U-Haul U-Box Review: Is U-Box the Best Deal?
Here’s the bottom line: U-Haul U-Box containers’ competitive prices and availability make it one of the best options for DIY movers and anyone needing storage.
rating
4.15 / 5
89% of users select this mover
U-Haul U-Box scored 4.15 out of 5 stars in our rating system, earning our vote for having the best availability. We scored the company based on factors like its scheduling, services, and cost, dove into hundreds of customer reviews, and spoke to actual U-Haul U-Box moving customers.
While U-Haul U-Box’s containers may be smaller than competitors like PODS and have mixed customer reviews, we think that its widespread availability, flexible services, and cost make it a worthwhile choice. Read our full U-Haul U-Box review to get our take and see how it stacks up to the best moving companies.
Pros & cons of moving with U-Haul U-Box
- Option to hire professional movers or haul containers yourself
- Unparalleled nationwide availability, with more than 2,400 locations
- You only pay for the containers you use
- You can pack and unpack at a U-Haul facility to reduce costs
- It’s easy to get a quote online or in-person
- Average costs beat out top competitors
- One of the only container moving companies that ships overseas
- The single container size offered is smaller than the competition
- Some customer reviews complain about poor container quality
- U-Haul’s customer ratings are typically lower than competitors
Key takeaways
- Brand recognition: U-Haul (USDOT#2220242) is one of the most recognizable brand names on the planet, and U-Box is one of the most popular moving container companies.
- Availability: With a presence in every U.S. state and 10 Canadian provinces, U-Haul U-Box is ideal for domestic and international moves.
- Flexibility: U-Haul offers more customizable services than some of its competitors, which can reduce the average cost of your move.
Jump to the U-Haul U-Box info you’re looking for:
U-Haul U-Box pricing: How much it costs to move
The average cost of a U-Haul U-box move depends on factors like the distance of the move, the pickup and destination locations, and the length of time you need the containers.
U-Box allows you to customize your reservation to bring the cost down in the following ways:
- Packing: Packing and unpacking at a U-Haul location rather than at home
- Pickup: Picking up the containers yourself instead of having them delivered
- Moving: Hauling the containers yourself instead of having U-Haul ship them (only available for moves under 50 miles)
Our research suggests that U-Box is a more affordable option overall than 1-800-PAK-RAT and PODS, and it’s on par with U-Pack for long-distance moves.
We recommend requesting several moving quotes using our moving cost calculator moving cost calculator to get the best value for your upcoming relocation or storage needs.
Get started: Use our free moving cost calculator to get accurate quotes tailored to your move
U-Haul U-Box Cost Breakdown
U-Box makes it easy to get an estimated quote for your move online. To get an idea of what moving with U-Box costs, we requested online quotes for a local move (within 50 miles) and a long-distance interstate move (from Idaho to Illinois).
These quotes are for a two-bedroom apartment, which U-Box estimates would require around three containers. Each estimate includes the cost to ship the containers, the 30-day rental fee, and 24 furniture pads per container.
| Moving distance | Cost to move 2-bedroom apartment | Cost to move 4-bedroom house |
|---|---|---|
| Local (under 50 miles) | 1,367.85 + delivery | $1,967.70 + delivery |
| Long-distance | $4,229.85 + delivery | $5,771.70 + delivery |
| International | Call U-Haul for quote | Call U-Haul for quote |
If you choose to pack and unpack the containers at a U-Haul location, the quote is the full cost of your move.
Related: Best Long-Distance Moving Companies for Any Budget
U-Haul U-Box Delivery Fees
U-Haul provides specialty trailers to transport U-Box containers for a low rental fee. Your vehicle will need to have a towing capacity of at least 3,000 pounds to support the U-Box.
If you want your containers delivered to your first address and picked up from your second address after unpacking, it’ll add at least $79 to your reservation, depending on your location and number of containers.
U-Haul also offers full-service delivery and loading. With this option, U-Haul contracts with local professional movers who deliver and pack the containers for you. For our hypothetical two-bedroom apartment, this service would add about $350 to the reservation.
| Delivery options | Cost |
|---|---|
| Pack/unpack at a U-Haul facility | Free |
| Pick up containers at a U-Haul facility | $5 per day for trailer rental |
| Have containers delivered to your old address and picked up from your new one | Starts at $79 |
U-Haul U-Box services and features
The name U-Haul is practically synonymous with moving and rental trucks, and U-Box containers further expand these offerings. You can use these containers for moving, storage, or both. Here’s a closer look at U-Haul’s services.
rating
4.15 / 5
89% of users select this mover
U-Box moving
You can have your containers delivered to your property to pack onsite or transport your belongings to a U-Haul facility to pack. Self-delivery options are only available for local moves.
All long-distance containers ship in an enclosed tractor-trailer for protection. The minimum reservation is 30 days. Then, you can have the containers shipped by U-Haul or transport them with a U-Haul U-Box trailer. Once they arrive, you unpack them.
If the containers are delivered to a U-Haul facility, you unpack them there. If they are delivered to your new home, you unpack at home and transport them to the U-Haul facility or schedule a day for a driver to pick them up.
U-Box storage
While U-Box containers are great for shipping items to your new home, they’re also an excellent self-storage option. The process is pretty similar to the one above for moving.
You order as many U-Box containers as you need. You can pick them up, have them delivered, or head to a U-Haul facility and pack them there. Then, they’re stored on your property or in a U-Haul storage center until you’re ready to unpack your stuff.
You pay a monthly fee and can use the containers for storage as long as needed. All rates, including the monthly fee, vary by market, so confirm pricing with your desired locations.
U-Box moving and storage
U-Box can help you combine moving and storage options to ensure your rental fits your needs. You simply pack your containers and store them at your place or in a U-Haul facility.
When you’re ready to move in and unpack at your new place, have the containers delivered there, whether it’s one month or six months later. You just pay a flat monthly rate for as long as you need your containers for storage.
U-Box sizes and availability
U-Box containers come in one size: 8 x 5 x 7 feet (257 cubic feet), which is big enough to fit a king-size bed or the average contents of a small one-bedroom apartment.
The container size is a downside compared to the competition. Competitors like PODS and 1-800-PACK-RAT offer up to 16-foot containers that can hold larger pieces like pianos, dressers, or wardrobes.
What U-Box lacks in sizing options, it makes up for in availability, with more than 2,400 U-Box locations in the US and Canada.
U-Box also stands out for offering international moves, which U-Pack, 1-800-PACK-RAT, PODS, and Zippy Shell don’t. U-Haul will create a custom shipping itinerary to get your containers to almost any port in the world.
Related: Best Interstate Moving Companies for Any Budget
U-Box insurance
According to U-Box, your belongings aren’t automatically insured against loss or damage while they’re being moved or stored at a U-Box warehouse.
However, you can add SafeStor® damage protection to cover your belongings while they’re in storage and insure them with SafeHaul® damage coverage while they’re in transit.
There are multiple levels of coverage to choose from when you book a reservation. Some homeowners’ or renter’s insurance policies protect your belongings while they’re being moved or stored in a portable storage container like a U-Box, so check into your policy’s coverage first.
U-Box customer reviews
To get a read on U-Box’s customer experience, we’ve analyzed hundreds of online customer reviews and interviewed several U-Box customers about their moving experience through our Better Moves Project.
Common complaints we discovered revolved around delays and poor communication, which are typical in the industry. On the other hand, a lot of customer reviews complimented U-Box’s affordability and flexible services.
Jarom’s experience moving from Springville, Utah, to Tampa, Florida, went off without a hitch. He and his wife only had about 1,000 pounds of belongings, so everything fit well in the portable storage container U-Haul provided.
Nancy had about as many belongings as Jarom and was concerned about keeping moving costs as low as possible but didn’t want to risk loss or damage.
Although she experienced a few issues throughout her moving process, she was ultimately satisfied and paid $180 less than her original quote.
Both customers say they’d recommend U-Haul U-Box to other movers who want to forgo moving truck rentals.
How U-Haul U-Box stacks up against the competition
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In terms of affordability, U-Haul stands out among the competition. U-Haul customer Nancy requested a moving quote from PODS. Here’s how it compared to U-Box:
We also found that U-Box’s quote process is more efficient than most of its competitors. Jarom requested quotes from U-Box, 1-800-PACK-RAT, PODS, and U-Pack. U-Box returned the most competitive quote at $2,650. On the day of his move, he paid exactly what he was quoted.
Head-to-head, we discovered that U-Box also beats its competitors in terms of availability because of its wealth of locations in the US and Canada and its ability to handle international moves.
But once again, it falls short by offering fewer container sizes than PODS and and 1-800-PACK-RAT. So if you’re planning a larger move and want to haul fewer containers, they may be a better option.
How moving with U-Haul U-Box works
Because U-Haul U-Box is so flexible, you can customize your move to fit your schedule and needs and book online for everything except international moves.
To get some first-hand experience, we asked Jarom and Nancy about the U-Box moving process.
Jarom’s Experience with the U-Haul U-Box Moving Process
To get started, Jarom called U-Haul directly leading up to his move to confirm all the details. Jarom’s moving container arrived right on time on his moving date, and it took less than two hours to load.
After U-Box picked up his container, they texted him delivery updates. His items arrived unscathed and right on time in Tampa, even though he had purchased optional insurance.
The delivery drivers wanted to save time picking up the container, so they offered to unload his belongings free of charge.
Nancy’s Experience with the U-Haul U-Box Moving Process
Nancy didn’t communicate as closely with U-Box, and on the day of her move, the container couldn’t be placed in the right spot due to issues getting a parking permit.
As such, she had to have the container delivered to the nearest U-Haul location and arrange to get her belongings to her new home by herself. However, this wrinkle in her plan saved her about $180.
U-Haul doesn’t offer a pricing guarantee because the final costs are calculated at the end of the move. Nancy’s items arrived 10 days before they were expected, so she had to keep her items at U-Haul’s storage facility until her new home was ready.
Interested in U-Box’s moving services? you can request an online quote, call U-Haul directly, or visit your nearest location.
Who is U-Haul U-Box best for?
U-Box is a great choice for anyone with a smaller home and fewer pieces of huge furniture. It’s also excellent for anyone who needs to move on a budget.
U-Box offers several options to lower the price of your move, so you can customize the experience to fit your needs and what you can afford.
Like other moving container companies, U-Box is great for people who need to store their belongings mid-move since storage can be seamlessly built into the cost of a move with U-Box. U-Box’s monthly fees are very reasonable, especially compared to its competitors.
Overall, U-Box is a good budget option that offers a few services you can’t find with the competition (like overseas shipping).
Ready to book a company for your move? Compare prices and get instant quotes from multiple movers you can trust.
Alternatives to DIY moves
While a portable moving container can be a great budget option, loading and unloading everything yourself isn’t for everyone. If you’d rather enlist the help of a full-service van line who does all the work for you, here are some good options to consider.
Mayzlin Relocation
Mayzlin Relocation is a family-owned van line that operates as a carrier, meaning they use their own vehicles instead of acting as a broker.
Mayzlin Relocation has a reputation for excellent customer service, thanks to their communicative agents (available 24/7), competitive pricing, and full refunds for cancellations made seven days before your move.
- Family-owned, with locations covering the East Coast
- Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of your move
- Hands-on customer service
- 24/7 support
- Price-matching policy
Safeway Moving
Safeway Moving is one of our top picks for best interstate moving companies. This veteran-owned company specializes in long-distance and cross-country moves, even offering 30 days of free storage on interstate moves.
Safeway Moving offers flat-rate pricing and price-matching, with a strong verification system to ensure you get an accurate quote.
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
JK Moving Services
JK Moving Services has an impressive reputation as a high-end van line. JK Moving Services charges higher prices than many of its competitors, but justifies its prices by consistently wowing customers with hassle-free professional service.
Guaranteed pickup and delivery dates, a low $250 flat rate deposit, and available financing further bolster its award-winning services.
- White-glove handling of fragile & high-end items
- Guaranteed pickup & delivery
- $250 deposit for interstate moves
- Mobile app with 24/7 customer service
- Financing available
North American Van Lines
North American Van Lines utilizes its extensive network of vetted partners to provide moves across the U.S. and abroad. With more than 74 years in business, North American Van Lines has a strong industry reputation.
The company offers fully customizable moving services, with additional services that include custom crating, packing and unpacking, and furniture disassembly and reassembly.
- Custom crates for electronics & art
- Satellite shipment tracking
- 1,500 local agents covering all 50 states
- Self-packing option
- No deposit required
American Van Lines
American Van Lines has cemented its spot as one of our top interstate moving companies, thanks to its excellent customer service score and some of the best pricing the industry has to offer. American Van Lines offers full-service packing (including supplying packing materials), storage services, free quotes, and binding estimates.
With more than 20 years in business, American Van Lines is a great option if you’re moving within the continental United States.
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
Allied Van Lines
With nearly a century in business, Allied Van Lines is one of the most well-established full-service moving companies out there.
Allied Van Lines provides quick and efficient services, including a 24/7 move tracking tool and the option to donate unwanted items to the Salvation Army. Allied Van Lines also offers its own portable storage containers, similar to U-Haul U-Box.
- Fragile packing
- Storage options
- 24/7 shipment tracking
- Quick & efficient
- Accurate quotes
International Van Lines
International Van Lines offers competitive rates for local, long-distance, and international moves. Most domestic moves can be serviced within 48 hours, making International Van Lines a great choice for last-minute moves.
Additional service options include auto transport, help with specialty items, and 30 days of free storage. A comprehensive insurance plan can also provide much-needed peace of mind for your move.
- 10% discount for veterans and seniors
- Very competitive rates due to their national coverage
- Services local, long-distance, and international moves
- Can service most domestic moves within 48 hours
- 24/7 customer service
United Van Lines
United Van Lines has earned a reputation as one of the country’s best moving companies.
With more than 100 years of moving experience, United Van Lines goes beyond packing, storage, and custom crating with unique add-ons like debris removal, auto transport, and cleaning. United Van Lines also offers free cancellations up to the moving date.
Read our full United Van Lines review.
FAQ
What isn’t allowed in a U-Box?
There are a few items you can’t put in a U-Box for safety and legal reasons, which is common across the industry.
The following items are restricted by U-Haul U-Box:
- Ammunition
- Animals
- Butane bottles
- Explosives
- Firearms
- Fireworks
- Food
- Gasoline
- Heaters
- Liquids
- Plants
- Propane tanks
- Torches
Is the U-Box waterproof?
U-Boxes come with a weatherproof cover you can use while they are on your property. It isn’t necessarily waterproof, but it is water-resistant. When your items are in U-Haul’s possession, the company will store the U-Box in a secure storage facility or covered tractor-trailer until drop-off.
What size bed can fit in a U-Box?
The U-Box is big enough to fit a queen or king-size mattress. While it may be smaller than other portable storage containers, its compact size makes it ideal for U-Haul customers who only want to take the essentials or DIY folks without moving help.
How much weight can a U-Box container hold?
When it’s fully loaded, a U-Box container from U-Haul can hold up to 2,000 pounds, which is reasonable for most smaller and mid-sized moves. If your belongings exceed this weight, you can easily reserve another U-Box container.
Methodology
We've been evaluating moving companies for over 10 years and have developed a rigorous review system to identify the best moving companies.
We Look At:
Customer satisfaction (40%):
The company consistently delivers services in a timely matter with good communication and within the estimated cost.
Dispute resolution (20%):
Mistakes cannot be avoided in the moving industry. We look for companies that own their mistakes and make genuine efforts to fix any issues that arise during a move.
Industry reputation (15%):
The company is well regarded within the moving industry as well as participates in industry conferences and organizations.
Online reputation (10%):
The company maintains a professional website with accurate information. The company promptly and professionally responds to online customer inquiries.
Service options (10%):
We look for companies with a deep breadth of services including full packing, storage, specialty item handling, expedited delivery and more.
National availability (5%):
The company offers origin and destination services across the country.
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