Moving can be an expensive endeavor. We surveyed 1,000 consumers and found that 60% of them purchased a partial or full-service move from a professional moving company, and a majority of them paid between $1,000 to $4,000 for their move.
However, picking the right professional movers can help make the moving process stress-free and allow you to avoid frustrating, hidden expenses. In this guide, we’ll give you details about moving services, storage options, and insurance coverage to help you select the right company for your upcoming relocation. We’ll also guide you through what you need to know to avoid unnecessary costs.
The Best Cheap Moving Companies
International Van Lines
Fast Facts:
- Service Model: Full service
- Specialty Services: Yes
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit site
What We Like: Founded as an international logistics company in 2000, International Van Lines (IVL) continues to specialize in global relocation services. It also facilitates moves in 180 countries, which is more than any other provider on this list.
While many moving companies outsource international moves, IVL acts as the carrier and single point of contact for your international move, mitigating logistical and communication nightmares. This includes in-house assistance with full-service options like packing and loading, as well as ocean or air freight transportation.
For international ocean freight transportation, customers can choose either a full container load or consolidated load. A consolidated load helps reduce the overall cost, but your shipment may take longer to be delivered. The company also offers air freight transport for those who want to receive their belongings faster, though this may come at a higher price.
Though IVL specializes in international moves, it also provides domestic moving services for both local and interstate moves, including a variety of add-on services, such as vehicle transport, custom crating, junk removal, and short-term and long-term storage options.
Cost: IVL’s moving calculator tool provided us with a ballpark quote of $4,200 to $6,150 to move a three-bedroom home from Dallas to Phoenix in late April. That same move would cost between $6,000 and $8,700 for a four-bedroom home, and it would cost $7,200 to $11,250 for a five-bedroom home. IVL can provide a more precise binding estimate once you complete an online quote form and in-home or virtual survey with a customer service representative.
IVL requires a deposit of 25% of your total moving cost to lock in a moving date. This requires payment in the form of cash, credit card, check, or money order. The remaining balance can be paid with cash, cashier’s check, or money order on the day of your move.
State Availability: 50 states
American Van Lines
Fast Facts:
- Service Model: Full service
- Specialty Services: Yes
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit site
What We Like: American Van Lines (AVL) is a great option if you are looking to transport fine art, priceless antiques, or other high-value items. AVL focuses on hiring and retaining experienced moving crews that can expertly pack, load, and transport items that require special handling. The company claims its movers hold an average of 10 years of experience, and it hires them on a full-time basis rather than the standard moving industry practice of contractual labor.
AVL develops these movers’ skill sets by requiring them to complete ongoing, annual training at the company’s on-site training facilities. This training includes instruction on safely moving difficult items like musical instruments, recreational equipment, and one-of-a-kind artwork.
AVL offers both full-service and partial-service options, including packing, loading, transportation, unloading, and unpacking. It also features a selection of add-on services, such as storage services, electronics crating, and vehicle shipping. You can mix and match all of AVL’s services to create a customized package tailored to your moving needs.
Cost: American Van Lines works only with binding estimates for flat-rate, accurate pricing. In order to provide this pricing, AVL requires you to allow either an in-person or virtual survey of your home and inventory. However, the company’s online moving cost page estimates that moving a four-bedroom home (or 14,000 pounds) from Dallas to Phoenix would cost approximately $9,275.
AVL accepts cash, credit cards, and checks. It also offers price-matching, which allows you to avoid paying an unnecessarily high price. You will, however, be required to pay an up-front deposit, which may be as much as 50% of your total moving cost.
State Availability: 48 states (not available in Alaska or Hawaii)
JK Moving
Fast Facts:
- Service Model: Full service
- Specialty Services: Yes
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit site
What We Like: JK Moving is our top recommendation for a full-service moving company. Each JK Moving customer works with a personal moving coordinator to create a fully customized moving package based on their specific moving requirements.
Popular services include packing, loading, transportation, unloading, and unpacking. The company also provides specialized services for items such as artwork, antique furniture, pianos, and recreational equipment like Pelotons.
JK Moving offers additional peace of mind through its full-replacement coverage option. If you choose this insurance coverage plan, a moving coordinator will work with you to determine the approximate value of your inventory. JK Moving will reimburse you for the full value of any items that are broken, damaged, lost, or stolen during transport—instead of a flat rate that covers your shipment based on its weight.
You may also add or change your services, make payments, and check on the status of your shipment items while they’re in transit through JK Moving’s user-friendly smartphone app.
Cost: JK Moving requires an in-person or virtual walk-through to provide you with a binding estimate. During this process, a JK Moving representative will assess your household items and identify any potentially hard-to-move pieces, items that require custom crating, and difficult access points, such as a narrow hallway. Your binding estimate will include furniture disassembly, wrapping and padding, loading, and unloading for all household items, as well as the full-replacement valuation coverage plan.
JK Moving is the only company that offers financing on this list; while it is not a cheap moving company in terms of service, it does offer flexibility when it comes to payment. Through a partnership with Enhancify, you can receive rates as low as 0% same-as-cash.* According to the company’s website, it takes just 60 seconds to be matched with lenders and view your interest rate options. However, it’s vital that you carefully review your loan rates and terms to avoid overpaying for your move in the long run.
JK Moving accepts payment in the form of credit cards, cash, and checks. It also requires a $250 deposit to guarantee a moving date.
State Availability: 50 states (Local moves are available only in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.)
* Subject to credit eligibility
North American Van Lines
Fast Facts:
- Service Model: Full service
- Specialty Services: Yes
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit site
What We Like: North American Van Lines (NAVL) has more than 85 years of experience in the moving industry and features an extensive network of more than 500 local movers. This means that if NAVL can’t directly handle your move using its own moving trucks and labor, it arranges for a partner moving company to provide the services you purchase.
Your move will still be coordinated and backed by NAVL, which ensures you have access to all of the company’s full-service offerings, add-ons, and moving resources. A standout tool is the company’s simple mobile app that helps you conduct a virtual home survey, create a digital inventory, and store your important moving documents.
NAVL supplies specialty services, including the disconnection and reconnection of your major appliances, a unique option that allows you to save money on hiring a handyperson or electrician separately. Additional services include vehicle shipping for your car, truck, SUV, van, and/or boat, as well as short- and long-term storage and crating fragile, rare, expensive, and extremely large pieces for extra protection during transit.
Cost: North American Van Lines provided us with an instant online quote to move a three-bedroom home from Dallas to Phoenix for $6,435 to $7,110, which is a fairly low price given the high quality of service it provides. This ballpark quote includes packing, loading, transportation, unloading, and unpacking, as well as GPS tracking and basic carrier liability coverage at 60 cents per pound per item.
If your home is larger, NAVL will provide a binding estimate once you complete an in-person or virtual assessment of your home. During this process, you will need to identify any current household items you aren’t planning to take with you during relocation.
NAVL accepts cash, credit cards, and certified checks for payment. The company does not require up-front deposits.
State Availability: 50 states
Allied Van Lines
Fast Facts:
- Service Model: Full service
- Specialty Services: Yes
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit site
What We Like: Founded in 1928, Allied Van Lines is one of the oldest movers on this list. Similar to JK Moving, Allied provides a personal moving coordinator for added customer service.
In addition to standard full-service options such as packing, unpacking, loading, and unloading, Allied also offers a fragile-only packing service. The fragile-only packing option is useful for those who are able to do most of their own packing but require assistance with delicate, valuable items like antiques and heirlooms.
Allied also offers an inexpensive self-service option called Allied Express that uses portable storage containers to transport your items to your destination. This service also includes assistance from two to four of Allied’s movers for loading and unloading.
Cost: Allied Van Lines’ online moving calculator gave us a ballpark moving quote of $6,462 to $7,141 to move a three-bedroom home from Dallas to Phoenix in late March. This quote includes packing and unpacking services, as well as loading, transportation, unloading, GPS tracking, basic carrier liability coverage, and associated fuel and toll cost.
Allied Van Lines will not provide an online or phone estimate for homes larger than three bedrooms. To receive a binding estimate on your four-bedroom (or larger) home, you must schedule an in-person or virtual home survey on Allied’s website. A moving quote specialist will review the layout of your house and your inventory. They’ll also consider factors such as the overall distance, size/weight of your shipment, and date of your move to determine your total cost.
Allied accepts payment in the form of cash, credit cards, and certified checks. It also doesn’t require you to pay an up-front deposit.
1-800-PACK-RAT
Fast Facts:
- Service Model: Self service
- Specialty Services: No
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit site
What We Like: An excellent option for anyone with a smaller number of items, 1-800-PACK-RAT is our top pick for a self-service mover. PACK-RAT provides waterproof steel portable storage containers that it delivers directly to your home. You then load your items at your own pace within a 30-day rental period. Once loaded, PACK-RAT picks up the containers and delivers them to your new home.
Though it is a DIY service, 1-800-PACK-RAT provides plenty of support on its website. Online tools including how-to videos, a space calculator, checklists, location guides, and a weight calculator make the self-service process more approachable. If you’d prefer to be less hands-on with packing and loading, the company also offers third-party assistance with loading and unloading via HireAHelper.
Cost: One of 1-800-PACK-RAT’s 16-foot containers holds up to 6,000 pounds, which is about two or three rooms of furniture and items. A single container going from Dallas to Phoenix would cost $2,538 for drop-off and pick-up of the container at your current address, transportation to your new home, a security lock, and coverage of up to $10,000 on your items.
The contents of a four-bedroom home weigh around 14,000 pounds on average and won’t fit into a single container. However, you can easily add more containers to your PACK-RAT order if needed.
The PACK-RAT representative we spoke to during our quote process also mentioned that the company is willing to price match with competitors offering a similar service. You pay for PACK-RAT’s services via credit card on its online portal, My PackRat.
State Availability: 30 states (not available in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, or Wyoming)
uShip
Fast Facts:
- Service Model: Self service
- Specialty Services: No
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit site
What We Like: The online platform uShip directly connects customers with more than 800,000 shippers. Unlike traditional moving companies, uShip is a virtual marketplace where customers can post their requests to transport vehicles, appliances, or other large, one-off items and accept bids easily.
Here’s how it works: First, you create a profile on the uShip platform and post your shipping job online. Then, uShip recommends shippers with positive customer reviews who fulfill your criteria. Finally, you choose the shipper that best fits your budget and needs and accept its bid.
The company’s flagship service is its vehicle relocation option, which uses both open and enclosed carriers. Though open carriers will likely be less expensive, enclosed carriers provide protection from the elements and are an excellent option if you need to move a rare, classic, or high-value vehicle.
Cost: Through uShip’s website, we obtained a free moving quote of $723 to ship a 2020 Maserati Ghibli from Dallas to Phoenix via enclosed carrier in late February.
The company coordinates the payment of third-party providers; therefore, your total price will include both your accepted bid amount (a binding price) and uShip’s service fee. uShip accepts all major credit cards for payment.
State Availability: 50 states
Our Recommendation
Overall, you will find that the most affordable moving option will be self-service providers like 1-800-PACK-RAT and uShip—so long as you are willing to handle a large portion of the work yourself or are looking to move just a few specialty items.
If you’re looking for an all-inclusive moving experience, we recommend International Van Lines.
Though all of these providers are top choices for affordable movers, we encourage you to request quotes from at least three movers to get a better idea of the services you will receive for the cost.
How to Pick a Cost-Effective Moving Company
Selecting a moving provider with competitive pricing starts with taking a complete and honest inventory of your belongings. You will need this list for full-service companies such as JK Moving and North American Van Lines, who will use it in the process of providing binding estimates.
Out of 1,000 consumers we surveyed, we found that the second most common surprise cost was the additional charge for large and difficult items. You should note in advance whether you need specialty services, such as electronics crating or vehicle shipping. Most moving companies will charge a hefty premium for tacking on these services at the last minute, which may feel like a hidden fee. Providing this information up front will help you accurately compare the quotes from each full-service mover.
Should you decide that your move is small enough to handle on your own, a moving container company like 1-800-PACK-RAT has online tools to help you determine container sizes and how many moving containers you need to transport your items.
What Factors Influence Your Move’s Cost?
The following factors may influence the overall cost of your move:
- Distance of your move
- Mileage
- Gas
- Size of your move (measured in total weight of items)
- Size of your moving crew
- The hours worked by the moving crew and their hourly rate
- Time of year you are moving
- Special handling of large and/or fragile items
- Your home’s layout and any difficult access points (narrow hallways, steep staircases, etc.)
- Any applicable toll and fuel charges, especially for cross-country moves
How Can I Save Money on a Move?
It’s possible to save money on a move by packing your own car or picking up a moving truck rental, but this can be a bigger hassle than you may be willing to endure. Luckily, there are a few ways you can cut the cost of your move with a professional moving company:
- Moving is an excellent time to downsize. Recycle, donate, or sell unwanted items to reduce the weight of your belongings and the time it takes to move, thus cutting down on hourly or weight-based moving costs.
- Plan your move outside of peak months. Rates for moves in the late spring and summer are often higher due to a high demand. If you can move in the off-season, between October and April, you’ll often be charged a lower price.
- Try a self-service option. 1-800-PACK-RAT and uShip are examples of providers that offer lower costs for individuals who want to DIY their moving process.
- Check if the moving company offers a price-matching policy. If they do, obtaining quotes from multiple providers gives you a competitive edge in negotiating moving costs.
How We Chose the Top Moving Companies
We researched and analyzed dozens of full- and self-service moving companies and formulated a rating system based on a number of factors, including package options, pricing, and reputation. We also identified customer pain points based on customer-review analysis, proprietary consumer surveys, and interviews with former and current moving professionals.
Speaking directly to a representative at each company, we determined the number of package options available, the coverage provided, the types of moves available (long-distance, local, and international), and any extra perks offered, such as mobile apps, moving checklists, and 24/7 customer service.
We also gathered pricing data from each of the companies and determined whether they provide ballpark moving estimates or binding quotes. To determine reputation, we evaluated companies based on their rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) as well as their overall score on Yelp.