Home A Guide to the Most Reasonably Priced Nationwide Moving Companies American Van Lines offers a variety services across the continental U.S. for the most affordable moves. By Stefanie Waldek Stefanie Waldek Stefanie Waldek is a writer with eight years of experience in the home industry. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 23, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Photo: Chris Ryan / Getty Images Moving is expensive, and that might be the understatement of the century. Long-distance and cross-country moves can be especially pricey—often in the five-figure range for a three-bedroom house. Fortunately, there are a number of companies that strive to keep costs as low as possible for customers. The best cheap moving companies typically reduce costs by one of two methods: either the company has a robust network of trucks and workers to meet demand, or it simply sends large shipping containers to its customers to load and unload themselves. As a rule of thumb, the more work you're willing to do as a customer, the less you'll need to spend. But some options allow you to do some of the labor yourself while outsourcing the rest. To simplify the sometimes complicated process of finding an affordable moving company, we've selected not just the best overall option but also the best company in a variety of categories. These companies run the gamut from entirely self-service (minus the shipping part) to full service (meaning you barely have to lift a finger, including for packing). There are plenty of add-ons, too, that allow for specialized services customized to your needs. Need help loading but not unloading? No problem. Maybe you have a priceless grand piano that needs to be shipped to another country? No big deal. Somewhere on this list is a moving company that will meet your every need. Moving is often cited as one of the most stressful experiences a person can go through, right up there with a bad breakup or job loss. Let us relieve some of that anxiety with this comprehensive list of affordable moving companies that can get your furniture across town, across the country, or even across the world. Best Cheap Moving Companies of 2023 Best Overall: American Van Lines Best Budget: U-Pack Best Variety of Services: Atlas Van Lines Best International: International Van Lines Best App: JK Moving Services Best Customer Service: North American Van Lines Best Insurance: United Van Lines Best Flexibility: PODS Best Moving Containers: 1-800-Pack-Rat Best Overall: American Van Lines Get a Quote Key Specs Nationwide Availability: 48 statesPacking & Loading Options: Full serviceInitial Deposit Required? Yes Pros & Cons Pros Can carefully handle antiques Is environmentally conscious Offers guaranteed delivery dates Cons Frequently outsources moves Cannot track the status of a move Why It Made the List American Van Lines is our top pick among all budget moving companies due to its all-around quality service and specialty offerings. Available in every state other than Hawaii and Alaska, the company will provide a quote after a virtual house tour, where a representative will examine your furniture to estimate the number of boxes your move will need. We like this relatively simple, straightforward process as opposed to the confusing cost estimates sometimes given by other moving companies. In addition, American Van Lines is well-regarded for its customer service, environmentally-friendly policies, and fast delivery times. The company can also cater to special requests and even specializes in handling fragile items, such as antique artwork and pianos. While American provides excellent service across the board, it does outsource most of its smaller moves, which means that the quality of your experience may vary. It would also be beneficial if American provided specific tracking information so customers have a more precise sense of when their items will be delivered—guaranteed delivery dates are the last possible date that your items will arrive, but they do frequently arrive earlier. Best Budget: U-Pack U-Pack Get a Quote Key Specs Nationwide Availability: 50 statesPacking & Loading Options: Partial service, self serviceInitial Deposit Required? No Pros & Cons Pros GPS tracking allows you to monitor your move Self-service options keep prices low Offers customizable service options Cons Customers only have a three-day window to pack and unpack 150-mile requirement means short-distance moves will not be accepted Why It Made the List U-Pack offers inexpensive moving services thanks to its customizable service options that allow customers to pack and unpack their own items. Essentially, U-Pack is renting out space on a track that you can use to ship your items—without driving that truck yourself. Everything else is handled by you, although there are options to hire movers to help you load and/or unload if you desire. The company also offers some helpful bonus features, such as GPS tracking to monitor exactly where your belongings are at all times. Acquiring a cost estimate is a quick and easy process since you need only provide details about where you're going and how many containers you'll need for all your belongings. Unlike other DIY container moving companies, U-Pack has a relatively short window to load and unload your belongings. Once your container arrives, you have three business days to pack it. When it arrives at your final destination, you'll have three business days window to unload everything into your new home. Despite its widespread availability, U-Pack does not handle moves that are less than a distance of 150 miles. So customers moving from one part of town to another will not be able to use U-Pack. Best Variety of Services: Atlas Van Lines Get a Quote Key Specs Nationwide Availability: 50 statesPacking & Loading Options: Full service, partial serviceInitial Deposit Required? No Pros & Cons Pros Many services offered, including vehicle and corporate moving Is available both nationwide and internationally All moves covered by a full-value insurance plan Cons Does not offer self-service moving options Why It Made the List Atlas Van Lines provides service across all 50 states and internationally in 140 countries and counting. The company prides itself on handling nearly any type of move, from cars and boats to pianos and antiques, and can even handle corporate relocations, military moves, and car transport. It also has options to safely store your items until you're ready to unload and unpack them. The company offers a full-service move, which means movers can pack up all of your belongings in addition to loading them onto a truck and shipping them. Despite these varied services, there is one option Atlas doesn't have, which is the self-service container option provided by companies like U-Pack. Representatives can provide quotes either in-home or virtually. Best International: International Van Lines international van lines Get a Quote Key Specs Nationwide Availability: 50 statesPacking & Loading Options: Full service, partial serviceInitial Deposit Required? Yes Pros & Cons Pros Services 150 countries Offers comprehensive insurance protection Gives instant quotes Cons Sometimes subcontracts moves Some states have less service coverage than others Why It Made the List As the name implies, International Van Lines is an excellent option for customers looking to move internationally. In addition to nationwide coverage throughout all 50 states, the company will send your items to as many as 150 countries. As a Federal Maritime Commission-licensed company, International Van Lines is very capable of handling ocean freight moves and offers two types of ocean freight shipping (less than container load and full container load) with four different moving plans: door-to-door, door-to-port, port-to-door, and port-to-port. Door-to-door is the most comprehensive move covering loading, clearing customs, and delivering your goods to your new home. Along with these international shipments comes the option of a comprehensive, full-value insurance coverage plan. Cost estimates can be acquired quickly and easily online, although these instant quotes are neither binding nor guaranteed to be completely accurate. International also offers a wide range of services, from supplying crates to store sensitive items such as electronics or artwork to company office relocation. There aren't many flaws with International, but the company does sometimes subcontract smaller, local moves, which means the customer service experience might vary depending on the subcontractor. The company also has fewer office locations in some states, so check to ensure one is near you when considering International Van Lines. Best App: JK Moving Services JK Moving Services Get a Quote Key Specs Nationwide Availability: 50 statesPacking & Loading Options: Full service, partial serviceInitial Deposit Required? Yes Pros & Cons Pros Offers a convenient and helpful mobile app Uses dash cams to monitor drivers Offers both virtual and in-home price estimates Cons Does not offer online quotes Limited local moves are available Why It Made the List The JK Moving Services mobile app allows customers to keep an eye on nearly every step of their move, including tracking the current status of your items. It may seem like every company has an app these days, but it's rare for moving companies in particular. An app certainly comes in handy throughout the moving process, especially if you'd rather not wait for someone to call you back with updates on your move. Vehicles are also equipped with dash cams for further monitoring of shipments and progress. A nationwide provider, JK Moving Services offers both virtual and in-home price estimates (it's always helpful to have the option for both). The company does not offer instant online quotes, so you must procure all estimates via one of these two options. One thing to remember is that JK tends to focus on longer-distance moves, so the company may not accept some local moves. For specific details, contact the company directly. Best Customer Service: North American Van Lines North American Van Lines Get a Quote Key Specs Nationwide Availability: 50 statesPacking & Loading Options: Full service, partial service, self serviceInitial Deposit Required? No Pros & Cons Pros Offers 24/7 customer service Online shipment tracking is available Helpful website provides moving info, guides, and videos Cons Quality of service may vary if the move is subcontracted Does not offer online quotes Why It Made the List When it comes to customer service, it's hard to beat 24/7 availability. North American Van Lines always has someone to answer your questions and assist with any in-progress moves. Given that some moves can occur pretty early in the morning outside of normal business hours, this is definitely a plus. North American also has a package that ensures your provided quote will be the ceiling for your actual payment. In other words, you'll never have to pay more than the price estimate. North American's website is filled with info, guides, FAQs, and videos to help explain nearly every aspect of moving as a resource for both existing and potential customers. The only possible downsides with North American are pretty common among moving companies; it does not have quick online quotes, although those are usually not especially accurate. It also sometimes subcontracts moves, so customer experience can vary on a case-by-case basis. Best Insurance: United Van Lines United Van Lines Get a Quote Key Specs Nationwide Availability: 46 statesPacking & Loading Options: Full service, partial serviceInitial Deposit Required? No Pros & Cons Pros Instant online quotes Offers cleaning options Storage options available Cons Customers report inconsistent service experiences Prices on average tend to be higher than some competitors Why It Made the List United Van Lines stands out from most moving companies for one simple reason: it offers full-valuation coverage with every single move. This means that United will be responsible for $6 per pound of shipped items. Most companies only cover around $0.60 per pound. While other moving companies can offer full-valuation coverage, you'll have to pay extra, whereas United includes it with every move. United also offers bonus features like add-on cleaning options, short and long-term storage, and instant online quotes. Note that these quick estimates provide a ballpark figure, but a formal quote will be necessary prior to any move. While it can be difficult to assess whether online reviews represent overall company performance, there are more than a few customer complaints. Service can vary depending on the agents that handle specific moves. When considering United, you may want to speak with a customer service representative about the ratings and reputation of your agent. Best Flexibility: PODS Pods Moving Get a Quote Key Specs Nationwide Availability: 44 statesPacking & Loading Options: Partial service, self serviceInitial Deposit Required? Yes Pros & Cons Pros Containers come in multiple sizes Self-service packing and unpacking saves money There are flexible timelines for loading and unloading items Cons Is not available in Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming No full-service options are available Why It Made the List PODS is another self-service, DIY moving company that brings a container (or containers) to your house, which you then load up with your items on your own. The company then ships the container to your new residence. This approach saves customers money since they handle all the packing, organizing, and loading themselves. PODS stands out from similar companies in its remarkably flexible loading and unloading window. Unlike competitors that only allow a few days to load a container, PODS will provide up to an entire month. This allows you to pack and load your items at your own speed. And whenever you're ready, simply let PODS know, and they'll pick up the container. Since there are no full-service options to consider, you can obtain price estimates pretty easily either through the company website or on the phone. Although PODS is available throughout much of the country, it does not provide service in Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Along with the DIY approach comes the one downside: a lot of the work will be your responsibility. While you can find movers to help you load up the containers—known as a partial service move—this will cost extra. Best Moving Containers: 1-800-Pack-Rat 1-800-Pack-Rat Get a Quote Key Specs Nationwide Availability: 31 statesPacking & Loading Options: Partial service, self serviceInitial Deposit Required? Yes Pros & Cons Pros Containers are waterproof and made of steel Customers are given 30 days to load and unload container Add-on moving services are available Cons No full-service options are available Service is not necessarily available everywhere Why It Made the List 1-800-Pack-Rat is another DIY moving service that provides containers that you load and unload yourself (unless you want to pay extra for help). While its services are generally comparable to other container self-service moving companies, it has one stellar feature: its waterproof, weatherproof steel containers. Some companies provide containers that are a bit flimsy, made of thin wood, but 1-800-Pack Rat prides itself on ensuring your items are safe and secure. In fact, no other moving company in the country offers all-steel moving containers. The company also partners with HireAHelper to make adding additional services easy and convenient; this can especially come in handy if you need physical assistance loading or unloading heavier items. It's a bit unclear how large Pack Rat's service area is. It has locations in 30 states and can provide service within 100 miles of each site. So presumably, many areas of the country are out of range. To confirm Pack Rat is available at your address, you'll need to contact the company directly. Final Verdict While there are many great moving companies on this list, we ultimately decided that American Van Lines was the best of the bunch. American prides itself on being available, reliable, and fast, and it aims to cater to all specialized needs. This makes American an easy recommendation for the vast majority of people looking to book an affordable mover. Just note that American does not have a self-service option, but it's rare to find a company that offers both full service and self-service moves, as companies tend to either focus on one or the other. Most customers seeking the more traditional arrangement of packing up their own belongings and relying on movers to handle the rest will want to look into American Van Lines. Other companies on this list offer some of American's services, but none offer all of them. Compare the Best Cheap Moving Companies Company Nationwide Availability Packing & Loading Options Initial Deposit Required? Type of Quote Tracking Feature? American Van Lines Best Overall 48 states Full service Yes Non-binding No U-Pack Best Budget 50 states Partial service, self service No Non-binding Yes Atlas Van Lines Best Variety of Services 50 states Full service, partial service No Binding and non-binding Yes International Van Lines Best International 50 states Full service, partial service Yes Non-binding Yes JK Moving Services Best App 50 states Full service, partial service Yes Non-binding Yes North American Van Lines Best Customer Service 50 states Full service, partial service, self service No Binding Yes United Van Lines Best Insurance 46 states Full service, partial service No Binding Yes PODS Best Flexibility 44 states Partial service, self-service Yes Binding Yes 1-800-Pack-Rat Best Moving Containers 31 states Partial service, self-service Yes Non-binding No What Factors Impact the Cost of a Move? Moving costs derive from several factors, but size, distance, and labor are the three biggest general categories. Size refers to the number of things you're moving from one residence to the next. Distance is the distance from your old residence to your new one. And labor refers to the amount of work you are willing to do versus the amount of work you want someone else to do, which can be broken down into three categories: full-service, partial-service, and self-service. Size of Residence The larger your abode and the more items you have, the more expensive it will be to move. Full-service movers typically price the size of your moves based on weight, so specific items, such as large pieces of furniture, can be more costly than several lightweight boxes. Moving companies tend to do some visual inspection, whether virtually or in-person, to estimate the overall weight of your items. The final number is determined when your items are loaded onto the moving truck and weighed. If you're doing a self-service move, you might not have to weigh your items, but you will have to estimate how much space they'll take up in a moving container—the more containers you use, the more expensive your move will be. Distance A fairly basic but vital factor in determining the cost of moving is the distance your belongings will need to travel. Local moves are the least expensive, followed by moves that might be a state or two away. Cross-country moves will substantially increase costs. And, of course, international moves are the priciest of all. Full-Service Full-service moving refers to hiring movers to take care of everything. That means the movers will pack up your belongings, load your belongings onto a truck, transport your belongings to your new residence, and then unload and unpack everything at your new residence. Some companies offer even more than this and will even remove any debris that you leave behind. Predictably, full-service moving is by far the most expensive option. Partial-Service Partial-service is the most common option for a move and usually entails packing up your belongings and then allowing the movers to load and transport them. Then, at your new residence, you unpack everything once the movers take the items off the truck and bring them into your home. Partial service can vary, though, and might mean that your items are only loaded but not unloaded or vice versa. Moving companies are usually happy to offer various partial-service options so that you can customize your move according to your specific needs. Partial service is the mid-tier option in terms of cost. Self-Service Self-service or DIY moving is when a moving company only handles transportation. This usually comes in the form of a large shipping container that is dropped off at your residence, which you will need to load yourself—often within a stipulated period of time, from a few days to a month. Then the movers will pick up the container and transport it to your new residence or a storage facility. You will then be responsible for unloading the container at your new residence. This option will save you money and is the least expensive option, but it requires a lot of work. Ways to Save Money During a Move Aside from selecting one of the companies on this list, there are additional tips for saving money when moving. A general rule is the more work you're willing to do yourself, the more you can save. But there are other ways to cut costs without even breaking a sweat. Pack Everything Yourself If you're willing to pack all your items up, you'll reduce your move estimate significantly. Packing up items requires hours of movers' time, which is costly. Plus, the movers will usually charge a lot for moving boxes and packing materials. Taking care of packing on your own will significantly reduce the cost of your move. Load Everything Yourself By using a shipping container, you have the option of loading all of your items into the container yourself. This means you aren't hiring anyone to do this for you, reducing the cost of labor. By taking the DIY approach, you can easily save hundreds of dollars—if not thousands. Get Rid of Items You Don't Need To Move Aside from packing and loading your items, consider removing some items. The less you have to move, the less you'll spend on the move. Consider donating some items, giving them away to family and friends, or perhaps even selling them to generate additional funds for the move. It might even be cheaper to purchase new items after the move, depending on their cost and weight. Acquire a Handful of Cost Estimates One easy strategy for cutting costs is to shop around first. Get price estimates from a few companies to see who will charge you the least. Of course, also consider what services each company offers so you know what (if anything) you're sacrificing in exchange for a reduced cost. Transport Some Items Yourself Transporting items yourself can go a long way in reducing the price. Since costs are most commonly determined in part by the total weight of your belongings, anything you can do to reduce the total weight will help save you money. Borrow Supplies People move all the time, and the odds are pretty good that you know someone who has done so recently. See if you can borrow boxes, tape, and other supplies rather than buy them yourself. Even the least expensive types of moving boxes can add up pretty quickly. Frequently Asked Questions What Day Is Cheapest to Hire Movers? Moving companies are busiest on weekends, so you stand a better chance of saving some money if you pick a weekday instead, when moving companies typically have more availability. It's also a good idea to avoid moving on or near holidays, as moving companies are more likely to be booked. How Do Movers Calculate Cost? Moving costs are generally based on the distance your belongings need to be transported and the total weight and size of your belongings. The service level you select (full, partial, or self) will also greatly impact the overall cost. Another important factor in determining cost is the number of movers and the number of hours they'll need to work. This is usually determined by the number of items you need to move. Can You Negotiate Moving Prices? If you've been quoted a better rate by a competing moving company, you can try to use that better rate to negotiate with other companies. Some companies will happily meet competitor rates, while others may hold firm. But it is advisable to at least try negotiating a price if you have a more competitive offer elsewhere. What Is a Reasonable Price for a Local Move? On average, a typical partial-service local move will be calculated at a rate of $25 to $50 per mover per hour, plus the home size. So a small one-bedroom move with two movers working for four hours might cost around $400. A larger five-bedroom house with five movers working all day might cost around $3,000. Moves that require additional services, such as packing all belongings, will cost more. Note that these are all estimates; you'll have to contact your movers for more specific pricing details. What's the Cheapest Way to Move Long-Distance? The cheapest way to move long-distance is to use a self-service shipping container moving service, such as PODS, 1-800-Pack-Rat, or U-Pack. This type of service eliminates the need to hire movers to pack and/or load boxes and furniture, thus significantly reducing costs. But it does require you to do the most labor yourself. Is It Cheaper to Buy New Furniture or Move It? It all depends on your specific situation. It's important to determine the value of your furniture. If you have costly pieces, it might be worth paying for the move rather than replacing them. If you have cheap, heavy furniture, paying for the move might not be worth it— you could sell the furniture, save the money on the move because the total weight you're moving will be lower, and buy new pieces when you arrive. Do You Pay Movers Before or After a Move? Although some moving companies will require an upfront deposit, for the most part, you will pay movers once the move is complete. This is because many factors can impact your moving costs, meaning that your initial quote may change once the move is complete. Moving companies also want to ensure that all items have been delivered safely before requiring payment. Do Movers Expect a Tip? Tipping movers is not strictly required, but it is recommended. Most of the time, movers will probably expect some sort of tip—they are putting in hard labor, after all. Specific factors such as weather, the number of steps, and the weight of the furniture should also be considered in determining tip amounts. More challenging moves should result in higher tips. Methodology In order to compile a list of the best cheap moving companies, our research team made dozens of customer service calls and enlisted the help of data collectors to fill in the blanks for more than 30 criteria points. These included nationwide availability, storage options, valuation coverage offerings, and customer support channels. Each criteria point was assigned a weight, then grouped into one of six categories: Customer experience (23 percent) Pricing/price transparency (20 percent)Coverage and types of moves offered (20 percent)Moving services (20 percent)Insurance/protection (10 percent)Reputation (7 percent) Scores were calculated based on these weights, and companies were ultimately given a rating out of five stars. To ensure that the information presented is accurate, two or more data collectors verified the research. This page will be updated with any changes to the highlighted companies' offerings. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! 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