U-Pack vs 1-800-Pack-Rat

Choosing between 1-800-Pack-Rat and U-Pack

When you’re looking for a reliable portable storage moving service, two you might consider are U-Pack® and 1-800-Pack-Rat®. Both companies offer similar moving solutions, but one comes out ahead when planning a long-distance move.

Let’s review how U-Pack and Pack-Rat compare to help you determine the best fit for your upcoming move.

How do Pack-Rat moving’s service areas compare to U-Pack?

Pack-Rat has locations in 37 states plus Washington, D.C., mostly in major metro areas. 

In contrast, U-Pack serves thousands of small towns and large cities in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Does 1-800-Pack-Rat have the same moving containers as U-Pack?

Both Pack-Rat and U-Pack offer two weather-resistant metal equipment options for long-distance moves.

Pack-Rat containers

Pack-Rat requires payment for any delivered container, whether you use it or not, so be careful not to reserve too many. Here’s what’s available for out-of-state moves:

• 8-foot: 404 cubic feet of space (1-2 rooms of furniture up to 4,000 lbs.)
• 16-foot: 830 cubic feet of space (3-4 rooms of furniture up to 6,000 lbs.) 

Note: Pack-Rat also has 12-foot containers for local moves. 

U-Pack equipment  

U-Pack only charges for the containers you use or the space filled in the moving trailer, making our options flexible for moves of all sizes. For example, if you reserve too many ReloCubes, the extra ones are picked up at no cost. In the same sense, if you’re using a moving trailer and reserve 17 linear feet but only use 15, the price will be reduced based on the per-foot rate in your reservation.  

Below is more information about each equipment type:

• ReloCube® moving containers: 308 cubic feet of space (1 large room, up to 2,500 lbs.)
• 28-foot moving trailer: Reserve by linear foot (5-foot minimum, trailer weight limit 22,500 lbs.)

Storage options

Pack-Rat charges for container use monthly, and you can pay for additional storage at your home or in one of their warehouses.

With U-Pack, you’re only charged for storage if you need it, and equipment is kept at the nearest secure service center.

How do quotes and payments differ between Pack-Rat and U-Pack?

Despite offering similar services, Pack-Rat and U-Pack are worlds apart when it comes to the quoting and payment processes.

Getting a quote

Pack-Rat has an online quote form where you can enter origin and destination zip codes, request a delivery date and provide an email address and phone number. You’ll receive a reference number on the screen and via email, instructing you to call customer service for a price. You’ll also get the option to purchase a damage waiver for the equipment and contents protection.

With U-Pack, the quoting process is simple, and pricing is straightforward. You can use our free online form for an immediate quote or call 844-362-5303844-594-3077 to get a price over the phone. Quotes include equipment, delivery, transportation and standard liability coverage. Contact information is only required to save the quote and start a reservation. 

Learn more about the cost of portable storage.

Payment process 

With Pack-Rat, out-of-state moves require a $500 deposit at the time of reservation. The monthly storage payment is due upon container delivery, and the remaining balance is due after the move. There are no refunds for unused storage time. 

There is no deposit with U-Pack. We don’t charge until after the shipment is on its way to the final destination. You can also look into financing options with Affirm for a monthly payment plan. You’ll only pay for storage if needed.

Get a U-Pack quote today to compare our price to 1-800-Pack-Rat

Call  to speak to one of our moving consultants or use our free, no-obligation online quote form to compare U-Pack rates to your 1-800-Pack-Rat quote.

If you have questions about U-Pack services or how we compare to Pack-Rat, let us know in the comments. We’re available to help!

1-800-Pack-Rat® is a registered trademark of 1-800-Pack-Rat, LLC. Use of third-party trademarks or registered trademarks does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by such third party.