If you’re moving to or from Minnesota and looking to hire professional movers, we recommend American Van Lines and Allied Van Lines as the best moving companies in the state. American Van Lines is one of the only national moving companies to offer a price-match guarantee—a valuable feature for budget-conscious Minnesotans. Similarly, Allied Van Lines offers both local and long-distance moving services in Minnesota, giving customers more options than competitors.
When researching the best moving companies, we also explored Minnesota Department of Transportation regulations, the state’s winter climate, instructions for transferring your out-of-state license and registration, and other details for planning your move. Read on to learn more about the best movers in the state and see which ones match up with your needs.
Key Takeaways
- American Van Lines is our pick for the best moving company in Minnesota because it offers a price-match guarantee and affordable flat-rate pricing. The company was also the most popular provider selected by Minnesotans in our 2025 moving survey.
- The average cost of moving in Minnesota is $2,475, which includes quotes we obtained for local and long-distance moves for various home sizes.
- Our 2025 survey of 1,000 moving companies nationwide showed that professional packing was the most common add-on service for Minnesota customers.
Top Moving Companies in Minnesota
Whether you’re moving locally from St. Paul to Duluth or from Minneapolis to another state, the right movers can make all the difference. Here’s our list of the best moving companies in Minnesota:
- American Van Lines: Best for Transparent Pricing
- Allied Van Lines: Best for Industry Experience
- International Van Lines: Best for International Moves
- JK Moving Services: Best Comprehensive Moving Services
- North American Van Lines: Best for Large Moves
Compare the Top Moving Companies in Minnesota
Choosing between different moving companies can feel difficult, but seeing your options side-by-side can help make your decision easier. Use the table below to get a quick overview of each of our top providers based on a few important factors.
| Provider | Star Ratings | BBB Rating | Average Price | Deposit Required | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A- | $3,218 | 10%–50% | |||
A+ | $3,520 | None | |||
A+ | $3,112 | Up to 25% | |||
A+ | $2,273 | $250 | |||
A+ | $3,601 | None |
Our Top Picks For Moving Companies in Minnesota
American Van Lines
American Van Lines is one of our top picks for Minnesotans because of its price-match guarantee and flat-rate pricing. A price-match guarantee is a rare feature for national moving companies, and American Van Lines is the only provider on our list to offer one. Likewise, the company’s flat-rate pricing is another convenient feature because it bundles basic moving services like loading, unloading, furniture disassembly and reassembly, fine art moving, antique services, and piano moving into one standard rate. By having all the basics in one package, Minnesota customers can more easily avoid hidden fees for extra services.
American Van Lines’ biggest downside is that it doesn’t offer local moving services in Minnesota, which means you’ll have to choose another provider if you plan on staying in town. However, its customer-friendly pricing policies and wide range of services make it one of the best long-distance movers in the state. American Van Lines is also the most popular moving company in the state, according to our 2025 moving survey.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Uses flat-rate pricing that includes all basic moving services
- Offers a price-match guarantee with any licensed moving company that can lower your rate
- Provides military, commercial, and employee moving services
Cons
- Doesn’t handle local moves in Minnesota
- Lacks some convenient features like online shipment tracking and mobile app accessibility
Cost and Services
American Van Lines costs $3,218 on average nationwide, putting it in the middle of our list in terms of affordability. American Van Lines offers the following services for Minnesota customers:
- Fragile-only packing
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly
- Loading and unloading
- Office moves
- Packing and unpacking
- Piano moving
American Van Lines is also one of the few companies we’ve reviewed that offers corporate relocation services. These services combine commercial and residential moving to help a company move its belongings and employees to a new location. While the other companies on our list offer commercial and residential services separately, American Van Lines is the only provider to offer these services as a package deal.
Allied Van Lines
Allied Van Lines is one of the few national movers we’ve reviewed that offers both local and long-distance services in Minnesota—a benefit for customers staying within state lines. Allied is also one of the largest moving companies in the country, with over 3,500 vehicles and 4,200 drivers in its fleet, and it’s tied with North American Van Lines (NAVL) for the most service offerings on our list. Allied even offers rare service options like junk removal, giving Minnesotans more convenience than most competitors.
Allied has been in business for more than 97 years, making it one of the oldest moving companies in the country. However, the company has still kept up with modern technology, offering its own mobile app for making claims and tracking shipments. Allied’s main downside is that it doesn’t offer 24/7 customer service, while most of its competitors have customer service hours during nights and weekends. Still, Allied offers three customer-friendly features that make it one of the best movers in Minnesota: portable moving container services, local and long-distance moving services nationwide, and deposit-free booking.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Has a convenient mobile app for shipment tracking and claims
- Offers local and long-distance moving in Minnesota
- Has more than 3,500 vehicles and 4,200 drivers in its fleet
Cons
- Doesn’t offer 24/7 customer service
- May charge additional fees for bulky items or extra labor
Cost and Services
Allied Van Lines costs $3,520 on average nationwide, making it one of the pricier providers on our list. The company offers the following services for Minnesota customers:
- Appliance and electronics disconnection
- Fragile-only packing
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly
- Junk removal
- Loading and unloading
- Office moves
- Packing and unpacking
- Piano moving
- Vehicle shipping
Allied also offers portable moving container services through Allied Express. If you have a smaller move and don’t want the hassle of using a moving truck, Allied Express makes it easy to move into a new home or to a storage facility with its portable containers. Plus, Allied sends a crew of 3–4 movers to help you load your belongings, handling more of the heavy lifting than competitors like PODS or U-Haul’s U-Box.
International Van Lines
International Van Lines (IVL) handles moves to all 50 U.S. states and more than 140 countries, giving it one of the widest global reaches of any company on our list. Still, IVL isn’t just for international moves—the company offers plenty of perks for domestic moves. For example, IVL offers customers 30 days of storage free with every move, ideal if you need to move out but can’t get into your new home right away. It also offers rare services like cargo shipping for large items and industrial equipment.
Despite its presence across the globe, IVL doesn’t handle local moves outside of Texas and Florida, so Minnesotans will have to choose another company if they’re staying within the state. Still, few other companies on our list can take you more places than IVL, making it our top pick for international moves. IVL also offers both ocean and air freight options, door-to-door service, and international car shipping.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Provides 24/7 customer service
- Offers 30 days of storage for free with each move
- Handles moves to more than 140 countries for Minnesotans moving internationally
Cons
- Doesn’t handle local moves in Minnesota
- Charges extra fees for having to navigate external stairs and elevators
Cost and Services
International Van Lines costs $3,112 on average for domestic moves nationwide. International moves typically cost more due to overseas shipping expenses. IVL offers the following services for Minnesota customers:
- Fragile-only packing
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly
- Junk removal
- Loading and unloading
- Packing and unpacking
- Piano moving
- Office moves
- Vehicle shipping
IVL also offers cargo shipping services for larger items, like farm equipment, lumber, and industrial machinery. If you have a farm in Minnesota and you’re moving to a new home, IVL is one of the only moving companies we’ve reviewed with the resources to ship your farm equipment effectively.
JK Moving Services
Unlike most of the other providers on our list, JK Moving Services specializes in specialty items like artwork, antiques, and sculptures. The company has moved multiple presidents in and out of the White House and even carried pieces of the Berlin Wall with its museum moving services. To prepare its employees for transporting high-value items, JK Moving trains its movers in-house using a model home at the company’s headquarters. The company also drug tests and background checks its employees.
JK Moving is the only company on our list to offer financing options through Enhancify, increasing its accessibility for Minnesota customers. The company also uses artificial intelligence (AI) for its virtual surveys, cutting the home inspection time down to as little as 15 minutes, much faster than a standard video survey. Like most national movers, however, JK Moving doesn’t handle local moves in Minnesota. Still, its thorough training process and unique perks make it one of our top choices for Minnesota customers looking for comprehensive moving services.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Offers financing options to lessen the up-front costs of moving
- Trains employees in-house to safely wrap and transport valuable items
- Uses AI-powered virtual surveys that can go much faster than in-home estimates
Cons
- Doesn’t handle local moves in Minnesota
- Doesn’t offer any storage solutions in Minnesota
Cost and Services
As the cheapest moving company on our list, JK Moving Services costs $2,273 on average nationwide. JK Moving offers the following services for Minnesota customers:
- Fragile-only packing
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly
- Loading and unloading
- Office moves
- Packing and unpacking
- Piano moving
- Vehicle shipping
While all the companies on our list offer commercial moving services, JK Moving offers the most options for businesses. Minnesota customers can choose from the following commercial relocation services:
- Archive services
- Concierge services
- Furniture, fixtures, and equipment services
- Laboratories and medical services
- Technology services
- Warehousing and storage services
North American Van Lines
North American Van Lines (NAVL) is different from the other companies on our list because it functions as a broker and a carrier, which means it handles moves directly but also outsources some jobs to third-party movers. While we usually don’t recommend brokers, NAVL is an exception because of its reputation as a carrier. For example, NAVL offers both local and long-distance services in Minnesota, provides 24/7 customer service, and is tied with Allied Van Lines for the most moving service options on our list.
NAVL also has a helpful moving cost calculator that can help you get a ballpark quote before a more detailed estimate. Not many movers offer quotes online, so this is a big convenience if you’re shopping around with different companies. NAVL’s biggest downside is that it uses third-party movers for some jobs, which can provide sub-par service and complicate the claims process. Since brokers aren’t responsible for damages, you’ll have to communicate with your third-party contractors, not NAVL, to submit a claim and get reimbursement. Still, NAVL’s nationwide reach for both local and long-distance moving is impressive, and its long list of moving services makes it one of our top recommendations for Minnesotans.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Features a helpful online cost calculator online for quick estimates
- Offers local and long-distance moving services in Minnesota
- Provides 24/7 customer support and online shipment tracking
Cons
- Has higher costs than the other providers on this list
- May outsource some moves to third-party movers, which can impact service quality
Cost and Services
North American Van Lines costs $3,601 on average nationwide, the most expensive out of the companies on our list. Minnesota customers can choose from the following moving services:
- Appliance and electronics disconnection
- Fragile-only packing
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly
- Junk removal
- Loading and unloading
- Office moves
- Packing and unpacking
- Piano moving
- Vehicle shipping
NAVL also offers custom crating options and a variety of cardboard box sizes to make sure you can transport all your items safely. If you’re doing your own packing, you can purchase the following supplies from NAVL:
- Dishpack barrels
- Mattress boxes
- Mirror boxes
- Moving boxes
- Stretch wrap
- Wardrobe boxes
How Much Does a Minnesota Move Cost?
The average cost of moving in Minnesota is $2,475, based on quotes we requested for local and long-distance moves for different home sizes. However, your individual moving costs will vary based on a few factors, notably the size of your home and the distance you’re traveling.
The size of your home generally refers to the number of bedrooms but also includes the items inside. The more items you have, the more labor it takes to move them, driving up costs. Likewise, the further a moving crew has to drive from your old home to your new one, the more you’ll pay to cover fuel costs, hourly workers, and vehicle wear and tear.
To get a ballpark estimate of how much your move may cost based on the size of your home, use the table below.
| House Size | Average National Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $2,356 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,437 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,450 |
| 4 bedrooms | $6,382 |
How We Collected Moving Cost Data
To give readers the most accurate moving cost data possible, we requested roughly 4,000 quotes from 15 moving companies across all 50 U.S. states. This included 42 quotes in Minnesota for sample moves in Duluth, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Plymouth, and Baudette. These quotes covered local and long-distance moves for different home sizes, from studio apartments to four-bedroom houses. Then, we averaged prices by provider, home size, distance, and state to give readers a better idea of how different factors can affect moving costs.
Additional Factors Affecting Move Costs
While home size and moving distance are the two biggest factors that affect moving rates, there are other details that could increase your costs. Before you book your move, consider the following:
- Time of year: Summer is the busiest season for movers across the entire country, and since there’s more demand for moving services, most companies will raise rates. If you want to save money, try booking your move during the fall or winter to negotiate a lower rate when companies have slower schedules.
- Services: Some moving services, like packing, unpacking, vehicle shipping, and custom crating, come at an additional cost. If you’re working with a tight budget, we recommend doing your own packing and unpacking instead of hiring professionals to save money.
- Home layout: Most moving companies don’t charge fees for having to go up and down stairs inside your home. However, it’s not uncommon for movers to charge additional fees if a crew has to take stairs or elevators to get to your front door. If you live in an apartment in a larger city like Minneapolis, ask your movers about stair fees during the estimate process.
- Tipping: First-time moving customers might not know that tipping is an expectation in the moving industry, and if you don’t budget for it, it could catch you by surprise. We recommend tipping your moving crew $5–$10 per mover per hour for quality service.
Moving Factors To Consider in Minnesota
Moving can feel overwhelming, and there are a lot of small details to consider when planning your move. Here are a few tips for Minnesota movers:
Minnesota is known for its cold, long winters from November to March. Areas surrounding Lake Superior can receive more than 70 inches of snowfall a year due to lake-effect snow. If you live near these areas, winter weather could throw a wrench into your moving plans. If you’re worried about inclement weather, plan your move for late fall or early spring to avoid winter weather without falling into peak summer prices.
Finding street parking may not seem difficult throughout most of Minnesota, but if you live in a larger city like Minneapolis, you may need to reserve parking for a moving truck. To inquire about reserving a parking spot for your moving truck, you can call the Minneapolis Parking Services department at 612-673-2886.
According to the United Van Lines 2024 National Movers Study, family-related reasons are the main cause of both inbound and outbound moves in Minnesota. If you’re moving across state lines for family, you’ll need to hire interstate movers, not local Minnesota movers, because of licensing requirements.
New Minnesota residents have 60 days to transfer their out-of-state license. To do this, bring your current driver’s license, Social Security number, proof of residence, and fee payments to your local Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS).
Minnesota residents also have 60 days to register their out-of-state vehicle. To register your vehicle, bring your Minnesota driver’s license, proof of insurance, and current odometer reading to your local deputy registrar’s office.
If you’re bringing a pet dog, cat, or ferret that’s more than three months old into Minnesota, you’ll need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) and proof of current rabies vaccination, according to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health.
How Does Minnesota Regulate Moving Companies?
While the federal government regulates interstate moving companies through the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), individual states regulate local moving companies differently. In Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) regulates local movers and requires companies to hold a Household Goods Mover Permit to operate legally in the state.
Here are some things to consider after you move:
- If you have any issues with your local moving company, you can file a complaint with the MnDOT by filling out a Motor Carrier/Vehicle Complaint Form online.
- If you moved across state lines, you can file a complaint about an interstate move online or contact the FMCSA at 888-368-7238 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST from Monday to Friday.
- If your movers damage or lose any of your items, reach out to your moving company directly and file a claim immediately. If you can’t meet a resolution with your movers, file a complaint with the MnDOT.
- While national moving companies charge by shipment weight, local companies typically charge by the hour. Local Minnesota movers are legally required to file their hourly rates with the MnDOT. If your movers give you a lower quote and then attempt to charge the rate they filed with the state, you can call the MnDOT at 651-215-6330 and report it.
Insights from Movers in Minnesota
We conducted a survey of 1,000 moving customers nationwide in 2025, including 22 Minnesotans, to learn more about the movers they hired. We found that American Van Lines was the most popular individual moving provider in the state, accounting for 14% of all reported moves. We also found that 82% of all Minnesota moves were local, which is much higher than the national average of 72%.
In terms of pricing, 67% of Minnesotans said their movers charged an hourly rate, with most respondents reporting rates of $50 or $150 per hour. Roughly 55% of all Minnesota survey respondents declined purchasing any add-on services, but for the ones who did, packing was the most popular option. Nearly 32% of respondents purchased packing services, followed by packing supplies at 18% and unpacking services at 14%. Minnesotans reported packing costs of $100–$3,000.
Eighty-two percent of Minnesota survey respondents said their total bill aligned with their quoted rate, with the remaining 18% reporting payments of $500–$7,000 more than their quote. Roughly 91% of Minnesotans said they would hire professional movers again, with the remaining 9% citing poor communication and damaged items as the main reasons they wouldn’t. Still, 86% of respondents said they were either “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their moving experience overall.
FAQs About the Best Moving Companies in Minnesota
How much should I expect to pay for moving services in Minnesota?
The average cost of moving in Minnesota is $2,475, which you can use as a general ballpark price when budgeting for your move. Your individual costs will vary based on the size of your home, the distance you’re traveling, the add-on services you purchase, and the provider you choose.
Is it more cost-effective to use moving pods or hire a professional moving company?
In most cases, hiring partial-service movers or rental companies like PODS and U-Haul is cheaper than hiring full-service movers. This is because truck and container rental companies cut out the cost of labor. However, the service you receive from professional movers can make your move much less stressful than using a rental company, so it’s worth weighing the cost and service differences.
When is the best time to schedule a move in Minnesota?
If you’re looking to save, we recommend booking your move on a weekday in the late fall or early spring. Weekends during the summer are the busiest time for moving companies nationwide, and rates increase to compensate for higher demand. While moving during the winter can offer cheaper rates, keep in mind that snowy conditions can make moving dangerous in Minnesota.
How We Ranked the Best Moving Companies in Minnesota
When narrowing down the best moving companies in Minnesota, our team prioritized full-service moving companies with a wide range of add-on options instead of partial-service movers or truck rental companies. We also ranked national long-distance movers, not local moving companies that can’t cross state lines. To ensure transparency, our review also ruled out any movers without a valid USDOT number or legal permission to operate in the state of Minnesota.
To fairly and thoroughly evaluate moving companies, we developed a 100-point rating system grounded in real customer feedback, regulatory data, and hands-on testing. We gathered quotes, verified licensing and safety records, analyzed thousands of customer reviews, and even conducted secret shopping to get a full picture of the customer experience. Each company was scored across six essential categories and then given a final rating out of 5 stars.
Here’s how we broke down our review:
- Customer service (18%): We looked at reviews on the BBB and Trustpilot, surveyed over 3,000 recent customers, and tested each company’s website and support team ourselves. Companies earned higher marks for having clear communication, responsiveness, and a helpful, user-friendly online experience.
- Reputation (14%): We verified that each mover has proper licensing through the USDOT and checked FMCSA safety records, specifically truck maintenance data. We also gave extra credit to companies that publicly commit to background-checking their crews, showing they prioritize customer safety.
- Value (18%): Using real quotes for 3-bedroom moves ranging from 500–800 miles, we compared average prices across providers. We also considered whether companies offer flat-rate or binding estimates and if they have a clear and simple billing process.
- Service offerings (19%): We evaluated the range of services available, from packing and unpacking to piano moving and junk removal. Movers that offer more options, including do-it-yourself (DIY) solutions like portable storage, scored higher for flexibility and convenience.
- Item protection (20%): We reviewed each company’s insurance offerings and how well they prevent damage during the move. Higher scores went to movers that offer full-value protection and use best practices like shrink wrap, padding, and floor guards.
- Scheduling (11%): We assessed how easy it is to request a quote, speak to a representative, and manage a move from start to finish. Companies with multiple contact options, digital tools like apps or customer portals, and streamlined booking processes stood out from the rest.
