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 23 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 (23 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 1,400 lb, well under PODS's 5,200 lb.
How many for each home size
| Home | Containers | Last one | Or one truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 2 | 26% full | Penske 12'474 cu ft |
| 1‑bedroom | 2 | 61% full | Budget 16'658 cu ft |
| 2‑bedroom | 3 | 43% full | U‑Haul 15'824 cu ft |
| 3‑bedroom | 6 | 21% full2 pieces | Penske 26'1,694 cu ft |
| 4‑bedroom | 7 | 53% full | No single truckthe biggest + a trailer, or 2 trips |
| 5‑bedroom | 10 | 36% 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. Where the last one takes only a few pieces (3‑bedroom), a tighter load or a car trip saves that container. "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: 23 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 (25 of 36 pieces)