Our top full-service picks for small moves are Allied Van Lines and Mayflower. Both movers provide dedicated service plans for clients with smaller homes.
Allied’s Express packages and Mayflower’s Snapmoves service plans offer loading and unloading, transportation and full-value protection at a bottom-line price. If you’d rather go the DIY route, U-Pack’s pack-and-load-yourself model caters to those with fewer furniture items to move and could be better for clients on a budget.
Even if you’re moving from a small studio apartment or dorm room, relocating can be stressful. That’s why each of the providers we recommend offers services catering specifically to small moves. They also received high ratings on our proprietary scale, which accounts for service offerings, coverage area, pricing practices, customer review scores and more.
Get quotes from at least three of the best movers to ensure you receive the best rate when moving from your apartment or small home.
What is a small move?
Moving companies typically define a “small move” as equivalent to a two-bedroom apartment or smaller residence. It could also mean moving items out of storage or one person’s belongings out of a house or apartment. Some examples of small moves include the following:
- College dorm rooms
- Studio or one-bedroom apartments
- Storage units
- Moving a young adult out of their parents’ house
Popular moving companies
We’ve listed our top providers for small moves here. Each offers dedicated service plans for moves from two-bedroom or smaller homes to help you plan an efficient relocation.
Our top choices for full-service moving companies
Based on our research and rating process, the moving companies in the table below are among the best local and long-distance relocation options.
The movers we’ve featured here offer dedicated plans for small shipments, complete with add-on service options and insurance.
Allied Van Lines
Mayflower
United Van Lines
Our top choices for self-service moving companies
Sometimes, you’re on a budget or just don’t need full-service assistance. Unless you (or a generous friend) have a truck large enough to fit all your belongings, a company specializing in self-service moving is your best bet. The companies below are some of our top picks for DIY moves.
U-Pack
PODS
U-Haul
What are the benefits of hiring a full-service moving company?
Hiring a full-service mover for your small move will most likely be more expensive than renting a moving container, but it has several advantages.
- You’ll enjoy a low-stress relocation: Relocating is a physical and mental burden. Hiring a professional to handle all the heavy lifting and fine details is the best way to reduce the frustration of moving. By leaving it to the pros, you can focus on planning your life post-move.
- You’ll have insurance coverage for your belongings: The federal government requires moving companies to provide released-value coverage with all moving packages. This coverage provides 60 cents per pound per item for loss or damage. Additionally, most movers offer full-value coverage at a cost. This can add peace of mind when moving more valuable items.
- You’ll avoid lifting injuries: Dropping a heavy dresser on your foot or pulling your back when lifting a couch are just two possible injuries that can happen when you move on your own. Professional movers know the best practices for lifting and carrying heavy items and can do so more efficiently.
What are the benefits of a DIY move?
Your other option for relocating is tackling the chore yourself (hopefully with the assistance of a friend or two). Here are a few top reasons to rent a truck or moving-and-storage container to move yourself.
- You’ll save money: The total cost of moving depends on several factors, including how many belongings you bring and how far you’re moving. But if you’re trying to save money, DIY is the way to go — especially if you use your own vehicle and don’t need to rent a storage container.
- You can move at your own pace: When you go the DIY route, you have the comfort of knowing that you’re in full control of the move, especially in terms of timing. Conversely, if you hire a mover, you may be at their mercy regarding pickup and delivery dates.
- You can handle your own belongings: Your items are insured up to a certain point if you hire a professional mover, but you can’t put a price on family heirlooms. If you don’t want a stranger’s hands holding your prized possessions, you may want to consider a DIY move.
How do you choose a moving company for a small move?
The rates and services offered by different professional movers might seem similar or even identical, but trust us when we say that no two moving companies are exactly alike. Consider the following before hiring a moving company for your next small move.
Step 1: Take an inventory of your home
Your first step when planning a move should be to conduct a thorough walk-through of your home. Do this around eight weeks before moving day.
Write down an inventory list of all the goods you plan to take with you and all you plan to toss. Break this list down room by room to better estimate the number of boxes you’ll need when packing.
Make a separate list of additional services you think you’ll need from your mover. These can include the following:
- Assembly and disassembly for larger pieces of furniture
- Crating for fragile items
- Packing and unpacking services
- Storage solutions for short- or long-term needs
- Valuation coverage (also known as full-value protection) for valuable goods
Discuss this list with your move coordinator when you get a quote.
Step 2: Check the movers’ licenses
All moving companies must maintain up-to-date licensing to operate legally. Any mover providing interstate moving services must have active United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Motor Carrier (MC) numbers. You can use these numbers to look up a given mover’s federal operating authority status on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s website.
Aside from this, most states have governing bodies to ensure movers maintain adequate insurance. In some cases, they may enforce pricing (tariff) regulations on movers in their respective jurisdictions.
Step 3: Consider the cost and get multiple quotes
Begin scheduling free quotes once you’ve compiled a full inventory list and determined which services you’ll need. Ideally, this step would occur six to eight weeks before your move. Request multiple moving quotes, and be sure to get them in writing. Then, book your move at least a month ahead of your ideal date.
Step 4: Read customer reviews
Customer reviews are your most valuable resource when researching moving companies. Location-specific reviews are far more reliable than reviews for a given mover’s corporate headquarters.
“I would be careful if the moving company has many complaints about providing misinformation or lowballing their quotes,” said Nancy Zafrani, the general manager at Oz Moving & Storage. “If there’s a lot of complaints about customer damages, that would indicate that their movers are not very well-trained and maybe they have a high rotation.”
Keep in mind that review platforms such as BBB often get flooded with complaints, which is not wholly indicative of customer experiences. Use BBB as a guidepost, but also consult Google Reviews, Yelp, social media and Trustpilot to help you make a decision.
Step 5: Decide whether you need additional insurance
In addition to the movers’ government-required insurance, many movers provide valuation coverage or full-value protection for goods. This coverage increases your compensation if something goes wrong during your move. In most cases, your added cost will equal a percentage of your shipment’s total declared value.
We surveyed 1,000 people who hired professional movers in 2023. Of the 229 who moved from a two-bedroom or smaller home, nearly 62% said they purchased valuation coverage to protect their goods. Depending on the belongings your mover will handle, adding this coverage may be a worthwhile investment. We recommend discussing this with your move coordinator during the quote process.
Final take: Book an all-inclusive small move service for a stress-free relocation
Full-service packages are far and away the most convenient option for most people, although moving-and-storage containers are another practical choice if you prefer more control throughout the process or have a smaller moving budget.
We recommend getting quotes from Allied Van Lines and Mayflower to start your moving process. If you’re planning a DIY move, U-Pack’s service profile and pricing are a good fit for many small-move clients.
Our rating methodology for moving companies
Our moving recommendations are all backed by our detailed rating methodology. To fairly assess both interstate and local movers, we have tailored two sets of review standards for long-distance and intrastate movers.
Both sets of review standards assess factors including reputation and customer satisfaction, availability and range, services offered, pricing and quote practices and customer service. We rate each moving company out of 100 possible points. We then divide the final score by 20 to obtain the 5-star rating we feature in our reviews.
BBB and Google Reviews are accurate as of April 2024.
Top local moving companies near me
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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