U-Pack sits between renting a truck and hiring a carrier. They handle the driving; you handle the loading. A Plus Moving and Storage handles both. The right answer depends on how much of the physical work you want to own, and how firm you need the price and the dates to be.
How U-Pack works
U-Pack serves long-distance relocations, generally moves of at least 100 miles. They drop equipment at your home, you load it, and they drive it to your new address. You get three business days to load and three to unload; extra days carry a fee. You can use a ReloCube container, which holds about 308 cubic feet or roughly one room, or a trailer where you pay for the linear feet you actually use. In practice many U-Pack moves now use an ABF trailer rather than ReloCubes.
The linear-foot model is the genuinely clever part: you load, they measure, and you pay for the space you occupied rather than a fixed container price.
How A Plus works
A Plus is a federally licensed interstate household goods carrier under US DOT 3006268, moving to all 48 contiguous states. A crew packs and loads, we drive, and we unload. You get a binding written estimate before the move based on a video or in-home survey, so the number you agree to is the number you pay.
Cost comparison
Published 2026 figures put a single ReloCube around $1,200 to $2,000, with trailer space charged at roughly $200 to $250 per linear foot, and extra loading days at about $50 per day per cube or $250 per day for a trailer. Treat those as orientation; U-Pack quotes vary by lane and season.
For full-service, we publish real invoice data rather than estimates. Across 669 completed A Plus interstate moves, most fell between $2,000 and $19,300, and a three-bedroom home moving 1,000 to 1,500 miles ran $6,200 to $7,800. See the Moving Cost Index for ranges by distance band and home size.
The three-day loading window is the real variable
U-Pack pricing assumes you can load a house in three business days. For a one-bedroom with help, that is comfortable. For a four-bedroom with a garage, a workshop and stairs, it is the part of the plan most likely to fail, and every extra day costs money. Be honest with yourself about the inventory before you choose on price alone.
Where U-Pack wins
- Small to mid-size loads where paying only for the linear feet you use beats a fixed container price.
- Movers who want the driving handled but are happy to load.
- Moves over 100 miles with straightforward access at both ends.
- Budget-led moves with no specialty items.
Where a full-service carrier wins
- Larger homes where three days of self-loading is not realistic.
- Pianos, safes, pool tables, antiques, medical equipment and anything that needs crating.
- Anyone who needs a binding price and a scheduled delivery window rather than a variable one.
- Seniors, families and people relocating for work without help at either end. See how to choose a senior mover.
- Moves where one licensed carrier should be accountable for the whole shipment.
How to compare them fairly
Price both for the same inventory, then add loading labor to the U-Pack figure and be realistic about the three-day window. A ten-minute phone walkthrough is enough for us to issue a binding estimate. Before you commit to any mover, verify the carrier: our guide on how to spot a moving scam and verify a licensed mover takes about five minutes to work through.
Frequently asked questions
How does U-Pack pricing work?
You pay for the space you use. Trailer space is charged at roughly $200 to $250 per linear foot in published 2026 figures, and a single ReloCube is commonly quoted around $1,200 to $2,000. Extra loading days cost about $50 per day per cube or $250 per day for a trailer.
How long does U-Pack give you to load?
Three business days to load and three to unload. Additional days carry a fee, which is the part of the plan most likely to cost more than expected on a larger home.
How big is a U-Pack ReloCube?
About 308 cubic feet, or roughly the contents of one room. Many U-Pack moves now use an ABF trailer rather than ReloCubes.
Does U-Pack do the loading?
No. U-Pack handles the driving and you handle the packing and loading. A full-service carrier such as A Plus packs, loads, drives and unloads under one binding written estimate.