We Spent 2 Months Searching for the Best Moving Companies—Here's What We Found

Best Overall: Atlas Van Lines

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Pros & Cons

Why It Made the List

No matter what type of move you're planning, it's likely that Atlas Van Lines can provide the support you need due to its nationwide coverage and long list of services. In particular, the company offers a wide range of packing and transportation options, including for specialty items like pianos, antiques, and fine art. Atlas also owns secure warehouses all over the country that can accomodate short- or long-term storage needs.

To receive a moving cost estimate, prospective customers can call the company's support line or fill out an online request form. Depending on the method you choose, you'll receive either a binding or non-binding quote—the former means you won't have to pay more than the initial amount given; the latter gives you a ballpark number that's subject to change.

One thing to keep in mind when booking is Atlas's cancellation policy. If you cancel your move within three days of signing the contract, you won't be charged, but canceling closer to your move date could lead to unwanted fees. These guidelines may be stricter than some local moving companies', which often allow customers to cancel as late as 24 to 48 hours in advance without penalty.

Best for Long-Distance Moving: North American Van Lines

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Pros & Cons

Why It Made the List

North American Van Lines' incredible resources hub and interactive online tools will help you plan ahead for a long-distance move. The packing calculator estimates what supplies are needed based on the amount of rooms you have and the number of years you've lived in your house. The shipment tracking feature lets you know exactly where your items are, whether you're moving across the country or overseas.

Ballpark estimates are created instantly when you fill out an online form (which takes less than two minutes), and the price you're given includes packing and unpacking, loading and unloading, and the 24/7 digital tracking function. In order to receive a binding quote, you must complete an in-person or virtual home assessment that'll take stock of your belongings.

Throughout the process, North American offers three different types of pricing:

• Bottom-line pricing: a guaranteed rate that's calculated based on your in-home assessment.
• Not-to-exceed pricing: your move will not cost more than the number provided, and the bill will be decreased if your move ends up costing less.
• Customized pricing: combines a guaranteed price with any added service charges.

If you opt for one or more of North American's additional services, such as appliance installation or furniture assembly, prepare to receive a customized rate from a customer service representative.

Best for Local Moves: Allied Van Lines

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Pros & Cons

Why It Made the List

Allied Van Lines is ideal for local moves because the company allows you to do as much or as little as you want. Looking to handle the packing yourself but need a bunch of boxes to get started? Allied will set you up with the right supplies even if you don't use its team of packers. For those of you worried about properly securing your more valuable items, the company can also arrange for a partial pack, leaving fragile and breakable objects, like artwork, mirrors, dishes, and more, in the capable hands of its professionals.

Another benefit to Allied Van Lines is its Allied Express option, which lets customers rent portable storage containers for smaller moves rather than forcing them to pay for a huge truck they won't fill. Unlike other moving container services, such as PODS or U-Pack, Allied Express offers full-service packing, loading, and unloading, so you don't have to do any of the heavy lifting. This is a particularly popular choice for apartment dwellers.

The company also provides in-transit storage if you can't move into your new home right away. Even if you're relocating down the street, Allied will safeguard your belongings for up to 90 days at one of its climate-controlled, heavily monitored facilities, taking some of the pressure off if your timeline doesn't match up perfectly.

Best for International Moves: Mayflower

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Why It Made the List

Having handled government and military relocations for more than 60 years, it's not surprising that Mayflower has developed an impressive operation for international moves. The process begins with a consultation to determine your exact needs, and an estimator will walk you through your transportation and value protection options before providing a customized quote. The price you receive includes full-service packing and the assistance of a move coordinator, who prepares the necessary paperwork for customs clearance, confirms delivery dates, and tracks your items as they make their way to your new home.

Unpacking, storage, and debris removal can all be added to your moving plan, as can auto transport, which does not require a third-party carrier. Mayflower even has a different quote request form for car shipping so that you can break down the costs separately.

Though your dedicated move manager will help keep you organized, Mayflower also offers an online portal that customers can use to stay up to date on everything. The desktop tool documents each stage of the moving process, allowing you to check off tasks as you go. You can also make payments, access important contact numbers, and edit entries on your to-do list.

Best for Small-Load Moves: Bellhop

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Pros & Cons

Why It Made the List

Bellhop may not offer as many services as some of the other companies on this list, but it's a great option if you're moving apartments or need help at a moment's notice. With Bellhop, you can hire hourly labor, meaning you only pay for the time you use (note: depending on the package you choose, a two- to three-hour minimum is required).

Another aspect of the company we like is its flexible scheduling. Bellhop accepts bookings with just one day's notice, though it's recommended that you give the team at least three days to prep for your move. Unlike many of its competitors, Bellhop doesn't require an in-home consultation, so it's much easier to make last-minute arrangements.

When you first request a quote, the company will suggest a moving plan for you based on the information you provide, but it also has a Build-Your-Own package, which allows you to tweak the number of movers, trucks, and hours you wish to reserve. With each Bellhop move, you have the option of hiring just a team of movers or movers plus a 16- or 26-foot truck. It's important to note that Bellhop is only available in 27 states, and not every city offers each service—for instance, packing is an add-on in just five markets at the moment.

Best for Packing and Moving: Colonial Van Lines

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Why It Made the List

The most stressful part of a move may in fact be the weeks leading up to it when everything you own has to be packed up in boxes. Luckily, many moving services provide full-service packing as an add-on, but Colonial Van Lines goes above and beyond with its offerings. In addition to a whole-home pack, the company can box or wrap up a single-item, your entire kitchen, or create a customized plan that includes specialty objects, such as antiques, artwork, and more.

You don't have to purchase any moving supplies ahead of time—Colonial takes care of that—but if you decide to pack up your belongings yourself, you can order boxes and other materials through the company's mobile app. The app also lets customers upload photos and videos of their items so that they can receive a more accurate quote for their move. The only thing missing is a tracking feature.

While some moving companies charge by room or square footage, Colonial's prices are based on weight. So if you're planning to move a lot of heavy items, make sure to compare quotes from several providers to see if Colonial makes the most financial sense.

Best Moving Pod Company: PODS

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Why It Made the List

With PODS, the name speaks for itself: Short for "portable on-demand storage," the company rents out containers for DIY moves, leaving it up to the customer to pack and load their own belongings. There are three container sizes available—8, 12, and 16 feet—with the largest being able to hold up to 1,200 square feet worth of furniture. If you're unsure which container to get or whether you need more than one, PODS' moving and storage calculator will point you in the right direction.

Apart from the container itself, the company also provides transportation from point A to point B. When you’re ready to move your things, a driver will collect the unit, and you can decide whether to have it moved to your new home or stored at a PODS facility, where it will be kept indoors.

Because you rent the container on a monthly basis, you can keep the unit at your home or at one of the company's secure warehouses for as long as you want. For context, rentals start at $149 per month and delivery and pick-up fees typically average $75.

Best Car Shipping Company: United Van Lines

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Why It Made the List

For interstate and long-distance moves, choosing to ship your car instead of driving it can save you a lot of hassle. But not every moving company provides the service. With United Van Lines, a designated move specialist will coordinate both your household move and your vehicle transport.

In the event that you just need United's car shipping services, you'll still be assigned a customer support manager to handle the logistics. They'll help you fill out the necessary paperwork, schedule and confirm pick-up and delivery dates, and walk you through the billing process.

Customers have a choice between door-to-door or terminal-to-terminal delivery, and while the former is more convenient, the latter doesn't require you to be there when the car gets dropped off. You can also store your vehicle at one of the terminals if you don't need it right away. As for the actual transportation, United offers both open-sided and enclosed carriers. Enclosed is recommended for cars that are over 25 years old or cost more than $60,000.

Best Moving and Storage Service: Wheaton World Wide Moving

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Why It Made the List

Wheaton World Wide Moving offers many services, but its storage options make it stand out over competitors. For instance, if you're moving across state lines, the company provides up to 180 days of in-transit storage, meaning that if you can't move into your new home right away, Wheaton will keep your belongings in one of its facilities for up to six months.

Even if you're moving locally, the company is able to store some or all of your things for a short or long period of time. The movers will even add extra packing materials, such as shrink wrap, to protect your items from getting damaged while they're in Wheaton's care. When you're ready for your belongings to be returned, Wheaton requires just 24 hours' notice to deliver them to your doorstep.

The company gives ballpark estimates for out-of-state moves through a form on its website, but in order to receive an accurate quote, you'll need to schedule a virtual or in-person home walk-through with one of Wheaton's representatives.

Best Online Quote System: U-Pack

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Pros & Cons

Why It Made the List

Most moving companies won't supply you with any type of estimate until you speak to one of their agents, but U-Pack's instant quote system spits out a number in a matter of minutes without making you enter a phone number or even an email address. Though the estimate you receive isn't binding, you don't have to pay a dime until your shipment is actually picked up.

Because U-Pack only provides the equipment used to transport your belongings, the bill will likely be significantly cheaper than if you were to hire a full-service mover. Customers can choose between a 28-foot trailer, which typically accommodates a three- to four-bedroom home, or a 6x7-foot ReloCube.

What's great about the trailer is that you only pay for the space you use, so transporting a heavy object that's tall rather than wide won't be as expensive as it would be with some other companies. If you're interested in the ReloCube option but worried that you'll need more space, U-Pack allows you to rent more than one at a time. However, unlike PODS, there is a limit for how long you can keep your trailer or cube. Customers are given just three business days to load up their container and another three days to unload their items at their new home.