The Best Moving Companies of 2024

Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about The Best Moving Companies of 2024 and hope the blog can help you.

Learn everything you need to know about choosing one of the best moving companies to safely transport your belongings.

Moving to a new home can be stressful. No matter the move distance, there’s a fair amount of stress and hassle that comes with packing up, hauling, and unpacking belongings. And while many people have great friends and family members who can help with local moves (if they’re comfortable asking), moving can be easier with the help of one of the best moving companies. It’s helpful for someone who is moving to a new home to let professional movers take on the big job of transporting items using their labor, equipment, and trucks. Or, if a homeowner prefers to DIY the move, they can still use the assistance of trucks and containers built to sustain a move.

Choosing the best moving company can feel daunting for customers since they’re often entrusting their money—and valuables—to strangers. But there are plenty of ways for customers to ensure they choose the right company at the right price. The distance of the move will be a key factor in choosing a moving company, since a 50- to 100-mile move is typically considered local, though customers may need to call and ask about each company’s specific policy if it’s not explicitly stated on the website. Transporting goods across state lines, even within the local radius, might require a different company that is licensed to haul goods to different states. Beyond that, customers will want to consider factors like specialty items, timing, deposits, insurance, and more. The best moving companies are equipped to handle all types of moves and have great customer service and realistic pricing.

1. BEST OVERALL: United Van Lines
2. RUNNER-UP: International Van Lines
3. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: American Van Lines
4. BEST MOVING PACKAGES: Mayflower Transit
5. BEST MOVING CONTAINER: PODS
6. BEST MOVING TRUCK RENTAL: U-Haul
7. ALSO CONSIDER: U-Pack

What to Consider When Choosing One of the Best Moving Companies

Moving a household is a complex process. As customers narrow down the specifics that apply to their situation, they can quickly identify a residential moving company for them. Whether a customer is looking for a local moving company or an out-of-state moving company, the following considerations will help them choose the best moving company for their needs. Most of these factors are applicable to full-service moving companies, but some are still pertinent to self-service moving options.

Service Area

National moving companies can often help customers move from any part of the country to another, but movers can have gaps in their service area. It’s worth checking out a moving company’s service area up front, particularly for those who are planning to move across the country. Local movers will have a much more limited service area, but they may also be familiar with logistical concerns that are specific to particular areas—getting permission to reserve parking in front of a building located in the heart of a busy city, for instance. In those scenarios, local movers may be the best moving companies for small moves, given their knowledge of the area and the hurdles that customers will need to go through to set up a move. Customers looking to move abroad will want to keep in mind that not all companies offer moving services to destinations outside of the country, and even those that do may only help customers move to select international locations.

Local, Interstate, or International Moves

Moving within a 50- to 100-mile radius typically only requires the help of a local mover. Depending on the area, local companies might be able to move the customer fairly quickly, which is helpful if the move was unexpected or the customer’s original plan for help fell through. Those moving to a new state will need to find one of the best interstate moving companies. Federal regulations require that companies transporting goods across state lines be licensed to do so. Since local companies might not specialize in this kind of transport, customers moving to a new state may need to find a larger company that offers national moving services. Customers who are moving their own belongings won’t need to worry about obtaining such a license.

International moves are a much more complex process that involves extensive paperwork, brokerage or port fees, customs fees, and scheduling shipping or air freight. Moving goods internationally can take weeks to months due to scheduling and transit times. An international moving company is the best option since this is a special kind of move that requires the right licenses and connections to the most reputable companies.

Pricing Transparency

Pricing a move isn’t a cut-and-dried process. Moving the contents of a 1-bedroom apartment is much easier and less costly than moving the contents of a 4-bedroom house. The size, weight, quantity, and type of items the customer has will influence the total cost. However, there should be transparency about the pricing once the customer has discussed what they’re planning to move and where. Any extras like auto transport or navigating stairs should have a fixed price that’s discussed ahead of time. While it’s not impossible for a fee to be added at the time of the move, it should be clear and fair. For instance, if the customer forgets to mention there is no elevator at their 3-story apartment complex, they’ll likely be charged a fee for the extra labor to use the stairs when the movers arrive.

Also, it’s best for customers to avoid going with the rate that is much cheaper than everyone else’s rates. That’s a red flag that the company could be running a scam to move the customer’s goods to a storage unit and charge them again to remove the items. Obtaining multiple quotes and going with the most reputable company is a customer’s safest bet to avoid being scammed.

License and Insurance

Customers will want to always book with a company that can show their license and insurance papers. Every full-service moving company should carry basic liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. Without these, the customer will have no legal recourse should the worst happen. Beyond basic liability insurance, it’s also helpful if a moving company offers the customer full-service insurance to insure their valuables at a higher rate if they own expensive items. If the company doesn’t offer this, the customer can always ask their own insurance company about moving insurance.

Interstate movers must be registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation. Customers can search their DOT number in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration database. The American Trucking Association also has a comprehensive list of the best long-distance moving companies customers can review.

Auto Transportation

Many homeowners have more than one car, but they don’t always have a driver for every car. In this case, the customer will want to look for a moving company that can do auto transportation. Many of the bigger moving companies offer household moving and auto transportation, or the customer can search for a company that specializes in moving cars. If the car is exotic or antique, customers will want to ask about covered transport to keep it protected from the elements during the move.

Specialty Item Moving

Customers who own a piano, an antique grandfather clock, or other unusual, valuable, oversize, or delicate items will require specialty moving. If the customer is using a local moving company, they won’t want to just assume the company knows how to lift a piano into a moving truck. It’s not just about the weight; it’s about keeping the piano steady to avoid irreparably damaging the instrument. Using a piano moving company for any piano move is a critical option to prevent catastrophe.

For other items that are large, odd sizes (such as oversize flat-screen TVs) or have intrinsic value, customers will also want to make sure the movers are capable of properly packing the items and securing them in a way that they will not be damaged during transport. Other examples to consider are things like jet skis, hot tubs, or safes. All specialty items typically cost more to move since they require more packing material, equipment, care, or space, increasing the potential packers and movers cost.

Cancellation Policy

Customers will want to ask each company for their cancellation policy when they call for a customized quote or book online. It’s a good idea for the customer to know how close to the expected move date they can cancel if necessary, and how much money they’ll get back on their deposit. Unexpected things happen, so it’s best for customers to be aware of their policy and choose the company that offers a lot of flexibility if possible. Customers will also need to ask about the company’s side of the cancellation policy. Professional moving companies likely have a clause about the circumstances under which customers can cancel or change a move (it’s rare but can happen).

Deposit

Moving company deposits have a tendency to feel like the precursor to a scam—and for good reason. Deposits are one way that disreputable companies have been known to swindle people, but even reputable companies often require deposits. It’s not illegal, nor should it prevent a customer from hiring a moving company. A small deposit is basically held to secure the moving dates, as the company schedules its movers and trucks around each move. If the customer backs out of the move, a portion of that deposit offsets the company’s lost earnings on the canceled move.

The key to knowing whether a deposit is a red flag or not is the deposit amount. Good moving companies limit the required deposit to a relatively small amount—and in some cases, the best-rated moving companies won’t require a deposit at all. If a homeowner has a multi-thousand-dollar move coming up, their deposit should be around 20 percent. Large deposits or full deposits are a red flag.

Reviews and Complaints

Moving company reviews and complaints are a customer’s most valuable research tool when researching the best moving companies. Great reviews will share details about up-front pricing, ease of booking, safe handling of valuables, great customer service, etc. Some reviews for moving companies will complain about lost deposits, making it sound like the money was stolen, but it’s possible those customers were simply unhappy that they missed the cancellation window. While there are plenty of negative reviews for just about everything (that should be taken with a grain of salt), a company with a repeated history of unethical business practices should be avoided at all costs.

Customers will want to look at reviews on more than one website to get a well-rounded picture of the company—good and bad. No company is perfect, but many try their best. If the customer knows someone who recently used a moving company, they can also ask them about their experience. References are a great way to find a reliable moving company. It’s also wise to look up whether a company has had any official complaints lodged through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

At-a-Glance Comparison

	Service Area	Type of Move	Customer Support	Auto Transport	Free Cancellation	Deposit Required
United Van Lines	50 states and Washington, D.C., international	Local, long-distance, international	Phone, email, live chat	Yes	Yes	No
International Van Lines	50 states and Washington, D.C., international	Local, long-distance, international	Phone, email, live chat	Yes	Up to 48 hours before the move	25 percent of quoted price
American Van Lines	48 states and Washington, D.C., international	Local, long-distance	Phone, email	Unknown	Up to 7 days before the move	10 to 50 percent of quoted price
Mayflower Transit	50 states and Washington, D.C. (local agents available in 45 states), international	Local, long-distance, international	Phone, email, live chat	Yes	Up to 24 hours before the move	No
PODS	46 states and Washington, D.C., international	Local, long-distance, international to United Kingdom and Australia	Phone, email	Through third party	By 4 p.m. local time up to 3 days before container drop-off	Varies by service
U-Haul	50 states, international	Local, long-distance, international	Phone, email, live chat	Vehicle towing equipment available	Up to 24 hours before reservation	None for credit card payments
U-Pack	50 states and Washington, D.C., Canada	Long-distance only	Phone, email, Facebook Messenger	No	Up to 7 days before the move	No

Our Top Picks

A customer’s decision on which company to choose for tackling a move can be daunting. Choosing the right company builds the customer’s confidence and ensures a smooth transaction. These are our recommended moving companies that can serve customers across the country.

Best Overall

United Van Lines

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Why It Made the Cut: United Van Lines has a nationwide presence and can handle any moving distance—plus, the convenient online portal allows customers to access details about their move and contract at any time for additional peace of mind.

United Van Lines boasts 500 locations in all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., making it an option for customers regardless of their location. The company offers local, long-distance, and international moves, as well as free cancellation as long as no services have been provided. Customers may find it challenging to get in touch with customer support, and the quote process requires a physical visit from an estimator, which may be off-putting for some customers. However, the company offers convenient appointment booking, tracking, and management via the MyUnited online portal, making it easier for customers to stay informed about the progress of their move without needing to directly contact a company representative.

Customers with specialty or fragile items to move will appreciate the custom crating option provided by United Van Lines. Custom crating helps protect these fragile items from breaking during the move, giving customers peace of mind that their belongings are safe. Finally, United Van Lines offers discounts for small moving jobs involving studio apartments or tiny houses, which can help customers save money on their move.

• Learn more with our United Van Lines review.

Specs 

• Service area: 50 states and Washington, D.C., international
• Type of move: Local, long-distance, international
• Customer support: Phone, email, live chat
• Auto transport: Yes
• Free cancellation: Yes
• Deposit required: No

Pros

• Nationwide availability with 500 locations in 50 states and Washington, D.C.
• Custom crating available for specialty and fragile items
• Free cancellation as long as no services have been provided
• Discounts for small long-distance moving jobs for studio apartments or tiny homes
• Convenient appointment booking, tracking, and management via MyUnited online portal

Cons

• Somewhat challenging customer service experience

Runner-Up

International Van Lines

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Why It Made the Cut: International Van Lines boasts a generous cancellation policy and impressive discounts for customers with flexible moving dates—and the company provides moving services to more than 140 destinations around the world.

International Van Lines has branches across the country, as well as some locations overseas. Customers moving internationally will appreciate the fact that International Van Lines can facilitate moves to more than 140 destinations across the globe, making the company a solid choice for those moving out of the country. Customers may find that the online inventory system is a little difficult to navigate; the system requires users to scroll through a long list of items to find the specific items they want to include in their move, which can be cumbersome. However, the system has several unusual items listed, such as surfboards, so it’s almost guaranteed that customers will find their items listed in the inventory system.

International Van Lines offers moving discounts of 10 percent to 15 percent for customers who have flexible dates, which can help lower the cost of moving for those who aren’t tied to a specific moving date. The company requires customers to put down a 25 percent deposit to reserve their moving date, which can be a significant up-front payment. However, that requirement is balanced out by International Van Lines’ relatively flexible cancellation policy. Customers who cancel 48 hours or more before their scheduled move will have their deposit fully refunded. International Van Lines also makes it easy for customers to estimate their moving costs, thanks to the online resources that break down the various fees and pricing factors that can affect the cost of a move. In all, International Van Lines is a good choice for a wide variety of moving customers.

Specs 

• Service area: 50 states and Washington, D.C., international
• Type of move: Local, long-distance, international
• Customer support: Phone, email, live chat
• Auto transport: Yes
• Free cancellation: Up to 48 hours before the move
• Deposit required: 25 percent of quoted price

Pros

• Services available in over 140 foreign destinations
• Pricing and fee breakdown readily available
• Discounts available for customers with flexible moving dates 

Cons

• Somewhat user-unfriendly online inventory system
• Somewhat large 25 percent deposit required at booking

Best Bang for the Buck

American Van Lines

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Why It Made the Cut: American Van Lines is considered one of the best cheap moving services thanks to its flat-rate service fees and discounts for customers moving between major U.S. cities.

American Van Lines provides local and long-distance moving services for customers in the lower 48 states and Washington, D.C. As an added benefit, the company offers discounted prices for customers who are moving between major cities and opt to use weekly shuttles that move multiple customers at one time. This can be especially beneficial for those on a tight budget for their move. In order to offer such transparent pricing, American Van Lines has a relatively strict cancellation policy that’s limited to 7 days or more before a move. Customers who need to cancel their move at the last minute may end up losing their deposit (which can be as much as 50 percent of the total move cost). However, American Van Lines makes it easy for customers to estimate their moving costs thanks to the company’s flat-rate pricing system, which also helps them save on the cost of additional services such as furniture disassembly and reassembly. Therefore, customers who are certain their move date will not change can see substantial savings by going with American Van Lines.

In addition to budget-friendly pricing, American Van Lines has several sustainability initiatives designed to reduce the environmental impact of moving. These include the use of fuel-efficient vehicles, the establishment of recycling initiatives, and contributions to environmental nonprofits. These initiatives can help eco-conscious customers feel better about the impact of their move on the environment.

Specs 

• Service area: 48 states and Washington, D.C.
• Type of move: Local, long-distance
• Customer support: Phone, email
• Auto transport: Unknown
• Free cancellation: Up to 7 days before the move
• Deposit required: Up to 50 percent of quoted price

Pros

• Discounted prices for moves between major cities
• Fixed-rate pricing system for all services
• Sustainability initiatives that aim to reduce the environmental impact of moving

Cons

• Large deposit of up to 50 percent required
• Cancellation limited to 7 days before the move

Best Moving Packages

Mayflower Transit

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