Best Long-Distance Moving Companies

How to Choose the Right Mover for You

Determine your budget and move type: First, figure out your moving budget and what moving method works within those numbers. For instance, you should consider a DIY move with a truck rental if you’re on a tight budget. However, if you have a flexible budget, consider full-service movers to make your move easier.
Obtain at least three moving quotes: Once you’ve decided on your move type and budget, obtain at least three moving quotes from movers (or full-service mover alternatives, such as moving container companies or truck rental companies). Make sure the moving companies are licensed and insured. Receive moving quotes from reputable movers.
Read reviews and ratings: Read reviews and ratings before hiring a company. Our moving company directory makes it easy to see a mover’s Better Business Bureau rating and customer reviews.
Select the best mover for you: Once you’ve compared various moving companies, choose the one that best suits your moving needs.

How to Choose the Right Mover for You

Expert Packing Tips for Long-Distance Moving

Find the right supplies: From cardboard moving boxes and packing tape to moving blankets and packing paper, there are many supplies you’ll need when packing for a long-distance move. Read our definitive list of moving supplies to consider for your next move.
Purge belongings: The more stuff you move, the more expensive the move. So, before you start packing, we recommend purging items you can live without in your next home. Whether it’s unused clothing, unnecessary furniture or perishable food, eliminate the stuff that 1) your movers aren’t allowed to move and 2) that you no longer need or want. Lightening the load will decrease your moving costs.
Start with non-essentials: Ready to begin packing? Start with the non-essentials. This includes picture frames, books, knick-knacks, pillows, blankets, exercise equipment, extra dishes — and anything else you won’t need in the month leading up to the move.
Label everything: Label all boxes with the corresponding room. Not only will this make it easy for movers to place boxes in the correct rooms, but it will also make it easier for you to unpack. Many people use color-coded labels purchased online to keep things simple.
Create an inventory list: It’s always a good idea to create an inventory list of all of your belongings before packing begins. You should also take photos to document the condition of items before they are moved. These two strategies will 1) make it easy to identify if something goes missing and 2) will help if you have to file a claim.
Pack heavy items in smaller boxes: Don’t overpack your boxes. Heavy items should be carefully packed inside small boxes — not large boxes. The last thing you want to do is fill up a large box with lots of heavy items. The box could break, and your belongings could get damaged.
Pack a moving day bag: Pack a moving day and/or night bag to include items you’ll need on moving day. A few examples of things you’ll need include pajamas, underwear, baby items, a toothbrush and toilet paper. Here’s what to pack inside a moving essentials bag.

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Factors That Influence the Cost of Long-Distance Moving

Moving method: How you move affects the price of your home. For instance, moving with a full-service moving company is much more expensive than moving yourself with a truck rental. Those looking for a happy medium between a full-service move and a DIY move should consider using a moving container. This hybrid moving method costs more than a truck rental but less than full-service movers.
The amount of stuff you’re moving: The cost of a long-distance move is based on the weight of your belongings. The more stuff you move, the heavier the load — and the heavier the load, the more expensive the move. If you’re looking to save money on your move, we recommend purging unnecessary belongings before getting a quote from a moving company.
Your origin and destination: Not only is moving distance an important cost factor, but the locations of your origin and destination are as well. The farther the move, the more expensive the move. In addition, moving to a remote area is often more costly than moving to a big city. Remote areas are harder to reach and may not have as many trucks, containers and storage facilities readily available. This could make your long-distance move more expensive.

FAQs About Long-Distance Moving Companies

What is the cheapest way to move long-distance?
The cheapest way to move is by using a truck rental to move yourself. DIY moves are typically much less expensive than full-service moving companies. For instance, an interstate move with a truck rental costs around $2,000, while a full-service moving company could cost around $5,000 for the same move. Of course, many people will tell you that the perks and benefits of using full-service movers is worth the extra expense. Hiring a long-distance moving company to handle your move is certainly the easiest, stress-free way to move to a new home.
What items should you not move long-distance?
Perishable food, plants and hazardous equipment should not be moved long-distance. Read our list of non-allowables when planning your long-distance move.
What is the difference between a binding and non-binding estimate?
When obtaining a moving quote from a long-distance mover, you’ll receive either a binding or non-binding estimate. A binding estimate means that the moving quote you receive is the guaranteed price for the move based on the estimated weight of your belongings. If your belongings end up weighing more or less than initially estimated, your binding quote and final costs won’t change. A non-binding estimate means that the actual weight of your belongings will determine the final cost. This means you could end up paying more or less than the original estimate. To avoid paying more than originally expected, we recommend sticking with a binding estimate.
Do I really need moving insurance?
All long-distance moves should come with basic released value protection. This protection only covers 60 cents per pound per item. This is the bare minimum and won’t give you comprehensive coverage for your items should they become lost or damaged while in transit. For more protection, we recommend paying up for more comprehensive coverage. Movers should offer you the option to purchase full value protection, which gives you considerably more protection. If you wish to purchase even more protection, you should consider getting moving insurance from a third-party company. It also doesn’t hurt to check your existing insurance policies to see whether household items are covered while being moved.
What other services can a professional mover offer?
Besides transportation, professional movers typically offer loading and unloading assistance, furniture disassembly and reassembly, storage-in-transit, and packing and unpacking services. Moving companies may also offer moving supplies for purchase, car shipping, boat shipping, crate services, short-term and long-term storage, debris removal, cleaning services and shuttle services.
How much does a long-distance moving company typically cost?
The average cost of a long-distance move is $4,890 (distance of 1,000 miles). These estimates are based on a two-to-three bedroom move of approximately 7,500 pounds.

Choosing Mover Methodology

Methodology

We conducted in-depth research, comparing multiple long-distance moving companies. We have found that these five moving companies have services and qualities that set them apart from the competition, including large fleet sizes, wide availability, solid reputations, accurate websites, a myriad of moving services and customer-friendly offerings. We are confident that any of these companies will be able to meet the needs of your next long-distance move.

Our seven best long-distance moving companies have been thoroughly vetted and researched by our moving experts. When assessing and comparing moving companies we looked at a number of key factors, including:

Services offered — We looked at the complete range of services offered by the company.
Availability — How many states is the moving company operating in?
Valuation coverage options — Does the company offer full value along with the released value? Is the full-value coverage customizable?
Price transparency — Are the prices for the services the company offers easily obtainable upon request?
Customer service — What is the average customer service experience with this provider? Are the customer reviews overwhelmingly positive?
Website accuracy — Does this company have an up-to-date website that’s easy to navigate? Does it provide the information you’ll need to decide whether you want to use their services? Can you schedule a move online?
BBB ratings and overall reputation — What’s the company’s standing with the Business Better Bureau (BBB)? Are there any alerts, pending lawsuits or red flags?
Moving quote process — How easy is it to get a quote? Is there an option to do it online? By calling? Both?
Costs — What is included in the estimate? What isn’t? Is financing available? Is a moving deposit required?
Types of estimates offered — Does the company offer binding estimates? Fixed rates?
Shipment tracking abilities — Does this moving company have GPS or online tracking options?
Fleet size — Does the company have a range of container sizes and trailers to offer?

Our top five long-distance moving companies feature services and qualities that make them stand out from the competition, including wide availability, solid reputations and a wide array of moving services and customer-friendly offerings.

Why Do You Need Long-Distance Moving Companies