Whether you’re moving to Pittsburgh or moving out of Philadelphia, a moving company helps make the moving process stress-free. A professional moving company can handle tasks like packing, crating, and unloading for you, as well as taking on winding roads and traffic jams.
From container delivery services to full-service movers who take care of every step of the moving process, there are dozens of reputable local movers in the Keystone State. Keep reading to learn about the best moving companies in Pennsylvania.
7 Top Moving Companies in Pennsylvania
After in-depth research, here are the best moving companies in Pennsylvania:
- 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) provides a comprehensive selection of services, including furniture disassembly, packing, loading, transportation, unloading, unpacking, and furniture reassembly. It is a great choice for anyone who wants a mover to handle as much of their move as possible. The company allows you to mix and match your services to create either a full-service or partial-service package.
IVL is a large freighting company, which makes it ideal for long-distance moves. Though IVL offers local moves for customers moving within the state, this option requires a minimum of a two-bedroom home.
Pros & Cons
✓ Offers both full-service and partial-service packages
✓ Provides free, online estimates
✓ Offers specialty moving services for antiques, pianos, artwork, and more
✘ Prices can be higher than DIY moving options, especially for local moves
✘ Better suited for long-distance moves rather than local ones
Services
International Van Lines offers a wide variety of service options. Customers are able to pick these services based on their specific moving wants and needs. Learn more about IVL Services.
Cost
International Van Lines’ moving quote for a two-bedroom home from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh in roughly two months is $2,015–$3,445. This includes loading and transportation services. To learn what services International Van Lines can include in your residential move, fill out this easy-to-use form.
Learn More: International Van Lines Review
American Van Lines
Our Rating: Most Experienced Moving Labor
American Van Lines (AVL) is a full-service mover with some of the most experienced and well-trained moving teams. AVL’s movers can dismantle furniture, pack, transport, and reassemble your furniture at your new home. A unique benefit of AVL is its fixed pricing structure. As long as you don’t change your move after you receive your quote, you can depend on your rate staying the same. Like other full-service movers on this list, American Van Lines proves to be a better long-distance mover.
Pros & Cons
✓ Has on-site private storage and personal storage vaults
✓ Has piano and antique moving specialists on its team
✓ Full-time movers have an average of 10 years of moving experience
✘ Prices can be higher than some competitors
✘ Up-front deposit can range from 10%-50% of your total moving cost
Services
American Van Lines provides skilled labor for a wide variety of full-service options, including:
- Full or partial packing and unpacking
- Loading and unloading
- Specialty services for difficult items like antiques, musical instruments, recreational equipment, and expensive artwork
- Transportation and delivery
- Custom crating
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly
- Storage solutions
- Moving and packing supplies
- Commercial moves
- Military moves
- Vehicle relocation services
- Contents protection plans
Cost
American Van Lines does not provide online quotes, but it does provide some cost information on its moving cost page. For example, a two-bedroom move (or 6,000 pounds) from New York City to Washington D.C. costs $3,873. This quote is the average price of this move with AVL, so it includes a variety of service options. If you’re interested in more accurate piercing from American Van Lines, complete this easy-to-use survey.
Learn More: American Van Lines Review
JK Moving Services
Our Rating: Most Customizable Full-Service Mover
JK Moving is a great option if you want tailor-made full-service packages customized to your budget and moving needs. In conjunction with an array of moving services, the company provides the rare perk of financing your move through its partnership with Enhancify.
Pros & Cons
✓ All movers are full-time employees
✓ Financing available via Enhancify
✓ Offers 24-hour customer support with a personal moving coordinator
✘ Accurate cost information is hard to find online
✘ In-transit storage is only available in two states
✘ No local moves in Pennsylvania
Services
The company will assign a moving coordinator, who will create an itemized list of your possessions before the team of experienced, full-time movers load the moving truck. Learn more about JK Moving’s services.
Cost
JK Moving doesn’t provide instant estimates on its website, but you can fill out a short form and expect a call from an agent shortly thereafter. Your price will depend on the services you choose, the distance and weight of your move, and your point of origin. Start the quote process with JK Moving by completing this online form.
Learn More: JK Moving Review
Allied Van Lines
Our Rating: Best for Vehicle Relocation
As the oldest moving company in the U.S., Allied Van Lines is one of the most experienced in the industry. Allied offers full-service moving packages and custom add-on options, as well as DIY support like moving kits and online moving resources. Allied Van Lines operates its own fleet of vehicle carriers for the transport of cars, SUVs, trucks, vans, motorcycles, boats and snowmobiles. Customers can choose from open car carriers to enclosed semi-trailer trucks that provide added protection for rare, vintage cars and high-value vehicles.
Pros & Cons
✓ Guaranteed quotes with an in-home visit
✓ Offers vehicle coverage of up to $100,000 with no deductible
✓ A la carte-style packages allow customers to pick and choose the services they want without extending their budget
✘ Doesn’t offer 24/7 claims support
✘ Add-ons can increase your moving costs to beyond competitor pricing
Services
Allied’s list of moving services includes:
- Local moving
- Long-distance moving
- International moving
- Packing and unpacking
- Crating of electronics
- Appliance disconnection and reconnection
- Moving kits for DIY packing
Cost
Allied estimates that moving a two-bedroom home from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Salt Lake City, Utah, in late June would cost between $5,563 and $6,363. You can request an instant quote through Allied’s website, which will provide you with an approximate cost range for your move based on the size of your apartment or home, where you’re relocating, what time of year you’re planning to move, the size of your move, and the layout of your home. We recommend getting a more detailed quote from Allied Van Lines by filling out this quick online form.
Learn More: Allied Van Lines Review
North American Van Lines
Our Rating: Best for Claims
North American Van Lines is available in all 50 states and more than 130 countries, and it has an extensive network of more than 500 local movers. The company handles local, long-distance, and international relocations, and it offers numerous add-on services, including electronics crating and vehicle transport, allowing customers to create customized moving packages. North American customers can quickly file domestic or international claims directly from the homepage of the company’s website. Dedicated claims support lines are also available for those who have additional questions or prefer to file their claims over the phone.
Pros & Cons
✓ Provides flat-rate pricing
✓ Uses interactive driving simulators to train drivers
✓ Offers a Not-To-Exceed Pricing package that allows costs to fall below estimates but not above
✘ Consumers may have to wait longer for open in-home estimate appointments than with competitors
✘ Storage options are based on local availability
Services
North American’s list of moving services includes:
- Mobile storage containers
- Fragile-only packing
- Short- and long-term storage
- House cleaning
- Debris removal
- Disconnection and reconnection of appliances
- Crane vans for large items
Cost
North American’s prices are based on how many items you have to move and when and where you’re moving. The company also factors any special handling requests into a quote. Prices range from $4,716 to $5,389 to move a two-bedroom home with an average or medium-sized quantity of items from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Montgomery, Alabama, in mid-May. For a free, personalized quote from North American Van Lines, complete this quick online form.
Learn More: North American Van Lines Review
1-800-PACK-RAT
Our Rating: Best Overall Self-Service Mover
1-800-PACK-RAT proves to be a great option for anyone looking to save money and take the DIY approach to their local or long-distance Pennsylvania move. The company also partners with HireAHelper to provide reliable partial-service options like loading and unloading. 1-800-PACK-RAT has branches in both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Pros & Cons
✓ Drops off and picks up weatherproof container(s) on your schedule
✓ Includes $10,000 in contents protection
✓ Offers price matching with PODS
✘ No online booking options
✘ Availability for cross-country moves can be limited
Services
1-800-PACK-RAT offers three container sizes: eight feet (ideal for 1–2 rooms), 12 feet (ideal for 2–3 rooms), and 16 feet (ideal for 3–4 rooms). 1-800-PACK-RAT includes 30 days to use your container, which is a longer time frame than some other DIY-friendly services.
The moving process with 1-800-PACK-RAT allows you to schedule when the company drops off your container(s) at your point of origin. You load the container(s) at your own pace, and once loaded, you notify the company when to pick up and deliver the container(s) to your new home. Learn more about PACK-RAT’s services.
Cost
We received a quote from 1-800-PACK-RAT to move a two-bedroom home from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh within two months using a 16-foot container for $1,838.59. This quote includes all transportation, delivery and pick-up, a no-cut security lock, and $10,000 in contents protection. For a personalized, free moving quote from 1-800-PACK-RAT, fill out this short survey.
Learn More: 1-800-PACK-RAT Review
PODS Moving & Storage
Our Rating: Most Convenient
PODS is a self-service container delivery service that offers additional moving services from third-party companies (depending on your location). PODS delivers a moving container to your home, allows you to load it yourself, and transports it to your new home. PODS includes 30 days of rental for your container, and additional months can be purchased at affordable rates.
Pros & Cons
✓ Offers an adjustable contents protection plan
✓ Cheaper than full-service competitors
✓ Has more than 230 storage locations with 24/7 security and climate-controlled units
✘ Availability and pricing can vary based on the time of year
✘ Moving help is provided through third-party companies
Services
PODS offers three moving container sizes: eight feet (ideal for a studio or room of 500 square feet), 12 feet (ideal for a one-bedroom home), and 16 feet (ideal for a two-bedroom home). PODS’ moving process features the same steps as 1-800-PACK-RAT and other self-service movers. Learn more about PODS services.
Cost
We received a quote from PODS to move a 16-foot container from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh in two months for a total of $2,288. This quote includes 30 days of rental and $10,000 in contents protection. PODS is a pay-as-you-go service, so the cost is broken down as follows: $527 for the initial delivery, $1,761 for all transportation and mileage, and $149 for the delivery to the new home and final pick-up. To see what PODS can do for your moving and storage needs, complete this short survey.
Learn More: PODS Moving Review
Conclusion
Every moving company fulfills a different kind of moving need. If you want to save time and focus on other important parts of your relocation, check out full-service movers like International Van Lines, Allied Van Lines, JK Moving, North American Van Lines, and American Van Lines.
If you want to save money with a DIY approach, look into self-service movers like 1-800-PACK-RAT and PODS.
Summary of the Best Moving Companies in Pennsylvania
Take some time to assess what you’re looking for and what you want to avoid in your Pennsylvania move. We ultimately recommend requesting a quote from a few different moving companies to compare costs and services.
Top Pennsylvania Movers
| Provider | Free Estimate | Local | Long-Distance | Labor Included | Quoted Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IVL | Free Estimate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | $2,015–$3,445 |
| American | Free Estimate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | $3,873 |
| JK Moving | Free Estimate | ✖ | ✓ | ✓ | Not available |
| Allied | Free Estimate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | $5,563-$6,363 |
| North American | Free Estimate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | $4,716-$5,389 |
| PACK-RAT | Free Estimate | ✓ | ✓ | ✖ | $1,838.59 |
| PODS | Free Estimate | ✓ | ✓ | ✖ | $2,288 |
FAQs About Moving Companies in Pennsylvania
Other Considerations When Moving in Pennsylvania
When it comes to moving, there are several other services you may want to consider to make the process go more smoothly. Below are some helpful resources for your new home:
- Best Home Warranty Companies in Pennsylvania
- Best Homeowners Insurance in Pennsylvania
- Best Renters Insurance in Pennsylvania
- Best Pet Insurance in Pennsylvania
- Top Real Estate Agents in Philadelphia
- Best Home Security Systems
- Best Lawn Care Services
- Best Pest Control Companies
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 seven 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.