From your late grandmother’s piano to a custom appliance, there are plenty of situations when you might need to move a single, bulky item. Especially heavy or awkwardly shaped items can make the moving process more challenging, as they often require specialized lifting tools and packing to prevent damage during the transportation process. In these cases, you will need the services of expert heavy equipment movers.
If you’re moving an item that requires crating or is too heavy to lift on your own, we recommend working with a team of professional single item movers. Single item movers have specialized training in moving these types of items, helping you get your most valuable things to your new home without worrying about accidents or breakage. They also know how to lift, load, and unload heavy items as a team without the risk of injury.
4.5
One month of free storage included with your move
Provides moves in all 50 states
Offers air & ocean freighting
4.0
Flat rate pricing for all moves
Offers price matching
Expedited moves between big cities
4.2
Top-notch packing services
Nationwide partner network
Comprehensive moving calculator
As a homeowner, you have plenty of options when it comes to selecting a team of movers for your single item move. After reviewing dozens of professional moving services across the country, we’ve created a guide to help you find the best moving team for your unique needs. Read on to learn everything you need to know about the best single item movers operating nationwide.
The 7 Best Single Item Movers of 2024
Our top recommended single item movers of 2024 are:
Compare The Best Single Item Movers
The table below outlines data for the best moving companies on the market. We constantly update these ratings and price estimates to reflect industry changes. Continue reading in-depth reviews of several top providers.
Company | Best For | Our Rating | BBB Rating | Local Cost | Long-distance Cost |
 | Best Full-Service | B | $650–$1350 | $2,100–$5,400 | |
 | Most Transparent Pricing | B- | $550–$1,100 | $2,550–$5,700 | |
 | Best Cost Estimation Tools | B | $700 - $1,250 | $1,800 - $4980 | |
 | Best Flat-Rate | Not Rated | Not available for local moves | $2,200–$5,500 | |
 | Most Moving | B | Call for a quote | $2,750–$5,200 | |
 | Most Customizable | A+ | Call for a quote | $2,750–$6,000 | |
 | Best Vehicle | A+ | $800–$1,500 | $2,000–$5,000 | |
 | Best Pricing | A+ | $800–$1,500 | $2,000–$5,000 | |
 | Best Technology | A+ | Call for quote | $2,000–$5,000 | |
 | Best Container Service | A+ | Not available for local moves | $1,350–$2,400 | |
 | Best Valuation Coverage Options | A+ | $1,200-$2,750 | $3,100-$8,400 |
*Quote and cost data are updated and monitored continuously.
International Van Lines
4.5
Our Rating
International Van Lines has been in business for more than two decades, and in that time, they’ve facilitated an average of 20,000 moves per year. These range from entire household moves to vehicle transport and single item moves. IVL’s customer service team has even received awards from nationwide publications like Newsweek and Forbes thanks to its proactiveness.
International Van Lines (IVL) is one of the best movers for single items, especially if you’re moving for the first time. If you need to move something large and heavy, like a wooden armoire, a pool table, a hot tub, or even a large appliance like a refrigerator, they can help.
Although International Van Lines is a full-service moving company, they do offer a la carte services like single item moving and appliance moving. You can get a free quote online for the services you need, and a friendly customer service representative will connect you with the right moving staff for the job.
International Van Lines is a full-service moving company offering the following add-on services with its moving processes:
- Packing and unpacking 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 transportation services
- Military moving services
- Commercial moving services
IVL specializes in moving residential homes long-distance, which means that this mover can be a great choice for furniture moving.
American Van Lines
4.0
Our Rating
If you need help moving a piano, a shed, or even a single piece of furniture, you can sign up for American Van Lines (AVL) to move your valuable items. American Van Lines serves the lower 48 states, specializing in long-distance moving. Residential and commercial moving alike are available, and you can sign up for small moves or even a single item move with American Van Lines.
The AVL staff is specifically trained to pack all manner of items, from furniture to antiques to art and appliances. They individually wrap each item and pack it according to exacting standards of training, and they even employ certified packing professionals. This gives you peace of mind, knowing that your prized antique desk, four-poster bed, or other large item will arrive perfect condition.
American Van Lines is a full-service moving company offering the following services and moving processes:
- 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
- Office moving services and corporate relocation
- Military moves
Unlike many moving companies, AVL employs a team of certified piano and antique movers. It also offers flat-rate pricing on its single item moves. Pricing from AVL varies depending on the item you’re moving — click on the “Get Quote” button below to claim your free quote.
Moving APT
3.9
Our Rating
Moving APT is a moving services broker whose goal is to match you with the perfect local movers in your area for your needs, budget, and schedule.
They can find you the best single item movers in your area, so you don’t have to worry about looking and choosing between a myriad of options. This is a great idea if you’re on a tight schedule and don’t have time to check out every professional moving company in your area.
While you can trust Moving APt to find the best price for your move, you might still want to do some research on your own time. Moving APT does have a price matching policy, so if you do happen to find a cheaper deal on your own, Moving APT will honor that price that you found. They can connect you with hot tub and piano moving services, and they can also provide contacts for any other service you need, even if that means finding more than one company that is best for the job.
The specific services that Moving APT can book on your behalf might vary depending on where you’re located and what item you need to move. Some of the most popular services scheduled through the platform include the following:
- Commercial and residential moving
- Piano moving
- Auto-shipping
- Packing services
- Packing supplies (included for some moves)
- Appliance connection services
- Limited furniture disassembly and reassembly
Moving APT offers price matching services to help you save as much as possible on your single item move. Unfortunately, since so many customers take advantage of this benefit, it can be tough to predict pricing with Moving APT before you get a quote. Be sure to click on the link below to get a price quote on moving your important item.
JK Moving Services
4.2
Our Rating
JK Moving Services has a reputation for providing customers with exactly the services they need while giving back to the community at the same time.
The company runs several community gardens and even a wildlife sanctuary, allowing you to give back when you move. JK’s trained staff can help you to move heavy furniture to your new home and you can pack up everything else. They are a full-service moving company, but retain that no service is too big or too small. If you need moving help for just one heavy item or a specialty item, JK is glad to help.
JK Moving Services has its own mobile app where you can contact customer service 24/7 and track your shipment. If you need, they offer short-term, climate-controlled storage should you need it, complete with round-the-clock video surveillance. This can be a major source of peace of mind if you’re moving an especially valuable, costly, or fragile item.
JK Moving Services is a full-service moving company offering the following services and moving processes:
- 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
JK Moving Services prides itself on connecting its customers with a personal moving coordinator before assigning pricing to each move. As such, predicting what you’ll pay based on previous customer data can be more challenging. Click the link below to get your custom pricing on moving your single item.
Allied Van Lines
4.2
Our Rating
Allied Van Lines is another full-service moving company that works across the country and even provides services to over 130 countries.
You can count on Allied to do all the heavy lifting for your single item move. They offer appliance disconnection and reinstallation, custom crating, vehicle transport, specialty item moving, and fragile-only packing services.
If the item you need to transport is a car, truck, or van, Allied Van Lines has a multitude of options for you. The company doesn’t contract vehicle transportation services out to third parties, so you can rest easy knowing your vehicle is with Allied staff throughout the entire planning and moving process. If your vehicle is late to arrive at its destination, Allied will provide you with a rental vehicle free of charge until yours gets to you.
Allied Van Lines is a full-service moving company offering the following services and moving processes:
- 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
Allied Van Lines offers fragile item packaging, which you can take advantage of if you’re moving a glass or easily breakable item. Pricing depends on things like the size, weight, and fragility of the item. To learn more about what you’ll pay to move your single item with Allied Van Lines, click on the link below and claim your free quote.
U-Pack
3.5
Our Rating
U-Pack is on our list for single item moves because it’s a DIY option for you to pack and load your item, but U-Pack professionals pick up the moving container they provide and drop it off at your new home. This means you don’t have to worry about driving a commercial-grade vehicle to your new home, risking accidents or injuries. This is also our most affordable recommendation, as you provide your own loading services. If you can disassemble and pack up your single item yourself as well as load it onto the moving container, the only thing you have left to do is unload it at your destination and place it where it needs to go.
If you require assistance moving the item (if it’s awkward, bulky, heavy, or all of the above), then you can use U-Pack’s resource network called Moving Staffers. U-Pack employees only pick up and drop off moving containers, but they partner with companies and independent contractors all over the country who offer their labor services so that you don’t have to complete your single item move independently.
U-Pack is a moving container service that limits itself to long-distance container and moving trailer services. In some areas, limited storage services are also available upon request.
One of the benefits of U-Pack is that the company offers instant online pricing. Click the link below and fill in a few details about your single item move to see pricing based on the container you choose to move your item with.
North American Van Lines
4.0
Our Rating
North American Van Lines has almost 90 years of experience as a professional moving company. Although they provide services in all fifty states, they also provide international moving services as well.
North American offers predictable pricing so that you won’t be surprised at your moving cost. They have bottom-line pricing, which means that your guaranteed price is the moving quote. They also offer not-to-exceed pricing, which means that your moving cost will not be above the stated amount.
North American can pack and move items for you like large pieces of furniture, swing sets, sheds, pool tables, and more. They also offer appliance relocation and installation, so no matter what your single item is that you need to move, North American has experienced movers that know how to get the job done.
North American Van Lines is a full-service moving company offering the following services and moving processes:
- 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
North American’s crane vans and custom crating capabilities make it an ideal choice for moving heavy items. For a custom quote on your single item move, click on the link below and connect with a North American representative.
What To Look for In Single Item Movers
When you’re hiring a single item mover, the chances are that the item in question is valuable, delicate, and has plenty of moving pieces or parts. In order to avoid damaging the item by attempting to move it yourself, it could be best to leave it to the professionals, especially if you risk hurting yourself by trying to do a DIY single item move. So what should you consider when hiring a single item mover? These factors can help you decide on which to choose.
- Training: If you need to move a piano, but the company you’re talking to has no experience or training in moving pianos, then you should opt for a different company. Not all specialty items are the same — large antique furniture, appliances, and instruments are all very different and require different tools and skill sets to move. A pool table mover will probably not be able to transfer that expertise over to moving a piano.
- Moving insurance: It’s always best to check if any moving company you’re interested in hiring has moving insurance. Legally, companies should have at least the minimum plan (released value protection), but most moving companies also allow you to purchase additional full-value coverage, which may be handy for a single item move.
- Reviews and checking out the location: If you’re looking at a local mover or even a national one that has an office in your area, you can go visit that office yourself. If they have the proper up-to-date licensing with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and any other certifications or training in plain sight, that’s a good sign. You can also use third-party websites to see what previous customers have to say about them. Pay attention to sincere, legitimate reviews, especially the ones that the company has personally responded to.
How Much Does It Cost To Move a Single Item?
The answer to this question varies greatly on the item that you’re moving and the company you select including considerations like whether you’re opting for a traditional moving company or a specialized moving company for small moves. Though every moving company uses its own formula to determine pricing, you can browse the table below to learn about how much it usually costs to move some of the most common items.
| Item | Average moving cost |
| Dining table set | $500 to $1,500 |
| Couch | $200 to $610 |
| Queen-sized mattress | $70 to $250 |
| Washing machine | Up to $2,000 |
| Bedframe | $70 to $250 |
| Pool table | $200 to $600 |
| Upright piano | $150 to $800 |
| Baby grand piano | $250 to $2,000 |
| Storage shed | $250 to $500 |
| Vehicle (four-door sedan, open carry) | $1,200 to $2,100 |
| Bookcase | $70 to $400 |
| Desk | $125 to $175 |
| Recliner | $300 to $700 |
| Computer | $100 to $1,000 |
What Costs Are Involved with Single Item Movers?
Single item moves are different from full-service moves in that the cost list is specific and it’s broken down into hourly rates. What are the costs you need to be aware of? The following are some of the considerations you’ll need to make
- Hourly labor. Moving a single item, especially one that takes special training like a pool table or piano, takes at least two professionals. You will need to pay them an hourly rate of around $40 to $60 per mover per hour.
- Equipment: It’s more than likely that the moving company will have things like skids and dollies, especially if the item they’re moving is heavy and bulky. However, it’s good to have these things on hand in case they need extra equipment or you find yourself needing to use moving tools.
- Cost per pound: For certain items, the movers may charge for hourly labor and for the cost per pound of your item. They’ll also charge for each flight of stairs they have to navigate as well as narrow hallways and sharp corners in your home.
Final Thoughts
If you’re debating whether or not it’s worth the price to move a single item, remember that you always have the option of exploring multiple moving companies before you book your moving date. This is especially true when considering specialized services like gun safe moving services because you need to ensure the safe and secure transportation of valuable items. Since each moving company uses its own formula to determine what you’ll pay for service, you may be able to find more advantageous rates by exploring all of your options. We suggest getting a quote for your single item from each of our recommended moving service providers before you book your move date. If you require information about additional moving companies not covered here, please refer to our comprehensive review of Colonial Van Lines.
Single Item Movers FAQs
How much does it cost to move one item?
Depending on the item, it can cost as low as $100 or up to several hundred dollars. A couch or dining room table that doesn’t require special know-how or particularly gentle handling will only run you about $100 or $200. However, items like pool tables, pianos, or dishwashers require special handling and disassembly and therefore incur higher costs.
Should I empty out my furniture on moving day?
Absolutely. Don’t leave clothing or any other items in your dresser drawers, armoires, wardrobes, vanities, or desks. They need to be emptied, and all the items inside need to be packed into their own boxes for moving. Leaving these types of items in your furniture can cause damage to your items as well as injuries to yourself or your movers.
Do I tip movers?
It is customary to tip your movers, especially when you’re impressed with their performance and if they’re polite and efficient. If you like, you can tip them about $5 per mover for each hour they work or whatever you think is fair.
Today's Homeowner Rating Methodology
At Today's Homeowner, 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.
