1-800-PACK-RAT Review 2022

Bottom line: 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.

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.

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 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 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.

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

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.

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 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.

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

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 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 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
• Long-distance movers
• First responders
• Medical professionals
• Military members
• Senior citizens
• Teachers

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.

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

• U-Pack
• PODS
• SMARTBOX
• Zippy Shell
• U-Haul U-Box

• What to Expect When You Move with 1-800-PACK-RAT—Mike’s Move

1. 1-800-PACK-RAT, “Contents Protection Plans,” April 3, 2017. Accessed December 7, 2021.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

1. Compare quotes. We collected over 100 quotes from seven of the nation’s largest moving container companies to identify pricing trends.
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 ran the numbers for more than 7,000 total reviews to calculate an industry customer review average.
4. 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.
5. Annual review. Every year, we repeat the process to ensure that our list of the best moving container companies stays current. That means things like our top recommendations and industry prices may change from year to year.