The Complete Guide to Moving Container Companies (PODS, U-Pack, Zippy Shell)

Think of it as your own personal storage unit, but one that moves.

That’s really all it is. A company drops off a big, sturdy, weatherproof box at your house. You fill it with your stuff. You lock it with your own lock. Then they pick the whole thing up and drive it to your new home. Or, if you need to, they can drive it to a secure storage facility and hold it for you.

It’s the “you pack, we drive” model.

This isn’t for the person who wants to snap their fingers and have a team of people wrap every glass and haul every sofa. That’s a full-service mover, and it’s a great option if you have the budget.

This also isn’t for the hardcore DIY-er who wants to save every last penny by driving a rumbling rental truck themselves.

This is for the person in the middle. The planner. The family that has to pack around soccer practice and work calls. The person who wants to declutter while they pack. It’s the hybrid move, and for a lot of people, it’s honestly the best way to go.

It sounds simple, and it mostly is. But the magic is in the details. It’s usually a four-step dance.

Alright, this is the big question. They are not all the same. The ones you’ll hear about most are PODS, U-Pack, and Zippy Shell. I’ve also thrown in 1-800-PACK-RAT because they’re a major competitor.

• PODS: They’re the Kleenex of the industry for a reason. Their network is huge. Their system is proven. The containers are steel-framed with aluminum skin, so they’re solid. The monthly billing is just… easy. You know what you’re paying for 30 days. This is what my sister uses for her local moves now, every time. The only catch is that because they’re so big, your customer service experience can vary – sometimes you get a national call center, but the local franchise operators are the ones who really matter.
• U-Pack: This is my personal favorite for long-distance moves, and my logistics background geeks out on their model.

• 1-800-PACK-RAT: These guys are PODS’s direct competitor. Their big selling point is that their containers are all steel. No wood, no aluminum skin. They’re tanks. They also have sturdy, barn-style doors that swing open, which some people find easier to load than the roll-up doors. Their pricing and model are very similar to PODS. Definitely worth getting a quote from them to compare.
• Zippy Shell: These guys are the clever ones for city living. My buddy in Chicago used them. He didn’t have a driveway. Zippy Shell’s container is a “cage” (mesh walls) that’s street-legal and fits in a single parking space. Even better, it’s delivered inside a truck shell. So you load it, and then they lock the outer truck shell, meaning it’s always secure and protected from weather, even when parked on the street. It’s a very smart system, but their network is much smaller. You have to check if they’re in your city.

This is the real decision, isn’t it? When does one make more sense than the other?

You should hire a traditional, full-service moving company if:

• You have more money than time.
• You hate packing and physical labor, and you can afford to pay someone else to do it.
• You have extremely valuable, heavy, or delicate items (like a grand piano, a slate pool table, or priceless antiques).
• You are on a tight corporate relocation schedule and just need the entire move “done” in 48 hours.

You should use a moving container if:

• You have more time than money.
• You are a planner and prefer to do things at your own pace.
• You have kids and a chaotic schedule, making a “single moving day” a living nightmare.
• You’re a bit of a control freak (like me) and want to be the only one packing your fragile items.
• Your closing dates don’t line up, and you need to combine moving and storage.

And what about DIY Truck Rentals (The U-Haul Option)?

This is the cheapest option. Period. But it’s all on you. You do the packing, the loading, and the stressful driving. You’re white-knuckling a 26-foot truck you’re not used to, paying for gas, and trying to back it into a driveway without hitting the house.

I drove a U-Haul from Austin to Houston in the middle of August once. The A/C broke. It was 105 degrees. I was miserable. I promise you, for any move over 100 miles, a container is worth every extra penny to avoid that experience.

Please note that prices are estimates for informational purposes and may vary based on individual factors.

This is the “how much is a car?” question. It’s all over the map. You can use our moving cost calculator to get a general idea for your budget. I’ve seen local moves go for $300, and I’ve seen cross-country moves top $5,000.

Let’s just lay it all out.

Look, you can absolutely open ten tabs in your browser. Go to PODS, fill out their long form. Go to U-Pack, fill out their long form. Go to PACK-RAT… you get the idea. It’s a pain.

And you’re just getting their sales pitch.

Here at National Movers, we’ve already done the homework. We’re not just a list of names; we’re a resource. We’ve vetted these companies. We look at their customer complaints, their reliability, and their real-world client reviews.

When you use our tool to get moving quotes, you’re not just getting a single price. You’re getting a comparison from multiple companies that actually service your specific zip code. We’re not tied to one brand. Our entire job is to help you find the right fit, whether that’s a container, a full-service crew, or just some local guys to help you load a truck.

The moving industry is full of “brokers” who are just shady websites that sell your personal information to the highest bidder. We are not that. We’re on your side. Think of us as the friend (hi, I’m Jason) who’s already made all the moving mistakes so you don’t have to.

This is the final, crucial step. Availability is everything.

Zippy Shell might sound perfect for your city move, but if they don’t have a franchise in your town, it doesn’t matter. U-Pack’s price is often based on your distance from their nearest freight terminal.

Everything about this is local. Even with a big brand like PODS, you’re ultimately dealing with the local franchise. Their drivers, their inventory, their customer service.

The best and only way to start is to see who’s actually in your area. Use our moving quotes tool. Plug in your zip codes and move size, and we’ll show you the reputable container companies that can actually get the job done for you. No more guessing.

Here’s the deal. For a lot of people – especially families like my sister’s, or anyone who values their time and sanity – moving containers are the best-kept secret in the moving world.

They aren’t perfect. It’s still a ton of work.

But they give you something no other option does: time. Time to breathe. Time to organize. Time to transition to your new home without feeling like you’ve been run over by a truck (or… like you had to drive one).

My sister, Megan? She’s used U-Pack for two of her cross-country moves and PODS for a local one. She swears by them.

My wife and I are already talking about our next move (hopefully our last for a long time), and we’re 100% going the container route. The ability to just slow the whole process down is, for us, everything.

Just do your homework. Get the quotes. Read the fine print about billing. And buy way more blankets and stretch wrap than you think you’ll ever need. Trust me on that one.