- Cheapest long haul if you can split the load: U-Haul U-Box or a U-Pack ReloCube. Price two U-Boxes before you celebrate a one-box quote.
- Best single steel box: PODS or 1-800-PACK-RAT. Add SMARTBOX or Zippy Shell where they serve your ZIP.
- Local monthly storage: $220–$450. Interstate: about $1,100–$2,400 at 250 miles and $2,100–$4,800 at 2,000 miles, depending on company and size.
- Overview of the category: portable storage containers. PODS-only sizes and permits: moving in a PODS container.
These six companies are the 2026 short list for a residential container move in the U.S. The prices are planning ranges from national rate patterns, not a quote. Your ZIP code, the week, and whether the box also sits in storage for a month will move the number more than a blog chart will.
2026 container pricing by mileage
Each row is that company’s usual residential unit: a 12 ft steel container where they offer one, one ReloCube, or one U-Box. A second U-Box is a second row, not a footnote.
| Company | About 250 miles | About 500 miles | About 1,000 miles | About 2,000 miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U-Pack (ReloCube) | $1,200–$1,900 | $1,500–$2,400 | $1,900–$3,100 | $2,400–$3,900 |
| PODS (12 ft) | $1,600–$2,400 | $2,000–$3,000 | $2,400–$3,800 | $3,200–$4,800 |
| 1-800-PACK-RAT (12 ft) | $1,500–$2,300 | $1,900–$2,900 | $2,300–$3,600 | $3,000–$4,600 |
| U-Haul U-Box (one box) | $1,100–$1,800 | $1,400–$2,200 | $1,700–$2,800 | $2,100–$3,400 |
| Zippy Shell / MovingPlace | $1,500–$2,400 | $1,900–$3,000 | $2,300–$3,700 | $3,000–$4,700 |
| SMARTBOX (12 ft) | $1,400–$2,200 | $1,800–$2,800 | $2,200–$3,500 | $2,800–$4,400 |
Fuel surcharges and a second month of storage are the two lines that push a quote out of the band. Local monthly storage, when you are not crossing the country, is $220–$450.
How Much do Movers Cost?
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Container dimensions and what fits
| Company | Sizes you can book | Approx. interior | Cubic feet | Holds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U-Pack ReloCube | One size, plus trailer feet | About 6′ × 7′ × 8′ | ~350 | A studio or 1–2 rooms |
| PODS | 8, 12, 16 ft | About 8×7×8, 12×8×8, 16×8×8 ft | ~400 / ~700 / ~1,000 | Studio, 1–2 bed, 3–4 bed |
| 1-800-PACK-RAT | 8, 12, 16 ft | Similar steel interiors | ~400 / ~700 / ~1,000 | Same bands as PODS |
| U-Haul U-Box | One size | About 5′ × 8′ × 7’6″ | ~250–300 | 1–1.5 rooms. Two boxes for many 1–2 bedrooms. |
| Zippy Shell / MovingPlace | 8 and 16 ft (12 ft in some markets) | Steel, PODS-like | ~400 / ~900 | Studio through a 3-bedroom |
| SMARTBOX | 8, 12, 16 ft | Steel | ~400 / ~680 / ~980 | Studio through a 4-bedroom if you pack tightly |
Interior height is about 7 to 8 feet. A king mattress fits. A grand piano is a conversation you should have with movers, not with a tape measure.
Pros and cons
U-Pack
The space-used interstate option. You pay for the ReloCube or the linear feet of a trailer you actually fill. That is often the lowest fair price on a long lane when you are not storing for months.
Pros
- Pay for space, not for an empty 16 ft box.
- Good on long interstate lanes.
- Trailer option if you have a loading dock’s worth of stuff and no dock.
Cons
- Not the simplest driveway-storage product.
- ReloCube is one modest size. A house can need more than one.
- Delivery windows are freight windows, not “Tuesday at 9.”
PODS
The steel container people mean when they say pod. Three sizes, a real driveway drop, and a warehouse network if your closing dates slip. You are paying for that flexibility.
Pros
- 8, 12, and 16 ft steel containers.
- Storage and moving are the same box.
- Easy to explain to a building manager.
Cons
- Rarely the cheapest 2,000-mile quote.
- Street permits are still your problem.
- Summer delivery windows fill.
1-800-PACK-RAT
The steel alternative to put next to PODS. Same idea: 8, 12, and 16 ft steel, local monthly rates, and interstate moves. In cities where Pack-Rat has a yard and PODS is booked, this is the quote that moves the date.
Pros
- Steel, weather-tight, three sizes.
- Often a few hundred dollars under PODS on a local monthly rate.
- Straightforward contract.
Cons
- Coverage is metro-heavy.
- Name recognition is lower, so read recent reviews for your city.
- Still a container you must load yourself.
U-Haul U-Box
The small freight box with the most drop sites. One wood-and-metal box, about the volume of a studio or a room and a half. The network is the advantage. The size is the limit.
Pros
- Usually the lowest price per box on a long move.
- You can drop a box at a U-Haul center, not only at a house.
- Easy to add a second box.
Cons
- A 2-bedroom often needs two boxes, and two delivery fees.
- Wood/metal is tough, not a walk-in steel room.
- Loading a 5-foot-wide box frustrates a sofa.
MovingPlace / Zippy Shell
A steel container with a regional price. Zippy Shell’s steel boxes (and MovingPlace, which books similar portable storage) show up when you want PODS hardware without the PODS quote. Availability is the question, not the concept.
Pros
- Steel 8 ft and 16 ft containers in markets they serve.
- Local storage rates can undercut the national brand.
- Useful when you need the box for months, then a move.
Cons
- Not in every state.
- Interstate service depends on the market.
- Get the legal company name on the contract, not only the brand on the ad.
SMARTBOX
A steel 8 / 12 / 16 ft quote in the markets it covers. SMARTBOX competes directly with PODS and Pack-Rat on size. It is worth the third call in the East and South, and a wasted call where it does not operate.
Pros
- Familiar 8, 12, and 16 ft sizes.
- Pricing is often aggressive against PODS on mid-length routes.
- Steel container, driveway delivery.
Cons
- Regional coverage. Confirm your ZIP before you plan around it.
- Fewer warehouses if you need to pause for months.
- You still load and pad the furniture.
Whichever name you book, the load is still yours. Pad the furniture, keep weight low, and do not block the door until the last items. If the building will not allow a container out front, ask for a warehouse load before you pay a dry-run fee.
Moving container company FAQs
Which company is cheapest in 2026?
On a long move, one U-Box or one ReloCube is usually the cheap quote. It stops being cheap when you need a second and third box. On a local month of storage, Pack-Rat, SMARTBOX, or Zippy Shell often beat PODS. Get the written monthly rate for month two.
Is MovingPlace the same as Zippy Shell?
They show up together because both sell portable steel storage and, in many cities, the same style of container service. Book the company that gives you a delivery address, a size, and a permit answer for your street. Do not assume a national ad covers your ZIP.
Can I live out of the container?
No. These are storage and freight boxes. They are not insulated apartments, and a container on a city street is not a place to store what you cannot afford to lose to weather or a break-in. Ask about the company’s basic cargo coverage and what it excludes.
Should I hire movers to load the pod?
Yes if you have stairs, a piano, or no helpers. Price that labor separately. A container plus a loading crew can land next to a full-service quote, which is useful to know before you fall in love with the container price.
Compare the move, not only the container
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More about the author
Martin is a moving expert and online marketer who’s been involved in the moving industry since 2004. Writes for MoveAdvisor, formerly MyMovingReviews.com.
Manuella is a moving expert featured in Forbes, USA Today, Zillow, The American Moving & Storage Association. Writes for MoveAdvisor, formerly MyMovingReviews.com.
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