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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.
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 7 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
- American Van Lines: Most Experienced Moving Labor
- JK Moving: Most Customizable 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
- PODS: Most Convenient
International Van Lines
Our Rating: 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.
Pros & Cons
✓ 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. 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. Learn more about IVL services.
Cost
Learn More: International Van Lines Review
American Van Lines
Our Rating: 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.
Pros & Cons
✓ 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. Learn more about American Van Lines services.
Cost
Learn More: American Van Lines Review
JK Moving Services
Our Rating: 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.
Pros & Cons
✓ 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 services for either full-service or partial-service moves. Learn more about JK Moving services.
Cost
Learn More: JK Moving Review
Allied Van Lines
Our Rating: 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.
Pros & Cons
✓ 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. Learn more about Allied Van Lines services.
Cost
Learn More: Allied Van Lines Review
North American Van Lines
Our Rating: 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.
Pros & Cons
✓ 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
Learn More: North American Van Lines Review
1-800-PACK-RAT
Our Rating: 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.
Pros & Cons
✓ 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. Learn more about 1-800-PACK-RAT services.
Cost
Learn More: 1-800-PACK-RAT Review
PODS Moving & Storage
Our Rating: 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.
Pros & Cons
✓ 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). Learn more about PODS moving services.
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.
Learn More: PODS Review
Conclusion
Before hiring a Colorado moving company, consider what you’re looking for in a professional mover.
Compare the Top Colorado Movers
Ultimately, we recommend getting a free quote from multiple moving companies to compare their services and pricing.
Comparing the Top Moving Companies in CO
Provider | Free Estimate | Local | Long-Distance | Labor Included | Quoted Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Provider | Free Estimate | Local | Long-Distance | Labor Included | Quoted Price |
IVL | Free Estimate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | $2,015 - $3,445 |
American Van Lines | Free Estimate | ✘ | ✓ | ✓ | $1,809 |
JK Moving | Free Estimate | ✘ | ✓ | ✓ | $6,000 - $7,000 |
Allied Van Lines | Free Estimate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | $5,886 - $6,687 |
North American | Free Estimate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | $3,712 - $4,122 |
1-800-PACK-RAT | Free Estimate | ✓ | ✓ | ✘ | N/A |
PODS | Free Estimate | ✓ | ✓ | ✘ | $1,472 |
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 Pet Insurance in Colorado
- Best Home Security Systems
- Best Lawn Care Services
- Best Pest Control Companies
FAQs About Colorado Movers
How much does it cost to hire movers in Colorado?
After receiving ballpark estimates from top moving companies in Colorado, you can expect to spend anywhere between $1,500 to $7,000 depending on the distance and size of your move.
Is it worth it to hire Colorado 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
Such items, that you don’t use on daily basis, can also be packed ahead of time, and shipped to a self storage unit close to your new home, jumpstarting your moving process. There are almost 100 self storage facilities in Colorado Springs alone, so it won’t be difficult to find one that’s conveniently located for your needs.
Our Rating Methodology
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.