The Best Affordable Movers of 2022

If you’re planning to move long distance, you’re probably concerned about the price that you’ll need to pay for your moving services. When you consider that the average cost of long-distance moving is between $2,200 and $5,700, there’s little question why most homeowners are concerned about their savings when planning a move. If you’re moving cross-country (for example, from the San Francisco Bay area to New York City), your move might cost even more than the national average. These rising costs make it more important than ever before to select a team of movers that works with your budget.

While there are plenty of cheap moving companies operating throughout the country, not every company offers the high-quality services you need. Our team understands that no one wants to plan a move without help — which is why we’ve created a comprehensive guide to affordable moving companies to guide your search. Read on to learn a little more about:

• The best movers offering affordable moving services
• Tips on how to choose the best full-service moving company while staying within your budget
• Some characteristics you should look for when choosing a long-distance or local moving company

Our top recommended affordable movers for 2022: 

• Best Full-Service Mover: International Van Lines
• Most Transparent Pricing: American Van Lines
• Most Moving Partners: Moving APT
• Most Customizable Moving Experience: JK Moving Services
• Most Vehicle Shipping Options: Allied Van Lines
• Best Overall Container Service: U-Pack
• Best Pricing Options: North American Van Lines

Compare The Best Affordable Movers

International Van Lines

Why We Recommend International Van Lines

As the name suggests, International Van Lines (IVL) is a truly international moving company, able to provide services in every state as well as more than 150 destinations around the globe. IVL is a full-service mover, which means that their team provides an enhanced range of processes to make your move stress-free. For example, if you don’t have time to pack your own home or crate fragile items for transportation, IVL’s team can handle these tasks on your behalf for a small extra fee. These services are available a la carte, so you won’t need to pay for anything you don’t specifically request in your residential moving package.

IVL has developed its own in-home virtual estimate process to make it easier than ever to get personalized information on pricing. Simply connect with IVL to learn how to use its MoveOne software and book a date for your estimate. When your appointment date arrives, you’ll guide your IVL representative through your home using only the camera on your mobile device. This helps the company give you an accurate price on your move without inviting a member of the team to your property. 

Pros & Cons of International Van Lines

Services Offered

IVL currently offers the following add-on services you can book to enhance your move:

• Packing and unpacking services
• Loading and unloading services
• Furniture disassembly and reassembly
• Crating
• Specialized packing services for fragile items
• Storage solutions for both short-term and long-term periods
• Packing supplies
• Auto relocation

How Much Does International Van Lines Cost?

As is the case with most moving companies, IVL prices each move on an individual basis. The company considers a range of factors when pricing each move, but the distance you’re traveling and the number of rooms in your home play the biggest role in pricing. 

We’ve collected customer data from past IVL customers and summarized what we found in the table below. Read on to learn about what past homeowners paid for their moves from IVL to estimate the price you might pay for your services. 

State Availability: All 50 states

Get a quote from IVL here.

American Van Lines

Why We Recommend American Van Lines

American Van Lines (AVL) offers transparent pricing and a straightforward estimate process, which makes it a popular choice for movers on a budget. Unlike most moving companies, AVL offers flat-rate pricing, which means that you won’t be charged a premium if you need to book at the last minute. American also offers binding estimates upon request. When you get a binding estimate, it means that the cost of the move is finalized in a single lump-sum price — what you see on your written estimate is the total price you pay, with no hidden fees or hourly charges added later on.

Worried that you’ll lock in your services with AVL only to find a more affordable mover later down the line? AVL encourages you to explore all of your local options before booking your move date. The company is so confident in its rates that it offers a price-matching policy on all moves. If you get a quote that’s lower than AVL’s from a reputable moving company, AVL will match it. This policy gives you more time to contact competitors before you book to find the most affordable rate. 

Pros & Cons of American Van Lines

Services Offered

American Van Lines currently offers the following add-on services and options: 

• Packing and unpacking services
• Storage unit arrangement
• Specialty packing services for items like pianos and antiques
• Furniture disassembly and reassembly
• Crating for large items (like pianos)
• Moving supplies

How Much Does American Van Lines Cost?

Explore pricing averages from past American Van Lines customers using the table below. 

State Availability: 48 States

Get a quote from American Van Lines here.

Moving APT

Why We Recommend Moving APT

Unlike the other options on our list, Moving APT is not a moving company — it’s a moving broker. As a broker, Moving APT maintains partnerships with 2,500 carriers across the United States and schedules moves on behalf of its customers. After you connect with a Moving APT representative and tell them about all of your moving needs, Moving APT will compare carriers and negotiate a rate that works with your budget. The broker employs a strict quality control process when selecting the partners to include in their network — so, no matter which company you’re matched with, you know you’ll be getting quality service.

This model is a win-win situation for both you and the moving company you partner with. Moving APT can often negotiate more affordable rates because the mover has availability, which means you pay less for service. The movers get to spend more time on the road when they otherwise would not have been making money. If you happen to find a more affordable moving quote than the offer you receive from Moving APT, the company also has a price-matching policy. 

Pros & Cons of Moving APT

Services Offered

Moving APT currently offers the following add-on services and options: 

• Piano moving
• Auto shipping
• Packing services
• Packing supplies (included for some moves)
• Appliance connection services
• Limited furniture disassembly and reassembly

Need a service that you don’t see on the list above? Don’t be afraid to tell your moving coordinator; they can search through their rolodex of partnered companies to find anything you might need. 

How Much Does Moving APT Cost?

Moving APT’s price-matching policy and highly personalized packages make it difficult to estimate the price you might pay based on past customer data. As a general example of pricing, a recent 1,000-mile move for a four-bedroom home was quoted at a price of $7,800 from Moving APT. This is about in line with other affordable movers on our list. 

State Availability: All 50 States

Get a quote from Moving APT here.

JK Moving Services

Why We Recommend JK Moving Services

JK Moving Services is best known for its attention to detail and personalized moving packages. When you first connect with JK Moving Services, you’ll be paired with a personal moving coordinator to guide you through the moving process. Your moving coordinator will also help you create a custom moving package that covers all of your unique needs. For example, if you’re moving an in-home business along with your residential space, JK Moving Services could provide archival services to safeguard customer information.  

It can be difficult for most homeowners to pay for their entire move in a single lump sum. Instead of billing your move to your credit card, JK Moving Services can help connect you with financing options. Financing breaks down the total cost of your move into more manageable monthly payments instead of one large payment upon completion of your move. With lower upfront costs and 0% APR available, financing through JK Moving Services can be the ideal way for homeowners who don’t have much in savings to move. 

Pros & Cons of JK Moving Services

Services Offered

JK Moving Services currently offers the following add-on services and options: 

• Packing and unpacking services
• Loading and unloading services
• Long-term and short-term storage unit arrangement
• Transportation and delivery
• Freighting
• Crating
• Furniture disassembly and reassembly services
• Specialty services for items likes antiques and pianos
• Specialized services for commercial moves for law firms, hospitals, and other specialized workplaces
• Government moving services
• Archive services
• Auto relocation services

How Much Does JK Moving Services Cost?

Like Moving APT, JK Moving Services offers a highly personalized estimate process. As a general idea of pricing, we found that you can usually expect to pay between $2,500 and $5,500 when you move a two-bedroom home a total distance of 500 miles. Though this makes JK Moving Services a bit more expensive than its competitors, you should still be sure to get a quote to learn more about what you will pay for service. 

State Availability: All lower-48 states.

Get a quote from JK Moving Services here.

Allied Van Lines

Why We Recommend Allied Van Lines

If you’re looking for a cheaper way to move your vehicles, consider Allied Van Lines’ relocation services. The company has the capability to move nearly any type of vehicle, including RVs, dirt bikes, standard sedans, and even boats. They offer both affordable open carry and protective closed carry options, allowing you to balance costs and coverage when you move. Allied Van Lines will even cover the cost of a rental vehicle to continue your life as usual if your auto shipment is late.

With more than 80 years of experience within the moving industry, Allied Van Lines has made a name for itself as an affordable and reliable moving company. Allied Van Lines is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and maintains a BBB grade of A+. This indicates that unbiased review professionals found that Allied’s advertising was in-line with the services it offered and that the company has a history of actively responding to and resolving customer complaints.

Pros & Cons of Allied Van Lines

Services Offered

Allied Van Lines currently offers the following add-on services and options: 

• Packing services and unpacking services
• Fragile-only packing
• Storage for in-transit items
• Arrangement of long-term storage units
• Shipment tracking
• Furniture disassembly and reassembly
• Auto and boat transport
• Basic liability coverage
• Full-value coverage

How Much Does Allied Van Lines Cost?

Explore pricing averages from past Allied Van Lines customers using the table below. 

State Availability: All 50 states

Get a quote from Allied Van Lines here.

U-Pack

Why We Recommend U-Pack

The cheapest way to move to a new home is to rent a moving truck and enlist a few friends to help you load and unload. However, there are plenty of situations when you might not be able to rent a truck — for example, if you don’t have a driver’s license or your insurance is expired. If this is the situation you find yourself in, consider moving with a moving container service like U-Pack. U-Pack provides you with a moving container about the size of a parking space delivered straight to your home. You’ll load your things into the container over the course of three days. Then, U-Pack will pick up the container, deliver it to your new home, and you’ll unload it on your own time.

U-Pack’s unique moving container service can be ideal for anyone ready to put in a little elbow grease to save money on their move. Moving container service is significantly more affordable than hiring a full-service moving company and you don’t need to go through the hassle of navigating a commercial vehicle. U-Pack also offers instant online pricing — so even if you don’t think you want to work with U-Pack, you should still take 30 seconds and get a quote.  You can’t know how much you might be saving until you explore all of your options! 

Pros & Cons of U-Pack

Services Offered

U-Pack currently limits its services to long-distance moving container and storage services. This limited list of offerings helps you save on your move, but it might make U-Pack a poor choice if you’re moving multiple large items or you need other major services.  

How Much Does U-Pack Cost?

Explore pricing averages from past U-Pack customers using the table below.

State Availability: All 50 States

Get a quote from U-Pack here.

North American Van Lines

Why We Recommend North American Van Lines

North American Van Lines is notable for its variety of pricing and estimate options. For example, you can request a “not to exceed” estimate, which puts an upper limit on the total amount that your mover can charge for services. You can also request “per item” pricing if you only need to move one large, heavy, or bulky item. Connect with North American Van Lines to discuss pricing options and choose the structure that’s most advantageous for you.

North American Van Lines is also committed to ensuring the safe arrival of your shipment. GPS tracking is included on all moves, allowing you to track your household goods in real-time. North American even trains its drivers using a proprietary driving simulator, lowering the chances of a collision. 

Pros & Cons of North American Van Lines

Services Offered

North American Van Lines currently offers the following add-on services and options:

• Full-service packing
• Fragile-only packing
• Boxes and moving supplies
• Appliance disconnection and reconnection
• Furniture disassembly and reassembly
• Custom crates
• Loading and unloading
• Crane vans for large items
• Storage
• Auto transport
• Basic liability coverage
• Full-valuation coverage

How Much Does North American Van Lines Cost?

Explore pricing averages from past North American Van Lines customers using the table below.

State Availability: All 50 States

Get a quote from North American Van Lines here.

What To Look For In Affordable Movers

As you begin planning the moving process, you might notice that there are many cheap movers offering services online. While no one wants to believe that they could find themselves involved with a team of rogue movers, the unfortunate truth is that these types of scams are more common than you might think. According to a report from the Better Business Bureau, scammers can make your moving experience a nightmare with hidden fees, unqualified staff, and even theft. Be sure to look for the following red flags when you choose a moving company to avoid a stressful or delayed move.

• Refusal to show federal licensing: Moving companies that provide interstate moving services must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The FMCSA is a federal regulatory body that oversees the moving industry and monitors things like truck tune-ups and collision records. To verify that a company is registered with the FMCSA, ask for the company’s USDOT number. Movers that claim that they can provide interstate moving without a USDOT number are likely working outside of the law and should be avoided.
• High-pressure sales tactics: Legitimate moving companies will never pressure you to sign a contract that you haven’t read or that you don’t fully understand. Be aware of high-pressure sales tactics that movers might use to get you to sign a contract with a less-than-legitimate company. As an example, avoid moving companies that tell you that a quote is only valid for a small amount of time or companies with pricing that’s significantly lower than competitors.
• Limited online information: Legitimate moving companies want as many local residents to know about their business as possible. When you research moving companies, check out their websites and third-party review sites like the Better Business Bureau or Trustpilot. If a moving company does not list a physical address on its website or doesn’t have many positive reviews, proceed with caution. 

What Costs Are Involved With Affordable Movers?

When you understand the factors that go into the moving estimates you get from each company, you can take steps to lower the total price you’ll pay for service. While you cannot always change where you’re moving or when you can set yourself up for a successful and affordable move by taking the following factors into consideration.

• The volume of your household goods: Moving companies know that there are laws set in place by the FMCSA that control the weight of each moving truck the company puts on the road. This means that if you have more heavy objects to move or a larger home, your professional moving company might need to spend more on labor and transportation costs to stay within the bounds of the law. Downsizing as much as possible before your move (especially when it comes to awkward or heavy items like pianos or furniture) can help you save a significant amount of money on your moving process.
• Your move date: Did you know that the day you move can play a major role in the price that you pay for your professional movers? Long-distance movers know that certain times of the year are more popular than others for moving, so they increase their prices around these dates. If you can afford to change your moving day, you might want to consider avoiding a move during the summer season — this is the most popular (and expensive) time to move.

Sometimes, you cannot wait months to book your moving company and get on the road to your new home. If you must move during the summer, consider booking your move on a weekday as opposed to a Friday or Saturday. Most homeowners move on the weekends, so you can usually save money by moving during the workweek.

• Any extra services you add to your package: While you can request that your local movers do things like book storage facilities and pack up your home, remember that each extra service you add to your move increases the final price you pay. Providing your own packing supplies, enlisting a few friends to pack and label boxes, and wrapping your own furniture can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on your upcoming move. 

Final Thoughts

When looking for the best moving company, make sure that you get a quote from multiple competing providers before you book a date. Why is this such an important step? Every moving company uses its own formula to determine what you’ll pay for your moving services. This means that it’s entirely possible to find the exact same moving processes from ten different companies at ten completely different price points. Explore all of your options and be sure that you get your quotes in writing — even if you don’t end up working with a moving team you have a quote from, you can use that quote with companies that offer price-matching policies.

House Method Rating Methodology

At House Method, our primary goals are to be a reliable source of information and to be totally transparent to our readers. With that in mind, we’ve developed the following formula to render objective ratings – on a scale of 10 points – for the moving companies we review.

• Transparency (3.0): Communication and being fully straightforward regarding company policies and licensing are incredibly important. A given mover’s willingness to display these, to supply quick quotes, and to provide clearly-worded moving contracts all factor into the three points within this single rating criteria.
• Cost (2.5): A mover’s cost relative to industry averages, as well as accessibility to cost data play a role in the customer experience as much as anything else. We know that being sure of what you’re paying – and being confident that you’re not overpaying – will ultimately make for a positive move. We’ve weighted cost factors accordingly in our ratings.
• Customer Service (2.0): Establishing an easy line of contact with your movers during the booking process or during the move itself is a huge asset for any moving client. The stress of moving, in general, can be greatly eased by knowing you can talk to a licensed professional whenever you need to, which is why we’ve listed this as a key rating category. This is where customer reviews come into play; since the majority of complaints stem from poor customer service, feedback from BBB, Yelp, Google, and other review platforms factor into this criteria.
• Services Offered (1.5): This rates lower on our priority list than many would think, simply due to the fact that many movers provide a similar line of services. However, breadth of service offerings does still vary to a degree.
• Customization Options (1.0): Having the autonomy to fully customize your move should rate highly on any moving checklist. Here, we’ve taken moving package customization ability, as well as pricing for more involved add-ons. Steep pricing for such services can provide something of a soft barrier for clients looking to add to their move, and we’ve taken this into consideration.