From packing to disassembling furniture and from planning your moving route to carefully wrapping or crating fragile items, moving is a ton of work. An easy way to make your move easier and take a few tough tasks off of your plate is by working with a professional moving company offering labor services. Full-service moving companies often provide hourly labor services, which can be a key convenience throughout the process of a local move.
No matter where you live, you’ll have plenty of options when it comes to local moving labor services – and the company that you choose will play a major role in your move. After reviewing dozens of professional moving companies, we’ve rounded up a few of the best companies for hourly labor services. Read on to learn more about some of the best moving labor services and get your free quote from each provider.
The 6 Best Moving Labor Services
Our top recommended moving labor services for 2023:
- Best Full-Service Mover: International Van Lines
- Most Transparent Pricing: American Van Lines
- Most Moving Partners: Moving APT
- Most Customizable Moving Experience: JK Moving
- Most Vehicle Shipping Options: Allied Van Lines
- Best Pricing Options: North American Van Lines
Compare The Best Moving Labor Services
| Company | Website | Our Take | Our Rating | BBB Rating | Cost |
| International Van Lines | Click here | Best Full-Service Mover | 9.8 | B | $600 to $4,900 |
| American Van Lines | Click here | Most Transparent Pricing | 9.7 | N/A | $500 to $5,300 |
| Moving APT | Click here | Most Moving Partners | 9.6 | B | $2,500 to $4,800 |
| JK Moving Services | Click here | Most Customizable Moving Experience | 9.5 | A+ | $2,500 to $5,500 |
| Allied Van Lines | Click here | Most Vehicle Shipping Options | 9.4 | A+ | $750 to $4,500 |
| North American Van Lines | Click here | Best Pricing Options | 9.2 | A+ | $750 to $4,500 |
International Van Lines
Why We Recommend International Van Lines
International Van Lines (IVL) is one of the best-known moving companies out there. They have won Forbes’ Best Moving Company Award for several years running; this is due to their attention to detail and their ability to provide essentially any moving service you and your family may need. IVL has moving plans ranging from full-service moves to simply transporting your goods with their own vehicles and moving teams. However, if it’s moving labor you’re after, they can handle packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking with their full-service package so that you don’t have to do any of the heavy lifting that traditionally comes with changing spaces.
International Van Lines will give you a free quote online. To get the most accurate quote, you can schedule an in-person walkthrough of your home with an IVL moving coordinator or you can use their MoveOne software to do a virtual walkthrough, all through your cell phone. Besides packing services, IVL also offers specialty item packing and bulky item moving. These two categories include things like antiques, art, pianos, pool tables, and hot tubs.
Pros & Cons of International Van Lines
Pros
- Online quoting process far more accurate than similar quoting processes of competitors
- Newsweek’s Best Customer Service Award for 2022
- Offers short-term storage with most moving plans
- Twenty years of experience within the moving industry
Cons
- Customers have reported inconsistent quotes
- 25% deposit required before you can schedule your move date
Services Offered
IVL is a full-service moving company, which means that it has staff on-hand to tackle many unique parts of the moving process. Some of the most commonly requested services from IVL include the following.
- Packing and unpacking services
- Loading and unloading services
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly
- Crating
- Specialized packing services for fragile items
- Storage solutions for both short-term and long-term periods
- Packing supplies
- Auto transportation services
- Military moving services
- Commercial moving services
How Much Does International Van Lines Cost?
Like most moving companies, IVL uses two primary factors to determine how much you’ll pay for your moving services.
- The distance you’re traveling: The further away from your current property you’re moving, the less you’ll pay per mile. However, because you’re traveling further, a longer move will cost more than a local move.
- The size of your home: If you’re scheduling hourly labor services and you’re moving a larger property, you can expect your movers to need more time packing, loading, and transporting your things. This increases the price of your move.
We’ve collected pricing data from previous International Van Lines customers to help you get a better idea of what you might pay for your moving services. Learn more about IVL’s rates and get your free quote below.
| <250 miles | 500 miles | 1,000 miles | 2,000 miles | |
| Two-bedroom home | $1,400 to $4,400 | $1,900 to $4,900 | $2,100 to $5,100 | $2,400 to $5,400 |
| Four-bedroom home | $3,200 to $6,200 | $5,100 to $8,100 | $5,700 to $8,700 | $6,200 to $9,200 |
State Availability: All 50 states
Get a quote from IVL here.
American Van Lines
Why We Recommend American Van Lines
American Van Lines is a full-service moving company that works in the contiguous United States. It has been in business since the sixties, and American Van Lines proudly works with its customers to create moving plans checking all the boxes that they need, whether that means only furniture loading, fragile-only packing, or more. American Van Lines service providers are all background-checked and regularly drug-tested, and they are handpicked because of their packing certifications and training.
American Van Lines facilitates last-minute moves at no extra charge, and they offer binding estimates for their moving plans with flat-rate pricing. This flat-rate pricing is to the customer’s advantage not only because you’ll know exactly what you’re paying, but also because AVL will want to complete your move as quickly and efficiently as possible so they can continue to serve more customers. If you do happen to find more advantageous pricing with a competitor, you can take advantage of the company’s price matching policy.
Pros & Cons of American Van Lines
Pros
- Green corporate offices and fuel-efficient vehicles, with goals of becoming more and more energy-efficient
- Price-matching guarantee
- Movers have an average of ten years of moving experience
- Free storage unit for 30 days
Cons
- No instant quotes available online
- No services to and from Hawaii and Alaska
Services Offered
American Van Lines is another strong option for full-service moving processes. You can currently book the following services through the company when you book your move.
- Packing and unpacking services
- Storage unit arrangement
- Specialty packing services for items like pianos and antiques
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly
- Crating for large items (like pianos)
- Moving supplies
- Office and corporate moving services
- Military moves
How Much Does American Van Lines Cost?
We’ve collected previous pricing data to help you get a better idea of what you might pay when you move with American Van Lines. Browse pricing information using the table below.
| <250 miles | 500 miles | 1,000 miles | 2,000 miles | |
| Two-bedroom home | $1,700 to $4,700 | $2,300 to $5,300 | $2,600 to $5,600 | $4,200 to $7,200 |
| Four-bedroom home | $4,800 to $7,800 | $5,600 to $8,600 | $7,400 to $10,400 | $10,800 to $13,800 |
State Availability: 48 States
Get a quote from American Van Lines here.
Moving APT
Why We Recommend Moving APT
No matter what your moving labor needs entail, you can find someone to hire with Moving APT, or rather, Moving APT can find them. If you need to hire moving help just to load things onto your rental truck, or if you need hourly labor to help you pack, Moving APT can search its network of local movers in your area to match you with the perfect moving helpers for your needs. They offer binding estimates and are very picky when it comes to choosing which movers they work with.
The team at Moving APT have facilitated over half a million moves over the past twenty years, and they have an extensive partner network of 2,500 companies all over the country. Moving APT specializes in matching its clients with cross-country moving companies, so if you’re moving from San Francisco to Buffalo, Chicago to Miami, even Baltimore to Anchorage, they can find you the right movers for your budget. This is a win-win situation for you and the moving company you’re partnered with, as Moving APT will even negotiate advantageous pricing for you on your behalf.
Pros & Cons of Moving APT
Pros
- Status as moving broker allows them to find the best deals for you
- Price-matching guarantee
- Discounts for short-distance moves and senior moves
- Offers binding estimates that lock in your rate
Cons
- As a broker, they contract services out to different companies—service quality may not be consistent
Services Offered
Moving APT is not a moving company itself, which means that it doesn’t offer the services that it books on your behalf. Some of the most popular services that Moving APT books for its clients include the following.
- Commercial and residential moving
- Piano moving
- Auto shipping
- Packing services
- Packing supplies (included for some moves)
- Appliance connection services
- Limited furniture disassembly and reassembly
Keep in mind that the specific services you’ll have access to may vary depending on the local team that you’re matched with. Don’t be afraid to ask about additional services if you need something that you don’t see on the list above. With more than 2,500 partnered carriers, chances are that Moving APT can help you find any service you can think of.
How Much Does Moving APT Cost?
Moving APT offers price matching services, which can make it more difficult to estimate what you’ll pay for your move before you get your free quote. As a general statement on pricing, a recent 1,000-mile move for a four-bedroom home was quoted at a price of $7,800 from Moving APT. However, you can’t be sure what you’ll pay for your labor services until you click the link below and get your free quote.
State Availability: All 50 States
Get a quote from Moving APT here.
JK Moving Services
Why We Recommend JK Moving Services
Each year, JK Moving Services trains over 1,000 employees, newly hired and experienced so that they can stay on top of developments in the moving industry to better fit your needs. JK Moving Services is a full-service moving company known for offering the most customizable moving plans and packages in the industry. Although they can be pricier than some competitors, according to customer reviews, you get what you pay for. Customer service is readily available to answer your questions and address your concerns, and you’ll even be paired with your own personal moving coordinator to help you fully plan your move.
If you need to move within a specific time frame, JK will work with you to make sure you make it into your new home on schedule. If you need to hire movers for specialty items like sheds, vehicles, antique furniture, or other items, JK has got you covered. Packing, loading, driving and transporting, unloading, installing, furniture assembly and disassembly — all of this and more is available with JK Moving Services, whether you’re moving locally, long-distance, or overseas.
Pros & Cons of JK Moving Services
Pros
- Fully electric moving trucks
- Own smartphone app for 24/7 customer service and for GPS tracking
- Provides you with a personal moving coordinator
- Financing available on all moves
Cons
- Only local moving services are in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
- Quoting process is longer and more involved than with other moving companies
Services Offered
JK Moving Services currently offers the following list of services to its customers.
- Packing and unpacking services
- Loading and unloading services
- Long-term and short-term storage unit arrangement
- Transportation and delivery
- Freighting
- Crating
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly services
- Specialty services for items like antiques and pianos
- Specialized services for commercial moves for law firms, hospitals and other specialized workplaces
- Government moving services
- Archive services
- Auto relocation services
Like Moving APT, JK Moving Services can also help arrange services above and beyond what’s listed above.
How Much Does JK Moving Services Cost?
JK Moving Services provides highly personalized moving packages, which makes it more difficult to predict what you’ll pay for your moving services before you get a free quote. As a general idea of JK Moving Services’ pricing, you can usually expect to pay between $2,500 and $5,500 when you move a two-bedroom home a total distance of 500 miles. While this estimate puts JK Moving Services a bit more expensive than its competitors, be sure to click on the link below to claim your free quote.
State Availability: All lower 48 states.
Get a quote from JK Moving Services here.
Allied Van Lines
Why We Recommend Allied Van Lines
Allied Van Lines has a long list of moving labor services that they provide, including appliance installation, furniture disassembly and reassembly, vehicle transportation, and fragile-only packing. Loading and unloading services are included in every Allied moving plan, no matter what plan you sign up for. In fact, you can now sign up for Allied Express, which is a moving container service. It competes with PODS but instead of you loading and unloading the moving container yourself, Allied provides labor services on your behalf after booking.
If you need packers, Allied has a full-service option; if you just need packing materials and perhaps some advice about DIY packing, Allied has that available as well. They ship to over 130 countries and all fifty states, so no matter where you’re headed, Allied Van Lines can lend a hand and help you get there stress-free.
Pros & Cons of Allied Van Lines
Pros
- GPS tracking on all shipments
- Additional labor service that donates unwanted items to Salvation Army
- Custom crating available
- Offers 90-day storage in transit
Cons
- Customer reviews say that the claims department can be more difficult to work with than competitors
Services Offered
Like International Van Lines, Allied Van Lines also offers full-service moving processes and a complete list of a la carte services, including the following.
- Packing services and unpacking services
- Fragile-only packing
- Storage for in-transit items
- Arrangement of long-term storage units
- Shipment tracking
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly
- Auto and boat transport
- Basic liability coverage
- Full-value coverage
How Much Does Allied Van Lines Cost?
We’ve collected pricing data from previous customers who moved with Allied Van Lines to help you get a better idea of what you might pay for your moving services. Learn more about this company’s rates and get your free quote using the link below.
| <250 miles | 500 miles | 1,000 miles | 2,000 miles | |
| Two-bedroom home | $1,800 to $4,500 | $2,400 to $5,400 | $2,700 to $5,700 | $4,400 to $7,400 |
| Four-bedroom home | $3,300 to $6,000 | $5,700 to $8,700 | $7,500 to $10,500 | $10,900 to $13,000 |
State Availability: All 50 states
Get a quote from Allied Van Lines here.
North American Van Lines
Why We Recommend North American Van Lines
North American Van Lines has been in the moving industry for over 85 years. They are a company of firsts — the first moving company to traverse the Alaska Highway, the first moving company to develop a driving simulator for driver safety training, and the first mover to create its own GPS tracking system. Besides the technological advancements, North American trains its movers to be able to provide you with whatever moving services you could need, from packing everything to just driving the moving truck, as simple or as detailed as you desire.
North American’s relocation specialists are simply a phone call away and can answer any questions you have. If you need to hire extra movers for jobs like hot tub relocation or pool table disassembly, North American Van Lines has people on hand with the experience and tools to accomplish those tasks. The company even offers flexible pricing options (like not to exceed pricing) to help you control costs on your upcoming move.
Pros & Cons of North American Van Lines
Pros
- A+ BBB rating
- Moves to 135 countries available
- Full-service plans for both residential and commercial moving
- Not-to-exceed pricing system
Cons
- Customers say they experienced damage to their items
Services Offered
You can currently book the following services through North American Van Lines.
- Full-service packing
- Fragile-only packing
- Boxes and moving supplies
- Appliance disconnection and reconnection
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly
- Custom crates
- Loading and unloading
- Crane vans for large items
- Storage
- Auto transport
- Basic liability coverage
- Full-valuation coverage
How Much Does North American Van Lines Cost?
We’ve collected previous pricing data to help you get a better idea of what you might pay when you move with North American Van Lines. Browse pricing information using the table below.
| <250 miles | 500 miles | 1,000 miles | 2,000 miles | |
| Two-bedroom home | $1,800 to $4,500 | $2,400 to $5,400 | $2,700 to $5,700 | $4,400 to $7,400 |
| Four-bedroom home | $3,300 to $6,000 | $5,700 to $8,700 | $7,500 to $10,500 | $10,900 to $13,000 |
State Availability: All 50 States
Get a quote from U-Pack here.
What To Look for In Moving Labor Services
When you’re looking for moving help, there are a few things you should consider. Whether you’re looking into signing up for a moving plan with one of the aforementioned companies, a local mover, or a few people to help you with parts of your move, here are some things you should look for when comparing your options for labor services.
- Service list: What services does the moving labor company offer? Are these independent contractors who offer customized labor for whatever job you have, or do they have specific equipment and training for one or two particular tasks? If you only need packing services, then you can check if the companies you’re interested in offer only that one service. If they offer packing, loading, and transport, does that mean that they have their own vehicle, or do you have to provide the moving truck? These are questions you need to ask them to see what they can specifically do for you. Maybe you need your appliances disconnected, moved, and then reinstalled at your destination. Can this company provide that service? It can be helpful to write down a list of all services you need before searching for moving companies.
- Customer reviews: What have previous customers said about the company’s services? Were the laborers professional and polite? Were they punctual and efficient? Did they damage anything? Customer reviews can be an important tool to help you make your decision on which moving labor services to go with because a mover’s website will only show you positive reviews. Customer reviews from third-party resources will show everything, giving you an uncensored idea of the type of service you can expect.
- Charging practices: The most common way to charge for moving labor services is hourly per individual mover. You can ask what the rates are with each company, and you should expect the team members to be upfront about them. If you need long-distance moving services, the company also charges based on mileage and weight of your items. Some movers even run the hourly clock for driving time from origin to destination rather than putting charges together in one lump sum. Be sure that you understand how exactly your movers will price your labor services before signing on the bottom line.
What Costs Are Involved with Moving Labor Services?
The costs involved with moving labor services are similar to what is involved in a local or long-distance full-service moving company. Even if you’re signing up for a la carte labor services, some of the costs are the same. The following are some expenses you’ll likely need to take into consideration before booking your moving services.
- Hourly rate: The hourly rate for moving labor is anywhere from $25 to $60 per hour per individual, sometimes even reaching up to $60 an hour. The higher rates pay for expert training in packing as well as knowledge and experience in moving specialty items like antiques and pool tables. The hourly labor for moving specialty items is higher than for regular household items.
- Renting a truck: Sometimes, local moving labor services do not have their own truck — they are simply hired on a case-by-case basis to be moving helpers or perform some other manual labor task, and so they don’t always have their own work vehicle. You may have to rent a truck for the day so that they can load your stuff up. Be sure to clarify whether you or your moving labor service will provide you with a moving vehicle.
- Mileage: Depending on the length of the trip, moving laborers may also charge per mile to transport your household goods. Local moves tend to cost more per mile because the labor is the same as a long-distance move. Long-distance moves may require you to pay for fuel as well.
- Equipment and packing materials: If you do hire a few people to help with your move, if they don’t have their own moving company and they’re just doing the job for the day, it’s possible they won’t have all the equipment and materials needed to pack and move your things. It could help you to have dollies on-hand and you will need to purchase or acquire packing materials for all your stuff.
Final Thoughts
The best way to save money on your moving services is to begin planning ahead as early as possible. If you’re planning a major move, begin getting quotes at least a few months in advance. This allows you to be sure that you’re getting the best rate on your move by learning more about the options available to you. However, it’s important to remember that if pricing seems too good to be true, you might be considering an illegitimate moving service. Get at least five quotes to ensure that you have a full understanding of what you’re likely to pay–and to be sure that your quote is reasonable.
FAQs About Moving Labor Services
What moving labor services can I choose?
You can have movers handle everything physical about your move, from packing and unpacking, loading and unloading, and transport to unpacking and reassembly. You can also hire them for single services like packing up your furniture or loading it onto a moving trailer, or even junk removal once you’re finished unpacking. If you need help moving in any aspect, moving labor services can do it.
Should I go with a local moving company or one that has offices all over the nation?
This is truly up to you. If you check out local moving companies in your area, you can also chat with those who have used them before to find out how their moving experience was. You might also be able to save some money by going with a local mover if where you live has a lower cost of living. National moving companies may serve you better with long-distance moving or a cross-country move because they are stationed all across the country.
Do I need to hire professional movers to assist me with my move?
If you’re a busy person, you have small children, you’re taking care of an elderly family member, or you have some other circumstances in your life where you think organizing and executing a move may be too much for you, then you should definitely hire professionals for your next move. If you have enough time on your hands and a limited budget for your move, you may want to consider a DIY move.
Today's Homeowner Rating Methodology
At Today's Homeowner, our primary goals are to be a reliable source of information and to be totally transparent to our readers. With that in mind, we’ve developed the following formula to render objective ratings – on a scale of 10 points – for the moving companies we review.
- Transparency (3.0): Communication and being fully straightforward regarding company policies and licensing are incredibly important. A given mover’s willingness to display these, to supply quick quotes, and to provide clearly-worded moving contracts all factor into the three points within this single rating criteria.
- Cost (2.5): A mover’s cost relative to industry averages, as well as accessibility to cost data play a role in the customer experience as much as anything else. We know that being sure of what you’re paying – and being confident that you’re not overpaying – will ultimately make for a positive move. We’ve weighted cost factors accordingly in our ratings.
- Customer Service (2.0): Establishing an easy line of contact with your movers during the booking process or during the move itself is a huge asset for any moving client. The stress of moving, in general, can be greatly eased by knowing you can talk to a licensed professional whenever you need to, which is why we’ve listed this as a key rating category. This is where customer reviews come into play; since the majority of complaints stem from poor customer service, feedback from BBB, Yelp, Google, and other review platforms factor into this criteria.
- Services Offered (1.5): This rates lower on our priority list than many would think, simply due to the fact that many movers provide a similar line of services. However, breadth of service offerings does still vary to a degree.
- Customization Options (1.0): Having the autonomy to fully customize your move should rate highly on any moving checklist. Here, we’ve taken moving package customization ability, as well as pricing for more involved add-ons. Steep pricing for such services can provide something of a soft barrier for clients looking to add to their move, and we’ve taken this into consideration.
