1-800-PACK-RAT is a vibrant contender in the “you pack, they drive” marketplace. It offers clients a portable storage container to snugly fit all their stuff inside of. People can use the container just for storage (on their own property or in a facility), or have a driver drive it to their new home or apartment. Like PODS, 1-800-PACK-RAT allows customers to take as long as they’d like to pack and unpack, charged monthly. But because they have a slightly smaller reach, you might have a harder time finding a location in your area, which can raise the price of your move.
Price is negotiable
- Price is somewhat negotiable
- For the most part, the customer determines the schedule
- Few locations often mean a higher price for the customer
PROS
- Price is somewhat negotiable
- For the most part, the customer determines the schedule
- All-steel containers should be durable and weatherproof
CONS
- Few locations often mean a higher price for the customer
- No online quotes for long-distance moves
- No online customer service representatives
Safe & Secure Portable Storage Solutions
Sometimes you need more space. You can count on 1-800-PACK-RAT to keep your stuff safe and secure when you need a little extra room. We will deliver the portable storage unit to you, give you as much time as you need to pack it, then we’ll be back to pick it up and bring it to one of our storage facilities, or you can keep it on-site for as long as you need it. You can rest assured knowing your stuff is safe and only you have the key.
Store Your Stuff Safely and Conveniently Wherever You Need It with 1-800-PACK-RAT
Residential Storage Solutions
Gone are the days of driving a packed car to and from a storage unit. Let 1-800-PACK-RAT bring a container right to you. You can store it on-site, or we can pick it up and take it to one of our nationwide, secure storage facilities, bringing it back whenever you need it. If you want a simple way to store your stuff, look no further than 1-800-PACK-RAT.
Business Storage Solutions
1-800-PACK-RAT’s all-steel, weatherproof storage containers can be used for a variety of business solutions. Whether you’re looking to pack away off-season goods, need simple on-site storage for your restoration or remodel clients, or need off-site storage to keep extra inventory, contact 1-800-PACK-RAT; we will bring the storage unit to you and only you have the key!
Storage Facility Locations
1-800-PACK-RAT knows that you expect more than just extra storage space from the company you trust with your belongings. We designed our nationwide storage facilities to give you peace of mind and convenience, in addition to taking excellent care of your storage needs. We not only offer you the simplest way to store your stuff, but you can be confident that your belongings will be safe with us.
Portable Storage Units
Our Portable Storage Containers Are the Highest Quality in the Market
We know how precious your belongings are. That is why our portable storage containers are all-steel and weatherproof – ensuring your stuff is as safe and secure as possible.
The ground-level loading, barn-style doors, and patented lift system make us the best choice for convenience, flexibility and security! When you choose 1-800-PACK-RAT for portable storage solutions, you can be assured that we will treat your belongings as if they were our own.Mobile Storage Unit Sizes
Our mobile storage containers come in three sizes to meet any and all of your moving and storage needs. Our 16-foot container is the most popular size for both and long-distance moving, as well as temporary or long-term storage. Need more space? No problem – we can provide as many mobile storage units as you need to get the job done.
| 16-foot Container | 12-foot Container | 8-foot Container |
| Typically holds 3-4 rooms of furniture | Typically holds 2-3 rooms of furniture | Typically holds 1-2 rooms of furniture |
| About the size of a 10’ x 15’ storage room | About the size of a 10’ x 10’ storage room | About the size of an 8’ x 8’ storage room |
| Holds up to 6,000 lbs of contents | Holds up to 6,000 lbs of contents | Holds up to 4,000 lbs of contents |
| 830 cubic feet | 620 cubic feet | 404 cubic feet |
See Why Our Containers Are the Best in the Industry – Compare Them to the Competition
Industry-Leading Portable Container Design & Construction
1-800-PACK-RAT provides secure and weather resistant storage and moving containers that are constructed to withstand the elements, so your stuff doesn’t have to. The steel frames, walls and doors of our units offer durable protection that wooden and plastic storage containers just can’t match. And its metal structure, unlike wood, prevents the absorption of moisture, decreasing the likelihood of mold and mildew.
Patented Lift System Keeps Your Stuff Level
1-800-PACK-RAT’s patented mini-mover lift system can lift a fully-loaded moving container without tilting, swaying, or sliding and gently place it anywhere a truck can be driven. The container and your belongings stay level during the whole transfer process. When you open your container doors at their destination, the contents will look the same as the day you packed them.
Ground-Level Design Makes Packing Convenient
The 1-800-PACK-RAT portable storage unit is designed to be easy to pack and load – there are no ramps to climb or wheel wells to pack around. Containers also have corrugated steel cut-outs that allow you to attach straps, bungee cords, and netting to anchor your belongings and give you added protection. Our mobile storage containers can be placed where you need them to be for easy access.
Leave the Driving to Us
Other companies moving and storage solutions typically include you driving a large and unfamiliar moving truck that you have to pack and unload all in one day. Or you have to drive back and forth to a traditional self-storage facility numerous times to store your stuff. With 1-800-PACK-RAT, you can leave the driving completely to us! We’ll get your belongings to your new home or safely store them for your peace of mind.
Always Accessible On- or Off-Site Storage
1-800-PACK-RAT’s portable moving and storage containers are accessible whenever and wherever you need them. How it works is you order your portable storage container, pick the date you want it delivered, and we drop it off at your selected location. You can then keep it for however long you like at your home, or give us a call when it is packed and we can store it at one of our nationwide facilities.
Flexible Moving and Storage Solutions Made Simple
We here at 1-800-PACK-RAT want your moving and storage experience to be an easy one. When you use one of our mobile storage containers, you can rest assured you can keep it for as long as you need it. Extending your storage timeline or having the container moved to one of our secure warehouse locations is as easy as giving us a call. No matter what your situation or needs are, we are here to help and make it easy!
How Much Do Portable Storage Containers Cost?
At 1-800-PACK-RAT, we aim to make your moving and storage experience as simple and stress-free as possible by offering convenient portable storage units at affordable prices. When it comes to portable storage container costs, several factors need to be considered, including the size of your portable storage container, how long you might need temporary storage, and how far you need your mobile storage unit to be transported.
What Are the Benefits of Portable Storage Containers?
Portable storage containers offer many beneficial solutions when you’re moving, decluttering, or just looking for extra space. When you choose 1-800-PACK-RAT’s portable storage units, you can enjoy benefits such as:
1) Security: One of the most important factors to consider when looking for a mobile storage unit is security. Our mobile storage containers are weather-resistant, and the all-steel structure helps to prevent the absorption of moisture which can lead to mildew and mold, and come with lockable barn doors to protect your belongings.
2) Convenience: No longer are the days of driving to and from a storage facility to access or drop off your belongings. Our mobile storage containers will be delivered and picked up straight from your driveway or business when you need them.
3) Ground-Level Loading: To make your moving and storage experience as easy as possible, our portable storage containers come with ground-level loading, so you don’t need to lift or carry bulky or heavy items up a ramp or stairs.
What Can Portable Storage Containers Be Used For?
There are several reasons why you may be looking for portable storage units for temporary storage. Mobile storage containers are typically used for:
- Home renovation storage during a remodel
- Transitional storage to a newer and smaller home
- Archival storage for sensitive records, documents, and artifacts
- Residential storage for furniture, home staging, and more
- Summer storage for college students
- Event storage for fundraisers, events, and festivals
- Business storage for furniture, inventory, paperwork, and so forth
There are many uses for portable storage containers. Whether you’re running out of space, decluttering a room in your home or office, or are moving, mobile storage containers can give you the space you need to securely store and organize your belongings.
Are 1-800-PACK-RAT Containers Secure?
One of our top priorities at 1-800-PACK-RAT is to keep your belongings secure at all times. Our moving and storage containers are designed to be as safe and secure as possible, including the use of our barn-style doors, which are more difficult to break through than our competitors’ conventional roll-up doors. Barn doors provide more interior space and are less likely to jam if the contents move around.
Our all-steel, weatherproof, and lockable portable storage containers are designed to keep your valuables safe. They provide security, protection, and moisture resistance to prevent mold and mildew, which wood and plastic containers cannot match. When your container is picked up and delivered for transport, our loading mechanism holds it level, reducing shifting and damage to your items. For even more protection, you can browse our selection of Contents Protection Plans.
Check out what each container size has to offer!
8-Foot Portable Storage and Moving Containers
12-Foot Portable Storage and Moving Containers
16-Foot Portable Storage and Moving Containers
How Do You Calculate Storage Unit Size?
When planning out your move, figuring out the logistics of storing and transporting items like furniture, home decor pieces, appliances, and so forth can be a challenge. That is where having an accurate list of all the items you plan on moving and a moving solution that fits your needs is crucial. It is also good to have an understanding of how to measure for the proper size of container you will need.
You can calculate the size of a portable storage unit in either square feet or cubic feet. To calculate square feet, multiply the length of the storage unit by its width. To calculate cubic feet, multiply the length by width by height. Square footage measures the area of space, while cubic feet measure the volume. In most cases, it’s recommended to measure in cubic feet, as this takes the height of the storage unit into consideration.
At 1-800-PACK-RAT, our storage unit size calculator can help you determine which portable storage unit size best fits your needs and move.
Calculating Portable Storage Unit Size
- To determine square footage: Multiply length (in feet) by width (in feet)
- To determine cubic feet: Multiply length (in feet) by width (in feet) by height (in feet)
- These measurements will help you determine how much stuff you can fit into your container safely
How Do You Calculate Your Needed Storage Container Size?
When moving, you’ll also need to calculate how much space you need for the number of items you’re bringing. Calculating your needed storage container size is easy, but it does take a lot of work. Below are a few steps to follow to make sure you get it right:
1. Inventory Your Stuff
The first step is to grab a pen and paper or take notes on your phone or in a spreadsheet. Then, look around and see how many items you plan on moving, both big and small. You can place smaller items in packing boxes and identify large items like couches, mattresses, entertainment systems, tables, bookshelves, exercise equipment, and more separately.
2. Calculate the Size of Your Belongings
To make sure that you find a storage unit that fits everything you need it to, you’ll need to measure your belongings. You can calculate either square footage or cubic footage as we outlined above. If you’re not planning on using your storage unit to the fullest and packing it all the way to the top, square footage should be all you need. However, if you plan on stacking boxes and furniture, it’s always better to calculate by cubic footage.
To measure your boxes, follow the same formula as calculating your storage unit size by multiplying the length by width by height for cubic footage. Once you have that number for one box, multiply that final number by the number of boxes of the same size.
Measuring your furniture can be a bit trickier, so make sure that you get some help so that you get the most accurate results. You’ll measure everything from your couch to your elliptical the same way you measured your boxes.
3. Add the Sizes of Each Item
Now that you’ve calculated how much space you need for each individual item, it’s time to add up all of your numbers to see the number of square or cubic feet that you’ll need for a storage unit.
If you don’t want to measure everything one by one, you can stack all of your belongings in one pile and measure the stack for an estimate of how much space you’ll need.
Pro Tip: Measuring everything in your home takes time and can be exhausting on top of all of the other tasks you’re responsible for when moving.
How to Calculate Your Needed Storage Unit Size
- Take inventory of the belongings that need to be stored or moved
- Calculate the size of each item in cubic feet
- Add the sizes of each item for total area
- Utilize a space calculator to quickly and easily determine the amount of space you need
What Can You Fit Inside Different Container Sizes?
Once you’ve used our storage unit calculator, you’ll know exactly which size of portable storage unit is right for you. We offer three different sizes of portable storage containers to fit any and all of your needs.
| 16-foot Container | 12-foot Container | 8-foot Container |
| Typically holds 3-4 rooms of furniture | Typically holds 2-3 rooms of furniture | Typically holds 1-2 rooms of furniture |
| About the size of a 10’ x 15’ storage room | About the size of a 10’ x 10’ storage room | About the size of an 8’ x 8’ storage room |
| Holds up to 6,000 lbs of contents | Holds up to 6,000 lbs of contents | Holds up to 4,000 lbs of contents |
| 830 cubic feet | 620 cubic feet | 404 cubic feet |
- 8-foot Containers
The smallest of our available units can provide you with 1-2 rooms of storage space. These portable containers are ideal for one-bedroom apartments or can help when you only need to move large items like your couch and mattress.
- 12-foot Containers
The 12-foot container is ideal for local moving and storage and is able to hold 2-3 rooms of furniture. These containers can help you move from an apartment or house, depending on the size and number of items that need to be moved.
- 16-foot Containers
The largest available option for storing and moving your stuff is our 16-foot portable storage container, which is ideal for local and long-distance moving, as well as business storage. These containers can hold about 3-4 rooms of furniture, making them ideal for homeowners, apartment dwellers, and commercial businesses.
How Much Space Do I Need to Move Across the Country?
How much space you need to move across the country or from one state to the next will ultimately depend on a few factors: the size, number, and shape of the items you’re moving, accessibility of your belongings, and the amount of outdoor space you have in your driveway or yard. Some people will choose to bring as little of their stuff as possible, either selling or donating many of their belongings, with the plan to purchase new items such as couches, beds, and more once they’ve moved into the new home.
Others will opt to bring everything they own in an effort to save money or just keep what they have. It’s always best to use a storage calculator to determine the best portable storage unit size to get all of your belongings to your new home with as little hassle as possible.
Factors That Determine How Much Space You Need to Move
- Number of items you plan on moving
- Size of the items you will move
- Shape of the items being moved
- Accessibility of the items being moved
- Amount of outdoor space needed
How Much Space Do I Need For a Local Move?
When moving locally, you may be wondering how much space is necessary. With a local move, proximity allows you to have greater access to your belongings and fewer logistics to worry about, meaning you might not need as much space compared to a cross-country move. For example, with a local move, making multiple trips can be done in a single day, whereas that’s not always an option for a long-distance move.
If minimizing your time on the road is a priority, a portable storage container can help. At 1-800-PACK-RAT, we’ll deliver one of our storage containers straight to your home, allowing you to pack at your own pace and stick to your schedule. Whenever you’re ready for moving day, our team will pick up your storage container and bring it to its new location, where you can unpack on your own terms.