Considering a U-Haul® U-Box® for your upcoming move?

Moving containers offer easy loading and unloading and are often cheaper than full-service movers. And choosing a container from a popular moving company like U-Haul might seem like the best way to go for your out-of-state move. But after comparing the U-Box’s construction, dimensions, shipping and delivery to similar options, you might find that an alternative like a U-Pack® ReloCube® makes more sense.

Take a look at the details of a U-Box, and then compare it with a ReloCube to see which is best for your long-distance move.

What is a U-Box?

The U-Box is a portable moving and storage container made of treated plywood, which makes it significantly less durable when compared to the metal containers offered by other providers.

U-Boxes have a tarp covering (attached with Velcro® closures) to protect them from the weather. Inside the box are D-rings to help strap down belongings. Rentals include the use of 24 furniture pads per box, and you’ll use your own lock to secure the container.

U-Box dimensions

The dimensions are 8’ x 5’ x 7’6” (LWH) externally and 7' 11" x 4' 8" x 6' 11.5" internally — making it one of the smallest containers on the market. Each box can hold up to 2,000 lbs., which is roughly one room’s worth of furniture.

Payment process

Reserving a U-Box online requires a credit or debit card for three separate payments:

• a deposit on moving day (container rental, insurance and origin delivery fee)
• shipping charges while the boxes are in transit
• the destination delivery fee

If you reserve too many U-Boxes, U-Haul will credit the full price of the unused unit, but you will still have to pay for the cost of the box upfront and wait for reimbursement.

Delivery, shipping and storage

U-Haul offers home delivery, self-hauling or you can pack onsite at one of their locations. Although U-Haul services all 50 states, not all locations will have U-Box containers available.

Transit times may vary based on your location but shipping with U-Boxes generally averages 7-12 days.

A big selling point of the U-Box is the one-month storage fee included in the price. The time includes loading, unloading and shipping, so depending on your move, there might not be many storage days left by the time the boxes reach their destination. Additional storage is available for a monthly fee, so make sure to include that in the quote if you need extra time while moving.

How does the U-Pack ReloCube compare?

Similar to U-Box containers, the U-Pack ReloCube sits on the ground for easy loading and unloading. However, it is made of weather-resistant metal (not wood) and has rails throughout the container to tie-down your things. You’ll put your own lock on the Cube to keep it secure during loading, unloading and transit.

How big is it?

ReloCubes measure 6’3” x 7’ x 8’4” with a capacity of 308 cubic feet, and they can hold up to 2,500 lbs. (a bit bigger than each U-Box).

Payment process

Request as many ReloCubes as you might need and only pay for the ones you use. Since U-Pack only requires one payment (due after items are shipped), you won’t have to pay upfront and then wait for reimbursement like with U-Haul.

Delivery, shipping and storage

U-Pack ReloCubes are delivered directly to your home or to a local service center. Thanks to an efficient network, U-Pack transit times average 2-5 business days — some of the fastest in the industry. You’ll get 3 business days to load and then 3 days to unload.

And if there’s no room for parking, you can load or unload at a local service center and save money.

Unlike U-Haul®, U-Pack won’t charge for storage if you don’t need it. But if you do need extra time before getting your things, storage is offered at origin or destination based on availability at the service center.

Which is cheaper: U-Box or ReloCube?

When comparing portable storage and moving solutions, price is one of many key factors to consider.

U-Box cost

Let’s explore this scenario: A move from Orlando, FL, to Charlotte, NC, for a family in a two-bedroom home in early March 2022. This quote is only an example, and prices were accurate at the time of posting. Actual costs will vary based on locations, moving dates and equipment availability.

U-Haul recommended 3 wooden U-Boxes for this move and provided this quote via their website:

Too expensive? You could have saved $21 by dropping the insurance to $5,000 in coverage or dropped it all together, assuming the risk if something went wrong. You could have also picked up the U-Boxes yourself, but that would’ve meant hauling each box separately plus the cost of renting a truck if your vehicle wasn’t capable of towing.

ReloCube cost

Let’s look at ReloCubes for the same two-bedroom move from Orlando to Charlotte. U-Pack also recommended 3 metal containers, which are bigger than U-Box containers.

For this example move, U-Pack quoted an all-inclusive (3 containers, standard liability, delivery and shipping) price of: $1,473.

What if someone needs more space? U-Pack’s quote for 4 ReloCubes for the Orlando to Charlotte move was only about $100 more than U-Haul’s quote for 3 containers, coming in at $1,741. With U-Pack, customers can reserve more containers and only pay for what they end up using. This is a good option for people with heavily furnished homes.

Moving soon?

U-Pack offers savings and simplicity, and we have great options for out-of-state moves. Give us a call at 844-362-5303844-594-3077 or get a quote online to see how our rates compare to other providers. If you have questions, call or leave a comment below. We’re happy to help!

U-Box® and U-Haul® are registered trademarks of U-Haul International, Inc. Use of third-party, or registered trademarks does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by such third party.