Best Long-Distance Movers in Pennsylvania for 2024
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: Safeway Moving is our top choice for long-distance movers in Arizona. Based on our in-depth research and analysis, Safeway Moving offers the best overall value by providing quality service at an affordable price.
Every move is different, so depending on your specific circumstances and budget, you may want to consider Safeway or one of our other recommendations for the best long-distance moving company.
- Best overall value: Safeway Moving
- Best PA-based company: Moving Ahead Services
- Best moving container: U-Pack
- Best labor-only company: HireAHelper
- Best DIY option: U-Haul Truck Rental
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Whether you're moving out of state — or just across the state — we'll walk you through the best national movers and Pennsylvania companies based on pricing, services, and customer satisfaction.
Why trust moveBuddha?
Since 2015, we’ve used our inside knowledge of the moving industry to help more than 400,000 people with their moves.
We go beyond the standard online review to dig deep into our readers’ personal moving experiences through our Better Moves Project. We’ve also developed our own rating system to evaluate each moving company based on their services, reputation, customer satisfaction, and other key factors.
Our content is thoroughly fact-checked and reviewed by our team of in-house experts to ensure the information you get is relevant, accurate, and up-to-date.
Best interstate movers for those moving out of Pennsylvania
These are the best state-to-state long-distance moving companies available in Pennsylvania:
- Safeway Moving: 4.85 out of 5 stars
- American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- Mayzlin Relocation: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- North American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- JK Moving Services: 4.6 out of 5 stars
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
- Family-owned, with locations covering the East Coast
- Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of your move
- Hands-on customer service
- 24/7 support
- Price-matching policy
- Custom crates for electronics & art
- Satellite shipment tracking
- 1,500 local agents covering all 50 states
- Self-packing option
- No deposit required
- White-glove handling of fragile & high-end items
- Guaranteed pickup & delivery
- $250 deposit for interstate moves
- Mobile app with 24/7 customer service
- Financing available
Best long-distance movers if you’re staying in Pennsylvania
While it’s not as common, if you’re staying in Pennsylvania but still moving a couple hundred miles, these are the best interstate movers for you:
- Moving Ahead Services: 5 out of 5 stars
- Packhorse Moving: 4.34 out of 5 stars
- Don Farr Moving & Storage: 4.86 out of 5 stars
- Zip to Zip Moving Inc: 4.8 out of 5 stars
- Armstrong relocation: 4.76 out of 5 stars
Moving Ahead Services
rating
5 / 5
DOT #: 1657726
Years in Business: 16
1025C Mt Nebo Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15237Moving Ahead Services, a local moving company based in Pittsburgh, PA, has been reliably serving the area since 2008. Known for their exceptional residential moving services, they stand out from other nearby movers with their comprehensive offerings, which include packing, unpacking, and labor-only services. Customers consistently praise the company, as reflected in their 4.4-star average rating on Yelp and an impressive 4.8-star rating on Google My Business. With a Better Business Bureau rating of A, Moving Ahead Services is highly reputable and trusted for local moves.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Storage
- Safes
Additional Information
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 1657726
- State license #: 8919468
Packhorse Moving
rating
4.34 / 5
DOT #: 3524666
Years in Business: 3
1210 Stanbridge St, Norristown, PA 19401Packhorse Moving, a local residential moving company serving Norristown, PA, has been impressing customers since 2021 with their exceptional service quality. Unlike some other nearby movers, they boast an impressive Google My Business rating of 4.9 from 292 reviews and hold an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, underscoring their commitment to customer satisfaction. In addition to local moves, they provide comprehensive packing and unpacking services, ensuring delicate items like art and antiques are handled with care. Packhorse Moving doesn't require a deposit and offers full valuation insurance coverage, making them a reliable and customer-friendly choice for your next move.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Art
- Antiques
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
Additional Information
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 3524666
Alternative Business Names
- Packhorse Moving LLC
Don Farr Moving & Storage
rating
4.86 / 5
DOT #: 345157
Years in Business: 42
1200 Lebanon Road Unit 520, West Mifflin, PA 15122Don Farr Moving & Storage, a trusted name in West Mifflin, PA since 1982, specializes in local residential moving services. While consumer reviews are mixed, with average ratings of 2.2 on Yelp and 3.6 on Google, their A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau stands out. They offer comprehensive services including packing, unpacking, and specialty moving for items like pianos, hot tubs, and antiques. Compared to other nearby movers, Don Farr's extensive experience and variety of services make them a solid choice for local moves.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Storage
- Safes
Additional Information
- Pay by money order
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 345157
- State license #: 8922932
- DOD certified
Alternative Business Names
- Exclusive Services, Inc.
Zip to Zip Moving Inc
rating
4.8 / 5
DOT #: 2969363
Years in Business: 6
558 W Uwchlan Ave, Exton, PA 19341Zip to Zip Moving Inc has been a trusted local residential moving company in and around Exton, PA since 2018. With an impressive array of services, including packing, unpacking, and specialized moving for items like pianos, safes, and antiques, they outshine many nearby competitors. Their stellar reputation is backed by numerous positive reviews, boasting an average rating of 4.8 on Yelp and a perfect score of 5.0 on Google. Additionally, their A rating from the Better Business Bureau further cements their standing as a reputable choice for local moves.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Safes
Additional Information
- Pay by money order
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- DOT #: 2969363
- State license #: 8925314
Armstrong relocation
rating
4.76 / 5
DOT #: 1170867
Years in Business: 74
1074 East Main Street, Mount Joy, PA 17552Armstrong Relocation, a local moving company in Mount Joy, PA, has been providing residential moving services since 1950. They distinguish themselves with a broad range of services including packing, unpacking, and handling fragile items, as well as the expertise to move pianos, art, and antiques. Unlike many nearby competitors, Armstrong Relocation accepts credit cards and requires no deposit. With an impressive 205 reviews on Google averaging 4.7 stars and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, their strong reputation is a testament to their reliability and customer satisfaction.
Review Profiles
Services Offered
Move Distances
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
Available services
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
Additional Information
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 1170867
- State license #: 8917264
Alternative Business Names
- Jack Treier Moving & Storage
Alternative long-distance moving options
While hiring full-service moving companies out of Pennsylvania is usually the easiest option, it’s not for everyone.
Moving containers
If you’re comfortable doing the packing and loading but don’t want to drive from Pennsylvania to your new state, a moving container can be a great cost-saving alternative.
Expect to pay somewhere around $1,003 to $6,974 for a moving container in Pennsylvania. The cost depends on several factors, so we recommend getting multiple moving quotes.
We suggest starting with:
- Long distance moves only
- Only pay for the space you use
- No deposit or initial fees
- Fast delivery time frames
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
Labor-only
If you’re comfortable doing the driving from Pennsylvania to your new state but want some help packing, loading, and unloading, look for labor-only moving companies.
You’ll typically pay $31 to $41 per hour per worker for Pennsylvania-based labor-only movers.
Here are our top recommendations:
- HireAHelper: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- Bellhop: 4.3 out of 5 stars
- First call quoting, get a quote in just a couple of minutes
- Rates are typically 20-40% lower than the industry averages
- $1,000 money-back service guarantee
- Fast and accurate delivery times
- Free damage coverage with additional coverage options
- Quick and easy booking process
- National 4.75/5 star rating (these guys are good at what they do)
- Dedicated move concierge specialist
- Pay as you go service. 2-hour minimum and then prorated down to the minute
- The time clock starts when the movers arrive and ends when you tell them
Total DIY
The cheapest way to move out of state is with a full DIY approach — meaning you’ll handle driving, in addition to all the loading and unloading.
These moving rental trucks do require the most work on your part, but will save you the most money:
- U-Haul Truck Rental: 4.15 out of 5 stars
- Penske Truck Rental: 4 out of 5 stars
- More than 20,000 locations with prominent pricing
- Rental options include everything from pick-up trucks to 26-foot moving trucks
- Gentle-Ride Suspension add protection to avoid damaging your items during transit
- U-Box moving containers available if you don't want to drive
- Limits environmental impact as part of the EPA's SmartWay Program
- Non-slip flooring makes loading and unloading easier
- Easily choose truck size with their Truck Wizard Tool
How we picked the best long-distance movers in Pennsylvania
Over the past 10 years, we’ve developed a rigorous review process to identify the absolute best long-distance moving companies in Pennsylvania.
We look at:
- Customer satisfaction (40%): The company consistently delivers services in a timely matter with good communication and within the estimated cost.
- Dispute resolution (20%): Mistakes cannot be avoided in the moving industry. We look for companies that own their mistakes and make genuine efforts to fix any issues that arise during a move.
- Industry reputation (15%): The company is well regarded within the moving industry and participates in industry conferences and organizations.
- Online reputation (15%): The company maintains a professional website with accurate information. The company promptly and professionally responds to online customer inquiries.
- Service options (10%): We look for companies with a deep breadth of services including full packing, storage, specialty item handling, expedited delivery, and more.
Read more about our moving company rating methodology.
Average cost of a long-distance move out of Pennsylvania
Long-distance moving costs in Pennsylvania range from $1,046 up to $12,069 or more, depending on the specific details of your relocation.
Factors that affect the cost
- Size: The volume of items you're moving directly affects costs. Evaluate what you truly need in Pennsylvania — every extra item adds up.
- Distance: The distance you’re moving away from Pennsylvania is a major cost factor. Whether it's a couple hundred miles or a cross-country trek, distance plays a key role in your moving budget.
- Type of move: How you choose to move out of Pennsylvania is crucial. Your options include a full-service moving company, truck rental, moving container, or a freight trailer. Each option comes with a different price point and its own set of perks and downsides.
- Services: Consider whether to do it yourself or hire help for packing and unpacking. Professional services add convenience but also increase costs.
- Seasonal timing: When you move affects the price. Summer moves are typically more expensive. Planning your move during the off-season (October-April) can be more cost-effective.
To get an accurate cost estimate, check out our free moving cost calculator.
Thing to consider before hiring a long-distance mover in Pennsylvania
Whether you’re staying in Pennsylvania for the low cost of living, abundant fun and recreational activities, and beautiful landscapes, or moving out due to the harsh winter weather, bad driving conditions, and nuclear power plants, here’s what you need to consider before your big move.
Company licensing
For decades movers In Pennsylvania were regulated by the Public Utility Commission (PUC). Each company was issued a PUC Number and was required to abide by a universal publicly published tariff that established the rates movers could charge for various services. Now, some sources claim that the PUC no longer regulates in-state movers, and it appears as though the PUC’s website is no longer functioning. So if you’re moving within Pennsylvania, you’ll want to address these issues with your moving company representative and if possible, contact the state directly.
Insurance options
In Pennsylvania, movers typically offer Released Value Protection at no extra cost, covering items at 60 cents per pound. For more comprehensive coverage, inquire about Full Value Protection with the moving company, or explore third-party insurance options for tailored plans. Consider coverage limits, additional costs, and reviews before making a decision.
Moving date
Weather factors influence how busy movers are, so those things play into the availability of movers and the cost.
In Pennsylvania, you have to consider that the average winter temperature is 19°F, the average summer temperature is 83°F, you’ll see 44” of rain, and about 38” of snow each year.
Taking your car
If you’re moving across the country and don’t want to leave your car (or drive it cross-country), you may want to use an Pennsylvania car shipper.
You’ll also want to consider vehicle inspections in your new location, as regulations can differ state to state and even by city. Take Pennsylvania’s requirements, as an example. If you are moving to Pennsylvania and bringing a vehicle with you, you will need to have it inspected within 10 days of establishing residency. This includes safety and emission test. You can find a list of inspection stations on the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation website or by searching for "vehicle inspection near me". It's a good idea to schedule an appointment in advance and bring your vehicle registration and proof of insurance.
Long-distance movers in nearby cities
