Moving can be one of the most stressful events in your life – especially if you’re relocating to another city or state. To help ease the burden, an increasing number of Americans are choosing to hire a national moving company to get all of their belongings from Point A to Point B.
We’ve put together a guide to the best national moving companies, taking into account each company’s pricing, reputation, services and a host of other factors. Each moving company earned a numerical grade, and we’ve selected the best of the best for this article.
Our review found International Van Lines to be the best full-service mover in the industry today. But this company may not be right for everybody, so we also have recommendations for other companies we found to be the best of the best.
What Are the Best National Moving Companies?
Our top 9 recommended national moving companies for 2023:
- International Van Lines: Best Full-Service Mover
- American Van Lines: Most Transparent Pricing
- Safeway Moving: Best Flat-Rate Pricing
- Moving APT: Most Moving Partners
- JK Moving Services: Most Customizable Moving Experience
- Allied Van Lines: Best Vehicle Shipping Options
- U-Pack: Best Overall Container Service
- North American Van Lines: Best Pricing Options
- PODS: Most Flexible Container Service
Compare the Best National Moving Companies
| Company | Superlative | Our Rating | BBB Rating | Cost* |
| International Van Lines | Best Full-Service Mover | 89 / 100 | B | $3,500 – $6,500 |
| American Van Lines | Most Transparent Pricing | 72 / 100 | A | $3,000–$5,500 |
| Safeway Moving | Best Flat-rate Pricing | 74 / 100 | NR | $4,000 – $8,500 |
| Moving APT | Most Moving Partners | 85 / 100 | B | $5,000 – $7,000 |
| JK Moving Services | Most Customizable Moving Experience | 80 / 100 | A+ | Call for a quote |
| Allied Van Lines | Best Vehicle Shipping Options | 93 / 100 | A+ | $5,000 – $9,000 |
| U-Pack | Best Overall Container Service | 71 / 100 | A+ | $2,500 – $3,000 |
| North American Van Lines | Best Pricing Options | 87 / 100 | A+ | $5,000 – $9,000 |
| PODS | Most Flexible Container Service | 63 / 100 | NR | $2,500–$3,000 |
*These estimates are based on a 3-bedroom move from Washington, D.C., to Atlanta, Georgia. The distance of your move and size of your home can have a major impact on the price. Pricing will also vary based on additional services you choose, such as packing supplies, home staging, etc. Prices are accurate at the time of publication.
International Van Lines
Why We Chose International Van Lines
If you’re worried that you won’t be able to find a mover for your particular situation, International Van Lines is a great place to start. No matter how far you’re moving or how big your home, there’s a good chance International Van Lines can take care of you. The company was founded in 2000, initially offering local moving services. But today it has over 200 employees and offers full-service moving services nationwide.
IVL’s top selling point is its specialty moving services, such as crating and furniture disassembly and reassembly. If you’re looking to hand off the most stressful parts of moving, International Van Lines is a strong choice. Another big plus is its 100% refund policy: If you cancel your move at least 48 hours in advance, you can get all of your money back. You can also book all of your moving services online, meaning you won’t have to talk to anybody on the phone if you don’t want to.
International Van Lines Pros and Cons
International Van Lines seems to specialize in the hardest moves. Its offerings include a wide selection of full-service moving options, like specialized packing services for fragile items and air and sea freight services for moving overseas. We also like that this company has a nationally recognized customer service team, making them easy to work with over the phone, by email, and even by text.
However, IVL requires a 25% upfront deposit when booking, which some of its competitors don’t require. The refund guarantee helps, but this is still a disadvantage of working with International Van Lines.
We also don’t love that the company sometimes contracts work out to other moving companies as a broker. While this is a common practice among moving companies, it means that you may be working with one of IVL’s partners in some states.
What Services Are Available?
The following moving services are available to book through the International Van Lines team:
- Loading and unloading services
- Packing and unpacking services
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly
- Short-term and long-term storage
- Packing supplies
- Crating
- 30 days of free storage with moving
- Specialized packing services for fragile items like pianos, artwork, and antiques
What Are International Van Lines’ Moving Options?
This company offers moving services that are sure to cover you no matter where you’re moving. Out of all the companies we’ve reviewed, IVL offers some of the best and most comprehensive moving options:
- Local moving services
- Interstate moving services
- Intrastate moving services
- Overseas moving services
- Cross-country moving services
- Commercial moving services
- Auto transportation services
- Military moving services
Are Any Discounts Associated With International Van Lines?
International Van Lines typically offers a 15% senior discount on its services. However, it doesn’t list what age it considers a senior citizen, so speak directly with a moving professional before banking on this discount.
American Van Lines
Why We Chose American Van Lines
American Van Lines is a veteran moving company with over two decades of experience in the moving industry. It’s also remarkably transparent in its pricing, making American Van Lines an excellent option if you’re concerned about being blindsided by hidden fees or upcharges. The company offers flat prices, fixed-up front estimates, and sample prices posted online for moves between major cities.
We also love American Van Lines’ personalized invoices, which provide an exact breakdown of where your dollars are going. The biggest drawback with this company is that it doesn’t offer automatic online quotes, so you’ll need to dedicate more time to contacting one of the company’s moving experts to get a personalized quote or waiting for the company to get back to you after you fill out the online quote form.
American Van Lines Pros and Cons
A major advantage to choosing American Van Lines is its fixed-up front estimates and flat rate pricing. Other companies will charge by the mile or offer you a range of potential costs. Not so with American Van Lines: The price you’re quoted is the price you’ll pay. This saves you the stress of wondering what your moving costs will end up being.
The company also offers certified antique and piano movers, giving you peace of mind that your valuables will be preserved during the move.
However, American Van Lines doesn’t offer online quotes, a major disadvantage for homeowners trying to compare multiple moving companies’ prices quickly. Its pricing can be on the higher side, although it does offer price-matching discounts.
What Services Are Available?
This full-service moving company offers a large number of extra services you can book alongside your move:
- Storage options
- Packing and unpacking services
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly
- Crating for big items like pianos or flat-screen TVs
- Specialty packing services for antiques, musical instruments, and other delicate items
- Moving supplies
- Office moving services and corporate relocation
What Are American Van Lines’ Moving Options?
American Van Lines offers several types of moving options, which are all available within every state except Alaska and Hawaii:
- Local moving
- Long-distance moving
- Military moving
Are Any Discounts Associated With American Van Lines?
American Van Lines advertises price-matching services, so if you can find an online or in-person quote for a better price for comparable moving services, you can save money this way. The company may also offer a senior discount. However, we could not confirm the percentage or requirements during our research.
Safeway Moving
Why We Chose Safeway Moving
Safeway Moving specializes in long-distance moves, and it also stands out for its transparent, flat-rate pricing. You can book your move completely online, and trust that you’ll pay only the price you’re quoted. Safeway is also a good choice if you need some special services, like car shipping, piano moving, or custom crating.
Unfortunately, Safeway primarily brokers out longer and interstate moves to subcontractors. This can mean working with less consistent contractors who are not all trained in the same manner as in-house employees would be.
Safeway Moving Pros and Cons
Safeway Moving is known for its flat-rating pricing on all moving services. We like that it provides 30 days of free storage for your personal belongings, a better offering than many competitors.
However, we don’t love that this company brokers out most moves and has limited information online about its services, likely due to the many partners and varying services offered by these partners.
What Services Are Available?
Safeway Moving doesn’t offer as many services as some of its competitors. Still, for most basic moves, these services will suffice:
- Packing and unpacking services
- Storage services
- Loading and unloading
- Antique and piano moving
- Custom crating
- Junk removal
- Packing materials
What Are Safeway Moving’s Moving Options?
Regarding the types of moves that Safeway Moving handles, you’ll find services for the following:
- Local moving
- Long-distance and interstate moving
- International moving
Are Any Discounts Associated With Safeway Moving?
During our research, we found that Safeway Moving offers discounts for veterans, students, teachers, first responders, and seniors, making it one of the best moving companies for the variety of discounts available.
Moving APT
Why We Chose Moving APT
Moving APT doesn’t do any moving itself, instead working with over 500 partners nationwide providing services to all 50 states. But this can help you save money: Moving APT shops around to get you the best price based on your move’s parameters and needs. The company also makes sure you’re happy with the services you receive. It’s earned a reputation for customer service, counting over 500,000 previous customers.
Moving APT Pros and Cons
Moving APT is unique because it is a moving broker that will help you find lower rates for your move based on your budget by shopping around its many local carrier connections. This process enables you to save more money on your move. It even offers price-matching services to ensure you get the best rate from its vast network of over 500 moving partners.
However, we don’t like that you must provide at least seven days of notice before canceling your move if you want your deposit back. Additionally, the company doesn’t clearly list its customer service hours, making it more challenging to know when to call for support.
What Services Are Available?
Since Moving APT is a moving broker, it doesn’t provide the actual services it schedules. This means that services will vary depending on the company’s partners. Some of Moving APT’s most common moving services include:
- Packing services
- Piano moving
- Packing supplies
- Appliance connection services
- Limited furniture disassembly and reassembly
- Auto shipping
- Storage services
- Junk removal
- Custom crating
- Home staging
What Are Moving APT’s Moving Options?
Moving APT works with over 500 partners, so its moving options will vary, but the company is most well-known for these moving options:
- Commercial moving
- Local moves
- International moving
- Long-distance moving
Are Any Discounts Associated With Moving APT?
Moving APT may be able to help you secure discounts with its partners, but this will depend on the local partner it is working with. However, during our research, we found that you may be able to get discounts for early reservations, so we recommend securing your reservation as early as possible and speaking with your Moving APT contact about this discount.
This company offers price matching if you can find a better quote from another provider.
JK Moving Services
Why We Chose JK Moving Services
JK Moving Services offers a hugely customizable moving experience because of its “a la carte” moving services. Most companies require you to pick a move package based on the size of your home and how far you’re going. But JK Moving allows you to pick and choose individual services without needing to settle on the package that fits you best. And with over 40 years of experience, this company is set up to tailor your moving package to your exact needs.
As one of the largest independent moving companies in the United States, this company has many specialized services, such as GPS shipment tracking and file archival services, to keep client data secure if you are moving your home office. Its biggest downside is that the free quote process takes longer than many competitors, which may not work for you if you make last-minute moving arrangements.
JK Moving Pros and Cons
JK Moving Services is perhaps the most flexible moving company on this list, with services including long-term and short-term storage unit arrangements, GPS shipment tracking, and specialized moves for hospitals, law firms, and other specialized workplaces. We like that it offers archive services to keep your important work papers private and secure during your move.
Another major benefit is that JK Moving Services provides a mobile app and a personal moving coordinator to help you create this custom moving package and excellent moving insurance options.
In addition, we like that JK Moving Services offers custom financing through Enhancify, which we couldn’t find as an option through other providers. However, this company doesn’t offer transparent pricing, meaning that the company doesn’t provide sample pricing, quick quote features, or clearly disclose additional fees. If you’re quickly price-shopping, it’s hard to find how JK Moving stacks up.
What Services Are Available?
JK Moving Services is a full-service moving company with excellent customization options, including:
- Loading and unloading services
- Packing and unpacking services
- Transportation and delivery via moving truck
- Freighting
- Crating
- Long-term and short-term storage unit arrangements
- Archive services
- Auto relocation services
- Speciality moving for pianos and antiques
What Are JK Moving Services’ Moving Options?
JK Moving Services provides everything from local residential moves to major commercial moves and international moves:
- Local moving (but only in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.)
- Long-distance moving
- International moving
- Government moving services
- Specialized workplace moving services, such as law firms, hospitals, etc.
Are Any Discounts Associated With JK Moving Services?
We could not find any special discounts, like senior discounts, offered through JK Moving Services. However, the company provides financing options through Enhancify, allowing you to apply for a loan with varying repayment terms and interest rates. Depending on your credit score, some customers can get rates as low as 0%.
Allied Van Lines
Why We Chose Allied Van Lines
If you’ve got a garage full of vehicles you need to move, Allied Van Lines might be the best choice. This national moving company can move just about any type of vehicle, including sports cars and sailboats. It offers open and closed transport options for your vehicles to suit your needs.
Allied is also a top choice for moving container services. The company includes loading and unloading costs in the price of its moving container service, Allied Express, instead of charging you an additional fee on top of the moving container prices. Most other companies charge you extra for that. However, its short-term storage options are typically more expensive than other moving companies.
Allied Van Lines Pros and Cons
Allied Van Lines really stands out for its vehicle shipping, and the company handles all of it in-house. There’s no brokering to other shippers, which is unusual in the moving industry. The company will even cover the cost of a rental car if your vehicle arrives late.
In addition, we like that this company is the only long-distance moving company we’ve found that offers a guarantee on vehicle transportation services.
The biggest drawback of choosing Allied Van Lines is its short-term storage options are usually more expensive than its competitors. However, the price may be worth considering the other guarantees that can provide you with a lot of peace of mind as your car is transported cross-country.
What Services Are Available?
Some of the services Allied Van Lines offers include:
- Moving vehicles across state lines
- Auto and boat transport
- Storage for in-transit items
- Arranges long-term storage units
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly
- Extended insurance coverage
- Fragile-only packing
- Packing and unpacking services
What Are Allied Van Lines’ Moving Options?
Allied Van Lines is a full-service, in-house moving company offering just about everything you could need for your move:
- Vehicle transportation
- Local moving
- Interstate moving
- International moving
Are Any Discounts Associated With Allied Van Lines?
Customers have reported receiving a senior discount between 10% and 15% off their moving services. However, this will vary based on the service you’re booking. The company may provide a cash discount if you pay in full up front.
U-Pack
Why We Chose U-Pack
U-Pack is a more affordable option for cross-country moves because it is a moving container service. When you book a move date with U-Pack, the team will deliver one or more moving containers to your home. You have to load them yourself, but it’s a lot cheaper than hiring traditional movers to do it for you. U-Pack then takes the container to your destination. For a homeowner on a budget, this is an excellent option for an affordable small move.
These containers are built to withstand weather conditions and are around the size of a parking space, giving you plenty of room to pack your belongings.
The biggest drawback is that U-Pack offers no customization or specialty moving options, such as unloading, loading, packing, or home staging.
U-Pack Pros and Cons
On the positive side, U-Pack offers long-distance moves throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. That’s a far broader reach than most of its competitors. U-Pack also has a fantastic A+ BBB rating and provides instant online quotes for many moving services, so you can instantly see what your move will cost.
Unfortunately, U-Pack is a moving container service, so it doesn’t offer many moving services, like customizable packages, packing services, or junk removal services. It also only provides moving services for moves of 150 miles or greater. If you’re just moving across town, U-Pack won’t be an option for you.
What Services Are Available?
This moving company only offers moving container services, so you shouldn’t expect full-service moving services like packing, loading, and packing supplies. Currently, this company’s services include:
- Moving storage services
What Are U-Pack’s Moving Options?
U-Pack is a moving container service company, so its services are relatively limited:
- Long distance moving (150+ miles)
Are Any Discounts Associated With U-Pack?
U-Pack may provide a senior discount, adjusted according to your move’s specifications. However, we couldn’t find many other listed discounts. Fortunately, this company offers more affordable prices than most movers because you’re not renting a moving truck but a moving container.
North American Van Lines
Why We Chose North American Van Lines
North American Van Lines stands out for its pricing guarantees. The company offers “not-to-exceed” and “bottom line” pricing options, which means you don’t have to worry about your price suddenly jumping even if the weight of your shipment exceeds the original estimate. The company is accredited with the BBB and has the ability to support moves to over 175 countries.
On the downside, North American Van Lines has received more overall negative online reviews than many other providers on this list.
North American Van Lines Pros and Cons
North American Van Lines pricing can really alleviate your stress around sudden price increases or hidden fees for homeowners. This pricing structure allows you to set a maximum on the total money the moving company can charge you for.
We also like North American Van Lines’ detailed and transparent claims process. You can quickly file a claim online, and then a company claim adjuster handles the rest. This saves you a massive amount of time and energy should you need to file a claim for damaged belongings.
On the downside, storage options and agents may be limited based on location as the company is both a moving carrier and broker. So, you are limited by what local movers are around.
What Services Are Available?
North American Van Lines is a full-service moving company with many services and, notably, some fantastic options for moving coverage:
- Full-service packing
- Packing supplies available
- Appliance disconnection and reconnection
- Fragile-only packing
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly
- Crane vans for huge items
- Loading and unloading
- Auto transport
- Storage
- Basic liability coverage
- Full-valuation coverage
What Are North American Van Lines’ Moving Options?
North American Van Lines offers the following moving options:
- Local moving
- Long distance and interstate moves
- International moves (over 175 countries included)
Are Any Discounts Associated With North American Van Lines?
North American Van Lines has some of the most significant senior discounts available through the Senior Citizens League. Some customers have reported discounts anywhere from 40% to 65% off local and long-distance moves.
PODS
Why We Chose PODS
Typically when you hire a container service, a standard-sized box is dropped off in your driveway no matter how much you need to move. However, PODS gives you a lot more flexibility. It offers three different moving container sizes that you can tailor to your needs, helping you save money if you have relatively few belongings to move.
However, we’ve rated it a bit lower than some of its competitors due to its smaller offering list. PODS doesn’t offer international moves and has limited services for junk removal, custom crating, and specialty item and antique moving.
PODS Pros and Cons
PODS is a moving container service offering three different moving container sizes, which makes it unique amongst other moving container services. You only have to pay for what you actually need.
However, the company doesn’t provide international services. In addition, it lacks transparent pricing structures because it doesn’t list additional fees or offer quick online quotes, making it impossible to quickly assess whether or not this company will fit your budget.
What Services Are Available?
PODS is a moving container company, so it offers limited moving services:
- Moving container services
- Storage services
- Loading and unloading
What Are PODS’ Moving Options?
PODS has limited moving options, with its biggest drawback being that it doesn’t have international moving options. Here is what PODS offers:
- Local moves
- Long-distance moves
Are Any Discounts Associated With PODS?
PODS frequently offers seasonal discount codes on its website. Service members are also eligible for up to 10%. You can check out current PODS discounts on its promotional page.
How Much Do Top Moving Companies Typically Charge?
The cost of moving varies dramatically based on the type of move, the distance you’re moving, the weight of your shipment, and extra moving services you opt for, such as help packing, staging the home, or moving a vehicle or piano.
If you plan your move last minute, you can also expect to pay a higher rate for professional movers because you won’t qualify for early booking discounts and will likely have fewer options available to choose between.
| Type of Move | Average Cost |
| Local move (within the same city) | $600 – $2,400 |
| Local move (within the same state) | $4,000 – $6,000 |
| Long-distance move | $600 – $10,000+ |
| International move | $8,000 to $15,000 |
| Full-service move | $2,300+ |
| Auto moving | $1,000+ per vehicle |
Remember, the size of your home, the distance, and the type of moving company you choose will significantly impact the moving estimates you receive. Take a look at our breakdown of different moving estimates provided below:
| Distance: | Home size: | Moving Estimate: | Average Provided By: |
| Local move | 3 bedroom home | $1,800 | International Van Lines |
| Local move (less than 100 miles) | 3 bedroom home | $400 – $600 | Moving APT |
| Long distance move (approximately 1,000 miles) | 3 bedroom home | $6,300 | Allied Van Lines |
| Cross-country move from Santa Barbara, CA to Savannah, GA | 3 bedroom home | $4,878 | U-Pack (DIY moving service) |
| Distance: | Home size: | Moving Estimate: | Average Provided By: |
| Long distance move (approximately 1,000 miles) | 1 bedroom apartment | $3,500 | Allied Van Lines |
| Long distance move (approximately 1,500 miles) | 2 bedroom home | $6,200 | American Van Lines |
| Long distance move (approximately 1,000 miles) | 3 bedroom home | $6,300 | Allied Van Lines |
| Long distance move | 4 – 5 bedroom home | $6,000 – $8,000 | Moving APT |
How Can You Negotiate With the Top Moving Companies and Get Discounts?
Hiring professional movers typically requires a significant investment, making negotiating with your top moving company choices for a discount critical. After all, even a 10% discount on a couple thousand dollars will save you hundreds of dollars.
Start by gathering multiple estimates from reputable movers for identical or similar moving services. This gives you bargaining power when negotiating with your preferred moving company, as you can bring up what other companies have quoted you for the same service.
Some companies, like Moving APT, offer price-matching discounts. Still, even companies that don’t advertise a price-matching deal may be willing to match another company’s price if you politely bring it to their attention.
Be firm but polite with your approach and ask about any available discounts, such as early booking, senior citizen, teacher, first responder, military, or seasonal discounts. Some companies will even offer lower prices if you move in the middle of the week rather than the weekends when the company is more heavily booked up.
You’ll also want to protect yourself from hidden fees and moving scams as much as possible by asking for an upfront written estimate. Some companies provide flat rates, while others will happily provide a binding estimate that sets a range for how much you’ll pay. Either way, get this information in writing and ask about any hidden fees lurking before you’re committed to the company.
How Can You Avoid Moving Scams From Bad Moving Companies?
It’s easy to fall for moving scams because many scammers make great efforts to come across as professional, legitimate, and trustworthy. However, it’s not uncommon for moving companies to give you a lowball estimate, pack up your things, then demand a much higher charge. Other companies may give you a lowball estimate and then add a bunch of hidden fees so that you end up paying much more than you thought you would going into move day.
So, what can you do to avoid moving scams? Spot red flags when hiring movers by taking these steps:
- Vet the company: If you can’t easily find the mover’s physical address, proof of insurance, or mover’s registration, this is a serious red flag.
- Phone-only estimates: Some companies will refuse to come to your home for a final estimate. Never accept this, as reputable companies will always visit your home or complete a virtual home tour.
- Large down payments: Down payments of 20% or less are typical in the moving industry. However, scammers may try to get you to put down a much larger amount and run off with your money. Another common scam is movers who refuse to give you your belongings until you pay more, otherwise known as “rogue movers.”
- Suspiciously low bids: Always gather multiple estimates from moving companies to determine what a typical cost is for your move. This process will help you eliminate suspiciously low bids.
- Name changes: Shady moving companies sometimes change names multiple times to make it more difficult for customers to find negative reviews or press coverage associated with past company names.
- Vague contracts: If the mover claims insurance covers absolutely everything or the quote is “ironclad,” you should be very cautious. Most movers have a line in the contract about quotes being subject to change if the weight of your shipment is much higher. Most insurance protection also starts at 60 cents per pound.
In short, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
What Factors Should You Consider When Choosing a Top Moving Company?
Evaluate the following factors to choose the best moving company for your needs:
- Your budget: Gather quotes from multiple moving companies before deciding on a company to see which services are within your budget. Always ask about hidden fees or charges so you don’t overspend.
- Your timeline: If you’re moving last minute, you’ll need to reserve a moving company quickly based on who still has availability. On the other hand, if you have months before your move, you can afford to shop around more, ask about early booking discounts, and weigh your options more carefully.
- Your distance: Look for a company that specializes in the type of move you need, whether local or cross-country. Particular moving circumstances, like interstate moves or military moves, will also help narrow your choices because fewer companies offer these types of moves.
- Your items: Do you have specialty items like a piano, artwork, or a vehicle that needs moving? This will narrow your options as only certain moving companies provide services to move fragile or specialty items.
- Your preferences: Consider customer reviews for each company carefully and list your top priorities and preferences. For example, do you care about online booking, or is a company with a full-service customer service phone line more important to you?
So, What Is the Best Moving Company?
The best moving company is International Van Lines because it offers the most extensive choices for both full-service moves and the types of moves available, from cross-country to international to interstate.
Choosing the right national moving company for your big move is critical for saving you time, stress, and even money. Weigh your options by listing your top priorities, such as finding a national moving company with specialty packing services for moving your artwork or instruments, and consider your budget. If you can, consider a full-service moving company to help with the exhausting process of packing, unpacking, hooking up appliances, and staging your new home so you don’t have to worry about dragging heavy furniture around yourself.
Plan your final move confidently by gathering at least three moving estimates from some of the best national moving companies. This process will allow you to rest assured that you received the best deal while meeting your moving needs.
FAQs About the Best National Moving Companies
How do I prepare for a national move?
Count back how many weeks you have before your move date and begin breaking down tasks on your moving checklist, such as vetting national moving companies, packing, planning a job change, and more. Then, break your tasks down week by week, prioritizing time-sensitive tasks like selecting a mover.
What is a national move?
A national move is any move that is across the country. For example, moving from Georgia to California would be a coast-to-coast, national move.
Is it cheaper to buy new furniture or pack it for a national move?
Typically, keeping your furniture if you are moving a short distance is a good idea. However, moving heavy furniture like couches or desks across the country can be expensive. Consider selling heavier furniture to cut back on the size and weight of your move, which will reduce the overall cost you pay the national moving company.
How far in advance should you schedule national movers?
It’s best to schedule big moves, like national moves, as soon as possible to secure the best deal. We recommend booking a national move at least several months in advance if possible.
Methodology: How We Ranked the Top Moving Companies
At Today’s Homeowner, we strive to bring you the most transparent, accurate information for your home improvement projects. Our moving company ratings emphasize what matters most to you — reputable, affordable companies able to tackle a wide range of packing and moving tasks.
Our ratings are based on publicly available information about each company, secret shopping online and over the phone, customer-review analysis, and interviews with former and current professional movers.
A company can earn a maximum of 100 points across four categories converted to a five-star scale. We researched and analyzed dozens of full- and self-service moving companies and developed the following formula:
- Transparency (30 Points): We awarded top points to companies that supplied quotes quickly and provided easy-to-read moving contracts. We used the availability of sample pricing and quick quote features, GPS tracking, and clear customer service hours to determine this metric. Points were also awarded for up-front communication regarding policies, licensing, insurance, and the clear listing of added fees.
- Basic Service Options (20 Points): While this may seem like a given for most movers, a strong basic service profile is not guaranteed when you book your move. Movers that offer local, long-distance, and international moving, while providing packing and loading with their basic service packages rate highly here.
- Customization Options (30 Points): Aside from basic services, a comprehensive list of added services indicates a mover’s quality. Assembly and disassembly, valuation coverage, piano moving, car shipping, and similar add-ons indicate a mover that puts customer service first.
- Reputation (20 Points): We assessed each mover’s Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile. We weighed BBB ratings and the company’s complaint response rate to calculate this metric.
We monitor company data on an ongoing basis to keep rankings and information up to date.
