Shipping Household Goods to Alaska

Finding a moving company to ship to Alaska (without costing a fortune)

Setting up a home in Alaska promises a new lifestyle in one of the most remote states in the U.S. While it’s fun to daydream about the gorgeous natural beauty and wildlife in the state, getting your belongings to Alaska takes some careful planning.

How can you ship your things to Alaska and still have enough money left to enjoy everything “The Last Frontier” offers? The cheapest way is often with a DIY service like U-Pack®.

Let’s review how U-Pack handles shipments to Alaska to help you make an informed decision about your move.

How U-Pack makes it easy to ship belongings to Alaska

U-Pack is a self-moving service. That means you load and unload the equipment (or hire movers to assist), and we handle shipping your things north. This leaves you open to travel to Alaska however you want — by boat, plane or car.

Here’s how our Alaska moves work:

• We’ll deliver ReloCube® moving containers to your home. Some locations can be serviced with moving trailers.
• You’ll have up to three business days to load (in most locations). Be sure to consult U-Pack’s Do Not Ship List for things we can’t transport.
• We drive your shipment to Tacoma, WA, and from there it sets sail to Anchorage.
• We deliver to your new location in Central Alaska and give you up to three business days to unload (or one day for service center deliveries in Anchorage).

The moving equipment works for all sizes of homes

ReloCube containers are perfect for shipments from homes of all sizes. The metal containers have external dimensions of 6’ x 7’ x 8’ (LWH) and sit flat on the ground for easy loading and unloading. Each container holds belongings from one room. The best part is that you can reserve as many as you might need and only pay for the ones you use.

U-Pack’s moving trailers have external dimensions of 28' x 8' x 9' (LWH) and include a ramp for loading. You’ll get a quote for space in the trailer based on the size of your home, and you’re only charged for the space used, down to a minimum of 5 linear feet.

Transit times are faster than other options

Some moving companies estimate up to 8 weeks for deliveries to Alaska, but U-Pack shipments average just 10-17 business days — around 6 weeks sooner!

Storage is available

If you’re still deciding where to live in Alaska and need to store your things, U-Pack can help. We can store ReloCubes and moving trailers at our service center in Tacoma, WA, for a monthly fee (based on availability) until you’re ready for delivery in Alaska.

Is U-Pack the cheapest way to ship household goods to Alaska?

To give you an idea of U-Pack’s prices, we looked at a quote for a studio apartment move from Portland, OR, to Anchorage, AK, in October 2025.

The cost for a single ReloCube moving container was $4,131. The price included equipment usage, delivery and standard liability coverage (taxes do not apply).

Using a full-service moving company could cost 3-4 times more, and parcel shipping services are not ideal for a full household of items.

Would driving a rental truck be cheaper than shipping belongings?

Some people assume rental trucks are a cheap way to move, and that’s true — for local moves. That's not the case when you’re relocating nearly 3,000 miles away, especially when you add fuel costs and car towing (which can decrease gas mileage).

Using our example move from Portland to Anchorage, U-Haul® charged $4,829 for a 10’ truck and equipment to tow a sedan. The price included equipment for 8 days, damage coverage, roadside assistance and applicable taxes and fees for up to 2,889 miles. Fuel was not included.

Not only would you have the hassle of driving a rental across the Canadian border, but you’d also spend an additional $758 (or more) on gas. That brings the total estimated cost to $5,587. Without towing, the price was around $600 less.

Need to ship a car to Alaska?

While U-Pack equipment can transport lawnmowers, motorcycles and ATVs, we cannot ship cars. For auto transport, we refer customers to Mr. Car Shipper®. Call them at 877-421-1284 for a quote.

Check your U-Pack rate for shipping belongings to Alaska

Request your free shipping estimate today by calling 844-362-5303844-594-3077 or using our online quote form.

If you have questions about shipping with U-Pack or moving to Alaska, let us know in the comments. We’re available to help.