7 Best Moving Companies for Small Moves (2022)

The moving process can be difficult and time-consuming, even if you’re only relocating a few pieces of furniture or an otherwise small load. A professional moving company can make your move easier and provide peace of mind. There are so many professional movers throughout the United States that it gets difficult to figure out which are best suited for smaller moves.

Fortunately, the This Old House Reviews Team has researched the best moving companies in the industry. Based on our research, we created this guide on the best moving companies for small moves and compared their costs, services, benefits, and downsides.

7 Best Moving Companies for Small Moves

After in-depth research and review we found the following to be the best small load moving companies:

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

Compare affordable moving quotes from America’s Top Movers in less than 30 seconds with MovingAPT.

International Van Lines

• Our Take: Best Overall Full-Service Mover
• State Availability: 50 States

International Van Lines (IVL) is our top pick for a full-service mover. The company offers full-service and partial-service options for both local and cross-country moves all across the United States. Full-service options include packing and unpacking, specialty services for pianos and antiques, and storage services. IVL is a great choice for small moves given the company’s ability to adjust its moving packages based on your specific needs.

Pros & Cons

✔ Provides specialty services for artwork, antiques, and pianos
✔ Offers custom moving packages based on your wants and needs
✔ Offers multiple contents protection plans

✘ Outsources moves to third-party agents in Washington State, Utah, Oregon, and Montana
✘ Has received negative customer reviews regarding communication issues

Services

International Van Lines allows customers to mix and match its services to create partial-service and full-service moves. The company also offers a full-value protection plan and storage solutions. IVL’s approach to creating moving packages and its large network makes adjusting its offerings for smaller moves simple. Learn more about IVL services.

Cost

We received a quote from International Van Lines of $825–$1,650 to move a one-bedroom home from Dallas to Austin in late September. This quote includes all transportation and loading services.

Our Take on International Van Lines

International Van Lines is a great choice if you want full-service options for a small move. The company provides a wide variety of moving services, including packing, unpacking, loading and unloading, furniture assembly and disassembly, and storage solutions. Its specialty services are a great perk if you have difficult items to transport.

Get a Free Estimate: We encourage you to see what sort of moving package you can create with International Van Lines by completing this online form.

Learn More: International Van Lines Review

American Van Lines

• Our Take: Best Overall Full-Service Mover
• State Availability: 48 States (does not service Alaska and Hawaii)

American Van Lines stands out for its top-notch movers who are thoroughly vetted before being hired and trained to expertly handle your belongings. All the company’s moving crew members must complete ongoing training and certifications for handling antiques, artwork, fitness equipment, and other high-value or fragile items. Designated piano crews can dismantle and reassemble all models of pianos, regardless of age or size.

Pros & Cons

✔ Offers a guaranteed delivery window for an extra charge
✔ Has climate-controlled storage units that are monitored 24/7 by security cameras
✔ Provides price matching

✘ Does not handle local moves outside of North Carolina, southern Florida, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area
✘ Will not provide a free moving quote online or over the phone

Services

American Van Lines provides full-service moves that include packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking. AVL can also accommodate partial-service requests, such as fragile-only packing and DIY moves. Learn more about American Van Lines services.

Cost

American Van Lines does not provide free moving quotes on its website or over the phone, but we were able to get a general price range of $2,000 to move the contents of a one-bedroom home from Dallas to Austin in early fall. The ballpark quote includes loading and unloading services plus transportation. Packing and unpacking is available for an additional cost. You will need to call AVL directly to find out the cost of your specific move.

Our Take on American Van Lines

American Van Lines is an experienced full-service moving company that may provide some added reassurance to anyone anxious about handing their belongings over to a moving crew. The company has well-trained, certified staff members that are particularly skilled at wrapping, packing, and loading bulky pieces, such as treadmills and pianos, and one-of-a-kind pieces, such as original artwork and antiques.

Get a Free Estimate: Take this online survey to get started on your free moving quote from American Van Lines.

Learn More: American Van Lines Review

JK Moving Services

• Our Take: Most Customizable Full-Service Mover
• State Availability: 50 States

JK Moving provides a full-service moving experience that you can customize with the company’s selection of add-on options. JK Moving makes customization easy through its user-friendly mobile app, which customers can use to browse services, book appointments, make payments, and track shipments.

Pros & Cons

✔ Provides optional in-house financing
✔ Assigns a personal moving coordinator to each customer
✔ Offers around-the-clock customer support

✘ Does not provide local moves outside of Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C.
✘ Does not offer any pricing information online

Services

JK Moving provides traditional full-service moving support for long-distance, cross-country, and international moves. If you prefer a more tailored approach to your relocation, you can select from JK Moving’s optional services and choose only those that fit your specific needs. This feature also allows you to create a moving package that stays within your budget. Learn more about JK Moving services.

Cost

JK Moving will not provide any pricing information over the phone and does have any cost calculators on its website. However, based on our extensive research of online customer reviews, we found that JK Moving charges about $1,600 for one-bedroom moves of roughly 145 miles, or the approximate distance between Dallas and Austin. The company will give you a binding estimate after completing a virtual home assessment and reviewing your moving inventory.

Our Take on JK Moving Services

Although it can be pricier than other full-service moving companies, JK Moving is a great option for small, long-distance moves, since customers can customize their plans to include only the services they need. Additionally, JK Moving’s in-house financing option may be attractive to those who need assistance paying for their relocation or who want to pay for their residential move over time. Keep in mind that financing is subject to credit approval.

Get a Free Estimate: To find out how much your move with JK Moving would be, fill out this simple questionnaire.

Learn More: JK Moving Services Review

Allied Van Lines

• Our Take: Best for Vehicle Relocation
• State Availability: 50 States

If your small move includes shipping a car, boat, motorcycle, or RV, Allied Van Lines could be a good fit for you. While most movers outsource vehicle transport, AVL uniquely operates its own fleet of car carriers. With AVL, you have direct access to the company that’s shipping your vehicle and will be able to track its progress along with the rest of your small moving load.

Pros & Cons

✔ Provides up to $100,000 in insurance on vehicle shipments
✔ Offers mobile moving and storage containers that come with free loading and unloading assistance
✔ Has an innovative and accurate GPS tracking tool for monitoring shipments

✘ Provides limited customer support outside of regular business hours
✘ Will not give online moving quotes

Services

Allied Van Lines provides two types of car carriers at two different price points. The cheaper option—an open carrier—transports multiple vehicles at once but does not provide any protection from potential damage while in transit. Enclosed carriers, while more expensive, are a great choice for those who want to protect their classic car, rare motorcycle, or high-value motorboat from damage while on the highway. Learn more about Allied Van Lines services.

Cost

Like many moving companies, Allied Van Lines does not provide any estimates through its website or over the phone. However, we were able to get a general starting price of approximately $1,000 to move a one-bedroom apartment from Austin to Dallas in late September. AVL will give you a binding estimate after completing a virtual walkthrough of your home and a review of the belongings you plan to move.

Our Take on Allied Van Lines

Allied Van Lines has been in business for nearly 100 years, so we feel confident in the company’s experience in the moving industry. That experience may provide some added reassurance that your car or boat (and other belongings) will be in good hands while en route to your new home. The company’s Allied Express mobile containers may also be a good option for your small move. They are more affordable than full-service packages and come with complementary labor that you usually must pay extra for with other self-service companies.

Get a Free Estimate: Complete this easy online form for your free moving quote from Allied Van Lines.

Learn More: Allied Van Lines Review

1-800-PACK-RAT

• Our Take: Best Overall Self-Service Mover
• State Availability: 30 States and Washington D.C.

We find self-service movers to be better suited for smaller moves, and we find 1-800-PACK-RAT to be the best overall self-service mover. PACK-RAT provides flexibility in the space you use by offering three portable storage container sizes. If you want assistance with your small move, the company features a partnership with HireAHelper to include services such as loading and unloading.

Pros & Cons

✔ Provides $10,000 in contents protection for long-distance moves
✔ Has a wide range of online resources and tools
✔ Offers three sizes of weather-proof and easily-accessible containers

✘ Has limited availability (30 states)
✘ Does not provide online moving quotes or scheduling

Services

1-800-PACK-RAT offers a comprehensive selection of self-service moving options that can be paired with moving services from HireAHelper for a partial-service move. This means the company delivers a moving container to your residence that you can load up with your belongings at your own pace. Once loaded, you notify the company of when to pick up and deliver your container to your new home. You can then unload the container at your own pace. PACK-RAT customers can also receive short-term and long-term storage services as either a stand-alone or additional service. This adds a layer of flexibility to your move. Learn more about PACK RAT services.

Cost

We obtained a moving quote from 1-800-PACK-RAT to transport one of its 8-foot containers from Dallas to Austin, Texas, in about three months for a total of $1,552.61. This quote includes all transportation, delivery and pick-up, a no-cut security lock, and $10,000 in contents protection.

Our Take on 1-800-PACK-RAT

1-800-PACK-RAT is our top pick for small moves due to its quality and variety of containers, as well as its storage options, HireAHelper partnership, and competitive pricing. Customers are able to receive self-service pricing while getting partial-service options, plus plenty of insurance on long-distance moves. These factors all work to make 1-800-PACK-RAT a great choice for a professional mover for anyone relocating with a smaller load.

Get a Free Estimate: We recommend you see how 1-800-PACK-RAT’s moving and storage service handles small moves by completing this short survey.

Learn More: 1-800-PACK-RAT Review

U-Pack

• Our Take: Most Affordable
• State Availability: 50 States + Puerto Rico

U-Pack is a great option for smaller moves at affordable pricing. U-Pack offers a unique pay-for-what-you-use policy on its moving trailer option. This option is ideal for small moves, as it allows customers to pay per footage for a moving trailer. This way, you are only paying for the actual space your belongings require.

Pros & Cons

✔ Charges only for the space you use in containers
✔ Provides GPS tracking on your containers
✔ Offers competitive pricing for a self-service mover

✘ Only provides three days to load and unload
✘ Only includes a service guarantee with the purchase of additional services

Services

U-Pack offers its ReloCube moving container (70” x 82” x 93”) or a large moving trailer used by ABF Freights. Customers can pay for only the footage they use on the moving trailer, which is perfect for a small move that only requires limited space. U-Pack does offer less time to load and unload compared to PODS and 1-800-PACK-RAT, but careful planning can possibly save you money when it comes to using U-Pack. Learn more about U-Pack services.

Cost

U-Pack quoted us $1,141 for a ReloCube going from Dallas to Denver . It would cost $1,182 to use five feet on the moving trailer. U-Pack states that these prices are all-inclusive and contain no hidden fees.

Our Take on U-Pack

If you are concerned about affordability, we suggest you look into U-Pack. The company’s pay-for-what-you-use policy is ideal for those only sending a few items, and customers can still receive help with moving labor based on their location. Keep in mind that U-Pack will most likely be unable to help with any in-state moves, but the company makes a great option for long-distance moves.

Get a Free Estimate: To see how much money U-Pack can possibly save you, fill out this short form.

Learn More: U-Pack Review

PODS Moving & Storage

• Our Take: Most Convenient
• State Availability: 46 States

PODS is another portable storage container company that works great for small moves. The company also provides a great level of convenience when it comes to the schedule of your move. PODS includes 30 days for you to load and unload your moving containers. If you require additional time, PODS starts additional rental fees at $149 per month, which comes out cheaper than 1-800-PACK-RAT’s rental fees.

Pros & Cons

✔ Includes 30 days of container rental in initial cost
✔ Has a transparent quote process
✔ Assists with moves in 46 states

✘ Has limited availability for last-minute moving requests
✘ Does not provide standard packing and loading assistance

Services

PODS offers three moving container sizes: 8 feet, 12 feet, and 16 feet. This adds plenty of variety depending on the size of your move. PODS may provide other services based on your location, such as loading and unloading. Learn more about PODS services.

Cost

We received a free quote from PODS to transport an 8-foot container from Dallas to Austin in early fall for a total of $1,436.89. PODS is a pay-as-you-go service, so each payment is billed one week before the service is rendered. It would cost $427.95 for the initial delivery, 30 days of container rental, and $10,000 in contents protection. The second payment for four days of transportation is $760.42. The final payment for delivery to the new address and final pick-up is $139.

Our Take on PODS

If you value flexibility in your scheduling, we recommend PODS. Unexpected events can happen even with smaller moves, and PODS’ onsite storage options help add a layer of flexibility and ease to your move. The company also provides some of the best rates we have seen for extending your rental period.

Get a Free Estimate: If you want an accurate cost breakdown and detailed estimate from PODS, we recommend you fill out this online form.

Learn More: PODS Moving & Storage Review

How To Prepare for a Small Load Move

Moving companies often act as an effective means to remembering important steps to accomplish during a move. Some moving companies offer personal moving coaches, while other companies provide a moving checklist.

Even with these resources, there are some important steps that may get skipped over when preparing for your move. Read over some major steps to take below to make sure your move occurs with ease:

• Condense your belongings: We recommend you make two piles as moving day draws near. In one of the piles, place items you can donate. In the other pile, place items you want to throw away. A few days before the movers arrive, you can spend some time taking each pile to its respective drop-off location.
• Send proper notifications: Notify your internet provider, electricity and water companies, insurance companies, tax agencies, utility companies, the post office, and the Social Security administration.
• Create an inventory: An important step to take when taking inventory is to make note of the condition of your items and take pictures of them. These photos and notes will come in handy if you have to file a damage claim for reimbursement.

Compare the Top Small Load Moving Companies

To find the best moving company for your small load move, we ultimately recommend that you request quotes from several movers before making your final decision.

*BBB Ratings accurate as of June 2022

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.