Best Moving Container Companies in New York (2025)

Each year, 400,000+ people trust our moving recommendations. Here are a few reasons why:

• Founded in 2015
• 3,500+ moving companies analyzed
• $50,000 in moving grants delivered
• Up-to-date pricing info & industry data
• Fact-checked for accuracy

PODS likes to discuss your move in person or by phone, so you won’t be able to request a quote online in most cases. However, you can start the process by submitting your info online. Within a couple of days, a representative will reach out by phone or email.

Our reader Bethany used PODS for her 2,800-mile cross-country move and paid $4,540, including professional movers for labor help, which was in line with her original quote from them.

If your move is a local one spanning 50 miles or less, you can book an eight-, 12- or 16-foot container, but PODS’ 12-foot container is only available for local moves. If you’re moving further than 50 miles, you’ll have to choose one of the other two container sizes.

• 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

U-Pack quoted us $3,950 for a cross-country move from Queens, New York to Oakland, California. While U-Pack doesn’t always offer the lowest prices, most customers consider it to be a competitive pick.

• 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

Because MovingYourself brokers with partner carriers based on the amount of space you need, it’s harder to estimate a general range. Because of this, the company doesn’t offer instant quotes.

We recommend reaching out at least two weeks in advance to give representatives enough time to contact you and reserve your booking. This makes MovingYourself hard to beat for large moves.

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

1-800-PACK-RAT requires customers to call its representatives during business hours to request a quote and reserve their booking, but we have pricing information through the Better Moves Project.

Our reader Batool paid $3,400 for one eight-foot container on her move from California to Texas, which included $10,000 in contents protection.

1-800-PACK-RAT offers the same container size options as PODS: eight-, 12-, and 16- feet. While many competitors have plastic or wood-constructed containers, 1-800-PACK-RAT containers have steel frames, walls, and doors.

• 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

Zippy Shell doesn’t offer online quotes, so you’ll have to call to request an estimate.

In 2022, our reader Michelle paid $4,000 to move from New Jersey to Virginia. She was originally quoted $3,090, but a last-minute snafu required her to transport her items from a local terminal.

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

All the moving companies on this list earned their spot after going through a rigorous methodology that considered the following:

• Customer satisfaction: Customer reviews were weighted the highest because real-life moving experiences are a great indicator of what you can expect throughout the moving process.
• Services: In this section, we evaluated each company’s storage unit and storage facility availability, pickup and drop-off process, and the weather-proofing of its containers.
• Reputation: We looked up each company’s Better Business Bureau accreditation, U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)  licensure, and association with professional organizations.
• Add-on options: Not everyone wants to DIY every part of the moving process, so we looked into third-party packing and unpacking and loading and unloading services, as well as insurance and long-term storage.
• Service area: We dug into each moving container company’s state and international availability and ability to service urban and rural areas.
• Payment methods: In this section, we considered how easy it was to get a quote online, pay required deposits, and finalize outstanding fees at the end of the moving process.
• Scheduling: Finally, we assessed how easy it was to secure our desired moving dates, the convenience of each company’s pickup and drop-off windows, and the company’s communication throughout the moving process.

Yes, you can use PODS to move in NYC, but you may need to request loading and unloading help or terminal-to-terminal delivery because PODS containers aren’t street-legal.

Ask Zippy Shell about its street-legal containers in less crowded areas. For example, you may have an easier time finding onsite storage for locations outside of Manhattan, like Queens or Brooklyn.

U-Pack is the cheapest container shipping company, according to our quotes, but 1-800-PACK-RAT offers price matching, so don’t be afraid to haggle if you get competitive pricing elsewhere.

PODS is our best overall value due to its impressive reputation, offering of different sized containers, and flexible storage policy. However, we recommend you request quotes from all the providers on this list or use our moving cost calculator to find the best value for your moving needs.

You cannot moving the following in a moving and storage pod:

• Perishable food items
• Plants
• Cleaning materials or toxic chemicals
• Fuel
• Lawn mowers and motorized vehicles
• Any illegal items

We’d also recommend caution when packing family heirlooms or sensitive documents. While these items aren’t prohibited, moving them in a storage container may expose them to irreparable damage.

Moving containers can be better than hiring movers if you’re on a tight budget, need temporary storage, or have time to pack and load your belongings. However, hiring movers might be the best option if you’re on a tight schedule, have a large home, or have a disability that would make it difficult to do the labor on your own.