We’ve reviewed the best moving companies in Michigan for local and long-distance moves. We recommend starting with quotes from Allied Van Lines and Two Men and a Truck’s Detroit location to get an idea of how much your move will cost from our two top picks.
Here, you’ll find full breakdowns of many of the best Michigan moving companies based on our proprietary methodology. Each can provide you with basic or comprehensive moving assistance, complete with packing, vehicle shipping and more.
We recommend getting quotes from companies with a long-distance presence for interstate moving needs. Doing so will grant you access to a larger network of locations, moving crews and trucks, which can streamline lengthier multiday moves.
Popular moving companies
We chose the following moving companies as Michigan’s best local and long-distance options. Each offers a wide range of services and features high customer review scores.
Long-distance:
Our top choices for Michigan movers
We’ve listed our top overall moving companies for comparison here. Each rated highly due to their respective service offerings, availability, pricing structures and customer review scores.
Best long-distance movers in Michigan
The following moving companies either operate offices in Michigan or have partner companies that service the state. These locations can help with local and long-distance moves.
Best movers for a local Michigan move
If you’d rather book with a local mover, the following providers can offer direct service to all points in Michigan.
Making an informed choice: A guide to professional movers
Here, we’ve listed a few factors that should influence which movers you pursue for free quotes.
Moving services
Prepare a list of any special services you may need before requesting a quote from a full-service moving company. Before you start the quote process, take a comprehensive inventory of your home and write down all of the major items you plan to take with you. This will help you determine some of your add-on service needs.
These can include the following:
- Professional packing
- Crating for antiques or fine art
- Storage services
- Vehicle shipping
- Furniture assembly and disassembly
- Debris or trash removal
- Home staging
Carriers vs. brokers
Be aware of the type of moving company with which you book your move. Movers operate under two main service models: brokers and carriers.
Moving brokers operate as middlemen between you and household goods movers. Instead of providing service directly, they contract moving services out to actual moving companies. Often, these brokers take large deposits up-front as commission for booking a move.
Moving carriers, on the other hand, are more traditional moving companies. Carriers directly book and handle all moves, often with little or no deposit required for local relocations.
Moving regulations
Depending on the length of your move, your moving company will have different regulation requirements it must follow. These regulations give consumers recourse if moves go badly and ensure that all movers are properly insured.
Regulations for interstate and long-distance movers
All long-distance moving companies must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This governing body requires all movers to carry active United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Motor Carrier (MC) numbers. Use these numbers to look up a given mover’s registration status before booking any moving services.
Regulations for intrastate and local movers
All Michigan intrastate moving companies must be registered with the state Public Service Commission (MPSC). This governing body issues Intrastate Motor Carrier Certificates and MPSC numbers to all moving companies legally operating in the state.
Moving costs
Your move distance will affect not only the overall cost of your move but also the billing structure your movers will follow, whether hourly or flat-rate. Be aware of this and request written copies of any moving estimate you receive.
Long-distance moving costs
Long-distance moves are usually assigned transparent bottom-line rates based on move distance and total shipment weight. Long-distance moving companies will often weigh their trucks before and after loading to render accurate weights. Add-ons like packing services can also inflate costs.
We got several interstate moving quotes for a three-bedroom home moving 1,800 miles. With no add-ons, our average cost was $7,329. Packing services raised the average cost to $9,155.
Local moving costs in Michigan
Local movers charge by the hour. The number of movers and moving trucks assigned to your move will determine hourly rates. Most local movers provide ballpark estimates, with the final total determined by how long your move actually takes.
Similarly, most movers have minimum charges, which total between two and four hours of labor at your quoted hourly rate. So, even if you’re hiring movers to move a single item within your home, you’ll still have to pay the minimum rate.
Moving insurance
All moving companies provide released-value protection for moves at no additional cost. This provides 60 cents per pound per item in reimbursement if goods are lost or damaged during a move.
Beyond this, some moving companies offer full-value protection at an added cost. Under such coverage plans, you’ll be able to set a declared dollar amount of coverage for your entire shipment. Your premium for this coverage will be a percentage of this dollar amount. The exact added charge will depend on your moving company of choice and how they structure their coverage plans.
Final take: Allied Van Lines and Two Men and a Truck are our top picks for Michigan moves
We recommend getting quotes from Allied Van Lines and Two Men and a Truck’s Detroit location before planning any Michigan move. Allied Van Lines’ 500 locations across the country and large moving trucks give you access to numerous add-on services and a large moving network.
Similarly, Two Men and a Truck’s nationwide presence and locally owned franchises throughout the country allow you to shop locally while affording you the convenience of a long-distance moving company.
Get quotes from at least three moving companies before booking your relocation. Ensure you know the company’s business model (broker or carrier), pricing structure, available add-ons and coverage plans before signing a contract.
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 accurate as of April 2024.
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.
Go Back to Top