Best Storage & Moving Container Companies 2024

We spent more than three years heads-down learning everything we could about moving container companies so we could recommend the best solution for your move. To make our list, we looked for container companies with excellent customer reviews, quality containers, affordable costs, convenient storage options, and broad availability. Our top pick overall is PODS.

Who is better than PODS?

If you look at availability, UPack is better than PODS because they are available in all 50 states, whereas PODS is only available in 47. However, UPack only has one container size and specializes in long-distance moves, whereas PODS has three container sizes and can do either local or long-distance moves.

A moving truck is typically cheaper than PODS, but it depends on how many items you’re moving, gas prices, and how many miles you travel. If you only have a few large items, you can get a smaller container for just those items and then move everything else on your own or with a rental truck to try and save some money.

When choosing a storage and moving container company, consider the following:

• Container sizes:

  • Ensure the company offers various container sizes to fit your needs.
  • Check if multiple containers are an option if required.

• Durability and security:

  • Verify that containers are weather-resistant and durable enough to protect belongings.
  • Look for secure locking mechanisms and reinforced doors.

• Delivery and pickup flexibility:

  • Confirm if the company offers flexible delivery and pickup times.
  • Check for any restrictions on delivery locations (e.g., narrow streets or rural areas).

• Storage options:

  • Determine if the company offers both short- and long-term storage.
  • Ask whether containers can be stored on your property or at a company facility.

• Pricing structure:

  • Understand the pricing, including delivery, pickup, storage fees, and extra charges.
  • Compare monthly rates and ask about discounts for longer rental periods.

• Insurance coverage:

  • Check if the company provides insurance for your belongings during storage and transit.
  • Review your homeowners or renters insurance to see if it covers the container.

• Access to the container:

  • Ask how easy it is to access your container while it’s in storage.
  • Ensure the storage facility offers convenient hours and security features like surveillance.

• Customer reviews and reputation:

  • Look at online reviews to gauge customer satisfaction.
  • Consider the company’s reputation for reliability, customer service, and timely deliveries.

• Licensing and certifications:

  • Verify that the company is properly licensed for moving and storage services.
  • Look for any industry certifications that indicate high service standards.

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. We also like 1-800-PACK-RAT for its great selection of strong, multi-sized moving containers and its price matching policy. For great customer service and customized moving solutions, we think UNITS is one of the best moving container companies. This company stands out for its 24/7 available customer service that ensures you reach a real person whenever you need help (that means after midnight and on the weekends, too!). 

PODS is the best moving container company in the nation. The company has done so well that the term "storage pods" has become almost as popular as "storage containers" among online searchers.

PODS costs about $3,810 for the average move. PODS's prices range from approximately $850 to move a one-room apartment 100 miles to $7,790 to transport a five-bedroom home across the country.

PODS, or Portable on Demand Storage, gives you the flexibility you need to complete your move on your timeline. PODS also offers a robust list of other offerings, including packing and loading assistance, moving boxes and supplies, and even car shipping.

PODS moving container customers tend to give the company higher marks than its competitors. We analyzed 16,000-plus reviews and found that PODS has an average rating of 3.1 out of 5 stars—about 0.2 stars higher than average. That might sound like splitting hairs, but this industry is known for terrible reviews. 

These are some of the positive customer review trends we noticed in PODS reviews:

• Fast service. PODS movers seem to get things done quickly. Most customers aren’t waiting around all day for moving containers to arrive.
• Friendly reps. Customers often shout out the company’s telephone reps. PODS takes an “s” or two out of the typical stressssssful moving experience review.
• Low prices. Many customers mentioned how low PODS prices were for long-distance moves. We see that proof in our pricing analysis, too. For example, PODS is about $540 cheaper than the industry average for moves over 2,000 miles.

Save upwards of $400 with PODS.

1-800-PACK-RAT barely missed out on our top spot.  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.

1-800-PACK-RAT leads the pack (sorry, bad pun) for container strength. Only two companies use steel in their containers: PODS and 1-800-PACK-RAT. But while PODS has steel frames, 1-800-PACK-RAT has all-steel moving containers. 

We’ve never talked with a moving container company that’s more proactive about saving you money than 1-800-PACK-RAT. Virtually every rep we spoke to asked if we had quotes from other companies and then offered to match the price.

The discount typically applies only to PODS. However, we also spoke with 1-800-PACK-RAT reps, who said they’d try to lower our price if we already had a quote from another company. What’s remarkable is that we never asked 1-800-PACK-RAT reps if they would price match. 

Shopping for a mover can be complicated. It’s much different with 1-800-PACK-RAT. You provide a few basic details, and then the rep gives you an easy-to-understand quote. The entire process often takes less than five minutes. We’ve made hundreds of these calls, and no company leaves us feeling as stress-free as 1-800-PACK-RAT.

1-800-PACK-RAT has had some solid customer reviews over the past year. Most issues stem from late or absent drivers, but from what we can see, customer representatives from 1-800-PACK-RAT are proactive in following up with customers who leave negative reviews.

We tested 1-800-PACK-RAT's moving services when our team member Adam moved from Park City, Utah, to San Clemente, California. Adam reported back to us with his well-rounded experience with a 1-800-PACK-RAT moving container, sharing loading and parking tips along the way. 

UNITS has several great qualities as a container moving company, but its most notable services include customizable storage services and 24/7 customer service. 

Although PODS is our pick for the number one moving container company, it's clear that UNITS is an obvious customer favorite. And despite the fact that UNITS is only available in 37 states at the moment, customers consistently rave about the company for several reasons:

• Fair prices, including the fact that many locations offer specific discounts starting at 10% off and up to $10,000 in insurance coverage included in each quote, which rounds out to some extremely competitive pricing.
• Stellar service. UNITS has the highest customer review scores in the moving container industry that we’ve seen. Its customers appreciate both the affordability and helpful customer service that’s available seven days a week. We’ve even seen customers who received next-day delivery for their long-distance move.
• High-quality containers. Although UNITS only offers two different container sizes, they are of the highest quality to ensure your goods remain safe and dry across any climate. 

Each UNITS location is independently owned and operated, so you’ll find your service even more personalized. You don’t have to worry about being referred to a large call center outside of your service area because the agents you talk to will be familiar with your location. Additionally, this means that each location can tailor their services to you, including providing seasonal discounts that are unavailable at each location.

However, we should mention that this also means container availability and pricing can vary by location. For example, some locations will only offer one container size for long-distance moves and two for local storage.

Although the company currently offers service in 37 states, it is diligently working to expand its service area to the entire nation. Additionally, UNITS uses its proprietary “ROBO-UNIT Delivery System” to place your container in even the tightest spaces while always ensuring that it is placed on a level surface. This system also significantly reduces the likelihood of container contents shifting during transit.

Finally, we should mention that customers have access to their storage containers at any time within any one of UNITS’ climate-controlled storage centers—they even offer online scheduling so you can go in and access your belongings at your convenience. So, if you are unable to store your UNITS container on-site, you still have access to your things while in storage. This is simply not a service available with all of UNITS' competitors.

UNITS offers some of the industry's most customizable storage options.

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 has the industry’s lowest moving container prices. We looked at nearly 140 quotes and found that Zippy Shell can save you an average of around $390.

The only exception is if you have a small living space like a one-bedroom apartment. That costs about $250 more than other companies. But every other home size highlights what Zippy Shell brings to the table: the best portable storage prices in the United States.

Zippy Shell makes it easy to use your moving container for portable storage. The company offers two standout storage features:

1. At-home storage. You can keep Zippy Shell containers on-site at your home for as long as you need. (Monthly storage fees vary by location.) The indefinite option is a big win if you have a big remodel in the works or your new home isn’t move-in ready.
2. Facility storage. Zippy Shell has company storage facilities scattered across 100 different cities. While limited availability is a drawback (some companies serve thousands of municipalities), having a built-in storage unit in your back pocket is nice. Zippy Shell charges a monthly facility storage fee, including temperature controls to keep belongings, like paperwork and antiques, safe in extreme temperatures.

Zippy Shell would score higher in our rankings if it were more widely available. The company has locations in 34 states—the second fewest of companies on this list. Its low prices are only helpful if there’s one available in your neighborhood. .

In situations where city streets are narrow, parking is limited, or city permits are required, Zippy Shell can make difficult moves to or from a major city much easier. Its containers are street legal, including parking spaces and street curbs, so you can easily pack, load, and access your container. If that is not an option, you can arrange for a truck and professional loaders to load your container quickly, safely, and securely.

While its low prices and strong moving containers are a draw for many, Zippy Shell suffers from one of the lowest customer review scores we've seen—a 2.4 out of 5. The biggest complaints we've seen are centered around communication failures and delivery delays. 

Looking for the lowest moving container prices?

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. 

No moving container company gets better customer review scores than U-Pack. We crunched the numbers for more than 16,000 reviews across nearly a dozen sites. U-Pack leads the competition by almost a full star. Customers often praise U-Pack for fast service and professional movers. 

You can find U-Pack everywhere in the United States. By comparison, the average company not named U-Pack is available in only 35 states. That means there’s a 30% chance that other companies can’t even get you where you need to go. 

U-Pack’s only real competition here is U-Haul’s U-Box container. However, while U-Haul offers similar services, it’s night and day compared to U-Pack. While U-Haul is known for bad customer service and hidden fees, U-Pack has excellent reviews and transparent pricing. Both companies are nationally available, but only one (U-Pack) provides high-quality service.

Check out our reviews of some other companies that can we looked at during our evaluation, but didn't make the final cut:

• U-Haul U-Box
• SmartBox

PODS is the best moving container company overall. Its low prices get even lower when applying a 10% Move.org discount. The company has flexible at-home and facility storage options. Plus, you can find PODS steel-framed containers in almost every state. No other company offers so much for so little.

Looking for low prices and high quality?

Move.org uses a thorough six-step process to rank the best moving container companies in the U.S. It starts by comparing nearly 300 quotes from seven major companies over three years. Through mystery shopping, we dive deep into company websites and call as customers to understand what real-life experiences are like. We also analyze dozens of reviews, conducting a meta-analysis of over 16,000 to calculate an industry-wide average.

To ensure authenticity, we pay real customers for honest feedback through $500 moving grants. Industry experts and executives are invited to our Salt Lake City headquarters, where we ask tough questions about pricing, customer reviews, and industry trends. This process is repeated annually to keep our recommendations up to date, which means our top picks and industry prices may change each year.

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1. Zippy Shell, “What Fits in a Zippy Shell?” Accessed December 15, 2022.
2. U-Pack, “Guaranteed Delivery.” Accessed October 1, 2024.
3. PODS. "Frequently Asked Questions: Containers & Storage." Accessed October 1, 2024.