When it comes to choosing a top-rated moving company, we know how important it is to separate the professionals from providers that just look good on paper. So we dug deep to understand how movers operate, what customers actually experience, and which companies deliver on their promises.
Moving Research Process
Our process focuses on checking available data points for each moving company, such as customer reviews and licensing information, as well as researching the moving experience and interviewing experts firsthand.
Customer Insights
We don’t just rely on company websites to learn more about customer experiences. Across three separate surveys, we heard from more than 3,000 people nationwide who have recently moved. They shared their stories—the good and the bad—and what made one move smooth and others not.
In addition, we read thousands of customer reviews from Google Reviews, Trustpilot, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). We look for patterns such as common complaints, standout service moments, and how companies handle problems that come up. These reviews give us a real window into how movers treat people once contracts get signed.
Verifying Credentials
Before recommending any moving company, we make sure the provider is properly registered and operating legally. We check every mover’s United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) number and dive into its Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) profile. This process helps us confirm if a moving company is licensed, insured, and up to date on safety standards.
Secret Shopping
We also experience the quote and booking process ourselves, just like you would when moving. We visit company websites, fill out quote forms, call customer service representatives, and ask detailed questions. We pay close attention to how helpful, transparent, and responsive each company is, whether online or on the phone. We also use quotes from our consumer surveys to compare costs.
Industry Experts
As part of our research process, we spoke with 15 professionals in the relocation industry, including agents, brokers, and industry insiders who’ve worked closely with moving companies for years. Their experiences help us understand which companies consistently show up for their clients and which ones tend to cause headaches, as well as some of the common misconceptions and misunderstandings that occur in the moving industry.
Factors We Evaluated When Comparing Moving Companies
When evaluating professional moving companies, our goal is to create a thorough and balanced system that reflects what truly matters to customers. To do this, we developed a 100-point scoring framework, grounded in real data, customer feedback, and industry best practices.
Each company is rated across six major categories: customer service, reputation, value, service offerings, item protection, and scheduling. These categories are broken down into 20 individual factors, each weighted based on its importance to the customer experience. The final score for each company is converted into a 5-star rating scale.
Below is a breakdown of how we assess each category and why each factor is essential to ensuring a smooth, trustworthy, and professional move.
Customer Service
Customer service plays a critical role in a successful move. It influences how smoothly everything runs, from your initial quote to the final box being unloaded. We focus on how companies interact with customers and how satisfied those customers were with the support they received.
We evaluate the following:
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating and score (3 points): BBB rating and letter grade reflect how well the company handles complaints and resolves issues.
- Online user experience (6 points): Online user experience assesses the ease of navigation, clarity of information, and accessibility of tools like quote forms or service overviews.
- Survey satisfaction levels (3 points): Customer satisfaction from our 2024 moving survey gathered feedback from 1,000 recent customers on their end-to-end experiences.
- Trustpilot rating (3 points): Trustpilot overall star ratings add an additional layer of customer sentiment from a diverse user base.
Reputation
A mover’s reputation is earned through years of reliable service, regulatory compliance, and attention to safety. Companies that score highest in this category not only meet industry standards but also go above and beyond by prioritizing customer safety and trust at every step of the process. We review multiple indicators of professionalism and operational quality to determine which companies stand out:
- License status (6 points): We check the license status through the USDOT to ensure each company is legally authorized to operate.
- Truck out-of-service percentage (6 points): Truck out-of-service rates, sourced from FMCSA data, help us measure how well a company maintains its fleet.
- Background-checked movers (2 points): Display of background-checked movers reflects an added commitment to customer safety and accountability.
Value
We gathered quotes for a standard 3-bedroom move ranging 500–800 miles so we can compare average price points across providers. We also include the following factors in our assessment of value:
- Average price for a 3-bedroom move (8 points): We look at how each company prices a long-distance move for a 3-bedroom home. Based on averages across our cost data, movers offering rates below $2,750 score the highest, while those charging more than $5,500 score lower, unless that higher price comes with exceptional service or extras. We consider companies in the $2,750–$4,499 price range as the average cost ot move, depending on the included services and benefits.
- Flat-rate or binding estimates (8 points): Movers that provide flat-rate or binding quotes upfront earn higher marks for transparency. These quotes lock in the final cost and protect customers from surprise fees or charges on moving day.
- Payment process (5 points): We consider the variety of payment methods accepted, including credit cards, certified checks, cash, and available financing options. Companies that make paying easy, secure, and flexible score higher, especially those that don’t require large upfront deposits. We also award bonus points to movers that offer general, senior discounts, or military discounts and those that match lower prices from competitors. These options help customers save money and demonstrate a company’s willingness to work with different budgets.
Service Offerings
Whether you’re moving a studio apartment or relocating an entire office, a strong mover should offer both the essentials and specialized solutions. We give higher scores to companies that provide flexible, comprehensive services for a range of customer needs.
Here’s how we evaluate service offerings:
- Services (13 points): While we expect every professional mover to handle the basics, we also rate companies on how clearly and consistently they offer core services. Movers that provide full-service packing and unpacking in addition to loading and unloading earn higher marks for convenience and completeness. We give extra points to movers that go beyond the basics. This includes fragile-only packing for delicate items, furniture disassembly and reassembly, appliance or electronics disconnection, piano moving, junk removal, office relocations, and vehicle shipping. The more options a company offers, the more likely it is that it can handle complex or custom moves.
- Packing supplies for sale (3 points): Companies that sell or provide packing supplies, like boxes, tape, and padding, score higher for convenience. This is a small detail, but it can save customers time and simplify the prep process.
- Do-it-yourself (DIY)-friendly options (3 points): We also look at whether companies offer portable storage containers or other hybrid services that allow for more control and flexibility. This is especially helpful for customers who want to pack on their own schedule or need short-term storage before the move.
Item Protection
We look closely at how each company protects your belongings, both in terms of liability coverage and preventive care. The best movers go beyond the basics by offering clear moving insurance options and taking proactive steps to avoid damage in the first place.
- Insurance options (8 points): By law, interstate movers must offer basic released-value protection (usually 60 cents per pound), but top-rated companies go further. We give higher scores to movers that clearly offer full-value protection, explain the differences between plans, and make it easy for customers to understand their insurance options before signing a contract.
- Protection services (13 points): We look at whether companies use physical safeguards during the move, such as furniture padding, shrink-wrap, floor runners, and door frame guards. Movers that use these tools consistently show a commitment to preventing damage, not just covering it after the fact.
Scheduling
We assess how simple it is for customers to get in touch with moving companies, request quotes, and manage their moves from start to finish. Movers that make it easy to communicate and stay organized earn top marks in our review.
- Contact options (5 points): We rate companies based on how many ways customers can reach representatives, including phone, email, live chat, or even text. Movers that offer multiple channels and have responsive, helpful support teams score higher for making communication straightforward and customer-friendly.
- Quote process options (3 points): We look at how easy it is to request a quote, whether online or by phone. Movers that provide quick, transparent estimates, without requiring a lengthy phone call or in-home visit, earn higher scores for accessibility and convenience.
- Mobile app (2 points): For companies with mobile apps, we evaluate whether the app can help customers schedule, track, and manage their move. Apps that provide updates, documents, or communication tools are a big plus in today’s on-the-go world.
- Online consumer portal (1 point): We also check for secure online portals where customers can log in, view estimates, sign documents, make payments, or check move status. Companies that offer this level of organization and transparency stand out as especially user-friendly.
Factor Weights for Rating Moving Companies
Here’s how we weigh each factor in our rating system:
| Category | Percentage of Total Score |
|---|---|
| Customer Service | 18% |
| Reputation | 14% |
| Value | 18% |
| Service Offerings | 19% |
| Item Protection | 20% |
| Scheduling | 11% |
How To Interpret Company Ratings
Moving companies that score between 90 and 100 points in our review reflect top-tier providers. These providers offer exceptional service quality, strong reputations, transparent pricing, and a wide range of reliable moving services. These movers also stand out for showing professionalism, responsiveness, and attention to protecting your belongings from start to finish.
We also consider companies scoring between 80 and 89 points as very strong choices. These providers may fall slightly short in one or two areas—such as offering fewer specialty services, slightly higher average prices, or less flexible scheduling—but still provide overall value. For many customers, these movers can deliver a smooth, worry-free experience.
Scores between 70 and 79 indicate a company performed fairly well but may have notable trade-offs. These movers often lag behind in areas like customer satisfaction, pricing transparency, or service offerings. While these companies don’t typically make our top recommendations, customers may still find them worth considering, especially if their services or pricing align with your specific moving needs and budget.
How To Choose the Best Moving Company for You
Even with rankings and reviews, the “best” moving company really comes down to what fits your move. What works for someone doing a full-service cross-country relocation might not work for someone moving across town with a few large items. Once you’ve narrowed down your options, here’s how to zero in on the right mover for your specific situation:
- Ask about equipment and crew standards: Does the company perform background checks on its movers? Does the company use newer trucks and professional moving equipment? These details can make a big difference in how smooth and secure your move feels.
- Ask about pricing transparency: The best companies offer flat-rate or binding estimates so you know what you’re paying before moving day. Watch for vague quotes or hourly rates without clear details.
- Check licensing: The company should have an active USDOT number if it’s servicing any move crossing state lines.
- Evaluate service offerings: If you need help with specialty items, like a piano or appliances, or want full-service packing, make sure the company offers the service. It’s also important to ask how the company prices those services.
- Look into customer reviews and complaint history: Google Reviews, the BBB, and Trustpilot can give you insight into how the company treats its customers, especially when something goes wrong.
- Pay attention to communication: We consider good moving companies responsive, clear, and helpful from the first interaction. If a company is hard to reach or vague during the quoting process, we would consider that a red flag.
- Understand cancellation and rescheduling policies: Life happens. It’s worth knowing how flexible a company is if your moving date changes or plans shift unexpectedly.