Is PODS or U-Haul better?

U-Haul rents trucks you drive yourself, and also a moving container, the U-Box. PODS only does containers. Pick a U-Haul truck if you are happy to drive and can load in one day. Pick PODS or a U-Box if you would rather not drive, want to load over a few days, or need to store your things between homes.

Truck or container

PODS vs U‑Haul: which one for your move?

Q: PODS or U-Haul for a 2-bedroom?

By our 3D packing of a typical 2-bedroom list (73 pieces): one U-Haul 15-foot truck, or one 16 ft container at PODS, or 4 U-Boxes at U-Haul.

Q: What is the difference between a PODS container and a U-Box?

A U-Box is much smaller: 7'11" × 4'8" inside, against 15'6" × 7'0" for the biggest PODS, so a home takes several U-Boxes where it takes one or a few PODS. A U-Box is a treated-plywood box with one swing door on the end; a PODS is an aluminum-skinned steel box with a roll-up door on the end. Both are dropped at your door; you load, they drive.

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

U‑Haul rents trucks you drive yourself, and also a moving container, the U‑Box. PODS only does containers. Pick a U‑Haul truck if you're happy to drive and can load in one day. Pick PODS or a U‑Box if you'd rather not drive, want to load over a few days, or need to store your things between homes.

Our 2-bedroom apartment list (73 pieces), left to right: one U-Haul 15' truck takes all of it, one PODS 16 ft takes all of it — Our 2‑bedroom apartment list (73 pieces), left to right: one U‑Haul 15 ft truck takes all of it, one PODS 16 ft takes all of it.

For your home

Home	U‑Haul truck	PODS	U‑Haul U‑Box
Studio apartment	15-foot trucka 10-foot only if packed floor to ceiling	One 12 ft container	2 U‑Boxes
1‑bedroom apartment	15-foot truck	One 12 ft container	3 U‑Boxes
2‑bedroom apartment	15-foot truck	One 16 ft container	4 U‑Boxes
3‑bedroom house	26-foot truck	Two 16 ft containers	7 U‑Boxes
4‑bedroom house	More than one truckthe 26 ft plus a trailer, or two trips	Two 16 ft containers and one 12 ft	9 U‑Boxes
5‑bedroom house	More than one truckthe 26 ft plus a trailer, or two trips	Four 16 ft containers and one 8 ft	12 U‑Boxes

By our 3D packing of a typical list for each home size. Yours will differ, so check your own list in the planner.

What's different

	U‑Haul truck	PODS or U‑Box
Who drives	You	They do
Loading	One day, up a ramp	Over several days, at ground level
Pick-up	At a U‑Haul location	Dropped at your door
Storage between homes	No: it goes back when you're done	Yes, most companies store it
Space at your home	Somewhere to park the truck	A flat patch of driveway or street for each container

Prices change with the distance, the month and your city, so get a quote for your own dates once you know the size.

PODS or U‑Box?

If you've settled on a container: for our 2‑bedroom, PODS sends one 16 ft container and U‑Haul sends 4 U‑Boxes. A U‑Box is a treated-plywood box with one swing door on the end, 7'11" long inside against 15'6" for a 16 ft PODS, so a home takes several. PODS vs U‑Box in detail.

Our 2-bedroom apartment list (73 pieces), left to right: one PODS 16 ft takes all of it, the first of 4 U-Haul U-Boxes, loaded with the bulkiest pieces, takes 17 — Our 2‑bedroom apartment list (73 pieces), left to right: one PODS 16 ft takes all of it, the first of 4 U‑Haul U‑Boxes, loaded with the bulkiest pieces, takes 17.

Questions people ask

PODS or U‑Haul for a 2‑bedroom?

By our 3D packing of a typical 2‑bedroom list (73 pieces): one U‑Haul 15-foot truck, or one 16 ft container at PODS, or 4 U‑Boxes at U‑Haul.

What is the difference between a PODS container and a U‑Box?

A U‑Box is much smaller: 7'11" × 4'8" inside, against 15'6" × 7'0" for the biggest PODS, so a home takes several U‑Boxes where it takes one or a few PODS. A U‑Box is a treated-plywood box with one swing door on the end; a PODS is an aluminum-skinned steel box with a roll-up door on the end. Both are dropped at your door; you load, they drive.

U‑Haul truck sizes · PODS container sizes · Container or truck, every company