Relocating Across the Country? These Are the Best Long-Distance Moving Companies
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Atlas Van Lines is our top pick for its wide-ranging services.
Getty / Robert Daly
No matter how far you're traveling, preparing for a long-distance move requires a lot of time and effort. But experienced and dependable movers can take at least some of that planning off your plate.
To find the best long-distance moving companies, our research team looked at a variety of factors, including interstate and international services, packing options, tracking features, auto shipping capabilities, quote processes, and customer support. The result? An in-depth guide to the top teams in the business.
Best Long-Distance Moving Companies of 2022
Best Overall: Atlas Van Lines
Best Interstate Moving Company: North American Van Lines
Best for International Moves: Mayflower
Best for Small Loads: Bellhop
Best Partial-Service Movers: Wheaton World Wide Moving
Best Moving Container Company: PODS
Best Online Quote Option: Colonial Van Lines
Best Car Shipping Company: United Van Lines
Best Shed Moving Company: Allied Van Lines
Best Commitment to Sustainability: Armstrong Relocation
Best Overall: Atlas Van Lines
Atlas Van Lines
Operates in: 50 states
Initial deposit required? No
Packaging provided? Yes
Pros & Cons
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Why It's on Our List
Atlas Van Lines provides comprehensive moving services across all 50 states and in 17 different countries. Prospective clients can request a customized quote through the company's video survey app by uploading a virtual inventory of their belongings, replacing the need for a customer service call.
Once you're booked with Atlas, you'll receive access to the customer portal, where you can make payments, track your truck's progress, and contact your team of movers.
If you're worried about properly securing items for the long drive, Atlas offers full-service packing, meaning the crew will box up your entire home for you. DIY packers can also purchase supplies, such as boxes, mattress bags, etc., from the company directly.
Best Interstate Moving Company: North American Van Lines
North American Van Lines
Operates in: 50 states
Initial deposit required? No
Packaging provided? Yes
Pros & Cons
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Why It's on Our List
North American Van Lines is a solid choice for state-to-state and cross-country moves because each booking gets assigned a personal consultant who handles all of the logistics.
After discussing your specific moving needs, the coordinator will work with you to create a plan that fits your budget. This includes figuring out what add-ons—like packing, appliance installation, and furniture assembly—should make the list.
In addition to traditional moving services, North American operates a fleet of open and enclosed car carriers that transport all types of vehicles, including antiques and boats. This is a particularly helpful option if you'd rather fly than drive to your new home.
Best for International Moves: Mayflower
Mayflower
Operates in: 46 states
Initial deposit required? No
Packaging provided? Yes
Pros & Cons
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Why It's on Our List
International moves can be a logistical nightmare, but Mayflower does its best to make the process as seamless as possible. Overseas bookings come with a consultation, full-service packing, customs clearance management, and a detailed move plan—all of which are included in your initial quote.
A personal consultant will arrange and manage the specifics, like compiling the correct documentation and confirming delivery dates. If you require additional services, such as unpacking assistance, short-term storage, or debris removal (meaning the movers will come back to collect empty boxes and other discarded packing materials), your move coordinator can set them up.
Mayflower will also ship your car abroad, a service that many other moving companies farm out to third-party carriers.
Best for Small Loads: Bellhop
BELLHOP
Operates in: 27 states
Initial deposit required? Yes
Packaging provided? Yes
Pros & Cons
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Why It's on Our List
Bellhop is ideal for smaller moves because you only pay for what you need. For instance, you can book the company's full slate of long-distance moving services—which includes a truck, crew, and coordinator, who'll manage every single stage—or you can just hire manpower to help load up your own rented truck or van.
We found the quote process to be incredibly easy: Instead of waiting on a customer service representative to give you an estimate over the phone, you'll receive an actual dollar amount through Bellhop's online tool after answering a few questions about your move. For all long-distance bookings, the company provides fixed-price estimates, meaning you'll pay the amount you're quoted and won't be subjected to additional fees.
Another reason why Bellhop is recommended for lighter loads is that the company can't transport individual items weighing over 300 pounds. So if you need to relocate a piano or a heavy-duty sectional, check out the other moving services on this list.
Best Partial-Service Movers: Wheaton World Wide Moving
Wheaton World Wide
Operates in: 50 states
Initial deposit required? No
Packaging provided? Yes
Pros & Cons
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Why It's on Our List
Wheaton World Wide Moving's flexible services allow you to be as involved or uninvolved in the process as you'd like. If you're planning to do most of the packing yourself but could use some help with a few fragile objects, Wheaton can organize a partial pack or supply the materials you'll need to properly box things up.
The company will also transport furniture and appliances that require special equipment, such as pianos, pool tables, refrigerators, and stoves. To cover these types of moves, as well as its traditional moving services, Wheaton offers several protection plans, including one for extraordinary value items (anything worth more than $100 per pound).
For customers who can't move their belongings into their new home right away, Wheaton provides storage in transit, meaning the company will hold your things in one of its secure facilities for up to 180 days.
Best Moving Container Company: PODS
Pods Moving
Operates in: 44 states
Initial deposit required? No
Packaging provided? Yes
Pros & Cons
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Why It's on Our List
Long-distance moves can be pretty expensive, so one way to save a little money is by renting a moving container. PODS provides the unit and the mode of transportation while the customer is in charge of everything else, including packing, loading, and unloading.
Pricing is transparent due to the nature of the business: You rent a container for 30 days at a time, which allows you to keep it for as long as you like. Delivery, transportation, and pick-up fees add to the cost, but you'll still be paying less than if you had hired a full-service mover—for reference, PODS' prices start at $149 per month.
If you're unsure what size container to get, the company offers a moving and storage calculator that will make recommendations based on the amount and types of items you're transporting. Customers can also purchase boxes and other supplies through the website, though PODS does not provide packing assistance.
Best Online Quote Option: Colonial Van Lines
Operates in: 48 states
Initial deposit required? Yes
Packaging provided? Yes
Pros & Cons
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Why It's on Our List
Colonial Van Lines' easy-to-use app provides accurate estimates without making you schedule an in-home tour. Just upload photos and/or videos of your belongings and add in any instructions for specialty items, like antique furniture. A Colonial team member will then review all of the files before sending back a personalized quote.
You can also connect with customer support through the app and order moving supplies at discounted rates. If you'd prefer to have the professionals pack for you, Colonial offers both full- and partial-service options, including single-item and single-room packs.
Though the company doesn't operate a live chat for quick inquiries, one of our research analysts noted that Colonial had "the most patient and well-informed customer service representative" of any provider he contacted.
Best Car Shipping Company: United Van Lines
United Van Lines
Operates in: 50 states
Initial deposit required? No
Packaging provided? Yes
Pros & Cons
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Why It's on Our List
Many moving companies outsource auto shipping services to third-party vendors, but United Van Lines has the equipment needed to transport all sorts of vehicles. While United's open-sided carriers tend to be more affordable, its enclosed trucks are recommended for antique and luxury cars since they provide better protection against harsh weather and road debris.
You can opt to have your vehicle shipped door-to-door or terminal-to-terminal depending on your budget, your pick-up and drop-off locations, and whether or not you want to keep the car in storage for a period of time.
To find out how much the service will add to the total cost of your move, customers are encouraged to request a separate quote on the website's car shipping page. One of the company's move coordinators will work with you to set a firm deliver-by date, but you should plan to be without your car for eight to 10 business days if it's being transported between states.
Best Shed Moving Company: Allied Van Lines
Operates in: 50 states
Initial deposit required? No
Packaging provided? Yes
Pros & Cons
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Why It's on Our List
Allied Van Lines offers storage shed relocation as a specialty service since it may require extra equipment to move. Many items found in sheds can also be transferred by the company, like snow blowers and riding lawn mowers—though they'll need to be drained of gasoline before transport. Materials that can't go on the moving truck with your shed include paint and paint thinners, lighter fluid, and auto repair chemicals.
If you're unable to move into your new home right away, Allied provides in-transit storage for up to 90 days so that you don't have to pack up your belongings multiple times. Vehicle and boat relocation is also an available service, and Allied allows you to track each shipment through its online portal.
Best Commitment to Sustainability: Armstrong Relocation
Operates in: 19 states
Initial deposit required? No
Packaging provided? Yes
Pros & Cons
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Why It's on Our List
If you're worried about the impact your long-distance move will have on the environment, Armstrong Relocation is one step ahead of you. For all of its residential projects, the company uses recyclable packing materials, and for bigger commercial moves, it switches to reusable plastic crates and tubs.
In addition to its sustainable on-the-job practices, Armstrong converted its warehouses to LED lights in an effort to reduce energy consumption. The company also decreased its paper usage by switching to online documentation.
As for the services it provides, Armstrong offers packing and storage options as well as home staging assistance if you're in the process of selling your house. You can even hire the company to help with decluttering and organization before the actual packing begins.
Final Verdict
This list is comprised of reputable moving companies that offer customizable services, but Atlas Van Lines stands out as the best long-distance option. Its movers are located nationwide and the team operates a user-friendly customer portal through which you can get a personalized quote, make payments, and track your belongings as they travel between states.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the Difference Between Full-Service and Partial-Service Movers?
<p>A full-service mover does everything for you, including packing up your belongings and loading/unloading the truck. Some companies will also unpack your things once they've been brought into your new home. Partial-service movers typically load and unload, but don't help with packing—or they'll only box up certain items, such as fragile objects.</p>
How Do You Pack Dishes for Moving?
<p>One of the <a href="https://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/moving/packing/how-to-pack-to-move/" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1">best tips for packing fragile items</a> like dishes is to use a medium-sized box so that you don't overpack. Start with a layer of bubble wrap or foam on the bottom, then wrap each individual dish in some newspaper or craft paper. Once you tape up the box, label it as fragile and indicate which side should face up.</p>
Where Can I Buy Moving Boxes?
<p>Many companies sell moving boxes, but one of the <a href="https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/organizing/moving/best-moving-boxes" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="externalLink" data-ordinal="1" rel="nocaes">best places to buy supplies</a> online is Amazon. For local pick-up, retailers like Lowe's, Home Depot, and Walmart carry a variety of box sizes in-house.</p>
Methodology
Our guide to the best long-distance moving companies was compiled using more than 500 data points collected over a two-month span. BH&G's research team reviewed nearly 20 companies, looking at services provided, customer support channels, quote processes, online tools, and more.
Weights were assigned to each piece of criteria evaluated, then used to calculate an overall score. In order to receive a high rating, companies had to perform well in a handful of categories, including but not limited to:
Types of services offered (10%)
Nationwide availability (10%)
Company reputation (6%)
Online quote system (5%)
Packing options (5%)
The information presented here was accurate at the time of publication and confirmed by at least two data collectors. Verification was completed through customer service calls and live chat or email exchanges.
