When you plan a move, the deciding factor for almost everything is how much money you would have to shell out in order to get a particular service. Determining this cost becomes more complicated when you choose to go for a moving container or a DIY move.
Thinking about hiring a moving container for your next move? Unsure about how much the move will cost you? Fret not! Read through this article to help you determine the average cost of moving containers. Before we discuss the average cost of a moving container move, let us first understand what constitutes the final cost of your move.
What determines the cost of your move?
You have to remember that just like you need a multitude of ingredients to make a perfect pizza; the final cost of your move is the amalgamation of several individual expenditures. There are a number of factors that you must consider in order to understand how a moving company arrives at a quote for your move. Let us discuss some of these factors in order to understand what influences your final quote.
1. Number Of Containers
Some companies will provide you with containers of a standard size, while others can offer containers of varying sizes. On the basis of the quantity of your belongings and how many rooms your house has, you will have to estimate the number of containers that you will need to rent. You will be charged fees according to per container rate, so make sure that you guess the number correctly.
If you underestimate the number of containers you will be needing, you will end up struggling to fit your stuff inside those containers. On the other hand, overestimating the number will leave you with regret about having to pay for space that you didn’t even use.
2. Company Locations
If your company has locations around your current house and your new house as well, there probably won’t be any additional charges for delivery. The distance traveled by the company truck in order to deliver and pick up the containers influences the final cost of your move. Moving to a place which doesn’t have a location of the company that you hired available near it might cost you extra. Similarly, you will be charged less if you are moving in rural areas. Simply because transportation becomes easier due to lesser traffic and large parking spaces.
3. Season
Moving companies tend to charge you a lot when they are in demand. This means that a summer move or a spring move will be more expensive than a winter move. Similarly, many people prefer moving on weekends when they have an off from their work. There is a high demand for containers on weekends because of which reserving a move for the weekend might be more expensive in comparison to a week day move.
4. The Distance Of Your Move
It is only logical to assume that the farther you plan to go from your current house, the more expensive your move will be. The costs of transporting containers are usually associated with things like fuels charges, environmental tax, vehicle maintenance etc. Generally, these costs are included while calculating the final cost of your move. A local move therefore will be a lot cheaper than a cross country move.
5. Additional Services
The company might give you the option to hire company helpers in order to assist you for loading and unloading. Some companies will also let you purchase packaging supplies from them. Moreover, if you decide to keep the container on your property for more than the time that has been allotted (built in with the per container price), you will have to pay additional storage charges. You also might need to purchase additional coverage from your company if you own valuable objects. Availing these extra services will definitely increase the cost of your move.
Average Cost of Moving Containers According to your Home Size
The average cost of moving with moving containers is $3,000. The cost of your move depends on two main factors i.e., the size of your house and the distance of your move. The average cost of a moving container changes according to the size of your home. Here is a table that will help you to gauge the average cost of your move by looking at the number of rooms in your house.
- For a 1-bedroom home, expect to pay about $2,000.
- For a 2-bedroom home, expect to pay about $2,570.
- For a 3-bedroom home, expect to pay about $3,220.
- For a 4-bedroom home or bigger, you will have to pay over $3,800.
The average cost of moving with moving containers comes up to $1,090 per bedroom. When you go for smaller moves, the cost per bedroom rises steadily and when you go for longer moves, the cost per bedroom drops down a bit. Let us look at some of the best moving companies and their average pricing for your move according to the number of bedrooms you have in your house.
1. One Bedroom
As discussed earlier, the industry average cost of moving a one-bedroom apartment is $2,000. After looking at how different companies stand against this average, we can see that U-Pack gives you the best prices for a one bedroom move.
1-800-PACK-RAT: $2,870 (Above Average Prices)
PODS: $1,960 (Below Average Prices)
SMARTBOX: $2,110 (Above Average Prices)
U-Box: $1,680 (Below Average Prices)
U-Pack: $1,280 (Below Average Prices)
2. Two Bedrooms
The industry average cost of moving a two bedroom house is around $2,570. Again, U-Pack gives you the cheapest priced move if you are looking to move a two bedroom apartment.
1-800-PACK-RAT: $2,870 (Above Average Prices)
PODS: $2,660 (Below Average Prices)
SMARTBOX: $2,740 (Above Average Prices)
U-Box: $2,340 (Below Average Prices)
U-Pack: $2,180 (Below Average Prices)
3. Three Bedrooms
The industry average cost of moving a three bedroom house is around $3,220. Pack Rat gives you the cheapest priced move if you are looking to move a three bedrooms apartment. Their price is almost $350 cheaper than the industry average.
1-800-PACK-RAT: $2,870 (Below Average Prices)
PODS: $2,970 (Below Average Prices)
SMARTBOX: $4,200 (Above Average Prices)
U-Box: $2,940 (Below Average Prices)
U-Pack: $3,090 (Below Average Prices)
4. Five Bedrooms
The industry average cost of moving a five bedroom house is around $4,500 per room. The bigger the house, the better pricing you will get from your moving container company. U-Pack gives you the cheapest priced move if you are looking to move a five bedrooms apartment. Their price is almost $600 cheaper than the industry average.
1-800-PACK-RAT: $4,520 (Above Average Prices)
PODS: $5,060 (Above Average Prices)
U-Box: $4,420 (Below Average Prices)
U-Pack: $3,890 (Below Average Prices)
Important things to Remember
When you look at the average costs of the moving industry, there are certain things you need to keep in mind before you use these average costs to create a budget for your own move.
1) The average cost of your moving container move will go up if you have more rooms in your house. Logically speaking, moving a five bedrooms apartment will obviously be more expensive than moving a two bedroom apartment.
2) When you see the average cost, do not assume that your move will cost you the same. The final cost of your move completely depends on how big your house is and the distance of your move. Additionally, availing add on services like loading and unloading will cost you extra. The cost of your own move can definitely be more or less than the given average cost.
3) Every company is different. Nobody is perfect, which is why each company is best for something and mediocre at some other thing. For example:
● U-Pack gives you overall cheap pricing.
● U-Box gives you the lowest prices for long distance moves.
● PODS gives you the lowest prices for short distance moves.
● Pack Rat gives you the most reasonable prices for a move for your mid-sized home.
See also: How Much Does it Cost to Move | Deals and Discounts offered by Moving Container Companies
Average Cost of Moving Containers According to Distance Covered
You will be charged about $2.50 per mile on an average for moving containers. One thing to remember is that a local move will definitely cost you less than a long-distance move. However, short distance moves will have a higher per mile cost as opposed to long distance moves. Let us look at the per mile cost of moving containers for 6 different distances and compare the average costs of different companies.
1. 100 Miles
Any move under or up to 100 miles is considered to be a local move. You will most probably be charged $16.50 per mile on an average for your moving containers. For a local move, PODS is the least expensive company and Pack Rat is the most expensive company to hire. However, your final cost may vary according to the size of your house. Keep in mind that the average industry rate for this would be $1,720.
1-800-PACK-RAT: $2,020 (Above Average Prices)
PODS: $1,160 (Below Average Prices)
SMARTBOX: $1,980 (Above Average Prices)
U-Box: $1,770 (Below Average Prices)
Note: U-Pack does not cater to local moves.
2. 475 Miles
The average cost of moving containers for a move of a distance of 475 miles is $5.60 per mile. PODS is the most expensive company and U-Pack is the least expensive company when it comes to a move of around 475 miles. Keep in mind that the average industry rate for this would be $2,580.
1-800-PACK-RAT: $2,770 (Above Average Prices)
PODS: $2,930 (Above Average Prices)
SMARTBOX: $2,520 (Below Average Prices)
U-Box: $2,730 (Above Average Prices)
U-Pack: $2,580 (Below Average Prices)
3. 1,025 Miles
The average cost of moving containers for a move of a distance of 1,025 miles is $3.10 per mile. PODS is the most expensive company and U-Pack is the least expensive company when it comes to a move of around 1025 miles. Keep in mind that the average industry rate for this would be $3,210.
1-800-PACK-RAT: $3,470 (Above Average Prices)
PODS: $3,830 (Above Average Prices)
SMARTBOX: $2,990 (Below Average Prices)
U-Box: $3,090 (Below Average Prices)
U-Pack: $2,610 (Below Average Prices)
4. 1,750 Miles
The average cost of moving containers for a move spanning 1,750 miles is $1.60 per mile. A move with PODS will be the most expensive and a move with U-Pack is the least expensive when it comes to a move of around 1750 miles. Keep in mind that the average industry rate for this would be $2,800.
1-800-PACK-RAT: $3,290 (Above Average Prices)
PODS: $2,870 (Above Average Prices)
SMARTBOX: $3,200 (Above Average Prices)
U-Box: $2,830 (Above Average Prices)
U-Pack: $1,930 (Below Average Prices)
5. 1,850 Miles
The average cost of moving containers for a move of a distance of 1,850 miles is $2.10 per mile. A move with Pack Rat will be the most expensive and a move with U-Box is the least expensive when the move is of around 1,850 miles. Keep in mind that the average industry rate for this would be $3,910.
1-800-PACK-RAT: $4,580 (Above Average Prices)
PODS: $4,570 (Above Average Prices)
SMARTBOX: $3,910 (Industry Average)
U-Box: $3,060 (Below Average Prices)
U-Pack: $3,420 (Below Average Prices)
| Company | Average Cost | Difference Between the Company and the Industry Average |
| Industry Average | $3,910 | N/A |
| 1-800-PACK-RAT | $4,580 | $670 higher |
| PODS | $4,570 | $660 higher |
| SMARTBOX | $3,910 | Same as average |
| U-Box | $3,060 | $850 lower |
| U-Pack | $3,420 | $490 lower |
6. 2,050 Miles
You will most probably be charged $1.70 per mile on an average for your moving containers. For a move of 2,050 miles, Pods is the most expensive company and U-Pack is the least expensive company to hire. Keep in mind that the average industry rate for this would be $3,500.
1-800-PACK-RAT: $3,590 (Above Average Prices)
PODS: $3,610 (Above Average Prices)
SMARTBOX: $3,510 (Above Average Prices)
U-Box: $3,590 (Above Average Prices)
U-Pack: $3,190 (Below Average Prices)
Ways to make your Move Less Expensive
Moving can get expensive. However, there are several things that you yourself can do in order to make sure that you spend as little amount of money as you can for your move.
1. Brush up on your Bargaining Skills
When you enquire about the details and the cost of renting moving containers, the company usually gives you a quote. Don’t accept the quote that is given to you and try to negotiate a lower price for your moves. Some companies have fixed rates but some companies like Pack Rat allow their customers to bargain and get a better price for their move.
2. Comparing Prices
Make sure that you don’t hire the first company that you talk to. As mentioned earlier, each company specializes in some kind of move. Each company offers its services at different prices. Compare the prices and the quality of service offered by each company and then choose the company that suits your need the best.
See also: Best Moving Container Companies
3. Off-Season Moves
Moving during the peak season like summers and springs can get expensive as the moving services are in high demand. Due to higher demand, the rates skyrocket. Similarly, people prefer moving on a weekend because of which getting a weekend reservation can become difficult as well as expensive. If you are looking to save some money, make sure you move in an off season and on weekdays. This will ensure that you don’t get charged with unreasonable prices for your move.
4. Downsize Your Move
The cost of your move mainly depends on how many things you want to move. The bulkier your move becomes, the more it will cost you. Try to get rid of stuff that you have no use for through yard sales and donations. Selling your stuff will help you earn some money and donating your stuff to charity will help you reduce the weight of your move.
5. Avoid Spending Money on Extra Services
Loading and unloading your container might seem tedious and you might be tempted to hire help by paying some extra fees. Don’t fall for your temptations and do your own work. You could also call some family members or friends to help you. Not availing the additional services can save loads of your money. Only spend on this if it’s really something that you can’t DIY.
Similarly, you can also avoid buying new supplies and look for used moving supplies. Just make sure that these supplies are of good quality. You can either buy second hand material or just borrow them from someone you know. However, make sure that you do not cut costs when it comes to insurance. If something unfortunate happens and you do not have enough coverage, you could end up facing a huge monetary loss.
Conclusion
Though money tends to be the ultimate decision maker for us in most of the situations, make sure you take into account the other factors that are essential to make your move smooth as well. Saving money is what everyone does, but ensure that you don’t skimp in the places where money needs to be spent.
When you decide to rent containers, factors like container size, materials with which the containers are made and reliability of a company also come into play. Don’t go for the company that gives you the cheapest pricing, hire a company that offers the best quality of service at a lower cost.
See also: Everything You Need to Know About Moving Containers | 5 Most Affordable Moving Container Companies
