Best Moving Container Companies in Illinois (2025)

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When Kyle needed to move from Scottsdale, Arizona to Kirkland, Washington, but hiring a full-service moving company or long-distance movers was too expensive, he chose PODS for their $3,252 quote. Kyle’s final bill matched the quote exactly.

If you’re moving locally (within 50 miles), you can use an eight-, 12- or 16-foot container, with 12-foot containers available for local moves.

• Container sizes: 8-, 12-, 16-foot
• Container material: Steel frame, weather-resistant polymer siding
• Climate-controlled storage: No
• Capacity: 402–835 cubic feet, 4,200–5,200 pounds

All container rentals allow for open-ended monthly storage. You can store your containers on your property or at a nearby PODS storage facility.

At this time, they’re the only moving container company that gives customers accurate instant quotes online.

When Shiri planned to move her family from Tarzana, California to Beaverton, Oregon in the middle of peak moving season, U-Pack quoted her $2,540 to move her three-bedroom apartment. At the end of her move, U-Pack charged her exactly that amount.

• Container sizes: 8-foot ReloCubes, 28-foot trailers
• Container material: Steel
• Climate-controlled storage: No
• Capacity: ReloCubes: 308 cubic feet, 2,500 pounds. Trailer: 1,944 cubic feet, 22,500 pounds

None of our Better Moves Project participants have used MovingYourself yet, so we don’t have any firsthand quotes.

For comparison, we looked at their sister company, MovingPlace. When our reader Matt moved his family from Berkeley, California to St. Paul, Minnesota in peak moving season, he paid $3,218.

Just note that if you’re renting a 52-foot moving truck to load in 72-hours, you’ll need a place to park it. Otherwise you might have to add the cost to rent a U-Haul to bring belongings to a separate truck depot.

• Container sizes: 22-foot and 53-foot moving trucks
• Container material: Metal
• Climate-controlled storage: No
• Capacity: Varies

Desmond chose 1-800-PACK-RAT for his move from Lafayette, Oregon, to Waynesville, Ohio. His quote was $7,048 for the 2,300-mile move, and his final bill was $7,310.44.

Meanwhile, another reader, Carrie, was met with unforeseen charges due to a miscommunication. The PACK-RAT truck didn’t have enough clearance to get to her final destination, so Carrie had to rent a Penske truck to retrieve her belongings from a storage facility in New Jersey. Her final bill was $1,252 more than what she was initially quoted.

With the exception of miscommunications like Carrie’s, the price of 1-800-PACK-RAT is more expensive than U-Pack and PODS, and they don’t appear to match their quotes as consistently as those competitors.

• Container sizes: 8-foot, 12-foot, 16-foot
• Container material: All-steel construction
• Climate-controlled storage: Yes (at some locations)
• Capacity: 404–830 cubic feet, 4,000–6,000 pounds

When Danielle moved from Virginia Beach, Virginia to Tampa, Florida, she chose Zippy Shell mostly for their convenient container sizes and low prices.

She was quoted $2,730 for the 813-mile move and charged that exact amount. Customers have to call to receive a quote, but as long as you’re willing to speak to a human, there is a low risk of hidden fees.

We like that Zippy Shell makes it relatively easy to add loading and unloading help at a reasonable rate, and their base package includes 30 days of storage. They also have several insurance options to protect your goods in case of an accident.

The company offers 10-foot and 15-foot containers, as well as a 22-foot trailer. The internal capacity of the containers is slightly smaller than competitors, so be sure to compare sizes when evaluating Zippy Shell vs. PODS and other top companies.

• Container sizes: 10-foot and 15-foot; 22-foot trailer
• Container material: All-steel construction
• Climate-controlled storage: Yes (at some locations)
• Capacity: 420–680 cubic feet, 3,500–5,500 pounds

We arrived at the best storage and moving container companies in Illinois by using an objective rating system. The methodology of MoveBuddha is broken down into eight key metrics.

• Customer satisfaction: Customer reviews can only tell you so much. To make up for that, moveBuddha conducts detailed interviews with consumers about their moving experience as part of the Better Moves Project.
• Services: It’s essential to know what services a container company offers. We considered their storage unit sizing, storage container quality, pickup and drop-off service, and storage facilities.
• Reputation: We look at ratings from the Better Business Bureau and check each company’s licensure with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and accreditation with other professional associations.
• Add-on options: We also consider extras like cleaning, packing, unpacking, loading, and unloading. A select few container companies include add-on options for this type of labor, as well as insurance options.
• Availability: The best container companies offer widespread availability. We looked into the number of locations in Illinois and nationwide for long-distance moves.
• Type of mover: If you’re reading this article, you may have already chosen moving containers because the DIY option is budget-friendly compared to the best interstate moving companies. However, when companies don’t make it clear what they do, it is easy to book the wrong moving solutions to fit your needs.
• Payment: It’s difficult to have a smooth moving experience when you end up paying $1,000 more than you were initially quoted. We considered each company’s overall affordability and quoting accuracy.
• Scheduling: If you’re moving with a strict schedule, you needsa moving container company that can be flexible with that. Companies that are open seven-days a week and have 24-hour customer service scored higher in our evaluation.

The first thing you should look for in a moving container company in Illinois is availability. While U-Pack, PODS, and MovingYourself provide wide availability across the country, 1-800-Pack-Rat and Zippy Shell are more limited in their capacity.

From there, compare quotes to find a company that fits your budget. While U-Pack provides quick and accurate quotes online for free, other companies on the list require a phone call. To avoid hidden fees, cross reference estimates with detailed moving experiences where people share their quotes.

Moving containers are not necessarily better or worse than hiring movers. If saving a few hundred dollars is more important than saving your back from loading and unloading, moving containers are the better option.

Likewise, if you have extended storage needs in between locations, then moving containers providers may also double as a storage company. That said, if you’re unable to move your furniture and belongings, or have a flexible budget and inflexible schedule, then hiring a full-service moving company is best.

How long you can rent a moving container depends on the company. U-Pack and Zippy Shell give customers 3 days to load their moving containers, but they provide storage options after thatl MovingYourself does not provide any container storage after the three days to load, and three days to unload.

If you need more time, PODS and 1-800-PACK-RAT give you 30 days out of the gate, and any extra time for a fee.

The cost of a PODS move in Chicago will vary depending on how far you’re moving, how much extended storage you need, and any add-on services like supplies or packing help.

To move a one-bedroom apartment locally in Chicago, this can cost anywhere from $225 to $435. For a cross-country move over 250-miles, it can cost 10-times that amount for the same apartment, or between $2,110 and $4,110 dollars.

U-Box by U-Haul is the least expensive moving container company with wide brand recognition and availability. U-Box did not meet the criteria of this list but may be an affordable option for college students looking for discounts. In terms of the best moving container companies in Illinois,

U-Pack is the most affordable option for a reliable moving container company with services nationwide. It is important to note that all 5 companies on the list offer discounts for the military as well.

For your specific journey, check out our moving cost calculator for accurate and up-to-date estimates in Illinois and beyond.