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PODS Services, Pros & Cons, Pricing, and more

March 3, 2023


Customers may use PODS (Portable On Demand Storage) for local moving, long-distance, residential moving, corporate relocation, military, and government movements. Moving and storage facilities are available in 44 states, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. PODS has completed over 5 million deliveries since its establishment in 1998. According to the ...

Customers may use PODS (Portable On Demand Storage) for local moving, long-distance, residential moving, corporate relocation, military, and government movements. Moving and storage facilities are available in 44 states, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. PODS has completed over 5 million deliveries since its establishment in 1998. According to the group, there are over 220,000 PODS containers in use.

If you’re on a budget and don’t want to move your belongings yourself, PODS is a good choice. While certain long-distance moves can be costly, customers consistently praise the company’s ease of use.

Pros:

Flexible storage rentals
Affordable options
No driving required

Cons:

No packing or loading services
Unavailable in some states

PODS is a business that leases out containers to people who want to do some of the work themselves. PODS programs are available in most states, except Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. The company provides a variety of supplies in addition to moving and storage facilities, including:

Packing paper
Tape and dispensers
Lifting straps
Rubber mover bands
Moving boxes
Mattress bags
Stretch wrap
Locks
Moving blankets

How do they work?

PODS containers, which come in three different sizes, can be customized for moving and storage. You can hold a PODS container on your house, store it at a nearby PODS storage facility, or have it transported to a nearby or long-distance location. Get a quote and schedule service at least seven days ahead of time, according to PODS. You have up to 24 hours before container delivery to cancel for a complete refund.

Moving Services

There are three container sizes available from PODS: 7-foot, 12-foot, and 16-foot. The table below shows the complete dimensions of each container. The container is delivered to your address for loading by PODS. You can hold the PODS container on-site, have it transferred to a nearby PODS facility for storage, or have PODS transport it locally or long-distance for you. The company will associate you with third-party professionals for packing and loading assistance, but you are responsible for loading the PODS container.

Small container
7′ x 7′ x 8′
5,200 pounds
Studio apartment

Medium container
12′ x 8′ x 8′
4,700 pounds
2- to 3-room home

Large container
16′ x 8′ x 8′
4,200 pounds
3- to 4-room home

Pricing

The price of relocation with PODS containers is determined by the number of containers rented, their size, the distance traveled, the duration of the rental, and the time of year. A local move with PODS could cost you up to $550. The average cost of a long-distance transfer is between $1,000 and $3,000. The cost of monthly storage begins at $149. Costs are estimated below.

Local move
$350 to $550

Long-distance move
$1,000 to $3,000

Monthly storage
$149

Is PODS insured for moving?

Yes, PODS is covered by insurance when it comes to moving. There are two coverage choices available from the company:
Insurance for containers only: This policy includes damage or failure to a moving container caused by fire, smoke, vandalism, dropping objects, traffic crashes, lightning, windstorms, or hail.

Insurance for the contents of the package: This insurance protects both the container and the contents of the container. It is important to note that it does not compensate for harm or loss caused by improper packaging, home theft, or water damage.

Depending on the standard of protection, coverage costs anywhere from $10 to several hundred dollars a month.

Are PODS cheaper than U-Haul?

Yes, in general. Both options are less expensive than hiring a full-service moving company.

So, are they good for moving?

If you’re moving and don’t want to pay full-service moving rates, PODS is a good option. The firm gives containers, transports your belongings from one place to another, and stores them at nearby facilities. It does not, however, pack, load, unload, or unpack anything. We like that PODS is widely available in the United States, that it offers three different container sizes, that it has a fair cancellation policy, and that it can be used by both homes and businesses.