September 24, 2026
Updated by the Velox team
Once you count everything a storage unit really costs you, portable storage is often the cheaper way to store during a move, because you load once instead of twice and never rent a truck. A Velox container is loaded at your house, moved by us, stored at our yard with no extra rent, and unloaded once at the new place.
What are you actually paying for with a storage unit?
The monthly rent on a storage unit is only the part you see on the sign. Look at the whole job.
You rent a truck. You load everything at your house. You drive to the facility, unload it all into the unit, and return the truck. Weeks or months later you do the whole thing again in reverse: rent a truck, load the unit, drive to the new house, unload, return the truck. That’s two truck rentals, gas both ways each time, and every single thing you own lifted four times. It’s also two Saturdays.
People assume portable storage costs more than a storage unit. When you add up the truck, the gas, and your time, it often doesn’t.
What are you paying for with a portable container?
One container comes to your driveway. You load it once, on your own schedule, over as many evenings as you need. When you’re ready, we pick it up loaded and take it to our yard in Pleasant Grove, Springville, or Brighton. Storing it there adds nothing to your monthly rate. When you know where you’re landing, we deliver it and you unload once.
Every item is handled twice instead of four times. There’s no truck, no gas run, and no second loading day.
A few things about how our billing works, since people worry about surprises. There’s no deposit. The minimum is one month, and you can have it picked up any time after that. Your rate does not jump after the first month. Fees are charged the day before, and if a payment fails we retry, then reschedule if it never clears. We usually have a few deals running, so ask.
What decides the price of a portable container?
We don’t publish prices on the site, but the factors are simple, and we’ll give you a real number when you call or text:
- How many containers you need
- How long you keep them
- How many times we move them
- Whether you’re outside our normal delivery radius
- Whether the delivery is difficult
- Any promotions running
- Add-ons, like a lock or insurance
A lock isn’t included. Any padlock works, and we sell one at hardware-store price if you’d rather grab it from us. Insurance isn’t automatic either. Check your homeowners or renters policy first, and if it doesn’t cover you, we offer third-party coverage for theft, fire, flood, and transport damage. The pricing page goes through each of these.
Doesn’t a storage unit come with 24-hour access and climate control?
Read those claims carefully, because they get borrowed by container companies too.
“24-hour access” describes the facility gate, not your container. If a container company advertises it, it means their building is open, not that you can walk up to your box whenever you like. At Velox, yard access is by appointment. Call or text ahead, and someone meets you, unlocks the gate, and locks up after. The lots are gated for a reason, so keep visits short. If you expect to be in and out of your things every day, keep reading, because that changes the answer.
“Climate controlled” means the warehouse, not the box sitting in your driveway. Our containers are not climate controlled. They’re welded steel, gasketed against weather, and they keep out normal rain and snow. Load things dry, use sealed totes, and throw in moisture absorbers if it’s going to sit a while. Keep documents, electronics, art, and antiques somewhere else, along with food, cash, jewelry, medications, and anything you couldn’t replace.
When is a storage unit the better choice?
Sometimes it is, and we’d rather tell you than sell you.
- You have a tiny load. If it’s a few boxes and a bike, a small storage unit and one trip in your own car makes more sense than an 800-cubic-foot container.
- You need daily access. Our yard is by appointment. A facility you can drive to whenever you want is the right fit if you’ll be pulling things out constantly.
- You have nowhere to set it. A container needs about one parking stall. If you’re in an apartment with no driveway and no spot the building will let us use, a storage unit avoids the whole placement question.
If none of those describe you, the container is usually the easier and cheaper path.
What if my plans change while it’s stored?
That’s the part a storage unit can’t help you with. If closing slips or you don’t know where you’re moving yet, your loaded container just waits at our yard, with nothing extra added to the rate, and we deliver it when you’re ready. Rescheduling is a call or text, and it’s fine unless the truck is already on its way.
One customer had to leave home fast and safely. One container, one load, and their things were out of the way while they sorted out what came next.
You can see the full process on how it works, a side-by-side with PODS, U-Box, and self-storage on compare, and the rest of your questions on the FAQ.
Questions people ask
Is portable storage really cheaper than a storage unit?
Often, once you count the two truck rentals, gas, and two loading days a storage unit requires. A container is loaded once, moved by us, stored at no extra rent, and unloaded once. Compare the total cost, not the monthly rent on the sign.
Does it cost extra to store my container at your yard?
No. Storing a loaded container at our yard adds nothing to your monthly rate. Yard access is by appointment.
Does the price go up after the first month?
No. Your rate does not jump after month one. The minimum is one month, there’s no deposit, and you can schedule pickup any time after.
Is my stuff insured in the container?
Not automatically. Check your homeowners or renters policy first. We offer third-party coverage for theft, fire, flood, and transport damage.
When should I choose a storage unit instead?
When you have a very small load, need to get to your things every day, or live somewhere with no place to set a container, such as an apartment with no driveway.
Ready when you are
Want a real number instead of a guess? Call or text (801) 362-9978 in Utah or (720) 674-8777 in Colorado, or text us a photo of where the container would sit.