Envision the perfect hassle-free renovation or moving process: Your stuff isn’t getting damaged, stolen, or misplaced. Sounds too good to be true right? Don’t worry! You can have a hassle-free move or renovation by opting for temporary storage. In this, you put your stuff in storage units or storage containers and this ensures a smooth move or renovation process. Once your house is ready, you can put your stuff back in it again.

You can rent out storage units or containers on a monthly basis at low rates. This means that you do not have to sign long-term contracts. Several reputed companies will provide you with a temporary storage solution. But how do you choose a company? The best way you can go about it is to read up on the pros and cons of hiring each company. Let us help you choose the right company for temporary storage by reviewing the five best companies in the business!


Top 5 Temporary Storage Solutions

  1. Public Storage
  2. PODS
  3. Extra Space
  4. 1-800-Pack-Rat
  5. Simply Storage

1. Public Storage

Public Storage logo

Public Storage is the king of the storage industry and we are pretty sure that you have already heard a lot about it. The company was established in 1972 and since then, there is no stopping its growth and popularity. Public Storage will provide you with high-quality, climate-controlled storage units for your personal, vehicle, and business storage needs. Not only do they have a wide variety of sizes of units available, but these units can also be rented at cheaper price rates.

Reasons to Choose Public Storage

1. Most Number of Locations:

Public storage isn’t the king of the self-storage industry for nothing. The company stands out because it has opened up several locations across the country. You will most certainly find a location near your house if you are searching for self-storage units. They own more than 170 million sq. ft. of rentable space in total and this makes them one of the biggest companies in the USA. Additionally, Public Storage has tapped into the international market and has hundreds of locations across 7 European countries as well. Countries that have Public Storage units include UK, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, France, and Sweden.

2. Low Affordable Prices:

Because Public Storage owns so many facilities, they maintain low rental prices at all times, even if it is a season of high demand. Their rental price is already low as compared to the industry average. But then again, their incentives and promotional offers ensure that you get a steal deal.

If you rent a unit from public storage, you will have to pay just $1 as rent for the first month. In addition to this, reserving your units online will fetch you a 30% discount on your monthly rental. In conclusion, Public Storage is the best way to go if you don’t want to spend much but want to enjoy high-quality storage services.

Get a Quote from Public Storage

Good to Know: If you need moving supplies, you need not search for them at any other place. Public storage will provide you with moving supplies as well as free hand trucks and dollies whenever you want to put your stuff into storage.

Also Read: Public Storage Review


2. PODS

PODS logo

PODS is a household name in America as we are sure that most of you have grown up watching PODS moving containers being used during moves. You will be surprised to know that PODS was the first one to introduce moving containers in the moving and storage industry. Want to store your stuff as well as move it to a different place? Not a problem with these guys! You could choose to rent out a PODS container and keep it on your property, or you could load up the container and send it to their storage facility.

Reasons to Choose PODS

  1. Great Customer Service:

You can’t help but notice that people love this company because of the kind of services they provide. They make your moves easy when you have to leave the current house immediately and your new house isn’t ready. The company provides you with high-quality containers that can be kept on your property or at the company storage facility for as long as you want. Their employees are super friendly, helpful, and polite. The professionalism shown by their employees is the one to talk about. What more do you want?

2. Flexible Cancellation Policy:

Whenever you plan to move or remodel your house, don’t expect that your tasks will always get done according to your schedule. Your schedule is bound to change at the last moment because of which you should steer clear of companies that charge you a lot for canceling or modifying your reservations.

However, this is not the case with PODS. Renting out a PODS container is the best decision you will make because it offers you a lot of flexibility when it comes to modifying your reservation. You can modify or cancel your reservation altogether up till the day prior to your reservation. Even after all this, you still get a full refund from PODS if your plans end up changing at the last moment.
Good to Know: PODS containers are in high demand all the time, especially during springs and summers. As a result, you might not be able to get a reservation at the last moment. If you want to reserve a PODS container, start with the reservation process at least 3-4 months before the moving/remodeling date.

Get a Quote from PODS

See Also: PODS Review


3. Extra Space Storage

Extra Space Storage logo

After Public Storage, Extra Space is known to be the second-largest company in the self-storage industry. Known for its extremely safe and secure facilities, Extra Space has managed to widen its outreach by opening up more than 1,700 locations across the country. The company ensures that all its customers get great storage services at affordable prices.

They have special offers for college students and military members at all times. It is one of the best companies to hire when you have short-term storage needs as you will be able to rent out their units on a monthly basis.

Reasons to Choose Extra Space

1. Low-Cost Coverage Options:

Extra Space realizes that despite all the efforts taken by you and them, accidents can never be predicted and your staff may sustain damages due to unfortunate incidents. Because of this, they encourage you to purchase insurance under their IAT policy. In this, you can purchase about $2,000 – $10,000 of coverage at a really low cost. You can be charged anywhere between $11 – $47 per month when you purchase their insurance.

The best part about their insurance policy is that your stuff is safe even when it is in transit. After you pack your stuff into a moving truck, the items may move around and break during transit. However, you will get coverage for breakages during transit if your truck is within the 50-mile radius of your Extra Space storage facility. Please remember that the insurance options are available for both homeowners and business owners.

2. Safety from Thefts and Pests:

Extra Space is famous for the extensive security measures taken by them to keep your stuff safe from burglars. All their facilities are fenced and have electronic gates with coded access. This means that no one other than you has access to your storage unit. They sell high-quality disk locks so that your units can be locked up safely. You can also get free locks from them if you reserve your units online. If you are storing some extra valuable stuff, you can always opt to get individually alarmed units.

In addition to this, Extra Space is one of the only companies that treats its units for pests and rodents. Many storage companies neglect treating their units for pests and eventually, their customers’ stuff gets ruined. However, Extra Space ensures that their units are treated every single month so that their customers do not face any inconvenience.

Get a Quote from Extra Space Storage

Good to Know: Extra Space has made the process of payment super easy for their customers. Customers can sign up for their Automated Payment System in which the money will automatically get cut from their accounts every month. Using Autopay ensures that you don’t have to unnecessarily pay late fees just because you were busy and forgot to pay your rent.

Also Read: Extra Space Storage Review


4. 1-800-PACK-RAT

1-800-PACK-RAT logo

1-800-Pack-Rat has been in the business for more than 15 years and it provides you with easy and affordable moving and storage options. Pack Rat is the best choice for you if you are looking for storage services along with moving services. This is so because Pack Rat uses sturdy containers that can be used to store as well as move your stuff safely.

Even though the prices offered by PackRat may seem about 10% higher than the average industry cost, they offer a great number of discounts to their customers. So, you can rest assured that and avail of their services at budget-friendly rates.

Reasons to Choose 1-800-Pack-Rat

1.Sturdy Containers:

Pack Rat will provide you with the best containers in the moving and storage industry. All their containers are constructed with steel frames and have steel walls and doors. This ensures that the containers are weather resistant from all sides. This will benefit you especially if you wish to move or keep the container in your driveway for a couple of months. You can be certain of the fact that all your stuff will be safe and sound when it is inside the container.

In addition to this, Pack Rat containers have barn-style doors. This ensures that their door doesn’t get jammed up due to the stuff that is packed inside it. Moreover, these doors don’t get stuck against the curb as well. Once you roll down your container door, you can lock it up and ensure safe storage of your belongings.

2. Secure Facilities:

Apart from keeping the containers on your property, you can opt to ship the container to their climate-controlled warehouses. The temperature and humidity levels are maintained at optimal levels so that your stuff doesn’t start growing mold. These facilities are guarded and the safety of your objects is ensured through 24/7 video surveillance.

The company has also installed automated sprinklers to prevent the damages caused by fires. If you ever need to access your containers, you can either ask the company to get them to your house or notify the facility of your visit. They will then bring the container to a well-lit car-accessible area of the warehouse.

Get a Quote from 1-800-PACK-RAT

Good to Know: Don’t forget to take advantage of the discounts offered by PackRat if you are military members, teachers, students, first responders, medical professionals, senior citizens, or looking to move locally!

Related: 1-800-PACK-RAT Review


5. Simply Self Storage

Simply Self Storage logo

Simply Storage was established in 2003 and it aims to provide its customers with the most convenient and secure self-storage services. The company acknowledges the fact that every customer might have unique needs when it comes to storage. As a result of this, they offer not only personal self-storage services but also business storage and vehicle storage services. You can avail of their services at wallet-friendly prices and they ensure that your stuff is safe and secure in their climate-controlled facilities.

Reasons to Choose Simply Storage

1. Unique Size Guides:

Not only do they offer a wide variety of storage unit sizes (10 sizes available), but they also make the process of choosing the right size of the unit extremely easy. They do this by providing you with a unique size guide. This size guide can be accessed easily through their website. Choosing the right size of the unit is tough, especially when you haven’t visited any of their units before. This is so because it is difficult to visualize how much stuff can fit into a unit based on just the dimensions of the unit.

But you need not worry! Their size guide contains a 3D diagram of each of the storage units along with a clear explanation of their dimensions. In addition to this, they will give you a detailed list of all the items that can fit into a particular size of the unit. Lastly, the company lets you know about how many rooms worth of stuff can be moved into a particular size of the storage unit.

2. Truck Rental Made Easy:

How do you plan to move all your stuff into a storage unit? Obviously, you will need some sort of a moving truck for this job. In order to make the whole storage process convenient for you, Simply Storage makes sure that all its locations have some rental trucks that can be used by their customers. Additionally, Simply Storage has partnered up with Budget Truck Rental. This benefits their customers as Budget provides them with low-priced rental trucks especially when they are planning a one-way move.

Get a Quote from Simply Self Storage

Did you Know? You can book a Simply Storage unit online and get the unit for free for the first month. You also get $30 off your rental price if you refer your friend to Simply Storage.

See also: Simply Self Storage Review


Frequently Asked Questions

Can you get a storage unit for just a month?

Storage units are the best solution for temporary storage problems because you can rent out units on a monthly basis. This means that you do not have to sign any long-term contracts. You can rent out a storage unit for a month, 3 months, or even 15 months, you can do whatever you want (not literally of course)!

In addition to this, companies also let you rent out a unit for free for the first month under their promotional offers. The best part about this is that you can choose to end your rental agreement after the first month itself.

What is the best portable storage company?

What portable storage company is the best actually depends on what exactly you are looking for. U-Pack’s Relocube services have been rated as the overall best moving container services in the industry. If you are looking for sturdy steel containers to ship valuable stuff, 1-800-Pack-Rat is the best for you. On the contrary, if you are looking for containers that can fit in your small parking spaces, Zippy Shell is the best company for you.

If you are looking for low prices, consider hiring U-Haul or PODS. Lastly, companies like SmartBox are known for their transparent pricing policies. In conclusion, we suggest that you examine what you need and then you can decide which portable container company is the best in the business.

Bonus: Best Moving Container Companies