Are you moving across the state? Just a few blocks away? Across the country? When figuring out the best option to transport your belongings, there are multiple avenues to choose from, including moving with PODS or loading up a moving truck. As you consider these options, you should factor budget, time, distance, and quality into your decision. Here’s a primer on moving with PODS versus rental trucks, including comparisons of PODS rental prices and moving truck costs, and the ease of using PODS versus rental trucks for long-distance moves.
Table of Contents
Moving With PODS Rentals
PODS are one option for storing and transporting your belongings during a move. Beyond the big question—what are PODS?—it’s important to know the pros and cons of moving with PODS, as well as typical PODS rental prices.
What Are PODS?
“PODS” is an acronym for “portable on-demand storage.” PODS are durable containers that you can use during a move to help store and transport your belongings. If you rent a PODS container, you can have it dropped off at your property and can load it up on your own schedule. Then, you have the option to store the container or move it right to your new place.
PODS is the company that offers official “PODS.” However, many other mobile storage companies have similar services.
Pros
Security
One major reason why people choose PODS is their container quality. Fortified by steel construction, PODS are designed to be impact-resistant and weather-resistant. In addition, they come with built-in tie-down rings, which help you secure the PODS for a long-distance move.
It’s also easy to keep your belongings level in the PODS container using the PODZILLA. This machine lifts containers straight up and down when loading and unloading.
Lastly, if you’re worried about protecting your items from theft, the containers are sturdy and have a lock with a key.
Convenience
With roll-up doors rather than doors that swing open, PODS don’t take up as much space when you open them as lots of moving truck rentals do. The container has ground-level access, which means you don’t need to lift your items up a ramp.
As mentioned, PODS offers local and long-distance services, such as driving and storage. PODS takes care of the driving for you, bringing your containers to you wherever you will be. They have locations in 46 U.S. states, as well as some areas outside the U.S.!
Since PODS automatically come with a month of storage, they’re great for long-distance moves. You can keep your POD on your driveway, or you can store it at an indoor PODS location. This can also be useful if you want to start unpacking before moving all your stuff into your new place.
Flexibility
PODS offers easy cancellation, flexible scheduling, and pay-as-you-go pricing. Thus, if your moving plans aren’t set in stone, PODS can be a great option.
In addition, while many other companies only offer one container size, PODS has three sizes: 8-foot, 12-foot, and 16-foot. They currently also offer 16-foot all-steel containers to business customers. Having more size options is especially helpful because not all your belongings are the same size; some containers are not big enough to store large furniture. Here is the company’s calculator for the number and size of containers you’ll need.
Looking to move soon?
Check out UniMovers and save 30-50% on your move as compared with traditional moving!
Cons
Although PODS provides instant online quotes, they do not do online quotes for moves over 50 miles. You will have to call or email them to get a quote for the rental price of your move with PODS. Also, taxes are not included in those estimates.
Note that moving with PODS is more expensive than renting a moving truck. The cost for a long-distance move with PODS can really add up since renting a PODS container includes a storage fee as well as transportation. If your main goal is to save money on moving, paying the hefty PODS rental prices may not be the best option.
In addition, until your container has arrived at your destination, you won’t be able to access your belongings like you would if you were driving your own rental truck.
Moving PODS Rental Prices
There is a huge range in rental prices for moving with PODS. The cost can range from under $700 for a small-scale, local move to over $10,000 if you’re moving several PODS long distances. Keep your eye out for possible promos! PODS offers frequent discounts.
Some factors that affect your PODS rental price when moving are the number and sizes of containers, geography, time frame, and season. The rental price also depends on whether you want to store your PODS container in your driveway or a specialized facility and the duration of storage.
You will be charged a per-container fee, and price increases with container size and miles traveled, especially if you plan to move PODS across the country. If you move during a peak season like the summer, expect to pay higher PODS rental prices.
Overall, PODS is more expensive than many competitors. But the convenience and high-quality containers might be worth it for your move—it just depends on your moving budget.
Other Mobile Storage Companies
Besides PODS, there are other mobile storage companies you can consider when moving. Before making a decision, it is a good idea to look at rental prices from a few reputable companies.
Some similar companies are 1-800-PACK-RAT, U-Pack, and U-Haul (U-Boxes).
1-800-PACK-RAT
Like PODS, 1-800-PACK-RAT offers portable storage options in three sizes: 8-foot, 12-foot, and 16-foot.
With locations in 33 states, 1-800-PACK-RAT services 97% of the U.S. and provides both local and long-distance delivery services. They offer a number of discounts, including seasonal discounts and discounts for military members, teachers, health care professionals, and seniors.
Their rental prices are relatively high due to the high quality of their all-steel containers. These prices vary based on distance, moving dates, container availability, and storage needs.
U-Pack ReloCubes
People love the low costs, customer service, and on-time delivery at U-Pack. Located in all 50 states as well as areas outside the U.S., U-Pack is easy to find! Additionally, it is one of the few companies to offer instant online quotes, so you can get an upfront idea of your rental price without the hassle.
U-Pack is slightly lower priced for its ReloCubes than many competitors, but the boxes are still high-quality! Constructed from metal, they are less resilient than 100% steel options, but more durable and solid than plywood.
U-Pack has a pay-for-what-you-use policy: you only pay for the ReloCubes that you use, even if you accidentally over-order. Most container companies incorporate a month of storage into their initial quotes, but U-Pack charges for storage only when you ask for it. At U-Pack, initial quotes include three days of loading and unloading. According to U-Pack’s calculator, average costs can be anywhere from $1000 to move a single ReloCube 150 miles to $8000 to move five ReloCubes from coast to coast. Cost factors include home size, distance, moving date, and number of ReloCubes.
However, U-Pack only provides long-distance mobile storage rental services; they will not assist with moves under 150 miles. If you are moving a short distance, you should think about another container company or a moving truck rental. In addition, ReloCubes are smaller (with 308 cubic feet of space), holding only one room’s worth of belongings or less. Storage is only available at off-site locations. If you want to store your containers at home on-site, PODS is a better choice.
U-Haul U-Boxes
U-Haul offers local and long-distance services at relatively low prices. They have one standard U-Box size with a capacity of 257 cubic feet. This is smaller than the sizes offered by other companies, so you will need to order more U-Boxes to store all your stuff.
Cost factors involve distance, number of containers, and time. U-Haul charges per container, and pricing includes a typical monthly fee for moving U-Box storage. Usually, you can store U-Box moving containers at home, but if you don’t have enough space, you can use one of U-Haul’s storage facilities without any extra costs. U-Haul charges you the same amount no matter where you decide to store your U-Boxes!
Even though you can get online quotes instantly, note that reviews say these prices are often inaccurate. U-Boxes also have lower construction quality than their competitors. Made of plywood, U-Box containers are the least sturdy compared to other moving containers constructed from metal or steel.
Moving With A Rental Truck
If the rental prices for PODS or other services are slightly higher than you want, another option is to rent a moving truck. Driving a big rental truck can be a hassle, especially for a long-distance move. But a truck is often more affordable and gives you more flexibility in your moving options.
Some of the top cheap truck rental companies are Penske, Budget, and U-Haul. In general, renting a moving truck can cost around $20-30 per day for a small truck, $40-80 per day for a medium truck, and $60-100 per day for a large truck. Some companies might also charge a mileage fee, whereas others (like Penske) do not.
If you’re moving long distances in your rental truck, check that your company offers a one-way rental option. Penske, Budget, and U-Haul all offer one-way rentals.
Pros
Flexibility is a big plus in moving truck rentals. It’s easy to find moving trucks in many sizes. In addition, if you rent a truck, you can decide whether you want to hire professional movers like UniMovers to help you with loading and unloading or do it yourself. If you hire movers, schedule dates and times for loading, moving, and unloading your belongings. Make sure that you are all on the same page!
The cost to rent a moving truck is usually lower than the cost of renting PODS, even including travel costs. The price for your truck varies based on supply, demand, and the date you move.
In addition, if you are driving the truck, you will also have access to your belongings throughout the move, which you would not have for a move with PODS.
Cons
Time restriction is one downside to renting a moving truck. You can only lease the rental truck for a short period of time before the costs start to add up. Pricing for local moves usually has a per-mile charge in addition to a daily rental fee. Long-distance moves with rental trucks tend to have a weekly rental period for the quote you receive.
Other extra costs can add up if you’re driving a rental truck long distances. You need to account for gas, hotel stays, and meals when you are on the road. Note that these rental trucks often have low fuel efficiency, so they’ll require you to buy a lot of gas when moving long distances.
Conclusion
The best moving and storage option for you depends on your situation and needs. If you will be traveling a long distance with a longer time frame, a POD might be the best choice, since they give you a 30-day rental. In addition, PODS offer security, convenience, and flexibility. If a mobile storage unit is right for you, you can check out companies like 1-800-PACK-RAT, U-Pack, and U-Haul with similar services to PODS.
If you want to save on moving costs or want more flexible storage space, a moving truck might be best for you. Moving truck rentals have more flexible sizing and lower costs. Still, you might face more time constraints if you rent a moving truck, and the costs of driving long distances can really add up, too.
FAQs
If you are moving long distances, a POD might be the best choice, since they give you a 30-day rental. However, for long-distance moves, PODS can cost much more than rental trucks.
Typically, moving with a POD costs more, since you’re paying for storage as well as transportation. If you’re moving long distances with a rental truck, though, make sure you consider costs like meals, hotel rooms, and gas in your budget.
Moving with PODS has benefits in terms of security, convenience, and flexibility. However, the rental price of moving PODS can really add up; expect to pay $10,000 or more for a long-distance move with several PODS.
Renting a moving truck will have lower costs and more flexible sizing than moving with PODS. Still, expect to face more time constraints with a moving truck rental.
Sophie Pollack-Milgate has a day job as a research assistant. In her free time, she likes to read 10% of the library books she checks out, complain about how either ice or heat are ruining her runs (depending on the season), and modify recipes beyond recognition.
Nicole Ting is an engineer and a freelance writer based in Houston. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. degree in Petroleum Engineering and a Certificate in Creative Writing. You can find her writing poetry in a local coffee shop on Saturdays.
