Quick Summary
- How it works: A portable storage company delivers a container to your property, and you load it on your own schedule. When you're done, the company leaves it in place or picks it up and takes it wherever it needs to go next.
- Delivery prep: Go Mini's needs about 6 inches of clearance on each side of the container, plus firm, level ground with nothing parked on it or hanging low overhead.
- Timeline: Go Mini's renters can keep a container as long as they need it and extend the rental through their local team.
Renting a portable storage container for the first time usually starts with a walk out to the driveway to figure out where it’ll fit. After that, the questions keep coming, like how much room the truck needs and how long you can keep the container once it’s there.
So how does portable storage work? You book a container, and a driver drops it off at your home or business so you can load it whenever it suits you. When you’re finished, the driver comes back for it and either takes it to a storage facility or delivers it to your new address. You can also keep it on your property for as long as your project runs.
Let's walk through the rental process step by step, then cover a few tips to plan for before you book.
How Renting a Portable Storage Container Works
Most providers follow a similar process. Here's what it looks like with Go Mini's.
- Pick a size and get a quote. Use our moving and storage calculator to estimate how much space you need and get an instant quote online, or call your local Go Mini's team for a recommendation.
- Schedule delivery. We bring the container on a roll-back truck and set it where you want it, which is usually a driveway or a flat spot in the yard.
- Load at your own pace. Since you aren't racing to return a rental truck, you can load everything in one afternoon or spread the work out over several weeks.
- Decide where it goes next. Keep the container on-site for easy access, or call us when you're ready for pickup. We'll store it at our secure facility or deliver it to your new address.
- Unload and send it back. After you've emptied the container, let your local team know, and we'll come pick it up.
Tips for Renting a Portable Storage Container
Here’s what to think through before your container arrives.
Choose the Right Size
Portable storage container sizes mostly differ by length. Every Go Mini’s container is 8 feet wide and 8 feet tall. A 12-foot container fits up to about 800 square feet of living space, which works for a studio apartment or a few rooms during a remodel, while a 16-foot container fits 800 to 1,200 square feet. For a full-home move, our 20-foot container fits the contents of a 1,200 to 1,600 square foot home.
Before you book, think through which rooms you're packing and which bulky pieces, like sofas and dressers, are coming along. Clearing out what you don't want first can bring you down a size and lower your monthly cost.
Our moving and storage calculator estimates the space you need based on your rooms and furniture. You can also compare dimensions online or call your local team.
Prep Your Delivery Spot
Pick the spot before delivery day and clear it out. Our containers take up a single parking space and need only 6 inches on each side, so we can place one just a few inches from the edge of your driveway or right next to a second container. Think about which way you want the doors to face, too. If you’ll be loading every weekend, pointing the doors toward your garage or front door saves you a lot of walking.
- Clearance: Leave about 6 inches on each side of the container and a straight, open path of roughly 60 feet for the delivery truck.
- Ground: Choose firm, level ground and move your cars off the spot before the driver arrives. If your driveway is steep, tell your local team when you book.
- Overhead: Look up for low branches or power lines that could get in the truck's way.
- Local guidelines: Ask your HOA or city if you need a permit and how long a container can stay in a driveway or on the street.
Decide Where the Container Will Stay
Keeping the container on your property makes sense when you need regular access, like during a remodel or while you're staging a home for sale. You can grab what you need without driving across town.
If you'd rather keep your driveway clear, we'll pick up the loaded container and store it at our secure facility. When you need it back, we'll deliver it to your current address or a new one. And if you need something while it's in storage, we can bring the container to you and pick it back up when you're done.
Plan for Business Use
Businesses rent portable storage containers for many of the same reasons homeowners do. Retailers use them to store overflow inventory before the holidays, and restaurants and offices keep furniture and equipment on-site during a remodel so they can stay open. Contractors use them as job site storage for tools and materials, while restoration crews use them to protect a client's belongings after water or fire damage.
If you're placing a container at your business, keep it clear of customer parking and loading areas. You can learn more about how Go Mini's works with businesses.
Plan for How Long You'll Need It
Renovations and moves often run longer than planned. Contractors fall behind schedule, and buyers and sellers push back closing dates. If your timeline changes, call your local Go Mini's team to extend your rental and move your pickup date. Keep any HOA or city time limits in mind if the container is sitting in your driveway or on the street.
Protect What's Inside
Open the doors on a few different storage containers and you’ll see they aren’t all built alike. Some have wood interiors that can splinter and pick up musty odors, while ours are lined with powder-coated steel that resists mold and mildew. If you’re comparing providers, see how Go Mini’s stacks up against PODS*.
For extra coverage, Go Mini's offers the optional MiniGuard Protection Plan for belongings stored in a locked container. MiniGuard has a $0 deductible, and you can choose a coverage limit of $2,500 or $5,000 per unit. It protects against events like fire, windstorm, burglary with signs of forced entry, and water damage. Ask your local team about adding it when you book.
Rent a Portable Storage Container with Go Mini's
Once you know the size you need and where the container will sit, booking is quick. Start with our moving and storage calculator, then get an instant quote from your local Go Mini's team. Our pricing is transparent, so you'll know what you're paying before you book, with no hidden fees. We'll drop off the container, and when you're ready, we'll take it wherever it needs to go next. We’d love to help you get your next move or project started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to rent a portable storage container or a storage unit?
A self-storage unit usually has lower monthly rent. In a portable storage vs self storage comparison, though, the portable container can cost less overall once renters factor in truck rental and the extra round of loading and unloading a storage unit requires. The provider delivers the container to the renter's door, so the renter only loads it once. Go Mini's compares the two options here.
Is a portable storage container cheaper than hiring movers?
In most cases, yes. With a portable container, renters handle the packing and loading themselves and pay for the container and transport instead of a crew's labor. moveBuddha notes that moving container costs generally come in below full-service movers. Go Mini's partners with local movers who can help with packing and loading, and its guide to moving solutions breaks down the costs of each option.
What are the downsides of a portable storage container?
A portable container needs a place to sit, so renters without a driveway may need street placement or a permit. Renters also do the loading themselves unless they hire help. Some HOAs and cities limit where a container can go and how long it can stay. Go Mini's containers are ventilated but not climate controlled, so temperature-sensitive items may need a climate-controlled option. To see how Go Mini's handles these tradeoffs, read how Go Mini's compares to PODS*.
How long can you keep a portable storage container?
Go Mini's renters can keep a container as long as they need it and extend the rental through their local team. Renters keeping the container in a driveway or on the street should check HOA or city limits on how long it can stay there.
How do pods work for moving?
"Pod" is a common nickname for a portable moving container. The provider drops off the container at the renter's current home, and the renter loads it. The provider then drives it to the new home, where the renter unloads it on their own schedule. If move-out and move-in dates don't line up, the provider can store the loaded container at a facility in between.
How much does it cost to rent a pod?
The cost to rent a pod depends mostly on the container size and how long the renter keeps it, and moving it to a new home adds transport to the price. Go Mini's local teams set prices based on their market and container availability, and renters can get an instant quote online with transparent pricing and no hidden fees.
*PODS® and the PODS® logo are the registered trademarks of PODS Enterprises, Inc. (PEI).
