How to Load a PODS So Nothing Shifts

Load the heaviest things first, against the back wall. Build tight tiers from floor to ceiling. Spread the weight evenly side to side. And fill every gap, because empty space is what makes things slide.

So here's what happens a lot.

Someone orders a PODS. It shows up in the driveway, and it looks huge. Like, way bigger than all your stuff. So you start loading, and it goes great for an hour. Then you're standing there with a couch, six boxes and a lamp, and no room left.

The container wasn't too small. The load was too loose.

We load containers every week across Denver and Aurora. Here's exactly how we do it, so you can do it yourself, or know what to look for if you hire help.

1. Pick the right size before you start

PODS comes in 8, 12 and 16 foot containers. U-Box, U-Pack and the others have their own sizes. If you're between two sizes, go bigger. A little extra room costs less than a second container.

Also check your container company's weight limit. Every company has one, and it's different by size. Load to it, not past it.

2. Heavy and big goes in first

Start at the back wall, the one farthest from the door.

That's where the heaviest stuff goes. Washer. Dryer. Fridge. Dressers. The couch. Put them right against the wall.

Why the back? Because the container gets lifted and carried. Heavy items low and at the back stay put. Heavy items on top of a pile in the middle don't.

When Thi Kim D. in Aurora booked us, the load had a fridge, a washer and a dryer. Here's what she said after:

"They arrived timely and did great job packing the pod maximizing the space as much as possible. We had very heavy items like fridge, washer and dryer. They took careful care moving to not damage or scratch walls."

That's the goal. Heavy first, and nothing wasted.

3. Build in tiers, floor to ceiling

Think of the container in sections, like shelves on a bookcase. Each section, or tier, goes from the floor all the way to the ceiling before you start the next one.

Bottom of each tier: heavy boxes and furniture.

Middle: medium boxes.

Top: light boxes, pillows, lampshades.

Don't build one tall stack in the middle and leave the sides empty. That's the stack that falls over on the highway.

4. Keep the weight even, side to side

This one gets missed a lot.

If the left side has the washer, the dryer and the bookshelf, and the right side has pillows, the container rides crooked. Split the heavy stuff between both sides.

Simple test: stand at the door and look in. Does one side look a lot heavier? Fix it before you go further.

5. Fill every gap

Gaps are the enemy. Things move into empty space.

So use your soft stuff as filler. Couch cushions, bags of clothes, blankets, towels, rolled rugs. Push them into the holes between furniture and boxes.

Mattresses stand on their side, along a wall, in a cover. Tables go legs-off if you can take them apart. Bed frames too. It saves a lot of room.

6. Tie off each tier

If your container has tie-down points inside, use them. Run a strap across each finished tier so it can't lean back toward the door.

On a labor-only job, the blankets and straps stay with your load, so you'll need your own. (We can bring moving blankets for $15 each, or 6 for $60.)

7. Load the "first night" stuff last

The last thing in is the first thing out. So the last tier should be what you need the first night at the new place:

Beds and bedding.

A box of kitchen basics.

Phone chargers, medicine, the coffee maker.

You'll thank yourself at 10 PM.

8. Do a walk-through before you close the door

Look for anything leaning, anything loose on top, and any gap big enough for a box to fall into. Fix it. Then close and lock it.

How long does it take?

With boxes already packed and 2 helpers:

Studio: 1 to 2 hours

1 bedroom: 2 to 3 hours

2 bedroom: 3 to 4 hours

3 bedroom: 4 to 6 hours, usually with 3 helpers

On your own, plan for about double. Maybe triple if your friends showed up for the pizza.

When it's worth getting PODS loading help in Denver

Honestly, a lot of people can load a container themselves. If it's a studio and you have two strong friends, go for it.

It's worth booking help when:

You have a fridge, washer, dryer or anything over about 100 pounds.

The container is a 16 footer for a 3 bedroom or bigger.

There are stairs between the door and the driveway.

You have one day and a lot to fit.

Adam K. in Denver had us load a 16 foot container:

"Jose and his team were incredible loading all of our stuff in a 16foot pod. They were personable, determined and considerate. Highly recommend"

And when Keith M. in Aurora needed his unloaded at the new place:

"The two man crew arrived on time and were well prepared to unload our POD. They were respectful and asked where we wanted the items placed."

What it costs

Two moving helpers are $149 an hour, with a 2-hour minimum. After that, it's billed in 15-minute increments. Mileage is $1 per round-trip mile from our base in Aurora. Stairs are $20 per flight after the first.

So a 2 bedroom PODS load in Denver, about 3 to 4 hours, runs about $447 to $596, plus mileage.

The same goes for a rental truck. U-Haul loading help in Aurora, Penske, Budget, a trailer: we load them all the same way. Heavy first, tight tiers, even weight, no gaps.

The short version

The container is never really too small. The load is just too loose.

Heavy first. Tight tiers. Even weight. Fill the gaps. Strap it. First-night stuff last.

If you'd rather not spend your Saturday playing real-life Tetris with a dresser, request PODS loading help. You get the container. We'll fill it.