750 for a small local move to nearly $5,200 for a large long-distance shipment. 1-800-PACK-RAT’s initial prices are about 10% above the industry average, but customers can receive lower prices by asking for discounts and price matching.

1-800-PACK-RAT moving container pricing

	450 miles	1,750 miles	2,050 miles
1-room apartment	$2,470	$2,780	$3,060
2-room home	$2,470	$2,780	$3,060
3-room home	$2,470	$2,780	$3,060
5-room home	$3,680	$4,800	$3,590

1-room apartment

2-room home

3-room home

5-room home

450 miles	1,750 miles	2,050 miles
$2,470	$2,780	$3,060
$2,470	$2,780	$3,060
$2,470	$2,780	$3,060
$3,680	$4,800	$3,590

Data as of 8/10/2020. Offers and availability may vary and are subject to change. Average cost calculated by comparing moving costs for four home sizes across three distances.

We asked 1-800-PACK-RAT for quotes we could compare to estimates from other portable moving container companies. The company provided 24 quotes for a variety of home sizes and distances.

1-800-PACK-RAT cost factors

1-800-PACK-RAT identifies a few factors that affect the cost of your container move:

Distance. It generally costs more to travel farther.

Flexibility. You can often save money if your move date aligns with other customers on the same 1-800-PACK-RAT truck.

Container availability. If the size you need isn’t available, you’ll need to pay for a larger (and more expensive) one.

1-800-PACK-RAT coverage options

1-800-PACK-RAT sells insurance 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 standard deductible for 1-800-PACK-RAT coverage is $100.

1-800-PACK-RAT Contents Protection Plan options

Declared value	Plan type	Coverage	Monthly cost
NA (Container only)	Basic	Damage waiver	$9.99
$5,000	Silver	Damage waiver plus $5K Contents Protection	$34.95
$10,000	Silver	Damage waiver plus $10K Contents Protection	$49.95
$15,000	Silver	Damage waiver plus $15K Contents	$59.95
$25,000	Silver	Damage waiver plus $25K Contents Protection	$79.95
$50,000	Silver	Damage waiver plus $50K Contents Protection	$119.95
$75,000	Silver	Damage waiver plus $75K Contents Protection	$149.95

Declared value

NA (Container only)

$5,000

$10,000

$15,000

$25,000

$50,000

$75,000

Plan type	Coverage	Monthly cost
Basic	Damage waiver	$9.99
Silver	Damage waiver plus $5K Contents Protection	$34.95
Silver	Damage waiver plus $10K Contents Protection	$49.95
Silver	Damage waiver plus $15K Contents	$59.95
Silver	Damage waiver plus $25K Contents Protection	$79.95
Silver	Damage waiver plus $50K Contents Protection	$119.95
Silver	Damage waiver plus $75K Contents Protection	$149.95

Data as of 4/3/17.¹ Pricing may vary by location and are subject to change. Individuals should review their rental contract—including addendums—for a complete description of the policy’s terms, conditions, and exclusions.

Impressed with 1-800-PACK-RAT’s all-steel containers?

Get a Quote

1-800-PACK-RAT features and services

1-800-PACK-RAT has local and long-distance services

1-800-PACK-RAT can help you move across town—or the country. With locations in 30 states, 1-800-PACK-RAT is available in nearly two-thirds of the US and can serve communities within 50 to 100 miles of its warehouses.

FIND A 1-800-PACK-RAT NEAR YOU

Not sure if there’s a 1-800-PACK-RAT storage facility near your home? Check out the company’s location map.

1-800-PACK-RAT provides storage services

1-800-PACK-RAT provides monthly storage services if you’re doing a remodel or your home isn’t ready by the time your stuff arrives. The first month of storage is part of your initial quote. If you need more time, 1-800-PACK-RAT offers residential storage for a storage fee of $280 per month—or storage at a 1-800-PACK-RAT warehouse for $290 per month.

1-800-PACK-RAT has three container sizes

1-800-PACK-RAT has three container sizes to choose from. Its small 8-foot container typically fits one to two rooms of furniture, while the largest 16-foot container can usually hold three to four rooms of belongings.

1-800-PACK-RAT container sizes

	Dimensions	Capacity	Weight limit
Small	8.5 x 7.2. x 7.8 ft.	1–2 rooms	4,000 lbs.
Medium	12 x 7.8 x 7.5 ft.	2–3 rooms	6,000 lbs.
Large	16. x 7.8 x 7.5 ft.	3–4 rooms	6,000 lbs.

Small

Medium

Large

Dimensions	Capacity	Weight limit
8.5 x 7.2. x 7.8 ft.	1–2 rooms	4,000 lbs.
12 x 7.8 x 7.5 ft.	2–3 rooms	6,000 lbs.
16. x 7.8 x 7.5 ft.	3–4 rooms	6,000 lbs.

Note: 1-800-PACK-RAT always recommended its biggest 16-foot container when we posed as customers—regardless of the size of our home.

Why we recommend 1-800-PACK-RAT

1-800-PACK-RAT has high-quality containers

No one has higher-quality containers than 1-800-PACK-RAT. The moving company’s all-steel containers look like Superman next to most competitors (some companies even use plywood). The sturdy construction keeps your belongings safe in case of bad weather.

1-800-PACK-RAT also uses barn-style doors that open outward (instead of up and down). Not only does this add a bit of extra storage room, but it makes sure the doors don’t jam if your stuff moves around during transport. We’ve even heard of 1-800-PACK-RAT propping up the containers so the barn-style doors can open without getting stuck on curbs.

1-800-PACK-RAT has low prices for big moves

1-800-PACK-RAT is ideal for customers moving big homes long distances. If you have three or more rooms and are moving at least 1,000 miles, 1-800-PACK-RAT is about $30 cheaper than the industry average. Your final bill can be a bit confusing (you have to add several fees to get your final cost), but the savings are worth it.

1-800-PACK-RAT costs for 3+ rooms

	1-800-PACK-RAT	Industry average
Average cost	$4,210	$4,240

Average cost

1-800-PACK-RAT	Industry average
$4,210	$4,240

Data current as of 5/4/20. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Average cost calculated by comparing moving costs for two home sizes across four distances.

1-800-PACK-RAT has tons of discounts

1-800-PACK-RAT offers more discounts than any other moving container company. The company usually offers a flat 10% discount that can add up to hundreds of dollars for large moves. In addition to price matching with PODS, 1-800-PACK-RAT has deals for:

Local movers
First responders
Medical professionals
Military members
Senior citizens
Teachers

1-800-PACK-RAT FAQ

What are 1-800-PACK-RAT reviews like?

1-800-PACK-RAT reviews align with the industry average of 3.3 out of 5 stars. Positive reviews often praise the company’s professional customer service, while negative reviews tend to mention unexpected fees and late delivery.

Are there 1-800-PACK-RAT storage units?

Yes, there are 1-800-PACK-RAT storage units. Rather than use a traditional storage unit, however, 1-800-PACK-RAT turns your storage container into a portable storage unit you can keep at your home or one of the company’s storage facilities.

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

1-800-PACK-RAT storage costs about $285 per month (the first month comes with your initial quote).

Is 1-800-PACK-RAT a good alternative to PODS?

Yes, 1-800-PACK-RAT is a good alternative to PODS. While 1-800-PACK-RAT has fewer locations and higher initial prices, it almost always price matches with PODS. Additionally, 1-800-PACK-RAT’s containers have higher-quality construction (all steel vs. steel frames) and better design (barn style doors vs. traditional roll-up doors) than PODS.

Does 1-800-PACK-RAT do local moves and long-distance moves?

Yes, 1-800-PACK-RAT does local moves and long-distance moves. The company’s average cost for local moves is approximately $2,020, while its average cost for long-distance moves of more than 1,000 miles is around $3,730.

Does 1-800-PACK-RAT have a weatherproof container?

Yes, 1-800-PACK-RAT has a weatherproof container. You can store the company’s steel portable containers at your home. 1-800-PACK-RAT also has storage options (including seasonal storage) if you prefer to keep your belongings at a 1-800-PACK-RAT storage facility.

Our recommendation

1-800-PACK-RAT has the best combination of high quality and low prices. You can’t beat it. The catch: you get the low prices only after asking for discounts—and 1-800-PACK-RAT is available in only 30 states. If you can’t find a 1-800-PACK-RAT near you, it’s worth checking out one of our best moving container companies.

Other moving container picks

Is 1-800-PACK-RAT not quite what you’re looking for? Check out our reviews of some other moving and storage container companies:

Sources

1. 1-800-PACK-RAT, “Contents Protection Plans,” April 3, 2017. Accessed December 1, 2020.

About Kurt Manwaring

Kurt Manwaring brings nearly a decade’s worth of research experience as a business consultant to the Move.org team. He specializes in taking complicated issues (like moving) and presenting them in a way that everyone can understand. His writing has been featured in hundreds of publications, including USA Today, Country Living, Good Housekeeping, Heavy, Slate, and Yahoo! Lifestyle. He would love to hear about your moving experiences and questions at kurt@move.org.

Cari Bower

1-800-Pack-Rat is AWFUL!!! I ordered two containers from them and I based everything on the date that I needed those containers to be delivered half-way across the US. Upon realizing I needed a third container (too much stuff), I asked the Pack Rat rep MULTIPLE times if by ordering a third container would it slow up the delivery date of the first 2 containers. He swore up one side and down the other that it would not delay the first two containers and those first two would be delivered on schedule for June 15. turns out that was not the case and they HELD the first two containers for the third!! Mind you, I received NO discount for shipping three containers as opposed to just one or two containers. So now me and my family are sleeping on the hard floor without a pillow or a plate to eat off of. My stuff will not now get to me until June 21 for an unload date of June 22,,and you know what they offered me? $50 a day, that dloesn’t even cover the cost of a hotel in DC especially with 3 cats and 3 dogs. This company sucks, they have one mission, to move your stuff and they will fail and will not care. I had one week of leave to unpack and get settled before reporting to work and they have totally screwed me in that regard. I wish I had gone with ANY other company other than them. This company is as shit show, I would have been better off if I had driven my own household goods across country, In addition to their complete failure to deliver on time, the containers were full of holes and tears in the aluminum/steel so that if there was a single rain storm on the route, your stuff will get damaged. Go with anyone else, and I literally mean anyone else – prison convicts, your step—parents, the homeless guy down the street, anyone else! I’m drinking a bourbon to help adjust to the fact that I’ll be sleeping on the floor yet again with only a dog bed as a pillow…and I stink..FML and F 1-800-PatRack
- Bill McClure
  
  Best review ever!
Annon E Mouse

1-800-PackRat IS NOT CHEAP. You won’t save the money you think you will.

Read the fine print. After they have your stuff in storage, they can raise their rate anytime they like. They raised mine twice in less than 5 months!!

After they had my credit card number, they treated me like dirt. They wouldn’t pick up my container for a whole week, so it sat in the blazing sun baking my stuff inside. Then they raised their rates without even notifying me. (I found out by checking my credit card statement.)

Never trust a rat!!! Take your business elsewhere. If you don’t believe me, check reviews about them and their competitors. I thought I would save $10-20/mo, but that didn’t happen. If you sign up for insurance, they will charge it even while your container sits in their warehouse. I insured just their container in case someone crashed into it, but they charged me every month, even though it was sitting in their warehouse where their own insurance covers it. Once I had signed up for insurance, I wasn’t allowed to drop it.

I’ll say it again, NEVER TRUST A RAT!
pkt

We cannot recommend 1800 PACK RAT after witnessing their complete disorganization and terrible customer service. Do not trust them with your belongings.

48 hours ago, our Pack Rat container was scheduled to be delivered to our new home. At 8am of the day of delivery, the delivery driver called me and told me his ETA was 1pm. Great. At noon, I get a call from someone else at PR who says “actually, we don’t know where your container is, and we don’t know when we will be able to deliver it.” WHAT?? They told me hopefully someone would call me the next day with more information. I’ve called them back a few times since and no one can give me any information. We are beyond anxious, wondering if all our belongings (and some family heirlooms) are truly lost.

The original delivery of the container was 2 weeks ago, which we postponed at 11am the day of when we found the house wasn’t ready. At the time, I was grateful that PR was so easy going about my changing the date. But of course, this means they had even more time to tell us that they LOST OUR POD and not leave us hanging with no information.

We were already displeased with them before this. I got a quote of $4200 for moving from CT to CA. I was assured this was an all inclusive quote. When the bill came, it was $4700! They said this was because the price of diesel had gone up, but that’s a poor excuse because you can look up the price from trustworthy sources, and it had not changed very much in the few weeks since we got the quote. When we protested, they removed the charge. I do not appreciate that they tried to take advantage of us and squeeze an extra few hundred dollars out of us.

It is SO unacceptable to treat people like this!!
Jay Clavell

very bad service.. driver was very unprofessional and custer service was even wrost. at the end of the day i canceled the order and went with pods.