2020’s 5 Best Moving and Storage Container Companies

Why we recommend U-Pack

You aren’t forced to pay for storage

U-Pack doesn’t include storage in its moving quotes. While some may enjoy how other companies include 30 days of storage in your quote, we like how U-Pack doesn’t force you to pay for storage you may not need.

You can always add storage to your quote if you’d like, but if you don’t need the storage time or more than three days to pack up your container, then you can save your money.

Optional storage is especially nice on long-distance moves in case you get to your new town and your home isn’t ready. Plus, knowing that you can add storage at any time relieves the pressure to figure it all out immediately once you arrive.

You don’t need to pay a deposit

U-Pack doesn’t require you to pay a deposit when you schedule your move—which we love. Even though it asks for your card information when you confirm your reservation, U-Pack won’t charge you until after it picks up your ReloCubes or moving trailer.

Other companies require you to pay for your entire reservation up front or make you put a certain amount down before they will deliver the moving containers to your home.

Skipping the deposit allows you to free up a little bit of cash for more immediate moving needs—like paying for all of that take-out since packing up all of your pots and pans.

You pay for only the space you need—no refunds required

When you confirm your reservation with U-Pack online, you’ll see how many ReloCubes it will deliver or an estimate of how many linear feet of trailer space you’ll need.

Lucky for you, you’re not held to these original estimates when it’s time to pay.

Let’s say U-Pack delivers four ReloCubes to your home and you use only three (all those years of playing Tetris finally paid off). Even though your original quote was for four ReloCubes, you would be responsible for paying for only the three you used.

The same applies if you use one of U-Pack’s moving trailers. If you were quoted fifteen feet and you use twelve, U-Pack charges you for only twelve feet once its driver comes to pick up your trailer.

If you need more trailer space than what you were originally quoted, U-Pack simply multiplies the extra space you use by your quoted cost per linear foot, so you can easily calculate your final cost before the driver comes to pick up your trailer.

The best part? You’ll never have to wait for a refund for space that you don’t use. Since U-Pack doesn’t require a deposit and doesn’t charge you for your move up front, you pay for only what you use once U-Pack’s driver comes to pick up your belongings.

U-Pack is available nationally

No matter what state you live in, U-Pack can help you complete your long-distance move. In fact, U-Pack is one of only two moving storage container companies on our list that’s available in all fifty states.

U-Pack is also available in Puerto Rico and parts of Canada, in case your long-distance move takes you out of the continental United States.

Learn more about U-Pack’s reputation, pricing, and add-on features in our full U-Pack Review. Then see how it stacks up against our other top picks in our Best Long-Distance Moving Companies list.

Portable On Demand Storage, more commonly known as PODS, is one of the most well-known companies in the moving container and storage industry. Prominence aside, PODS has the most variety in its container options—allowing you to choose the container that best fits your move.

Plus, with 30 days to load up your container, you won’t need to take time off from work or lose a sunny Saturday to the moving grind.

Why we recommend PODS

It gives you 30 days to load your moving container

PODS gives you 30 days to load and unload your moving container at a leisurely pace—and avoid the stress of tackling your entire move over a weekend of cheap pizza and beer.

Packing your home and loading a moving trailer can sometimes take longer than you initially plan. But if you move with PODS, you can take as much time as you need.

If you’re on the fence about what to take and what to trash, having a whole month to figure out the details can save you a few headaches—but don’t put off making those tough decisions until day 29!

PODS is widely available in the US and abroad

PODS is one of the most widely available moving storage container companies on our list, trailing only behind U-Pack and U-Haul.

You can find PODS moving containers in forty-four states (sorry, Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming) and several locations in Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

It has different container sizes to suit different moves

While some of the other companies on our list offer only one container size, PODS has three sizes to choose from when planning your move:

• A 7-foot container
• A 12-foot container
• A 16-foot container

The availability of multiple moving container sizes provides a distinct advantage that some of the other companies simply can’t match—the ability to fit all of your belongings into a single container.

While larger households may need to reserve multiple PODS containers to complete their moves, the average household will likely need to reserve only a single twelve- or sixteen-foot container.

We love the convenience this offers for both packing and unpacking your belongings. If you have to load and unload only a single moving container, you know exactly where all of your belongings are.

But if you have to divide your belongings between multiple small containers, finding anything in a hurry while you’re unpacking can be next to impossible.

Want to know more? We break down the company’s pricing, customer service, and container sizes in our PODS Review.

1-800-PACK-RAT is a moving and storage container company with numerous locations throughout the United States and Canada. Although it doesn’t have as many facilities as either U-Pack or PODS, its well-constructed moving containers and additional perks for long-distance moves make it well worth considering.

Why we recommend 1-800-PACK-RAT

Its storage facilities are state of the art

Top-notch storage facilities come with 24/7 surveillance, climate control, and car-accessible warehouses. Some self-storage companies don’t offer some of these services—but 1-800-PACK-RAT (which focuses primarily on moving) has all three.

We consider storage a priority in case your container beats you to your new home. 1-800-PACK-RAT’s first-rate storage facilities stand out above the rest.

Its moving containers come with 30 days of storage

Much like PODS, 1-800-PACK-RAT’s containers also come with thirty days of storage included in your quote. Although it’s included whether or not you need storage, it comes in handy if you do, or if you want to take your time to pack or unpack your container.

Or, if your new home isn’t move-in ready when you arrive, free storage will save you from scrambling to find a temporary (or costly) home for your things.

It uses steel-constructed containers

As far as moving containers go, 1-800-PACK-RAT has some of the best. Each container is constructed from steel frames, walls, and doors to protect your belongings from harsh weather conditions and anything else that might arise as your container travels to your new home.

1-800-PACK-RAT’s containers also come in three sizes, similar to the PODS moving containers. Unlike any of PODS’ options, however, 1-800-PACK-RAT’s containers feature barn-style doors instead of the roll-up doors used by PODS.

It may not seem like a huge difference to have one style of door over another, but barn-style doors have a couple advantages over their roll-up counterparts.

• Barn-style container doors don’t take up any interior space when they’re open, while roll-up doors take up space along the ceiling in the open position.
• Roll-up doors are prone to jamming if items shift inside the container during transit. There’s no risk of pinning barn-style doors shut since they open away from the interior of the container.

Find out more in our review of 1-800-PACK-RAT.

U-Haul is a household name in the moving truck rental industry, but did you know it also offers portable moving containers? Its wooden containers aren’t quite as sturdy or large as some of the metal containers on our list, but U-Haul’s nationwide availability makes it a good option if you aren’t near one another moving and storing company.

Why we recommend U-Haul’s U-Boxes

It’s available in all 50 states for long-distance and local moves

Aside from U-Pack’s ReloCube, U-Haul’s U-Box is the only other portable moving container on our list that’s available in all fifty states. Not only that, but it’s also available in Puerto Rico and portions of Canada and Mexico.

Some of the other moving container companies on our list have somewhat limited availability, so if you aren’t near a PODS or 1-800-PACK-RAT location and you need a moving container for a local move, a U-Box may be your best bet.

It has a great online reservation process

All of the companies on our list have some sort of online tool to help you start your quote, but not all of them let you finish without making a call.

U-Haul allows you to walk through your entire quote online from beginning to end, and it supplies all of the pricing information you need along the way to select what options best fit your move and budget.

It offers variable insurance options

U-Haul makes selecting a level of insurance coverage for your U-Box easy.

As you make your reservation online, you simply select the level of coverage that you feel best suits your shipment. U-Haul advertises five levels of U-Box insurance coverage:

Still want more? We have your back. We have an in-depth U-Box Review—give it a read!

SMARTBOX is the smallest moving and storage container company on our list, but it still has a lot to offer if you live in one of its markets. Its price-matching policy alone makes SMARTBOX worth considering if your moving budget is a top priority.

Why we recommend SMARTBOX

It has a price matching guarantee

Choosing a moving storage container can be a difficult decision—especially when the basic service is so similar between different companies. That’s why some movers base their choice so heavily on price.

We like SMARTBOX’s price match guarantee because it allows you to focus on which company offers the best service, not the best price.

Although SMARTBOX is currently available in only 23 states and Washington, DC, we think its price matching and comparable service options might steer you in its direction if there’s a location in your area.

It can deliver up to 8 moving containers at once

If you need a lot of moving storage containers and you don’t want to wait for the driver to make multiple trips, SMARTBOX may be for you.

SMARTBOX can deliver up to eight moving containers in a single trip. According to its website, that can comfortably move a five-bedroom home—so an average home should have no trouble getting all its containers in one trip.

Want to know more? Give our full SMARTBOX Review a read.

Recapping our top 5 best moving container and storage companies

• U-Pack—Best for long-distance moves
• PODS—Best bet for most moves
• 1-800-PACK-RAT—Best for storage
• U-Box by U-Haul—Best for nationwide availability
• SMARTBOX—Best for tighter budgets

Best of the rest

If a company you’re interested in didn’t make our list, don’t discount them. There are other moving and storage container companies out there that excel at many of the services our top picks offer—and one of them might be a better fit for your move.

Here are some other solid options worth looking into:

Zippy Shell—Best if you’re moving to a busy city

Zippy Shell’s containers are basically trailers with license plates, so they can hang out on LA or DC streets where other moving containers can’t. Plus, Zippy Shell offers 30 days of free storage on all long-distance moves. Check out our Zippy Shell Review for more info.

Go Mini’s—Best for container variety

Go Mini’s offers three container sizes, and all of them are made of steel. So whether you’re moving a small studio or a 3-bedroom apartment, you can find a size that fits your stuff. The company does only local moves, though, so if you’re moving across state lines or further than 300 miles, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

What makes a good moving container and storage company?

For those who aren’t as familiar with how moving and storage container companies operate, the concept is fairly simple.

Each of the storage companies on our list follow this general model, but there are a couple important factors you should consider when choosing one company over another.

Quality storage containers

Some moving companies construct their storage containers out of high-strength steel and aluminum, while others rely on wooden containers covered in vinyl to protect your belongings.

We prefer the metal over the wooden options. Steel and aluminum containers often provide better weatherproofing and more convenient tie-down options to secure your items. They also tend to be able to carry heavier loads than wooden containers.

Some providers offer different-sized containers, too. Keep this in mind if you need a lot of space to accommodate any large items you might be moving.

A timeline that suits your needs

Each company has a different timeline for how it handles your move. Some give you a set number of days to load and unload your container, while others give you a bit more flexibility by including storage time in your quote.

Transit time is also something that differs from mover to mover. Depending on the company you choose, it’ll either ship your container directly to your house or send your items to its storage facility first—slowing down your overall move time.

We’d love to hear more about your experience with moving and storage companies. Consider leaving a comment with your review!