Moving containers
How many PODS 8 ft containers do I need?
Most of a studio
One PODS 8 ft container (6'6" × 6'0" × 7'6" inside) takes 21 of the 36 pieces on our studio list, by our 3D packing. It's an aluminum-skinned steel box with a roll-up door on the end, close to square inside, and stands on 8'0" × 7'0" of driveway. A studio needs 2, a 1‑bedroom needs 2, and a 2‑bedroom needs 3.
- Inside
- 6'6" × 6'0" × 7'6"
- One holds
- Most of a studio (21 of 36)
- For a studio
- 2 containers
PODS gives up to 402 cu ft, but its own inside size (6'6" × 6'0" × 7'6") works out to 293 cu ft. PODS doesn't say how it counts its figure, so we pack the published inside size. Weight is not the limit: our heaviest packed load is about 1,200 lb, well under PODS's 5,200 lb.
How many for each home size
| Home | Containers | Last one | Or one truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 2 | 27% full | Penske 12'474 cu ft |
| 1‑bedroom | 2 | 61% full | Budget 16'658 cu ft |
| 2‑bedroom | 3 | 46% full | U‑Haul 15'824 cu ft |
| 3‑bedroom | 6 | 53% full | Penske 26'1,694 cu ft |
| 4‑bedroom | 8 | 22% full | No single truckthe biggest + a trailer, or 2 trips |
| 5‑bedroom | 11 | 9% full | No single truckthe biggest + a trailer, or 2 trips |
We load the big pieces first, so the first container of a big home holds fewer, bulkier pieces, and the last one is often part-empty. "% full" is the share of the inside space the packed pieces fill. "Or one truck" is the rental truck with the least space that takes the same list. Truck names are lengths, not space: a U‑Haul 15' has more room inside than a Budget 16'. Container or truck?
What PODS says it holds
PODS says one holds about 1 room.
By our packing, one holds less than our studio list: 21 of the 36 pieces on our studio list.
The numbers
| We use | As PODS writes it | |
|---|---|---|
| Inside length | 6'6" | 6'6" |
| Inside width | 6'0" | 6' |
| Inside height | 7'6" | 7'6" |
| Outside | 8'0" × 7'0" × 8'0" | 8' × 7' × 8' |
| Max load | 5,200 lb | 5,200 lbs |
| Space inside | 293 cu ft | up to 402 cubic ft. |
Sizes from PODS's page: “each 8' PODS container (Interior: 6'6" × 6' × 7'6") may accommodate 1 room”, checked 2026-10-31. Container companies give round numbers and call them approximate; how sure we are of each one is on how we measure.
Other containers
- PODS 12 ft: a whole 1‑bedroom
- PODS 16 ft: a whole 2‑bedroom
- U‑Pack ReloCube: most of a studio (21 of 36 pieces)
- U‑Haul U‑Box: most of a studio (12 of 36 pieces)