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Your Guide to Moving and Storage Containers

Container moves are both more affordable than full-service moves and more convenient than truck rental moves. Moving with a container company means you load your container with all your stuff, and then your moving company transports it for you. Keep reading to learn all about moving containers, see which container companies we recommend, and get tips on how to save on a container move.
Person moving boxes, furniture and household items into a moving container

Your Guide to Moving and Storage Containers

Container moves are both more affordable than full-service moves and more convenient than truck rental moves. Moving with a container company means you load your container with all your stuff, and then your moving company transports it for you. Keep reading to learn all about moving containers, see which container companies we recommend, and get tips on how to save on a container move.
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Moving and storage containers are the Goldilocks option of moving; they're both affordable AND convenient. Learn more about how they work.

Looking for a trustworthy moving and storage container company to move with? Check out which companies we recommend.

Container moves are already more budget-friendly than professional moves, but there's no reason you can't save even more. Read our tips and tricks for saving money.

A lot goes into any moving container move. From container delivery at your old home to drop-off at your new one, we'll walk you through the whole process.

What is container moving?

Container moving is where your moving company brings a shipping container to your home and you fill it with your furniture and belongings. Then the company transports the container to your new home where you unpack your stuff. Learn how it compares to other moving options.
Containers
You load, they ship.

You load up all your belongings, but the movers transport your container to your new home. It’s the middle road for effort and cost.

Professional move
They handle it all.

Professional movers load your stuff, ship it to your new home, and unload it all for you. It’s the easiest—but most expensive—option.

Move truck rentals
You do all the work.

Worried about costs? Rent a truck, load it yourself, drive it to your new home, and unload all your things. You do it all—and save a lot.

Our top picks of the best moving and storage container companies

We compared over a hundred quotes and looked at factors like customer service, container quality, and availability to find the best moving container companies. We put the top moving container companies in the country to the test. These are the ones that rose to the top.
Best overall
pods
PODS
4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6
$$$
  • Icon Yes  Light
    3 container sizes
  • Icon Yes  Light
    46-state availability
  • Icon Yes  Light
    Local and long-distance moves
Stronger containers
1800packrat
1-800-PACK-RAT
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
$$$
  • Icon Yes  Light
    3 container sizes
  • Icon Yes  Light
    30-state availability
  • Icon Yes  Light
    Local and long-distance moves
Low prices
zippyshell
Zippy Shell
4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1
$$
  • Icon Yes  Light
    1 container size
  • Icon Yes  Light
    28-state availability
  • Icon Yes  Light
    Local and long-distance moves
Excellent reviews
upack
U-Pack
4 out of 5 stars
4
$$$$$
  • Icon Yes  Light
    1 container size
  • Icon Yes  Light
    50-state availability
  • Icon Yes  Light
    Long-distance moves only
Nationwide availability
uhaul
U-Haul U-Box
3.9 out of 5 stars
3.9
$$$
  • Icon Yes  Light
    1 container size
  • Icon Yes  Light
    50-state availability
  • Icon Yes  Light
    Local and long-distance moves

Find a moving and storage container company

You can learn more about what makes a good moving container company and choose the right one for you by checking out these guides and comparisons. 

Moving container reviews

If you want to know exactly what we think of any moving container company, check out our reviews.
Company
Rating
Read Review
upackUPack
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
1800packrat1-800-Pack-Rat
4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4
podsPODS
4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2
zippyshellZippyshell
4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2
smartboxSmartBox
3.9 out of 5 stars
3.9
Go Mini's
4 out of 5 stars
4
uhaulUHaul
3.3 out of 5 stars
3.3

Save money

Moving containers strike the balance between affordability and convenience. For very long moves, they may be even more affordable than renting a moving truck. Read our guides to get more ideas on how to whittle down costs.

Moving day with your container

Prepare yourself for a sucessful container move by checking out these handy guides, how-tos, and checklists.

Hiring packing help

With a container move, you typically do the packing and loading yourself. But if you've got a little extra room in your budget, there's no reason you can't hire a professional crew to come help with the heavy lifting!

How to hire a moving labor company

Latest moving container resources

Check out our newest guides and reviews to learn what you can expect from a container move. 
ABF U-Pack pairs budget-friendly container moves with the convenience of professional drivers. The best part?...
Zippy Shell has the nation’s lowest moving container prices. But there are drawbacks too. We...
1-800-PACK-RAT has high initial fees, but you can’t beat the combo of high-quality containers and...
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