Best cheap moving companies: How to relocate for less
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Moving isn’t cheap, but there are ways to be savvy and stay on budget. Chief among those ways is shopping around and requesting quotes from as many moving companies as you can.
We’ve identified seven cheap moving companies based on our research of the best moving companies in the industry, so you’re already in the right place. We’ve also compiled a list of tips to help you save money and zero in on the best value for your budget.
1-800-PACK-RAT: Best for cheap moves
Star rating: 3.7 out of 5
Online quote: Yes
Deposit required: Yes
Services: Portable storage containers, packing, moving supplies, military moves
Why we picked 1-800-PACK-RAT
1-800-PACK-RAT offers all-steel portable containers with advanced weather protection. The portable storage container company accommodates local and long-distance moves within the 34 states (and Washington, D.C.) it serves and allows you to plan your entire move online.
Additionally, 1-800-PACK-RAT offers online quotes that allow you to price your move instantly. In contrast, full-service moving companies have a more thorough and lengthy quote process. A $500 deposit is required five days before your move for long-distance moves. This amount will be credited toward the total cost of your move, which averages around $3,700.
Who should use 1-800-PACK-RAT
If you are moving with many valuables or need a flexible loading schedule, 1-800-PACK-RAT allows you to relocate on your terms. Don’t be deterred by the $500 deposit, as this deposit is applied to your total moving costs, which can help relieve stress on your budget by spacing out payments.
Pros
Three container sizes are offered for all move types
Take as much time as you need to pack
Containers are ground-level for easy loading
Cons
Service is limited to 34 states and Washington, D.C.
Doesn’t deliver on Sundays
Charges a $500 deposit due five days before your reservation
North American Van Lines: Best for flexible pricing
Star rating: 4.5 out of 5
Online quote: No
Deposit required: No
Services: Local, long-distance and international moving, corporate relocation, packing, car shipping, furniture assembly
Why we picked North American Van Lines
North American Van Lines stands out for its flexible pricing. Not only does it allow you to choose your services and customize them to your needs, but it offers several pricing structures.
Its not-to-exceed pricing structure limits the total cost of your services, meaning you’ll never pay more than you’re quoted. If moving day is more efficient than expected, you can even pay less than your not-to-exceed quote. You can opt for guaranteed pricing, a binding estimate that won’t change, or customized pricing. This sets a guaranteed base price and adds any specialty services you select.
Who should use North American Van Lines
If pricing transparency is the most important part of the moving process, you should consider North American Van Lines. Its different pricing structures allow you to choose the best option for your budgeting philosophy.
Pros
Sets not-to-exceed pricing, which eliminates hidden fees
Mobile app and portal with customer support and GPS tracking
Can purchase services a la carte to customize your package
Cons
Bare bones website with limited info
Doesn’t offer online quotes
Atlas Van Lines: Best moving company
Star rating: 4.5 out of 5
Online quote: No
Deposit required: No
Services: Local, long-distance and international moves, storage/storage-in transit, corporate relocations, military and government moves
Why we picked Atlas Van Lines
Atlas Van Lines is our highest-rated moving company due to its stellar reputation, diverse service offerings and decades of experience. While it doesn’t have storage facilities in all the areas it serves, it does offer storage-in-transit, where your items will be securely kept on the truck until they’re ready to be delivered. The company also has a vast network of business partnerships — through AAA, Verizon Wireless and the Association of Mature American Citizens — to help cut costs.
Who should use Atlas Van Lines
You should consider Atlas Van Lines if you want to work with a company that exclusively uses its own employees. While many full-service moving companies subcontract or broker services with partner carriers, Atlas Van Lines trains, background checks, and drug tests all its employees to ensure high-quality services.
That said, Atlas doesn’t top this list because it doesn’t provide online quotes or sample pricing on its site, which can be a deterrent if you’re hoping to quickly find out if it fits your budget.
Pros
Services local, long-distance and international moves in 17 countries
Robust customer portal with shipment tracking, billing and on-demand support
All drivers trained after passing a background check and drug test
Cons
Has to call back to give you a quote
Doesn’t have storage facilities in all locations
Mayflower Transit: Best for large moves
Star rating: 4.4 out of 5
Online quote: No
Deposit required: No
Services: Local, long-distance international moves, corporate relocations, military moves, car shipping, packing, storage
Why we picked Mayflower Transit
Mayflower has the moving industry experience to service moves of all sizes and the resources to accommodate even small moves through Snap Moves. While Mayflower’s prices may not be the cheapest at face value, they include full-value protection, a la carte services, and binding estimates, which allow you to anticipate your costs and plan ahead. It ensures its binding estimates are right the first time by only providing a quote after an in-home or virtual estimate to survey your belongings.
It goes one step further than many moving companies by displaying sample prices for its full-service packages online, making it easier to budget for your move. For example, it offers a bare-bones package at $225 per hour, including $5,000 in full-value protection plus identity theft protection. Its higher-tier packages build on this coverage by increasing the full-value protection limits, adding debris removal services and more. These packages start at $425 and $725 per hour. The highest tier includes uncommon services, such as wall mount assembly for electronics and up to $25,000 in full-value protection.
Who should use Mayflower Transit
You should consider Mayflower if you want the comfort of a legacy brand name and an estimate that will remain the same throughout the moving process.
Pros
Includes full-value protection in all moves
Offers Snap Moves, a specialized service for small moves on a tight timeline
Can customize your package to meet your needs
Cons
Doesn’t service all moves with its own employees
Only offers quotes after a home or virtual inspection
United Van Lines: Best for liability coverage
Star rating: 4.2 out of 5
Online quote: No
Deposit required: No
Services: Local, long-distance and international moving, car shipping, packing, storage, military moves, corporate relocations
Why we picked United Van Lines
United Van Lines and Mayflower are owned by UniGroup, making them sister companies that pick up the slack for each other. United Van Lines stands out most notably for its included full-value protection, although it may raise its prices compared to competitors. Still, it provides extra assurance if your items are lost or damaged throughout the moving process.
Who should use United Van Lines
You should consider United Van Lines if you want extra insurance protection bundled into the base price of your moving quote or you want to take advantage of its uncommon add-on services, including debris removal after your move. It can also be a good fit for international moves because it has a broad reach in more than 150 countries.
Pros
Unique add-ons, such as debris removal and car shipping
Services more than 150 countries
Assigns a moving coordinator to each booking
Cons
Doesn’t service Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia
Requires advance booking in most cases
Doesn’t offer online quotes
Allied Van Lines: Best for full-service moves
Star rating: 4.1 out of 5
Online quote: No
Deposit required: No
Services: Local, long-distance and international moving, portable storage containers, corporate relocation, storage, packing supplies, car shipping
Why we picked Allied Van Lines
Allied Van Lines offers a full range of moving services you can customize to your budget. While PODS and 1-800-PACK-RAT only focus on portable container moves, Allied Van Lines offers those (through Allied Express) and traditional moving services, including packing and loading if you need them.
Who should use Allied Van Lines
Consider Allied Van Lines if you want the convenience of a full-service move and the peace of mind that comes with GPS tracking while your items are in transit. Allied Van Lines is tight-lipped about its costs because it wants to be as accurate as possible, so it’ll only provide a quote after a local agent comes to your home for an in-person survey of your property and belongings.
Pros
GPS tracking
Offers car shipping
Services include multiple move types, such as portable storage containers
Cons
Doesn’t provide quotes without an in-person survey
Doesn’t have 24/7 customer service
PODS: Best for city moves
Star rating: 3.0 out of 5
Online quote: Yes
Deposit required: No
Services: Portable storage containers, on-site and facility storage, packing and loading assistance, car shipping, moving supplies
Why we picked PODS
PODS is a disruptor in the moving industry. It combines the cost-saving aspect of DIY moves with the convenience of professional driving and competitively priced add-ons. According to the company’s website, storage rental costs around $149 per month, plus about $75 for pick-up and delivery.
PODS containers come in three sizes — 8, 12, and 16 feet — to meet storage and moving needs of various sizes. You can use a PODS container for indefinite storage on your property or transport it to a secure facility or your new home. Unlike full-service movers or truck rentals, container moves allow you to load at your own pace.
Who should use PODS
You should consider PODS if you are moving or renovating and need roughly a month of storage. It’s also a good fit if you’re moving from an area for which other moving companies may charge a premium, such as a busy urban area without a driveway.
Pros
Free storage for 30 days
Offers transparent online quotes
Offers city services tailored for customers without a driveway
Cons
Doesn’t have shipment tracking options
12-foot container limited to local moves
Our picks at a glance
*Better Business Bureau (BBB) scores are accurate as of April 2024
What didn’t make the cut
You may notice that International Van Lines and JK Moving Services didn’t earn spots on this list, but they appear on similar lists. Both companies were narrowly beaten because their pricing tends to be substantially higher than competitors. However, JK Moving could be an option for those on a budget if they’re willing to take advantage of its financing resources.
How much does hiring a moving company cost?
The cost of hiring a moving company depends on several factors, such as the time of year, required services, the size of your move and any add-ons you select.
Local movers charge between $35 and $80 per hour per mover for a small move, but these rates can soar as high as $150 per hour for a larger move. Long-distance moves aren’t priced by the hour and you’re more likely to receive a flat-rate estimate. The national average for hiring movers sits around $1,675 for a full-service move within 500 miles.
What impacts moving costs?
No two moves are the same, so moving costs can vary dramatically from project to project. We’ve outlined the most common factors impacting moving costs.
Distance
The distance between your origin and destination locations is one of the main contributors to your move’s cost. Local moves will generally cost less than long-distance or cross-country moves.
Insurance
Licensed moving carriers tend to include basic valuation, which covers $0.60 per pound of household goods. Basic valuation isn’t enough to cover the full replacement value, so supplementary insurance is often necessary, but it adds extra costs. You can expect your insurance costs to increase with your selected coverage limit.
Size of move
Simply put, large moves cost more than small ones because they require more labor. Consider the size of your home, the anticipated weight of your household goods and any household features, such as flights of stairs, that can add to your moving costs.
Storage
Some moving companies, like PODS, offer 30 days of storage for free when you book your move, but this practice isn’t industry standard. If you need storage services for a longer period, you can expect monthly rent to increase your total moving costs.
Supplies
Moving companies charge a premium for packing supplies, but these are often specially designed to protect your items from damage. You can minimize these costs by providing your own packing supplies or using recycled materials.
Time of year
Demand is another major factor impacting moving costs. Moves from mid-April to mid-September cost more than moves at any other time of the year. To cut costs, consider moving during the off-season.
Type of movers
The type of moving company you hire significantly impacts your total costs. DIY or hybrid moves with a rental truck or storage container are more budget-friendly than full-service moves, in which your belongings are packed, loaded and transported for you.
What is the cheapest method of moving?
DIY moving is the cheapest method of moving. If you have a large van or truck and friends willing to help out, you can move for virtually only the cost of fuel and packing supplies. If you don’t have access to a large vehicle, you can still save with a rental truck, like U-Haul, or a portable storage container. With these options, you still do all the labor on your own, but you don’t have the size constraints of your personal vehicle.
When is the cheapest time to hire movers?
It’s cheapest to move on a weekday (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday) between mid-September and late April. Moving during this time of year avoids peak moving season and moving on a weekday takes advantage of times when movers are less likely to be booked because many people have to work or tend to other obligations.
How to choose the best affordable movers
Below, you’ll find some tips to help you find the best movers for your budget:
Request several quotes: Don’t take the first quote you get. Request as many free quotes as possible to better understand your projected move costs.
Inquire about price matching: If you get a better quote from a different company, don’t keep it to yourself. Some moving companies will haggle or price-match their competitors if they discover they’ve been undercut.
Consider a marketplace or broker: Moving brokers and marketplaces accept bids from various moving companies to get you the best rate.
Do some or all of the move yourself: You can further reduce your moving costs and maintain control of the process by packing, loading or transporting your belongings yourself.
Ask for referrals: If you’re moving for work, you can ask your company or coworkers for recommendations within your price range. You can also ask your friends, family or local community groups who they recommend from their experiences.
Read reviews: Dig into every moving company’s reputation by checking customer reviews for common themes. Real-life customer experiences will give you more insight into a company’s performance than anything else.
How can I save money on moving?
You can save money on moving expenses in the following ways.
Choose a cheaper type of mover
If you get sticker shock after requesting a quote, consider downgrading your moving services to a more affordable option. If you started with a full-service mover, a rental truck or third-party labor is often more inexpensive.
Compare multiple quotes
Shopping around is vital to finding an inexpensive moving company. Request as many quotes as possible and compare services to zero in on the best value for your budget.
Downsize
Decluttering anything you can easily replace in your new home can reduce the labor — and cost — necessary for your move. Consider donating, reselling or otherwise getting rid of items that may add to the volume of belongings you need to move.
Plan ahead
Booking far in advance may allow you to access more competitive pricing options. Start reaching out to moving companies as soon as you plan to move. Many moving companies have relocation coordinators or educational materials to help you check items off your to-do list and get organized before your move.
Research your options
Don’t discount anything before you look at your options. You may be able to save money moving by hiring for some parts of your move while doing other parts yourself. For example, you can save money by packing yourself without forgoing the convenience of loading labor or transportation help. You may also cobble together a full-service move by hiring third-party packers or laborers instead of booking all help through the same company.
Methodology
Our independent rating system evaluated moving companies based on the factors below:
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed price at the time of publication.
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