September 26, 2026
Updated by the Velox team
“How much does a portable storage container cost?” is the first question almost everyone asks us, and the honest answer is: it depends on a handful of things that are easy to understand once someone explains them. We don’t post rates on the site, and neither do most national companies, because two households on the same street can need very different things. What we can do is show you exactly what goes into a portable storage container quote, so when you call or text Velox you already know what will move the number up or down.
The short version: there are only two charges. A monthly rental rate for the container, and a move fee each time our truck delivers, picks up or relocates it. Everything else on this page is just detail about what shapes those two numbers.
Two charges, and that’s the whole bill
Your quote has two parts:
- Monthly rent for the 8×16 container (about 800 cubic feet inside, about a 1,500 sq ft home or 2-3 bedrooms). The minimum is one month; after that you keep it as long as you need and we pick it up when you’re done.
- Move fees for each trip the truck makes: the delivery, the final pickup, and any relocation in between (for example, moving a loaded unit from your old house to your new one, or to our yard for storage).
There is no deposit. Fees are charged the day before each service. And the rate you agree to in month one is the rate you pay in month six – it does not step up after the first month, which is a fear a lot of people bring with them from other companies. The full structure is laid out on our pricing page; below are the factors that change the numbers inside it.
The 8 factors that decide your portable storage container cost
1. How many containers you need
Each container has its own monthly rent and its own move fees, so this is the biggest lever. Our advice is always the same: order one, fill it, and only order a second if you actually run out of room. Most 2-3 bedroom homes fit in one unit with decent packing. If you’re not sure, read what size container a 3-bedroom house needs before you book.
2. How long you keep it
Rent is month-to-month after the one-month minimum. A two-week gap between closing dates costs one month of rent; a six-month new-home build costs six. There’s no long-term contract and no penalty for finishing early – you pay for the months you use. If you’re storing for a while, our post on how long you can keep a storage container covers what to expect.
3. How many times it moves
A standard rental includes a delivery and a pickup. If the loaded container also needs to travel – to your new address across town, or to our yard while you’re between homes and back out again – each of those trips is a move fee. A simple “load it, store it in the driveway, unload it” remodel job has the fewest moves. A move with a stop at our yard has the most. Knowing your plan up front lets us quote it accurately.
Want to see it before you book? Our Will It Fit tool lets you drag the 16 ft container around a 3D driveway, RV pad, street or parking stall.
4. Where you are (distance from our yards)
Our Utah yards are in Pleasant Grove and Springville, so Utah County addresses get one flat move fee – Lehi, Eagle Mountain, Spanish Fork, it doesn’t matter which corner of the county. Farther out along the Wasatch Front and down to Sanpete County, the move fee rises with the drive. In Colorado, our yard is in Brighton; addresses within about 30 miles pay a flat move fee, and beyond that a per-mile charge applies for the Fort Collins-to-Colorado Springs corridor. Distance changes the move fee only – monthly rent is the same everywhere.
5. How hard the delivery is
Our truck stays on the road and a machine lifts the container off and sets it wherever a truck could drive – it’s never tipped or dragged like a dumpster. A flat driveway with the cars moved is the easy case and costs nothing extra. A steep driveway, a tight backyard, low branches or wires, or a spot that needs extra maneuvering can add time, and occasionally cost. The easiest way to find out is to text us a photo of where you want it. Our placement guide explains what makes a spot easy or tricky.
6. Storing it at your place vs. our yard
Here’s one that surprises people: keeping your loaded container at our gated yard adds nothing to the monthly rent. What you pay for is the move in and the move out (see factor 3). If you don’t have room to keep it at home, or you’re between houses and don’t know your next address yet, yard storage is the same rent plus the trips. You can still get to your things by appointment.
7. Lock and contents coverage
A lock isn’t included – any padlock works, and we sell one at hardware-store price if you’d rather grab it from us. Contents coverage is required, and there are two easy ways to handle it. If your homeowners or renters policy covers belongings in a portable storage container, send us proof within 5 business days of delivery and you’re set. If it doesn’t, we’ll enroll you in our contents protection plan through Storage Protectors, with coverage levels from $2,000 up to $20,000. It covers things like theft, fire, windstorm and smoke, but it does not cover flood. Your lock and your coverage level both show up clearly on your quote.
8. Timing and promotions
We usually have a few deals running, so ask when you call. Timing matters too: late May through mid-August is our busiest stretch in both states, and the Friday afternoon before a holiday or at the end of the month is the hardest slot to fill. Booking a week or two ahead doesn’t change the price, but it does mean you get the day you want instead of the day that’s left.
What does NOT change the price
- Weight. We move loaded containers up to 7,500 lb, and a typical full unit is 3,000-4,000 lb. Load it full; the rent is the same.
- Months two and beyond. The rate doesn’t climb after month one.
- Yard storage. No extra rent for keeping it at our lot.
- Finishing early. No penalty for calling for pickup sooner than you planned.
- Rescheduling. Call or text; it’s fine unless the truck is already on its way.
How to compare portable storage quotes fairly
If you’re shopping around, a low headline number can hide a higher total. A few things to line up side by side:
- Compare cubic feet, not box count. One Velox unit (about 800 cu ft inside) is not the same as one 257 cu ft U-Box; you may need about three of the smaller boxes to hold the same house. See U-Haul U-Box vs. Velox.
- Add up every trip. Delivery, pickup, relocation, and any warehouse in/out fees.
- Ask what month two costs. Some quotes are introductory rates.
- Ask whether warehouse storage is extra. “Climate controlled” usually means the warehouse, not the box in your driveway, and it often carries its own monthly charge.
- Count the truck you didn’t rent. Against a self-storage unit, remember the two truck rentals, fuel and the second loading day – we broke that down in is portable storage cheaper than a storage unit?
How to keep your own quote low
- Fill one container before ordering a second.
- Keep the unit at your place if you have the space – it removes two trips.
- Clear the driveway of cars and trim low branches before delivery day so placement is quick.
- Pack tight and stack to the ceiling so everything fits in one unit (our loading tips help).
- Book a week or two ahead and avoid the Friday-before-a-holiday scramble.
- Ask what deals are running.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn’t Velox post prices online?
Because the number depends on how many containers you need, how long you keep them, how many times they move and where you live. A published “starting at” price would be wrong for most people. A two-minute call or text gets you an exact quote with no hidden fees.
Is there a deposit or a contract?
No deposit and no long-term contract. The minimum is one month of rent; after that it’s month-to-month and you schedule pickup whenever you’re done.
Does the price go up after the first month?
No. The monthly rate you’re quoted stays the same for as long as you rent.
Does storing my container at your yard cost more?
Yard storage adds nothing to the monthly rent. You pay the move fee to bring it to the yard and the move fee to bring it back out, and you can visit your unit by appointment.
What’s included in the move fee?
The truck, the driver, the machine that sets the container exactly where you want it, and the trip itself. Distance from our Pleasant Grove, Springville or Brighton yard is what changes it; weight inside the container does not.
Get your exact number
Tell us your city, roughly how long you’ll need the container and whether it needs to move, and we’ll give you a real quote – two charges, no surprises. Call or text the Velox team for a quote, or read how it works first.