Moving, whether it’s across town or to a different state, can feel overwhelming—and so can deciding if hiring professional movers is worth it. Considering the logistics of packing, heavy lifting, and transportation is enough to make anyone stressed. Local moves might seem simple, but they require careful planning. Add long distances, and moving can become even more complicated. Professional movers can help by taking the load off (literally) so you’re free to think about other things.
To help consumers make smart moving-related choices, we looked into the pros and cons of hiring movers, including what impacts the cost of hiring movers, red flags to watch out for, and the truth of any misconceptions about the industry.
When To Hire Movers
Below are a few instances where you may want to hire professional movers rather than go the do-it-yourself (DIY) route.
You’re Moving Long-Distance
When moving long distances, hiring a moving company offers the most value. Most national moving companies specialize in long-distance and interstate moves, leaving local moves to rental truck companies or smaller outfits. The best interstate moving providers offer convenient services like vehicle transportation, custom crating for fragile items, specialty movers for pianos and fitness equipment, and assistance with other tasks you may not be able to arrange independently.
You’re Uncomfortable Driving a Large Truck
Renting a moving truck may seem practical until you get behind the wheel. Many individuals without experience driving large trucks feel unsafe behind the wheel, especially on the interstate. You might benefit from a moving company even if you prefer to do most of the packing and loading yourself.
You’re Moving With Large or High-Value Items
Hiring movers may be worth it if you have a lot of heavy furniture or a collection of artwork, antiques, instruments, or other high-value items. Disassembling, loading, unloading, and reassembling large or fragile items is better left to the professionals, as trying to do so on your own can harm yourself or your belongings.
Pro Tip
- Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, writing in This Old House Magazine, gathered advice from relocation pros on handling tricky items: Wrap a flat-screen TV securely in furniture pads and always keep it upright—the pixels can get distorted if the TV is placed flat. For mattresses headed up narrow stairways, measure the diagonal (a queen is 100 inches corner to corner) against the stair opening between handrails, and slip on a moving bag to protect it and make it easier to grip.
You Have a Lot of Belongings
If you’re moving to a large home—like a three-bedroom or more house—hiring movers will speed up packing and transporting your items. Not only will it take much longer to do it yourself, but it will also require physical labor that you may not be able to perform as efficiently as professionals.
Homeowner Insights
- Larger homes also tend to require more trucks. While 77% of surveyed movers needed just one truck, over 20% required two, and 2% needed three or more, per the This Old House 2025 Moving Survey. Coordinating multiple truck loads on your own adds significant logistical complexity—and roughly half of those who needed extra trucks were charged an added fee for them.
You’re Under a Time Constraint
Some moves have a time limit. You may need to vacate your current home before the end of the month or be in a new city in time to start a new job. Hiring a moving company with a guaranteed pickup and delivery window can alleviate stress and give you time to prepare for your relocation in other ways.
You’re Moving Internationally
Moving to a new country comes with a separate set of challenges. Because of the logistics of moving and managing freight across international boundaries, a professional moving company with experience in international moves is almost a requirement.
When To Do a DIY Move
For some, hiring professional movers isn’t necessary. In the following instances, hiring a self-service moving container company, renting a moving truck, or going DIY might make more sense.
You’re Moving Locally
Most of the best national moving companies have long-distance or interstate moves in mind. A large moving company may not offer much value if you move locally or intracity. It often outsources your move to a local mover in its network if it holds broker authority. Renting a moving truck or using a mobile moving-and-storage company may be a better option. That said, local moving companies can still save you time and effort.
Homeowner Insights
- In the This Old House 2025 Moving Survey, 72% of respondents reported making a local move—within their state or a single-day relocation—far outnumbering long-distance or interstate moves. Local moves dominated particularly in regions with urban centers where shorter relocations are common. Despite the prevalence of local moves, a large number of respondents relied on regional and local movers or well-known brands like Two Men and a Truck, College Hunks, and PODS rather than major national van lines.
You Have a Limited Budget
Hiring a full-service moving company can be expensive, and movers may not be worth it for people on a tight budget. If you don’t have the finances to pay movers, it’s more practical to go the DIY route. As an alternative, some companies allow you to pick and choose which services you need to save money. For example, you can handle all the packing yourself and hire a company only to help with loading, transportation, and unloading. One of the best cheap moving companies can be perfect for moving on a budget as well.
Data from the This Old House 2025 Moving Survey shows that packing was the most popular add-on, purchased by 34% of respondents, while unpacking services were added by 21%. Skipping these extras and handling packing and unpacking yourself is one of the most straightforward ways to reduce your overall moving bill while still getting professional help with the heavy lifting and transportation.
Homeowner Insights
- According to the This Old House 2025 Moving Survey of 1,000 recent movers, the most commonly reported moving costs clustered around $1,500 to $3,000, with $2,000 being the single most frequent price point. However, costs varied widely—some respondents paid $10,000 or more for full-service, long-distance packages. Understanding where your move falls on that spectrum can help you decide which services to keep and which to handle yourself.
You Have Free Help
Hiring a moving company may not be necessary if you have friends and family ready and willing to pitch in. The most physically demanding aspect of any move is loading and unloading your belongings into and out of a truck, trailer, or container. If you have enough willing participants to get the job done quickly and safely, it could be worth it to save money.
Keep in mind that most moves—about 75 percent, according to our 2025 survey—require only one truck. That means a single rental truck and a willing crew of friends could cover the vast majority of relocations without professional help.
Homeowner Insights
- According to a 2025 This Old House survey of 1,000 recent movers, the most common crew size is three people (about 38 percent of moves), followed by two people (34 percent). Only about 9 percent of moves involved five or more helpers. So if you can rally three or four friends or family members, you’re right in line with what most successful moves look like.
You Want Control Over Your Belongings
Hiring a moving company means entrusting strangers with your possessions for an extended period. It is nerve-racking for some people to leave their belongings in others’ hands that long, even if they are professionals. Consider a DIY move if you prefer complete control over your belongings and timeline.
Pro Tip
- The risks of handing over control are real. When Amy Kovar and her family moved across Summit, New Jersey, her wedding and engagement rings, a box of tools, and a CD Walkman never arrived at the new house. According to David Hauenstein of the American Moving and Storage Association, one in five moves results in a claim against the mover, ranging from damaged furniture to missing jewelry.
You Have Time
Hiring movers usually means getting your belongings out of your old home in a single day. If your new home is nearby and you have time to move your belongings at your own pace, you may not need to hire a moving company. Moving your items bit by bit can save you the stress of moving everything all at once and the money of hiring professionals.
Other Considerations
Remember a few more things before making the call on whether movers are worth it in your situation.
Your Physical Capacity
Even if you’re physically able, moving heavy items such as large appliances, sofas, bed frames, and mattresses is extremely taxing and can cause injury if done improperly. In almost all cases, you need at least one or two people to help you lift and load heavy boxes, furniture, and other items. If you have limited physical capacity, hiring professionals may be more of a necessity than a luxury.
Your Reason for Moving
Your reason for moving can impact your decision to hire professionals. If you’re relocating for a job, you may have a moving stipend from your new employer that you can use to pay for movers. If you’re moving to start fresh in a new city and have sold, donated, or tossed most of your belongings, you may not need to hire assistance.
Further, if you have a set window of time in which you must complete your move, or if your move is unplanned or otherwise unexpected, movers can help by quickly packing, loading, and transporting your items for you.
Your Stress Tolerance
Moving even a small home or apartment to a new location comes with aggravations, and some people can’t deal with the stress. Hiring a moving company can remove much of the anxiety of organizing your relocation if you have a demanding job, young children, or another obligation that requires most of your time and attention.
Types of Movers
Deciding to hire movers is only the first step. When researching moving providers, you’ll come across several options. Besides choosing between a moving broker and a carrier, you’ll also have to determine the level of service you require. We break down the different types of movers below to help you decide if movers are worth it.
Brokers vs. Carriers
A broker acts as an intermediary between you and a third-party mover. A broker does not have in-house staff or a fleet of moving trucks; the company will contract out your move to a moving carrier in its network.
Conversely, a carrier handles moves directly. A company registered as a moving carrier has a fleet of trucks and handles all moving services with its employees. Some companies are brokers and carriers, providing in-house moves in some areas and contracting out moves to partner carriers when necessary.
Whether you should hire a broker or carrier for your move depends on your preferences, moving budget, and type of move. A broker may offer more services and will be able to hunt for the best price, but customer service and support may suffer when you work with a third-party carrier. A carrier with a fleet and dedicated customer support personnel will offer better service; however, with limited staff and trucks, you may have to schedule your move early or miss out on a few desired services.
Pro Tip
- Douglas Rose, director of Century 21 Relocation Services of Connecticut, who helps 2,000 families move each year, advises checking a mover’s reputation carefully before signing: “If I see reports of movers being late, even for an estimate, or being rude, those are red flags.” Verify any company—broker or carrier—through the Better Business Bureau and your state consumer protection agency.
Full Service vs. Self-Service
You can choose from self-service, partial-service, and full-service movers when moving. Your decision may depend on your budget, the size and distance of your move, the number of bulky items you have, whether you can enlist friends and family members to help, and other considerations. Here’s a breakdown:
Full-service movers will handle all aspects of your move from door to door. Services include packing and unpacking, loading and unloading, furniture disassembly and reassembly, specialty item moving (for an additional cost), vehicle transport, and more. Many companies also offer packing materials like moving boxes and bubble wrap.
Many full-service companies offer partial-service moves. Movers will load and unload your heavy boxes but will leave the preparation and packing to you. Partial-service movers cost less than full-service, so this can be a practical option if you don’t need packing services or other extras.
Self-service movers handle the transport of your belongings and little else. Moving-and-storage container companies, including PODS and 1-800-PACK-RAT, fall into this category. These companies leave the preparation, packing, and loading to you, then transport your belongings to your new location, where you can unload them. This is typically the most budget-friendly and flexible option.
Our Conclusion
Hiring a professional moving company makes a lot of sense for some individuals; it’s not essential for others. Moving companies have the skills and logistics needed to get your move done quickly and safely, but they can be expensive, and you’ll have little control over your belongings during the process.
Movers are worth it if you’re moving a large home or business with many heavy furnishings over a long distance. If you’re moving a small dwelling across town, you likely won’t get the same value. One cost-effective alternative is hiring a mobile moving-and-storage container that handles transportation but leaves packing and loading to you.
Pro Tip
- If you decide movers are worth it, read customer reviews and ask friends and family for recommendations. Then, get quotes from at least three companies before making your decision.
FAQs About If Movers Are Worth It
What are the benefits of using a moving company?
There are many benefits of using a moving company, including the following:
- Stress reduction
- More time to prepare for your relocation
- Lower risk of injury to yourself
- Lower risk of damage to your belongings
- Professional packing of fragile or high-value items
What should you do if you’re moving by yourself?
If you’re moving alone, give yourself enough time to sort your belongings properly. Pack what you need to bring and toss, donate, or sell the rest. Rent a moving truck or borrow a truck or van from a friend. Enlist the help of friends and family. To avoid injury, don’t push your body too far, and take frequent breaks when loading or unloading.
What can I do to help a mover?
Most movers will not request or require you to help them move your belongings. However, you can help make their jobs easier by offering water or other refreshments, keeping children and pets clear of the working area, being fully packed if you’re self-packing before moving day, and staying out of the way.
