U-Haul U-Box Storage Container Review

The Pros and Cons of Using U-Haul U-Box

Based on the U-Box process and reviews, several pros and cons stand out.

Pros:

• Many options for pickup, transportation, and delivery. U-Box is the only moving container that you can pickup and deliver yourself.
• You can keep your U-Box containers at your home as long as you would like.
• You can store your U-Box containers at a U-Haul location if needed between homes.
• U-Haul has more than 21,000 locations across all 50 states, making U-Box more widely available than any other container company.
• Less expensive than other container companies with similar products.
• If you end up ordering more U-Box containers than you need you will get a full refund for any unused U-Box container.
• Guaranteed scheduled arrival date ($50 refund for every day late).
• U-Haul includes 24 free furniture pads with your order.
• You can move internationally with U-Box. This is the only moving container company that can ship to nearly any international port.

Cons:

• There is only one container size.
• U-Box is the smallest moving container on the market.
• U-Box moving containers are made of plywood rather than metal or steel.
• U-Haul charges a $99 delivery fee for each U-Box container. Many reviewers have said that this fee was not in their original quote.
• If you need to store your U-Box container at a U-Haul storage facility it will be stored indoors, but the facility may not be climate controlled.
• U-Haul's customer service isn't great.

What Are the U-Haul U-Box Container Sizes?

There is only one size U-Box container, and it's pretty small. One U-Haul U-Box container can hold about one room’s worth of items. If you have an eight-room house, for example, you are likely to need at least eight U-Box containers, plus more for the stuff in your garage and attic. The average three-bedroom home would require four U-Box containers.

Here are the precise interior dimensions of a U-Haul U-Box container:

• Length: 7'11"
• Width: 4'8"
• Height: 6'11 ½"
• Diagonal: 9'2 ½"
• Capacity: 257 cubic feet (one to one and a half rooms worth of stuff)

How Does U-Haul U-Box Work?

To begin, you can go to U-Haul's website to receive a full quote for using U-Boxes for your move. You order as many U-Box containers as you like, and then you can choose to pick up a U-Box with your vehicle if you have the towing capability or you can schedule a delivery of one or more U-Box containers to your home. If space constraints at your property are an issue or you just prefer to pack and move slowly, you can receive one container at a time, or you can schedule them all to be delivered at the same time.

U-Haul U-Box is not a full-service move. You will be required to pack all of your items, then load them safely in the U-Box to avoid shifting during transit. However, for all your packing, loading, and unloading needs, MovingLabor.com can handle all the heavy lifting professionally and ensure your U-Box container is packed beautifully.

U-Haul U-Box containers can remain at your location as long as you need, and can even be stored long-term for a storage fee. Once you've loaded your U-Box storage containers, you simply return them to the nearest U-Haul location if towing yourself or schedule a pickup date. At this time you can either schedule transit to your new city or store them at one of U-Haul's local storage facilities. You receive tracking numbers for your moving containers, and once they arrive in your new city, you can schedule home delivery. Once at your new home, you can keep them as long as you need for unloading and then schedule a pickup to return them.

How Does U-Haul U-Box Work With Local Moves?

Due to the flexible options and wide location availability, U-Haul U-Box moving containers are a good option even for local moves. Rather than renting a truck, you have more time and flexibility for packing, loading, and storing items.

For local moves, U-Haul will move your U-Box containers directly to your new home or they are able to keep them locally at one of their thousands of storage locations across the US and Canada. This means your items are never far away and can be delivered quickly whenever you’re ready.

How Does U-Haul U-Box Work With Long-Distance Moves?

For long distance moves, U-Haul can store your U-Box containers anywhere in the US or Canada for optimal flexibility, but they can also ship them across the country, or even across the world, to wherever you are moving next. You have full freedom to decide where your U-Box containers go.

How Much Does U-Haul U-Box Cost?

U-Haul U-Box is one of the more affordable moving and storage container options that you have, and generally are about 5% lower in price than other companies. Typically, you can expect to pay about $1,080 for a small local move and around $5,630 for a larger long-distance move. The average cost to move with a U-Haul U-Box container seems to be around $3,500. Keep in mind that if you are using U-Box for an international move your moving costs could be considerably higher. This is because shipping prices vary greatly depending on what country you need your U-Box containers shipped to.

U-Haul insurance can also add to the price of your move, and prices vary again considerably depending on the number of containers you have and the distance you are moving.

Note that while U-Haul does provide moving labor services through their MovingHelp marketplace, it is always a good idea to shop around to ensure you get the best pricing and service. Many of the movers found on their marketplace are not licensed and insured, so if that's important to you consider hiring movers elsewhere.

Downsides of Using U-Haul U-Box

The main downsides of using a U-Box container relate to the quality of the containers themselves as well as the quality of customer service. For someone moving long distance, especially from a larger home, the price is often too high. Not to mention that a move from a large home would need many containers due to the small size of a U-Box.

There are also some broader downsides of using a portable storage container. These include having to load and unload the container yourself and lacking the ‘one trip’ convenience of renting a moving truck. If you are looking into other moving options, consider moving truck rental or a freight moving company.

Should You Choose U-Haul U-Box Over Other Container Companies?

Given the turmoil of recent years and the number of people looking to relocate due to the pandemic, U-Haul U-Box moving containers have found themselves in competition with a number of other moving and storage container and cube solutions, including the U-Pack ReloCube, PODS, and Zippy Shell. 

Comparing these options is a smart move. If pricing is your main concern, and you are moving a small amount of stuff, then a U-Haul U-Box container may be a good fit for you. U-Box containers are also a practical option for anyone who is renovating and only needs to store items temporarily. U-Box is also a viable option for those moving to a more rural area or internationally, as U-Haul has far more locations than any other moving container company.

For those that are concerned about the quality of U-Box containers, since they are made of plywood, you may want to consider a different container company. Many of U-Box's direct competitors, including PODS and 1-800-PACK-RAT offer metal or steel containers which are widely considered to be better than those made of plywood.

For the best move possible, combine your U-Haul U-Box move with professional moving help from MovingLabor.com. You can schedule help with packing, loading, and unloading, transforming your DIY container move into a hybrid move while still saving money. Let us do the heavy lifting for your U-Box container move!