A Chicago renovation often starts with a furniture problem. The dining table, sideboard and boxed-up pantry have to leave the work area, but some of it may be needed again before construction ends. A portable storage container can solve that, as long as it fits the property and the schedule.
This guide compares five portable storage services serving the Chicago area, based on each company’s published information. It’s desk research, not hands-on testing, so confirm details and pricing directly before booking.
Key Takeaways
- Our top pick is a local operator offering 12- and 16-foot containers and precise driveway placement.
- MI-BOX and Go Mini’s both offer on-site or facility storage, with different container sizes.
- New City Moving suits households that want professional help loading the container.
- U-Pack is built for long-distance moves, with storage at a service center rather than at home.
- Request written quotes covering the same dates, addresses and services so the estimates are comparable.
How We Picked These Services
We reviewed provider websites in October 2026, looking at five things:
- Chicago-area service evidence
- Container sizes and construction
- Whether storage happens on your property, at a facility, or both
- Loading responsibilities
- How pricing is quoted
We didn’t rent containers, inspect facilities or time deliveries. No provider published a current Chicago rate card that would support naming the cheapest option.
Before booking any service, confirm placement permission, driveway or alley access, and clearance for the container door and the delivery truck. Check building or municipal requirements for your address too, since placement rules vary.
| Service | Best fit | Storage arrangement | Container sizes | Pricing basis |
| UNITS | Renovations and flexible timelines | On property or company facility | 12 ft and 16 ft | Quote |
| MI-BOX | Local moves with temporary storage | On site or facility | Confirm locally | Quote |
| Go Mini’s | Larger loads | At home or Carol Stream storage center | 12, 16 and 20 ft | Quote |
| New City Moving | Professional loading help | Container with pickup and relocation | Confirm with provider | Quote |
| U-Pack | Long-distance moves | Service center only | ReloCube | Per container used |
1. UNITS
Best for: Renovations where furniture needs to stay nearby while work continues.
What it offers: UNITS Moving and Portable Storage Chicago is a locally owned operation serving suburbs from Naperville and Aurora to Evanston and Schaumburg.
- Sizes and capacity: It offers 12-foot (8′ x 8′ x 12′) and 16-foot (8′ x 8′ x 16′) containers, each holding up to 8,000 lbs.
- Construction: The company describes its containers as weather resistant, with corrugated roofs, coated non-slip floors, ground-level loading, lockable doors and an ETRACK securing system.
- Placement: Its ROBO-UNIT delivery system is designed to place containers precisely while being gentle on driveways.
- Off-site option: Its storage facility is accessible from Route 55 and Weber Road.
What to check: Confirm placement for your property and whether the container stays on site or moves to the facility. The company notes exact dimensions can vary by several inches.
Pricing: Personalized quote. A 3D calculator on the site helps estimate how many containers you need.
2. MI-BOX
Best for: A local move that needs temporary storage between addresses.
What it offers: MI-BOX began in the Chicago area in 2019 and is headquartered in Joliet. Containers can stay on site or go to a MI-BOX storage facility. Its patented Level Lift system is designed to keep containers level during delivery and pickup.
What to check: Available container sizes vary by location, so confirm which sizes the Chicago operation offers and ask for interior dimensions. Compare those with your longest furniture pieces.
Pricing: Request a quote covering rental, delivery, pickup and any redelivery to a second address.
3. Go Mini’s of Chicagoland
Best for: Larger loads, or households weighing at-home against off-site storage.
What it offers: Go Mini’s of Chicagoland is locally owned and offers 12-, 16- and 20-foot containers. You can keep a container at home or have it taken to the company’s secure storage center in Carol Stream. Its containers are steel, ventilated, raised eight inches off the ground and fitted with padded wheels to protect driveways.
What to check: A 20-foot container needs more driveway length, so measure the placement area first. Confirm delivery to your ZIP code and the terms for moving a container off site.
Pricing: Request a quote for the container size, storage location and rental period.
4. New City Moving
Best for: Households that want professional help loading a container.
What it offers: New City Moving provides portable storage in Chicago alongside its moving services. It can send its movers to load the container, offers a custom loading option for as much or as little help as you need, and can pick up the container and move it to a new location. Unpacking help is also available.
What to check: Confirm container dimensions, how long the container can stay on site, and which loading and unloading services are included versus priced separately.
Pricing: Request a written estimate that separates container rental, transport and labor.
5. U-Pack
Best for: A long-distance move with a gap before the new home is ready.
What it offers: U-Pack is a long-distance self-move service. You load ReloCube containers and U-Pack handles transport. ReloCubes are metal and weather resistant, and U-Pack doesn’t require a deposit.
What to check: U-Pack doesn’t support on-site storage on your property. Stored containers stay at a U-Pack service center, and items can’t be accessed until delivery is scheduled.
Pricing: Based on the number of ReloCubes used. Storage starts when the shipment reaches the service center and is billed every 30 days.
Plan the Storage Around the Project
Container storage works best when it matches the shape of the project. If you’ve decided to renovate rather than rebuild, the work usually moves room by room. That makes it worth mapping which belongings must leave each space and when they’ll be needed again.
Before requesting quotes:
- Inventory the furniture. List what leaves each room, and flag anything you’ll need during the project.
- Measure the placement area. Include driveway width, slope and overhead clearance for the delivery truck.
- Decide on location. Choose between on-site and facility storage based on how often you’ll need access.
- Ask about protection. Find out what coverage applies to stored belongings.
Conclusion
For a Chicago-area renovation where furniture needs to stay close by, a local operator with precise placement and an off-site facility option offers a lot of flexibility. MI-BOX and Go Mini’s are worth comparing for on-site or facility storage, New City Moving suits households that want loading help, and U-Pack fits long-distance moves with a storage gap.
Give each provider the same dates, addresses and access details, so the written quotes describe comparable work.
