The Best Moving Container Companies of 2025

Move.org analyzed approximately 16,000 customer reviews and 300 quotes over 3 years to find the best moving container companies in the United States.
Best overall
pods
PODS
4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6
$$
  • pro
    3 container sizes
  • pro
    46-state availability
  • pro
    Local and long-distance moves
  • Icon Blank
    10% Move.org discount
Best value
1800packrat
1-800-PACK-RAT
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
$$
  • pro
    3 container sizes
  • pro
    33-state availability
  • pro
    Local and long-distance moves
  • Icon Blank
    10% Move.org discount
Customizable storage
Units
Units Moving and Portable Storage
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3
$$$
  • pro
    2 container sizes
  • pro
    37-state availability
  • pro
    Local and long-distance moves
  • Icon Blank
    $30 Move.org discount
Low prices
zippyshell
Zippy Shell
4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1
$$
  • pro
    2 container sizes
  • pro
    34-state availability
  • pro
    Local and long-distance moves
  • Icon Blank
    10% Move.org discount
Excellent reviews
upack
U-Pack
4 out of 5 stars
4
$$$
  • pro
    1 container size
  • pro
    50-state availability
  • pro
    Long-distance moves only
  • Icon Blank
    $25 off Move.org discount
Why you can trust Move.org
movers helped every month
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moving grants awarded
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moving companies evaluated
156
years of expert experience
80+

What is the best moving container company?

Top pick: PODS is the best moving container company. It boasts better customer reviews than its competitors, a 10% Move.org discount, strong moving pods, and multiple storage options. Best of all, PODS is available from coast to coast AND have lowered their prices, so chances are—no matter where you're moving—PODS should have you covered.


Compare the best moving container companies

Company
Least expensive quote
Median quote
Most expensive quote
# of states
Details
$848
$4,511$13,040 46
$1170
$2887$6572 33
$973
$4349$870837
zippyshell
$1111
$2743$624334
upack
$1151
$3065$787650

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Pricing data collected by requesting estimates from top moving container companies for four home sizes across six distances.


What should you look for in a moving container company?

Here are the most important things to look for when picking a moving container company:

Availability. Most companies aren’t available nationwide. Make sure you find one with moving services in your origin and destination cities.

Price. Low prices aren’t just good for your pocketbook. They can also indicate whether a company can keep up with the increased COVID-19 moving demand.

Container sizes. Multiple sizes mean multiple options—and potential savings. Look for a container company with more than one size or charges only for the space taken up by your belongings.

Customer reviews. Few things matter more than what other customers say. Companies like U-Pack that get rave reviews mean that you’re more likely to have a positive moving experience.

Storage options. The best moving container companies let you store your containers either at your home or their company storage warehouses.

Container quality. Your options range from steel to plywood. Candidly, they all keep your items pretty secure. But there’s something to be said for seeing your belongings safely tucked away inside a 1-800-PACK-RAT or PODS heavy-duty container.


1. PODS—Best overall

Best Overall
pods
PODS
Our Rating
4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6

PODS is the best moving container company in the nation. No company has done a better job meeting demand during COVID-19. Plus, PODS keeps its rates reasonable while offering top-notch containers and on-site and at-home storage. The company also has a Move.org discount worth about $400 for the average move. The only real drawback is understanding the costs. PODS has so many separate billing charges that it’s hard to keep them straight.

If you want to learn more, read our full review of PODS.

pro
Pros
pro Nationwide availability
pro Multiple sizes
pro Flexible storage options
pro Positive customer reviews
pro Move.org discount
con
Cons
con Confusing prices

Looking for the best overall container company?


2. 1-800-PACK-RAT—Best value

Strong containers
1800packrat
1-800-PACK-RAT
Our Rating
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5

1-800-PACK-RAT barely missed out on our top spot. It boasts the most robust moving containers in the industry and lets you choose from multiple sizes. Plus, 1-800-PACK-RAT price matches with PODS. You even get free 24/7 surveillance if you use a 1-800-PACK-RAT storage facility. On the downside, it’s available in only 30 states and tends to score below average with customers.

If you want to learn more, read our full review of 1-800-PACK-RAT.

pro
Pros
pro Steel containers
pro Price matching
pro No-hassle orders
pro 24/7 storage surveillance
con
Cons
con Below-average customer reviews
con Limited availability (30 states)

Looking for the best value?


3. UNITS—Customizable storage

Customizable storage
Units Moving and Portable Storage Logo UPDATED
UNITS
Our Rating
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3

UNITS has several great qualities as a container moving company, but its most notable services include customizable storage services and 24/7 customer service. You have two container options when choosing how to store your belongings, and you can also choose between storing the container on-site, or in one of their climate-controlled warehouses for as long as you need. Additionally, with UNITS you can call to ask questions any day, at any time...they're available on weekends too! Paired with up to $10,000 insurance coverage for each move, and seasonal discounts at various locations, you know you'll be getting competitive pricing. The only downsides: UNITS is not currently available in all 50 states, and both container sizes may not be available for long-distance moves.

To learn more, read our full UNITS review.

pro
Pros
pro 2 container sizes
pro Climate-controlled storage facilities
pro Excellent customer reviews
pro $10,000 base insurance included
pro 30-days free storage
pro Unique ability to deliver containers in tight spaces
con
Cons
con Confusing container availability for moves
con No instant quotes
con Only available in 37 states
con Higher-than-average pricing

Looking for customizable storage?


4. Zippy Shell—Low prices

Low prices
zippyshell
Zippy Shell
Our Rating
4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1

Zippy Shell has the lowest moving container prices in the nation. It also has a sizable 15-foot steel container and lets you choose between at-home and facility storage options. Zippy Shell is available in 34 states and is continuously expanding. Even with its limited container sizes, its low prices and high-quality container are significant enough to warrant a fourth-place rank on our list of the best moving container companies. Zippy Shell is tough to beat if you can find a nearby location.

To learn more, read our full Zippy Shell review​.

pro
Pros
pro Low prices
pro Strong containers
pro Temperature-controlled storage
pro Flexible moving and storage options
pro Easy-to-add professional labor
pro Great for city moves
con
Cons
con Only two container sizes
con Limited availability (34 states)

Looking for low prices?


5. U-Pack—Excellent reviews

Excellent reviews
upack
U-Pack
Our Rating
4 out of 5 stars
4

U-Pack stakes its claim to fame on two important qualities: excellent reviews and nationwide availability. No other moving container company has such an impressive one-two punch. U-Pack also offers a $25 discount for online orders and has an extra insurance option if you care about damage protection. The drawbacks are significant, though. U-Pack doesn’t come cheap, can’t do long-distance moves, and isn’t an option for at-home portable storage longer than three days.

To learn more, read our full U-Pack review​.

pro
Pros
pro Excellent customer reviews
pro Extra insurance
pro Nationwide availability
pro $25 online discount
con
Cons
con High prices
con No moves under 50 miles
con No at-home storage

Looking for excellent reviews?


Moving container company FAQ

PODS is the industry's best moving container company. Its popularity leads some people to refer to moving containers as "moving pods." 

Moving containers cost approximately $3,870 for the average move. Prices vary depending on home size and distance. For example, it costs more to move a three-bedroom home across the country than to ship a studio apartment from one side of San Diego to the other.

It depends on your needs. PODS is better than a company like International Van Lines from a cost perspective. However, the lower price tag means that you have to do loading and unloading work in place of professional movers.

You can put most household goods in a portable moving container. Most container companies prohibit items such as hazardous materials, flammable liquids, and weapons. PODS advises you not to transport heirlooms, irreplaceable artifacts, deeds, legal notices, forms of currency and items that are not your personal property.3


How we chose the best moving container companies

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.

Our top pick

If you live in one of the 46 states PODS is available, its the best moving container company we recommend.  Overall, they have good customer reviews, strong moving containers, and multiple storage options. Plus, you can get a a 10% Move.org discount if you mention us when you book. If you live in Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, or Wyoming, go with UPack instead.