Cross-country = 1,500+ miles, and that changes the math
A 600-mile move and a 2,800-mile move are different products. Distance kills DIY economics fast: every mile is fuel, food, and a hotel stop. By 2,500+ miles, the cost gap between a freight container and a full-service carrier narrows enough that 'cheapest' becomes 'cheapest after my time and risk.'
Use the moving cost calculator for a baseline before any of these conversations. The route lanes on popular routes show real averages by corridor.
Cross-country price comparison by home size
The full-service figures assume binding-not-to-exceed estimates from licensed carriers rather than brokers. To compare a self-move against them, price the truck or container yourself and add fuel at the pump rate, the hotel nights the drive forces, meals, and rental insurance.
| Home size | Approximate weight | Full-service interstate |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | ≤500 sq ft, ~2,000 lb | $1,650–$4,200 |
| 1 Bedroom | 500–800 sq ft, ~3,500 lb | $2,250–$5,460 |
| 2 Bedroom | 800–1,200 sq ft, ~5,500 lb | $3,000–$7,000 |
| 3 Bedroom | 1,200–1,800 sq ft, ~8,500 lb | $4,350–$10,850 |
| 4 Bedroom | 1,800+ sq ft, ~12,000 lb | $5,850–$15,050 |
| 5+ Bedroom | 2,600+ sq ft, ~16,000 lb | $7,200–$18,900 |
We do not publish prices for rental trucks, portable containers, or freight trailers. Those are vendor quotes that change by lane, date, and equipment availability, and we hold no stored dataset for them — a number here would be a guess with a dollar sign on it. Price the option you are considering directly, on your own dates, and compare it against the full-service figures above.
Option 1: U-Pack and freight container
U-Pack supplies freight trailers and ReloCube containers that ride on existing freight routes. You load; the company drives. That structure removes the crew cost from the bill and puts the loading work on you, which is the whole of its cost advantage — but we hold no U-Pack rates, so get the quote for your own lane before assuming it wins.
Tradeoff: limited dates, because freight schedules are not on-demand, and you do all the loading. Hire labor crews at each end if you need help, and get their hourly rate in writing when you book.
Option 2: PODS or 1-800-PACK-RAT (most flexible)
PODS drops a 16-foot container at your home, gives you days to load, then trucks it. Pricing is higher than U-Pack but the flexibility — and built-in storage if your delivery slips — wins for households juggling closing dates.
PACK-RAT often lands between PODS and U-Pack on price. ABF Moving's U-Pack and PODS dominate volume, but smaller regional players (e.g., COWs, Smartbox) can undercut on specific routes.
Option 3: DIY truck rental (cheapest only at smaller sizes)
U-Haul, Penske, and Budget will rent you a 26-foot truck one-way to almost anywhere. The truck is cheap; everything around it is not.
Cross-country DIY adds days of driving. That time never appears on a receipt, which is exactly why self-moves look cheaper than they are. For most working professionals, a freight container beats DIY on cross-country routes once that is counted.
- Confirm one-way drop fees both directions (LA to NY differs from NY to LA)
- Check your auto insurance — it may cover the truck and the rental insurance is markup
- Allow 4–7 driving days; do not drive a 26' truck more than 8 hours per day if you are not used to it
Option 4: Full-service licensed carriers (closer than you think on big homes)
For households with 7,000+ pounds of inventory, the math flips. Loading a 4-bedroom home into a freight container is a two-day job. Driving it 2,500 miles is another five days. By the time you tally hired labor, fuel, lodging, food, and the time off work, the two totals converge — and the carrier is the one holding the cargo liability.
Get three quotes. Always verify the carrier's USDOT number. Confirm whether the company is the actual carrier or a broker reselling the move.
How to make any option cheaper
- Move October–April (off-peak); avoid June, July, end-of-month
- Cut weight aggressively before pricing; interstate rates are weight-based, so this is the one lever that works on every option
- Pack everything yourself except fragile and high-value items
- Use credit card payment for chargeback protection
- Watch for accessorial fees: long carry, stair carry, shuttle, elevator delays
- Compare three licensed long-distance movers — never sign on the first call