Fact Check: U-Box® vs. PODS®

If you’re comparing U-Box® by U-Haul vs PODS®, you’ve probably seen bold claims on both sides. The quick answer is: Both offer portable moving and storage containers, but several common claims about U-Box by U-Haul® leave out important context. Below is a clear, fact-based breakdown to help you decide what actually matters for your move.

Claim: PODS Is the “Original,” and U-Box Is a Copycat

Fact: PODS® often points to its time in business as proof of superiority. Although it’s true that PODS launched its container program in 1998, what’s missing is the bigger picture.

U-Haul® has been helping people move since 1945, with a nationwide logistics network built over more than 80 years. While the U-Box program itself is newer, launching in 2011, it runs on the same infrastructure that supports more than 24,000 U-Haul Moving and Storage locations across the United States and Canada.

Experience matters, but it’s worth asking: experience doing what? Long-distance shipping, storage, and DIY moves are what U-Haul does best.

Claim: U-Box Containers Are Smaller and Limit Your Options

Fact: This claim is technically true but incomplete.

U-Box containers come in one standardized size:

• 8’L × 5’W × 7.5’H
• 257 cubic feet
• Holds about 1.5 rooms of household items

PODS offers multiple container sizes, including a 16-foot option. However, flexibility works differently with U-Box.

Instead of forcing you to guess the “right” container size, U-Box lets you add containers as needed. If you overestimate, unused containers are fully refunded. That means you are not locked into paying for empty space.

PODS claims it would take four U-Box containers to equal one 16-foot PODS container. In reality, a 16-foot PODS container holds about 857 cubic feet, which equals roughly 3.3 U-Box containers, not four.

Claim: PODS Containers Are Higher Quality Than U-Box Containers

Fact: This comparison leaves out important design differences.

PODS containers use steel framing with hard exterior panels. U-Box containers are built from heavy-duty plywood with a weather-resistant protective cover.

This lighter construction is intentional. It allows for:

• Indoor storage at secure U-Haul facilities
• Reduced condensation due to natural airflow
• Reduced shipping costs, saving you money

Each U-Box container also includes 24 furniture pads at no extra cost, helping protect items during loading and transit. Durability is about real-world performance, not just materials listed on a spec sheet.

Claim: PODS’ Delivery System Is More Advanced

Fact: PODS highlights its level-lift delivery system as a major advantage. In practice, that system requires much more space and clearance.

U-Box containers are delivered and picked up using forklifts that are attached to the back of a truck, requiring less room. With the flexibility of delivery options, you can also tow up to two U-Box containers behind a capable towing vehicle, and have a street-legal option too. That means U-Box containers can often be placed in:

• Narrow driveways
• Urban streets
• Tighter residential areas
• Apartment parking spaces

For many customers, that translates to more placement flexibility, not less.

Claim: PODS Has More Reach Than U-Box

Fact: PODS states it serves more than 14,000 cities, but this figure refers to service areas, not physical locations. PODS only has around 250 total locations.

U-Box containers are available at more than 1,500 U-Haul locations across all 50 U.S. states and Canadian provinces, with delivery to more than 29,000 cities and international shipping options. 

Because U-Haul operates one of the largest self-move networks in North America, U-Box customers have more choices for pickup, drop-off, and storage locations.

Claim: You Have to Be Home for U-Box Delivery

Fact: This is false. 

In reality, you do not have to be home for U-Box delivery or pickup in most cases. When you reserve a U-Box container online, you can provide:

• Placement instructions
• Photos of your driveway, curbside area, or designated spot
• Notes about access, gates, or clearance

Your local U-Haul team uses that information to place the container where you’ve requested it, even if you’re not there. This is especially helpful for busy households, long-distance moves, or military and work-related relocations.

The only time you may need to be present is if a local rule, HOA, or city ordinance requires it, or if access to the placement area is restricted. Those situations are location-specific and not unique to U-Box.

Claim: U-Box Is More Affordable Because It Cuts Corners

Fact: Lower price does not sacrifice quality.

U-Box pricing is often lower because U-Haul already has:

• Established transportation routes
• Thousands of company-operated locations nationwide
• Integrated storage facilities

That scale reduces shipping and handling costs. Customers also get transparent online pricing without required phone calls, plus the option to combine U-Box with Moving Help® labor for a hybrid DIY, full-service, or assisted move.

Side-by-Side Snapshot

Feature	PODS®	U-Box® by U-Haul®
Container sizes	Multiple fixed sizes	One modular size
Capacity comparison	16’ ≈ 857 cu. ft.	~3.3 U-Box containers
Container materials	Steel frame	Plywood with weather cover
Delivery method	Level-lift system	Forklift, Trailer
Refund for unused containers	No	Yes
Physical locations	240+	1,500+ locations
Company experience	~28 years	80+ years

Bottom Line

PODS and U-Box moving containers both offer portable moving and storage, but many PODS claims rely on selective comparisons rather than full context.

U-Box containers stand out for their modular flexibility, nationwide footprint, transparent pricing, and backing of a company that has helped people move for generations. For movers who want control, flexibility, and straightforward information, U-Box containers are a strong alternative.

Ready to see how U-Box containers fit your move? Start your U-Box reservation online today.