Florida to Minnesota for $1,736: How Nora Made U-Box Work for a Move Everyone Said Would Be Expensive

Nora and her husband had moved to Florida years earlier, kept going back and forth about whether they liked it, and eventually made the decision that they did not. They were moving back to Minnesota, which their families had been gently suggesting for three years. They had a five-year-old, a dog, and a two-bedroom rental to clear out. The first quote they received for a full-service move was $4,500. The second was higher. Nora started researching containers the same afternoon.

She spent a week comparing three options. U-Pack quoted around $2,800 for a ReloCube with delivery timeline guarantees she liked. PODS quoted above that and got crossed off. U-Haul U-Box quoted $1,600, with a guaranteed delivery date that was acceptable to her even if the transit time was longer. The $1,200 difference between U-Box and U-Pack was meaningful. She booked U-Box and started the harder work of figuring out what they could actually fit.

The Decluttering Decision

Nora and her husband made a deliberate choice to give up several items before the move. Their couches were the first to go, sold on Marketplace for $280 combined. Their kitchen table followed, then their bed frame, which they were replacing anyway. What they kept was a full mattress, the full bed frame they were keeping, a large dresser, two oversized cube shelf units, two 65-inch televisions in original boxes, a mini trampoline, a freestanding punching bag, a hanging egg chair, framed artwork in picture boxes, and approximately 20 medium boxes and bins.

The question was whether that load fit in one U-Box. They went back and forth on it. U-Box containers measure 8 feet long by 5 feet wide by 7.5 feet tall — roughly the size of a small walk-in closet. At first glance, the list seemed like too much. But the televisions were in flat boxes, the shelf units broke down, and the egg chair nested inside one of the cube frames. It fit.

The couches and the kitchen table would not have. If they had kept both sofas, they would have needed a second container, which at the going rate would have added roughly $1,200 and nearly erased the cost difference with U-Pack.

U-Box Container Dimensions and Practical Fit

• Internal size: 8' L x 5' W x 7.5' H (roughly 300 cubic feet)
• Good for: studio or 1-bedroom full loads, or 2-bedroom loads after significant decluttering
• The container is wood with a waterproof covering (ask for metal if available)
• Maximum load capacity: approximately 2,000 lbs
• Tip: book more than you think you need, you pay only for what ships
• For loads exceeding one container by more than a box or two, U-Pack ReloCubes may offer better per-cubic-foot value

The Booking and Shipping Experience

Nora booked entirely online, which she described as easy and transparent. The reservation required no upfront payment. Insurance was optional and clearly explained: she paid $130 for $20,000 coverage, which she considered reasonable for a container full of items worth considerably more. U-Haul's U-Box page shows current pricing by route and includes the insurance options and delivery scheduling process, which makes it easy to compare against U-Pack before committing.

The container arrived on time with a two-hour delivery window. They packed it in a single afternoon, secured it with a circle lock, and threw an AirTag inside before closing it up. They updated the app indicating it was ready, and it was picked up the following morning.

From pickup in Florida to arrival at the U-Haul facility in Minnesota: eleven days. They received a call as soon as it arrived. They paid an additional $149 for a home delivery rather than picking it up themselves, which given the size of the load and the distance from the U-Haul facility was clearly the right call. Delivery was scheduled for the next day and arrived within the window.

Everything was undamaged. The container opened exactly as it had been packed.

Total cost including insurance, delivery fee, and all charges: $1,736.

The One Thing That Would Have Changed the Decision

After completing the move, Nora was clear about the scenario where U-Box would have been the wrong choice. If they had kept their couches, they would have needed two containers, and the cost advantage over U-Pack would have largely evaporated. U-Pack charges based on linear footage used in a trailer, which means you pay exactly for what you use on a per-foot basis rather than paying for full container increments.

For moves where the load sits clearly within one container, U-Box tends to win on price. For moves where the load sits ambiguously between containers, or for loads that clearly need two or more, U-Pack or a comparable freight service is worth the comparison.

The decluttering was not just about simplifying the move emotionally. It was the specific decision that made the economics work.

Figuring out what a new city will cost your family? Our cost of living calculator is a good place to start.