In order to find the best moving companies around the country, our research team spent two months collecting data on nearly 20 movers, evaluating nationwide availability, featured services, price transparency, customer service accessibility, and many other factors. Check out our recommendations for local, long-distance, and international moves.
Best Moving Companies of 2022
Best Overall: Atlas Van Lines Best for Long-Distance Moving: North American Van Lines Best for Local Moves: Allied Van Lines Best for International Moves: Mayflower Best for Small-Load Moves: Bellhop Best for Packing and Moving: Colonial Van Lines Best Moving Pod Company: PODS Best Car Shipping Company: United Van Lines Best Moving and Storage Service: Wheaton World Wide Moving Best Online Quote System: U-Pack
To receive a moving cost estimate, prospective customers can call the company’s support line or fill out an online request form. Depending on the method you choose, you’ll receive either a binding or non-binding quote—the former means you won’t have to pay more than the initial amount given; the latter gives you a ballpark number that’s subject to change. One thing to keep in mind when booking is Atlas’s cancellation policy. If you cancel your move within three days of signing the contract, you won’t be charged, but canceling closer to your move date could lead to unwanted fees. These guidelines may be stricter than some local moving companies’, which often allow customers to cancel as late as 24 to 48 hours in advance without penalty. Ballpark estimates are created instantly when you fill out an online form (which takes less than two minutes), and the price you’re given includes packing and unpacking, loading and unloading, and the 24/7 digital tracking function. In order to receive a binding quote, you must complete an in-person or virtual home assessment that’ll take stock of your belongings. Throughout the process, North American offers three different types of pricing:
Bottom-line pricing: a guaranteed rate that’s calculated based on your in-home assessment.Not-to-exceed pricing: your move will not cost more than the number provided, and the bill will be decreased if your move ends up costing less.Customized pricing: combines a guaranteed price with any added service charges.
If you opt for one or more of North American’s additional services, such as appliance installation or furniture assembly, prepare to receive a customized rate from a customer service representative. Another benefit to Allied Van Lines is its Allied Express option, which lets customers rent portable storage containers for smaller moves rather than forcing them to pay for a huge truck they won’t fill. Unlike other moving container services, such as PODS or U-Pack, Allied Express offers full-service packing, loading, and unloading, so you don’t have to do any of the heavy lifting. This is a particularly popular choice for apartment dwellers. The company also provides in-transit storage if you can’t move into your new home right away. Even if you’re relocating down the street, Allied will safeguard your belongings for up to 90 days at one of its climate-controlled, heavily monitored facilities, taking some of the pressure off if your timeline doesn’t match up perfectly. Unpacking, storage, and debris removal can all be added to your moving plan, as can auto transport, which does not require a third-party carrier. Mayflower even has a different quote request form for car shipping so that you can break down the costs separately. Though your dedicated move manager will help keep you organized, Mayflower also offers an online portal that customers can use to stay up to date on everything. The desktop tool documents each stage of the moving process, allowing you to check off tasks as you go. You can also make payments, access important contact numbers, and edit entries on your to-do list. Full-service packing? Yes (in select markets only) Another aspect of the company we like is its flexible scheduling. Bellhop accepts bookings with just one day’s notice, though it’s recommended that you give the team at least three days to prep for your move. Unlike many of its competitors, Bellhop doesn’t require an in-home consultation, so it’s much easier to make last-minute arrangements. When you first request a quote, the company will suggest a moving plan for you based on the information you provide, but it also has a Build-Your-Own package, which allows you to tweak the number of movers, trucks, and hours you wish to reserve. With each Bellhop move, you have the option of hiring just a team of movers or movers plus a 16- or 26-foot truck. It’s important to note that Bellhop is only available in 27 states, and not every city offers each service—for instance, packing is an add-on in just five markets at the moment. You don’t have to purchase any moving supplies ahead of time—Colonial takes care of that—but if you decide to pack up your belongings yourself, you can order boxes and other materials through the company’s mobile app. The app also lets customers upload photos and videos of their items so that they can receive a more accurate quote for their move. The only thing missing is a tracking feature. While some moving companies charge by room or square footage, Colonial’s prices are based on weight. So if you’re planning to move a lot of heavy items, make sure to compare quotes from several providers to see if Colonial makes the most financial sense. Apart from the container itself, the company also provides transportation from point A to point B. When you’re ready to move your things, a driver will collect the unit, and you can decide whether to have it moved to your new home or stored at a PODS facility, where it will be kept indoors. Because you rent the container on a monthly basis, you can keep the unit at your home or at one of the company’s secure warehouses for as long as you want. For context, rentals start at $149 per month and delivery and pick-up fees typically average $75. In the event that you just need United’s car shipping services, you’ll still be assigned a customer support manager to handle the logistics. They’ll help you fill out the necessary paperwork, schedule and confirm pick-up and delivery dates, and walk you through the billing process. Customers have a choice between door-to-door or terminal-to-terminal delivery, and while the former is more convenient, the latter doesn’t require you to be there when the car gets dropped off. You can also store your vehicle at one of the terminals if you don’t need it right away. As for the actual transportation, United offers both open-sided and enclosed carriers. Enclosed is recommended for cars that are over 25 years old or cost more than $60,000. Even if you’re moving locally, the company is able to store some or all of your things for a short or long period of time. The movers will even add extra packing materials, such as shrink wrap, to protect your items from getting damaged while they’re in Wheaton’s care. When you’re ready for your belongings to be returned, Wheaton requires just 24 hours’ notice to deliver them to your doorstep. The company gives ballpark estimates for out-of-state moves through a form on its website, but in order to receive an accurate quote, you’ll need to schedule a virtual or in-person home walk-through with one of Wheaton’s representatives. Because U-Pack only provides the equipment used to transport your belongings, the bill will likely be significantly cheaper than if you were to hire a full-service mover. Customers can choose between a 28-foot trailer, which typically accommodates a three- to four-bedroom home, or a 6x7-foot ReloCube. What’s great about the trailer is that you only pay for the space you use, so transporting a heavy object that’s tall rather than wide won’t be as expensive as it would be with some other companies. If you’re interested in the ReloCube option but worried that you’ll need more space, U-Pack allows you to rent more than one at a time. However, unlike PODS, there is a limit for how long you can keep your trailer or cube. Customers are given just three business days to load up their container and another three days to unload their items at their new home.
How to Choose a Moving Company
When selecting a moving company, there are a number of important factors to consider, including services offered, price, and reputation. To start, narrow down your options by deciding what jobs you absolutely need the movers to perform. Eliminate any companies that don’t fulfill those requirements. Once you’ve settled on a list of services, request quotes from multiple providers to compare prices. Not all online estimates factor in additional service fees, so we highly recommend talking to a company representative in order to get as accurate a number as possible. No matter which way you’re leaning, double check the company’s status with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and read about other customers’ experiences on trustworthy review platforms like Angi and Yelp.
How Much Does a Moving Company Cost?
Moving company costs vary depending on how far you’re traveling, the weight or amount of items being moved, and whether you book any additional services, such as storage. On average, prepare to pay between $80 to $100 per hour for a local or intrastate move (under 100 miles) and between $2,000 and $5,000 total for an interstate move (over 100 miles). There are ways to save when hiring a moving company, like booking during the off season (October to March) or on a weekday. Moving containers that you load and unload yourself also tend to be a more affordable option, as are shared load companies that transport multiple customers’ belongings at one time.
Do You Tip Movers?
It’s common practice to tip movers, and, given all the heavy lifting they do, you shouldn’t skimp when it comes to gratuity. Whether you’re moving local or long-distance, it’s appropriate to tip between 15 and 20 percent of the total bill. That figure can then be divided by the number of movers on the project, so if you had a three-man crew assigned to a $3,000 job, each mover would receive $200 if you were to tip 20 percent. Don’t forget to tip in cash!
Can I Hire Movers Just to Load a Truck?
Definitely! This way, you can avoid paying for services you don’t need and won’t injure yourself lifting heavy boxes. Bellhop is one company that lets you hire just movers or movers and a truck. It doesn’t offer packing services in most locations, so it mainly tackles loading and unloading. You can request an estimate on Bellhop’s website.
Methodology
In order to compile a list of the best moving companies, our research team made dozens of customer service calls and enlisted the help of data collectors to fill in the blanks for more than 30 criteria points. These included nationwide availability, storage options, valuation coverage offerings, and customer support channels. Each criteria point was assigned a weight, then grouped into one of six categories:
Customer experience (23 percent) Coverage and types of moves offered (20 percent)Moving services (20 percent)Pricing/price transparency (20 percent)Insurance/protection (10 percent)Reputation (7 percent)
Scores were calculated based on these weights, and companies were ultimately given a rating out of five stars. To ensure that the information presented is accurate, two or more data collectors verified the research. This page will be updated with any changes to the highlighted companies’ offerings.
