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International Van Lines
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American Van Lines
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Good
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Great
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Good
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If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to move, containers and units are a great solution. Overall less expensive than traditional moving trucks and with more flexible move options, going with a container or unit is the most customizable way to move.
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For flexible long-distance and local moves, PODS, short for Portable On Demand Storage, is a popular choice. In fact, the company invented the portable storage container in 1998. PODS really shines when it comes to flexibility on delivery dates and container size.
Acting as both a residential and commercial moving and storage service, this company is great for people who are interested in storage options. Its pricing is transparent and upfront, and the company offers a month-to-month rental option. Most importantly, it offers the most flexibility, allowing homeowners unlimited time to load and unload their containers.
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1-800-Pack-Rat is on our list for best moving container company for a few reasons. First, the moving company also has high-quality containers, keeping your personal belongings that much safer.
Also, while the price tag may seem higher than competitors, the company offers so many discounts and price matching programs that most local and long-distance move costs fall below the average price. In fact, this company is a direct competitor to PODS and often offers direct price matching to a PODS quote.
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U-Pack is a moving company that provides movable storage boxes you pack and unload yourself, so DIYers will love this option. You have a few pricing options depending on how hands-on you want to be with your move, and U-Pack offers a large variety of container sizes.
This company offers free quotes and flexible storage options, and promises fast delivery times, but it does not offer services for local or international moves. Those who live in rural areas are more likely to see U-Pack as the front-running option thanks to its excellent national coverage.
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SMARTBOX is a popular choice for those who prioritize straightforward pricing and storage options. The company lists all its costs upfront from the beginning, so you won’t have to worry about hidden fees at the end. Plus, their containers are covered with a weatherproof canvas, protecting each box from extreme weather.
While SMARTBOX only offers one size of moving container, it’s suitable for those with smaller moves and even allows customers to rent as many containers as they need without being charged for unused containers.
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We consider Zippy Shell king when it comes to urban moves. The company’s metal cage containers make parking on a city street very easy.
While Zippy Shell only offers two sizes of containers (the smaller is 10’ x 7’ x 7’ and can hold one to two rooms of belongings while the bigger is 15’ x 7’ x 7’, holding up to three rooms of stuff), the easy booking process and plethora of additional insurance options make up for the lack of flexibility in moving container size.
Company | Company - Logo | Forbes Advisor Rating | Forbes Advisor Rating - Image | Nationwide Availability | Customer Happiness | Learn More CTA text | Learn more CTA below text | LEARN MORE |
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PODS | 4.8 | Excellent | Excellent | Get Free Estimates | https://mktphome.link/fts/1AhK7yU6sd65-17gVkAvUNk4b | |||
1-800-Pack-Rat | 4.6 | Excellent | Excellent | Get Free Estimates | https://mktphome.link/fts/1AhK7yU6sd65-17gVkAvUNk4b | |||
U-Pack | 4.5 | Excellent | Excellent | Get Free Estimates | https://mktphome.link/fts/1AhK7yU6sd65-17gVkAvUNk4b | |||
SMARTBOX | 4.2 | Good | Very Good | Get Free Estimates | https://mktphome.link/fts/1AhK7yU6sd65-17gVkAvUNk4b | |||
Zippy Shell | 4.1 | Excellent | Great | Get Free Estimates | https://mktphome.link/fts/1AhK7yU6sd65-17gVkAvUNk4b |
Renting from a moving container company has become more popular as homeowners are also more likely to DIY parts of their move to save on costs, such as loading and unloading themselves.
Forbes Advisor evaluated 70 national and international moving companies and ranked the best of the container companies by taking a look at factors like nationwide availability, deposits and tracking for shipments, customer happiness, protection and insurance options, and storage availability. Ultimately, we found five moving companies that specialized in container options.
The best container moving companies shine in the areas of nationwide availability and customer happiness, which make up 45% of our weighting.
The average cost to rent a moving container for a long-distance move is about $3,000, though prices greatly vary depending on where you’re going, how much stuff you’re bringing with you and the time of year you’re moving.
According to multiple moving quotes provided by the above companies, the cost of a moving container that can fit a one-bedroom apartment is about $2,000 while a five-bedroom house or apartment would bring the cost up to $4,500.
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Customer rating
Great
Service availability
Excellent
Upfront pricing
Excellent
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Customer rating
Good
Service availability
Great
Upfront pricing
Good
To determine the best moving containers companies ranking, the Forbes Advisor editorial team analyzed third-party data on 70 companies, with each product’s star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics, including:
*Nationwide availability and customer happiness counts for 45% of the total weighting.
The cost of hiring a moving company will vary greatly depending on the size of your house or business, where you’re moving from and to, and whether you want to use a traditional moving company or a moving container. The cost of a local move is between $300 and $1,500, or $1,200 on average.
Long-distance movers can cost between $2,500 and $5,000 depending on how far you’re traveling and how much stuff you have. You can expect to pay more for a long-distance move than a local move, though some interstate moves can cost more just because you’re crossing state lines. Ensure that you can get a free estimate from each company you’re considering to get a better understanding of the average cost of your move.
While most moving companies will be willing to move common furniture—and some may offer specialty services for items such as pianos, wine collections and expensive art—be aware that there are some items you should consider throwing out before working with a moving company.
You will be hard-pressed to find a company that doesn’t include the following items on its hazardous or do-not-move list:
• Fertilizer and pesticides
• Paints and aerosols
• Propane tanks or motor oil
• Pool chemicals
• Anything flammable or potentially explosive
• Batteries and acids
• Charcoal
The major distinguishing factor between containers and traditional movers is how much you want to do yourself. Moving containers are typically much cheaper than hiring movers but require homeowners to load and unload their household items into their chosen container. A moving company will be more hands-on and may offer packing services for convenience, but will be more expensive.
Samantha is an editor who covers all topics home-related including home improvement and repair. She edited home repair and design content at websites like The Spruce and HomeAdvisor. She also has hosted videos on DIY home tips and solutions and launched multiple home improvement review boards staffed with licensed pros.