Best Moving Companies in Colorado (2021 Guide)

Colorado saw a 15% increase in population growth in 2020, with many people coming to work in the fields of aerospace, bioscience, communication technology, information technology, and financial services.

Though Colorado has an affordable housing market, moving to the state can be challenging. For example, maneuvering a truck full of your belongings around the Rocky Mountains can be difficult, and Colorado’s winter climate makes driving on the roads a challenge for those not familiar with it.

A professional moving company can help alleviate these problems for your upcoming move and make the entire moving process stress-free from start to finish. With so many Colorado movers available, it can be difficult to determine which mover is best.

The This Old House Reviews Team has researched the best moving companies in the nation to help you find the right Colorado mover for you.

Top Moving Companies in Colorado

After an in-depth analysis, we find the following moving services to be the best options for Colorado moves:

• International Van Lines: Best Overall Full-Service Mover
• Allied Van Lines: Best for Vehicle Relocation
• North American Van Lines: Best for Claims
• 1-800-PACK-RAT: Best Overall Self-Service Mover
• JK Moving: Most Customizable Full-Service Mover
• American Van Lines: Most Experienced Moving Labor
• PODS: Most Convenient

Each of these Colorado moving companies was assessed on factors such as services, insurance coverage, scheduling, container or truck sizes, payment options, and more.

Keep in mind that the overall size of your move, the total distance of your move, and your specific moving needs will influence which company is right for you. Because of this, we recommend getting a free quote from each moving company to compare moving services and pricing.

1. International Van Lines: Best Overall Full-Service Mover

International Van Lines (IVL) is a nationwide full-service mover that offers services such as packing, loading, transportation, unloading, and unpacking. The company also provides specialty moving services for pianos and antiques, vehicle transportation, and furniture disassembly and reassembly. Customers can combine moving services to receive either a full-service or partial-service move.

International Van Lines Pros & Cons

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of International Van Lines:

✓ Offers GPS tracking on shipments
✓ Provides adjustable contents protection plans
✓ Offers specialty services for moving antiques, pianos, artwork, and more

✘ Prices are higher than DIY moving options
✘ Is a better option for cross-country moves rather than local moves

Services

International Van Lines offers a wide variety of services. Given that IVL is a large freighting company, it’s better suited for long-distance moves rather than local moves within the same city. Read over IVL’s services below:

• Packing and unpacking
• Loading and unloading
• Furniture disassembly and reassembly
• Custom crating
• Specialty services for recreational and sports equipment, fragile items, large appliances, pianos, antiques, and more
• Transportation
• Vehicle transportation
• Contents protection plan options
• International moves
• Commercial moves
• Packing and moving supplies
• Air freight services
• Corporate and military relocation
• Moving checklist
• Moving calculator

IVL does offer local moves for customers moving within the same state. However, this service requires you to have at least a two-bedroom apartment or home.

Cost

We received a moving quote from International Van Lines for a two-bedroom home moving from Denver to Colorado Springs in roughly two months for $2,015–$3,445. This quote includes the loading of your belongings and transportation services.

To get a free moving quote from International Van Lines, fill out this easy-to-use form.

2. Allied Van Lines: Best for Vehicle Relocation

Allied Van Lines specializes in long-distance moving but can also handle local moves. For outdoor enthusiasts who want to bring their RV, boat, or all-wheel-drive truck with them to Colorado—or who want to leave Colorado with their vehicles safely in tow—Allied offers a vehicle transport service using its own fleet of open and enclosed carriers.

The company can accommodate nearly any vehicle, including watercraft, motorcycles and ATVs, RVs, vans, cars, SUVs, and trucks, and customers can coordinate their vehicle transport directly with Allied instead of a third-party agent.

Allied Van Lines Pros & Cons

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of Allied Van Lines:

✓ Provides in-house auto-shipping services
✓ Includes Basic Liability Protection on all of its moves for free
✓ Offers a fragile-only pack option

✘ Doesn’t offer online sample pricing
✘ Better suited for long-distance moving

Services

Allied provides full-service options that are mainly conducted in-house rather than outsourced to other moving companies. Check out Allied Van Lines’ services below:

• Packing and unpacking
• Loading and unloading
• Fragile-only pack
• Transportation
• Furniture disassembly and reassembly
• Specialty services for difficult items like pianos and expensive artwork
• Storage services
• Moving and packing supplies
• Contents protection plans
• Virtual estimates
• Commercial moving
• Vehicle relocation

Cost

Allied Van Lines requires a virtual or in-house estimate to provide accurate cost information. The company states that the average cost of an interstate move with its services is $3,500. This price is based on the average cost of 7,000-pound moves from Dallas to Chicago.

Learn how Allied can help you with your move by completing this short online questionnaire.

3. North American Van Lines: Best for Claims

North American Van Lines is a full-service moving company that can accommodate local, long-distance, and international moves of all sizes. North American is available in all 50 states and more than 130 countries through its extensive network of more than 500 local movers.

The company has a simplified claims process, providing quick online access to necessary forms and information. There are separate sections on the homepage of North American’s website for international and domestic claims. Customers can also file claims over the phone through the company’s claims support division, which is separate from general customer support.

North American Van Lines Pros & Cons

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of North American Van Lines:

✓ Offers a Not-to-Exceed Pricing package that allows costs to fall below estimates but not above
✓ Uses crane vans to handle large equipment without a loading dock
✓ Has extensive online resources on moving-related topics in a variety of formats (whitepapers, videos, blogs, etc.)

✘ Some customer reviews mention damage to items by local moving contractors
✘ Moving experience varies depending on your location and local moving contractor

Services

North American’s list of moving services includes:

• Mobile storage containers
• Packing and unpacking
• Self-packing advice and assistance
• Loading and unloading
• Vehicle relocation
• Custom crating
• Disconnection and reconnection of appliances

Cost

Prices range from $3,819 to $4,614 to move the contents of a two-bedroom home from Boulder, Colorado, to Phoenix, Arizona, in early October.

Your quote from North American Van Lines will depend on the size and distance of your move, as well as your moving date and any special handling requests.

Other factors that will affect the total cost of your move include:

• The total weight of your items
• Any items that need special handling, such as crating
• Your home layout

For a free quote from North American Van Lines, complete this quick online form.

4. 1-800-PACK-RAT: Best Overall Self-Service Mover

If you prefer a DIY approach to moving, we recommend 1-800-PACK-RAT as our top choice for a self-service mover. With a self-service mover, customers still receive access to moving labor through 1-800-PACK-RAT’s partnership with HireAHelper. However, the company features only one Colorado branch in Denver, and local moves must be conducted within a 100-mile radius of the city.

1-800-PACK-RAT Pros & Cons

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of 1-800-PACK-RAT:

✓ Includes $10,000 in contents protection on its long-distance moves
✓ Offers moving labor through HireAHelper
✓ Offers on-site storage solutions

✘ Availability for cross-country moves can be limited
✘ No online booking option

Services

1-800-PACK-RAT offers three portable storage container sizes: eight-foot (ideal for 1–2 rooms), 12-foot (ideal for 2–3 rooms), and 16-foot (ideal for 3–4 rooms). Simply schedule when you want your container(s) to arrive at your home and load the container(s) at your own pace. Once the containers are loaded, notify 1-800-PACK-RAT and schedule a time for the company to pick up and deliver the container(s) to your new address.

At your new address, you’ll unload the container(s) at your own pace and notify the company when to pick the container(s) up after the belongings have been removed. 1-800-PACK-RAT includes 30 days of rental for your container, but additional time can be purchased if needed.

Here are some other moving services offered by 1-800-PACK-RAT:

• Self-service portable storage unit moves
• Packing and unpacking via HireAHelper
• Loading and unloading via HireAHelper
• Furniture movers via HireAHelper
• Contents protection plans
• Long-term and short-term storage
• Moving and packing supplies
• Vehicle shipping
• Moving checklist
• Space calculator
• Moving and storage blog

Cost

We received an estimate from 1-800-PACK-RAT to move a 16-foot container from Denver to Colorado Springs for a total of $651.49. This quote includes transportation and delivery, as well as a month of container rental. This quote does not include taxes.

Start your self-service move today by getting a free quote from 1-800-PACK-RAT by completing this short survey.

5. JK Moving: Most Customizable Full-Service Mover

If you want full-service moving options but are on a budget, we suggest JK Moving. JK Moving provides a personal moving coordinator that will help create a custom full-service or partial-service moving package for you based on your moving needs and budget.

The company provides further financial security by offering the ability to finance your move through Enhancify.

While JK Moving offers industry-standard full-service options, such as loading and unloading, for long-distance moves involving Colorado, it doesn’t offer services for local moves in Colorado.

JK Moving Pros & Cons

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of JK Moving:

✓ Offers financing via Enhancify
✓ Has a user-friendly mobile app to help with inventory creation
✓ Provides GPS tracking

✘ Doesn’t offer help with local moves in Colorado
✘ Customer reviews vary by location
✘ No online pricing available

Services

JK Moving provides the following services for either full-service or partial-service moves:

• Packing and unpacking
• Loading and unloading
• Specialty services for difficult items like antiques, artwork, and pianos
• Furniture disassembly and reassembly
• Crating
• Transportation and delivery
• Freighting
• Storage services
• Contents protection plans
• Moving blog
• Archive services
• Commercial moving services
• Government moves

Cost

Though JK Moving doesn’t provide online estimates, you can fill out a short form and get in touch with an agent about pricing. The services you choose, the total distance and weight of your move, and your point of origin will affect your overall moving cost.

To start work on a custom moving package with JK Moving, fill out this online questionnaire.

6. American Van Lines: Most Experienced Moving Labor

If you have certain items or tasks you’re worried about having executed properly and professionally, American Van Lines (AVL) is the company for you. AVL’s moving teams consist of full-time, background-checked employees that hold an average of 10 years of moving experience. Another great feature of AVL is that it uses binding estimates. With this structure, customers receive full-service options like packing and unpacking at a fixed price and don’t experience the cost changing during the course of the move.

While AVL does not provide in-state moves in Colorado, it makes a great option for interstate moves involving The Centennial State.

American Van Lines Pros & Cons

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of American Van Lines:

✓ Provides skillful, background-checked employees
✓ Offers fixed pricing on full-service moves
✓ Offers on-site private storage and personal storage vaults

✘ Does not offer in-state moving options
✘ Its upfront deposit ranges from 10%-50% of the total moving cost
✘ Prices are higher than some competitors

Services

American Van Lines offers many industry-standard full-service options on cross-country moves, including:

• Full or partial packing and unpacking
• Loading and unloading
• Transportation and delivery
• Specialty services for difficult items like antiques, musical instruments, recreational equipment, and expensive artwork
• Custom crating
• Vehicle relocation services
• Contents protection plans
• Furniture disassembly and reassembly
• Storage services
• Moving supplies
• Commercial moves
• Military moves

Cost

American Van Lines does not provide instant quotes and instead goes through a detailed inventory process, including the option for a 10-minute virtual walkthrough. However, the company does provide some cost information on its moving cost page. The company estimates that moving a two-bedroom apartment (or 6,000 pounds) from Dallas to Denver costs $4,089.

See how American Van Lines can help you with your upcoming move by completing this online form.

7. PODS: Most Convenient

PODS is a self-service moving container service that’s great for both local and long-distance moves in Colorado. With a moving process similar to 1-800-PACK-RAT, PODS provides 30 rental days for your container, and additional months can be purchased starting at $149 per month. For additional convenience, PODS features one of the largest networks of storage facilities that include features like climate-controlled units and 24/7 security. Additionally, PODS offers moving assistance through third-party providers depending on your location.

PODS Pros & Cons

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of PODS:

✓ Has over 230 storage locations with 24/7 security and climate-controlled units
✓ Is a good option for both local and interstate moving in Colorado
✓ Has a transparent quote process

✘ Moving labor is conducted through third-party companies
✘ Availability and pricing can vary based on the time of year
✘ Its quote process is longer than other companies’ quote processes

Services

PODS offers three moving container sizes: eight-foot (ideal for a studio or room of 500 square feet), 12-foot (ideal for a one-bedroom home), and 16-foot (ideal for a two-bedroom home). PODS also offers the following moving services:

• Portable storage container moves
• Corporate moves
• Long-term and short-term storage solutions
• Business storage
• Packing and unpacking via third-party companies
• Loading and unloading via third-party companies
• Auto-shipping
• Moving and packing supplies
• Moving and storage calculator
• Storage checklist
• Contents protection plans
• Moving checklist
• Moving blog and guides

Cost

PODS quoted us for a 16-foot container going from Denver to Colorado Springs in two months for a total of $1,348.85 including taxes. This quote also includes a month of rent and $10,000 in contents protection.

PODS is a pay-as-you-go service, meaning you pay for each portion of the move one week ahead of time. The first payment for the initial delivery is $530.94. The payment for four days of transportation is $667.51. The final payment for redelivery and the last pickup is $150.40.

To see how PODS can help with your upcoming move, fill out this online questionnaire.

Conclusion

Before hiring a Colorado moving company, consider what you’re looking for in a professional mover.

If you value having a company handle as much of your move as possible, look into full-service movers like International Van Lines, Allied Van Lines, JK Moving, North American Van Lines, and American Van Lines.

If you value moving belongings on your own and saving money, consider self-service movers like 1-800-PACK-RAT and PODS.

Ultimately, we recommend getting a free quote from multiple moving companies to compare their services and pricing.

Other Considerations When Moving in Colorado

When it comes to moving, there are a variety of other services you may want to invest in to make your relocation go more smoothly. Check out some of our top suggestions for additional home services you may want or need:

• The Best Home Warranty Companies in Colorado
• Best Homeowners Insurance in Colorado
• Best Home Security Systems
• Best Lawn Care Services
• Best Pest Control Companies

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving Companies in Colorado

Is it worth it to hire movers?

Ultimately it’s up to you to determine if you find professional movers worth it. If you’re looking to cut back on stress, you don’t have a lot of time to pack, or you’re concerned about specific items being handled properly during transit, you may want to consider hiring movers.

What are the cheapest cities to live in in Colorado?

If you’re looking to move to an affordable city in Colorado, the following cities are good choices:

• Lamar
• Colorado Springs
• Fruita
• Trinidad
• Sterling
• Fort Lupton
• Federal Heights
• Cañon City

What should I pack first when moving?

Focus on non-essential items first when packing. Some non-essential items to consider are:

• Books
• Movies
• Records
• Pictures
• Artwork
• Additional clothing
• Extra shoes
• Decorations
• Planters

Our Rating Methodology: How We Chose the Best Moving Companies

The This Old House Reviews team is committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased reviews to our readers. This means earning your trust through transparent reviews and having the data to back up our ratings and recommendations. Our rating system for moving service providers is on a 100-point scale based on 7 factors:

• Moving Services (30): Does the company offer its services for local, long-distance, and or international moves?
• Additional Services (29): What additional services does the company provide, such as packing and unpacking or loading and unloading?
• Coverage (10): Does the company offer any additional insurance plans, such as full-value coverage?
• Scheduling (7): Are customers able to schedule online, over the phone, or on both platforms?
• Trailers/containers (7): How many trailer or container sizes does the company offer?
• Additional Benefits (12): What additional benefits does the company provide, such as storage options, moving truck rentals, and financing?
• Reputation (5): What rating does the company feature on popular reviews sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB)?

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.