What are the PODS container sizes?

PODS has three container sizes: 8, 12 and 16 feet long. The 8 ft is 6'6" × 6'0" × 7'6" inside, the 12 ft is 11'6" × 7'0" × 7'6" inside, and the 16 ft is 15'6" × 7'0" × 7'6" inside. By our 3D packing of typical homes, one 8 ft most of a studio, one 12 ft a whole 1-bedroom and one 16 ft a whole 2-bedroom.

PODS size guide

PODS container sizes

Q: How many PODS containers do I need for a 2-bedroom?

By our packing of a typical 2-bedroom list, one 16 ft PODS container.

By the Every Last Box teamSizes checked October 31, 2026How we measure How we make money

How many PODS for your home

PODS has three container sizes: 8, 12 and 16 feet long. By our 3D packing of typical homes:

Studio: One 12 ft container
1‑bedroom: One 12 ft container
2‑bedroom: One 16 ft container
3‑bedroom: Two 16 ft containers
4‑bedroom: Two 16 ft containers and one 12 ft
5‑bedroom: Four 16 ft containers and one 8 ft

Our 2-bedroom apartment list (73 pieces), left to right: the first of 3 PODS 8 ft containers, loaded with the bulkiest pieces, takes 12, the first of 2 PODS 12 ft containers, loaded with the bulkiest pieces, takes 38, one PODS 16 ft takes all of it — Our 2‑bedroom apartment list (73 pieces), left to right: the first of 3 PODS 8 ft containers, loaded with the bulkiest pieces, takes 12, the first of 2 PODS 12 ft containers, loaded with the bulkiest pieces, takes 38, one PODS 16 ft takes all of it.

The three sizes

Size	Inside (L × W × H)	On the driveway	Weight limit	One holds
8 ft	6'6" × 6'0" × 7'6"	8'0" × 7'0"	5,200 lb	Most of a studio (21 of 36 pieces)
12 ft	11'6" × 7'0" × 7'6"	12'0" × 8'0"	4,700 lb	A whole 1‑bedroom
16 ft	15'6" × 7'0" × 7'6"	16'0" × 8'0"	4,200 lb	A whole 2‑bedroom

PODS says the 8 ft holds about 1 room, 12 ft holds about 2–3 rooms and 16 ft holds about 3–4 rooms; our lists show what that means in furniture. These sizes are PODS's own text as shown in search results (its containers FAQ): pods.com doesn't allow automated reading, so we couldn't open the page itself. Every company calls its sizes approximate.

Before you book

Weight counts as well as space, and PODS gives a lower limit for its bigger sizes. So the 16 ft, the one with the most space, is the one a heavy home can overload.
A home office, a piano or a garage full of tools can move you up a container.
Each container is priced on its own, so the count drives the quote. Ask for the delivery and pick-up fees, the monthly rate if it waits in storage, and what one more container costs if you run out of space.
Rather drive a truck? PODS vs U‑Haul compares one truck with PODS, home by home.

Questions people ask

How many PODS containers do I need for a 2‑bedroom?

By our packing of a typical 2‑bedroom list, one 16 ft PODS container.

How much weight does a PODS container hold?

PODS gives 5,200 lb for the 8 ft, 4,700 lb for the 12 ft and 4,200 lb for the 16 ft: the bigger the container, the lower the limit.

How much driveway space does a PODS container need?

The 8 ft stands on 8'0" × 7'0". The 12 ft stands on 12'0" × 8'0". The 16 ft stands on 16'0" × 8'0". Leave room beside it for the delivery truck, and check whether your street or HOA needs a permit.

More detail: each size on its own, home by home

Home	Best mix	16 ft only	12 ft only	8 ft only
Studio apartment	1 × 12 ft	1	1	2
1‑bedroom apartment	1 × 12 ft	1	1	2
2‑bedroom apartment	1 × 16 ft	1	2	3
3‑bedroom house	2 × 16 ft	2	3	6
4‑bedroom house	2 × 16 ft + 1 × 12 ft	3	4	8
5‑bedroom house	4 × 16 ft + 1 × 8 ft	5	6	11

Each column packs one container after another until the list is in. "Best mix" takes the size that needs the fewest and puts the last load in a smaller one when that is enough. Room inside, length × width × height: 8 ft 293 cu ft, 12 ft 604 cu ft, 16 ft 814 cu ft; PODS quotes 402 cu ft for the 8 ft and 835 cu ft for the 16 ft, counted its own way.

Other containers: PODS vs U‑Box · PODS vs ReloCube · all moving containers · container or truck