How Much Does PODS Cost?
Real pricing for portable storage container moves in 2026.
Quick Answer
Local move: $200-$500/month per container (within ~50 miles)
Long-distance (coast to coast): $2,000-$5,000 total
Most common setup: One 16ft container at $300-$500/month for a 3-4 bedroom house
PODS Container Sizes and Costs
PODS offers three container sizes. Choosing the right one upfront avoids paying for a second container.
8ft Container
Studio apartment or 1 room of furniture
$150-$300/mo
Best for short-term storage rather than moving. Fits a studio, a home office worth of gear, or seasonal items. Not worth using for a full apartment move.
12ft Container
2-3 rooms or a small apartment
$200-$400/mo
Good for a 1-2 bedroom apartment. Fits living room and bedroom furniture plus boxes. If you pack efficiently, can handle a small 2-bedroom.
16ft Container Most Popular
3-4 bedroom house
$250-$500/mo
The go-to for most family moves. Holds roughly the contents of a 3-4 bedroom home packed reasonably well.
Local vs Long-Distance Moves
The pricing model is completely different depending on how far you are moving.
Local Move
$200-$500/mo
- +Container delivered to your driveway
- +You load it on your own schedule (days or weeks)
- +PODS picks it up and delivers to new address (within ~50 miles)
- +Flexible timeline is the main advantage over renting a truck
Long-Distance Move
$2,000-$5,000 total
- +Container shipped cross-country on a flatbed truck
- +Transit time: 7-14 days depending on distance
- !You still do all the loading and unloading
- !Price includes monthly rental plus transportation fee
PODS vs U-Pack vs 1-800-PACK-RAT vs Full-Service Movers
Every option makes sense for a different situation. Here is how they stack up.
| Option | Local Cost | Long-Distance | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| PODS | $200-$500/mo | $2,000-$5,000 | Flexible loading timeline, mixed move + storage |
| U-Pack | Not typical | $1,800-$4,000 | Long-distance value; you pay only for space used |
| 1-800-PACK-RAT | $200-$500/mo | $1,800-$4,500 | Similar to PODS, sometimes cheaper on local |
| Full-Service Movers | $1,000-$3,000 | $2,000-$8,000 | Maximum convenience, fastest move day |
PODS wins on:
Flexibility. You control the loading schedule. Great if you need days or weeks to pack.
U-Pack wins on:
Long-distance value. You only pay for the trailer space you actually fill.
Full-service wins on:
Convenience. They pack, load, drive, and unload. Fastest total time investment.
Hidden Fees to Watch For
The advertised monthly rate is not the full price. These extras can add $200-$400 to your bill.
Initial delivery fee
$50-$100 to drop the container at your home. Charged upfront, not included in the monthly rate.
Final pickup fee
Another $50-$100 when PODS retrieves the container. Applies both at origin and destination on long-distance moves.
Storage after the first month
If your move takes longer than expected, you pay the full monthly rate for every additional month. No prorating for partial months in most contracts.
Insurance
PODS basic protection plan runs $10-$15/month. Coverage limits are low for a full household. If your stuff is worth more than the coverage cap, check if your homeowner or renter policy covers goods in transit.
Lock
PODS does not supply a lock. Bring your own disc lock or buy one at a hardware store for $10-$20. A disc lock is harder to cut than a padlock.
Redelivery or address change fee
$50-$100 if your destination changes after the container ships. Lock in your address before it leaves.
Tips to Keep PODS Costs Down
A few simple decisions can save you a couple hundred dollars on a typical move.
Book 2+ weeks ahead
Last-minute bookings (less than a week out) routinely cost 20-30% more. Demand spikes at the end of the month when leases turn over. Book early and save.
Move mid-month
The first and last week of the month are the most expensive. If your lease allows it, schedule delivery around the 10th-20th. Rates and availability are better.
Check HOA rules first
Some HOAs prohibit portable storage containers in driveways or on the street. Check before booking. PODS can place the container at their storage facility instead, but you will need to shuttle your belongings there.
Respect the weight limits
PODS containers have weight limits of 4,200-5,200 lbs depending on size. Overloading is a safety issue and can result in extra charges or refusal to transport. Spread heavy items (books, tools) across boxes and keep them low in the container.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a PODS container cost per month?
$150-$500/month depending on size. The 8ft container runs $150-$300/month, the 12ft runs $200-$400/month, and the 16ft runs $250-$500/month. These are storage/rental rates. Long-distance transportation is a separate charge on top of the monthly fee.
How much does PODS cost for a long-distance move?
$2,000-$5,000 for a single 16ft container. A coast-to-coast move runs toward the top of that range. The price covers container rental plus the transportation fee. Transit takes 7-14 days. You load and unload yourself.
Is PODS cheaper than hiring movers?
Usually yes, by a significant margin. Full-service movers charge $2,000-$8,000 for a typical house move. PODS typically runs $200-$5,000 depending on distance. The catch: you do all the loading and unloading with PODS. If that is a problem, full-service is worth the premium.
What size PODS container do I need for a 3-bedroom house?
One 16ft container. That is the largest PODS offers and it handles a 3-4 bedroom home with normal amounts of furniture. For a large 4+ bedroom house, budget for two containers. PODS does not make anything bigger than 16ft.