Small Moves: A Guide To Small-Load Moving Companies

Large moving companies may turn down shipments that don’t meet their 3,000-pound minimum size requirement. Fortunately, some moving companies specialize in small moves, offering better service, lower prices, and a more stress-free moving experience.

For small loads, we think MiniMoves and Ship Smart are just some of the best companies out there, since they both specialize in these kinds of moves. U-Pack — one of the top moving container companies — is also high on our list of recommendations, since you only pay for the space you use.

On average, you can expect to pay as little as $50 up to $1,200 for a small move, depending on distance, moving company, time of year, and other factors.

In this article, we’ll look at some of the best companies for small moves, even if you only need to move a single piece of furniture. We selected these companies based on our extensive research and review of real-life experiences from our Better Moves Project participants, as well as Better Business Bureau reports, TrustPilot and Google reviews, and industry accolades and complaints.

What is considered a small move?

According to most moving companies, a small move is any move of less than 2,000 pounds. That’s typically the size of a studio or one-bedroom apartment. Full-service movers base pricing on weight, so even if you move less stuff, you’ll have to pay the price for the minimum weight of their shipments.

In addition to size and weight, many local moving companies also have minimum time commitments. For local moves, moving companies charge by the hour and set thresholds to ensure the job is worth their while. These vary from company to company but are typically two to six hours. Even if your move goes faster than the minimum, you’ll have to pay the rate for their hourly threshold.

Not sure whether your move counts as “small?” If any of these situations sound familiar, you might qualify for small-move pricing.

Moving a single item

Sometimes, a small move might involve moving one item. This can include a large piece of furniture, a musical instrument like a piano, or a piece of artwork. Small single-item moves are also common if you buy an oversized item from a faraway store and need to ship it to your location.

The challenge here isn’t the volume but the need for specialized handling and transport to prevent damage.

Moving a studio or small apartment

The total weight of a studio or lightly furnished one-bedroom apartment is usually less than 2,000 pounds. This type of move is ideal if you’re just starting out or downsizing.

Most movers will calculate the cost based on the total weight, aligning it with the minimum shipment size they handle.

College dorm moves

Students moving into a furnished college dorm usually fall into the small move category, since they typically don’t need to transport any large furniture.

Essential items for a dorm might include personal belongings, small appliances like microwaves, and decor. Space is crucial for this type of move, so plan carefully to maximize your space.

Relocating fragile or specialty items

Specialty items like pianos, pool tables, or hot tubs require extra attention because of their size, weight, and fragility. These large items still count as a small move, but they do require expert handling and equipment for safe transport.

Temporary storage during renovation

Another scenario for a small move is when homeowners need to clear space during a home renovation. Temporarily moving furniture and other belongings to a storage unit protects them from damage during construction.

Shipping items from estate sales

If you buy a large, delicate item like an antique grandfather clock or retro appliance  from an estate sale, you’ll need help with transportation. These items require professional packing and transportation to preserve their condition, making this a specialized type of small move.

Small-load moving options: How to move your things

Fortunately, moving with just the necessities gives you lots of options. Here are a few ways to handle a small move.

Rent a truck and move yourself

Many small moves are easy to do on your own. Choose between a van rental, large SUV, or pickup truck, depending on how much you’re moving. Some moving truck rental companies like U-Haul Truck Rental make it easy to rent a small trailer if you’re moving a small studio apartment or one-bedroom apartment.

With this moving method, you’ll need to pay gas, mileage, and tolls. Your rented truck also needs a hitch if you also opt for a trailer.

Move in your own car

Depending on your vehicle size and type, you may be able to pack up all your belongings into your vehicle and move them yourself. It’s the cheapest way to move, but it also means you’ll have to focus on fitting everything you own into your car or truck — not to mention making several trips back and forth.

This could be a decent option for small moves within the same city — especially if you can make multiple trips — but it might not make sense if you’re moving several hours away.

Rent a moving container

You can use one of the best moving container companies like U-Pack, PODS, or 1-800-PACK-RAT to get your items to your new home. U-Haul also has a small moving container option called U-Box that’s perfect for small-load move storage.

Container sizes vary, but typically, containers range from eight to 16 feet. All moving containers are ground-level for easy loading. They’re also weather-resistant, so you won’t have to worry about leaving them in your driveway for a few days.

No matter which company you choose, they’ll drop off the container in your driveway or parking space. From there, you can load it at your leisure (depending on the company’s policies) and schedule your container pickup. The benefit of moving containers is you save some money by loading your items yourself but still get a professional driver to transport them.

Many container rentals also include 30 days of free storage with long-distance moves. You can also purchase short- or long-term storage.

Hire professional movers or labor-only movers

Hiring professionals is the most expensive but least labor-intensive way to move. Choose a mover that specializes in small moves or hire one of the best moving labor companies to pack and load your items for you — whether into a container or a rental truck.

What to look for in a small-load moving company

Hiring a small-load moving company costs more than doing everything yourself, but this all-in-one approach will save you a lot of time and hassle. If you want peace of mind, hire a professional.

But don’t hire just anyone. 

Look for a high-quality small-load moving company. Aside from the initial pricing you get when you receive a free quote, here are a few things to be mindful of when shopping for companies for small moves:

• Minimums: Many moving companies have what they call minimums. This refers to the minimum size move they will perform. They won’t take the job if your move is smaller than their minimum (usually based on weight or household size). Look for companies that don’t have minimums or that specifically offer small moves.
• Availability: Make sure your preferred mover is available on your desired move date. Be flexible about your moving day to make it easier to coordinate with a moving company.
• Type of estimate: The moving industry uses many different types of estimates. For example, a binding estimate offers flat-rate pricing representing your move’s maximum cost. A non-binding estimate, on the other hand, is more of an educated guess and can vary significantly from your final total cost. Make sure you know which type of estimate you’re getting. Some companies will tack on surprise fees after the first quote, so always read the fine print.
• Years of experience: Small moves often involve transporting fragile objects. Make sure that, in addition to proper licensing, a mover has ample experience transporting the type of items you’re moving.
• Reviews and referrals: Ask a mover for referrals or check out their reviews online to get an idea of the pros and cons of working with them before you commit to anything. Check out honest customer feedback through our Better Moves Project and other consumer sites to get a balanced view of the moving company.
• Cancellation policy: Your situation can change quickly with a small move. Be sure you understand a mover’s cancellation policy and fees before you make a reservation.
• Storage needs: If you anticipate needing storage at any point in your move, ask the moving company if they offer that option. It’s also smart to ask if they can pick up and deliver at self-storage facilities, since many companies have trucks that are too large to do so.

The best moving companies for small moving loads

There’s no need to trawl the internet for small move companies — we’ve got you covered. These are our picks for the top small-load moving companies:

• Best for peace of mind: MiniMoves
• Best for moving containers: U-Pack
• Best if you have a few large items: TSI
• Best for moving fragile or high-value items: Ship Smart
• Best for competitive pricing: uShip
• Best for moving labor: HireAHelper

Best for peace of mind: MiniMoves

MiniMoves specializes in moving small shipments — from a few pieces of furniture to the contents of a small one-bedroom apartment — and is available in most major cities and can also handle international shipping. Their moving services are perfect for safely sending a recent high school graduate off to college or shipping a few family heirlooms long-distance.

Their thoroughly vetted moving crews will pick up, transport, and deliver your items door-to-door. If that’s not enough, you can also add professional full-service moving services like packing and unpacking.

Plus, there’s no minimum shipment size — you only pay for what you move — and MiniMoves offers binding estimates.

While they wouldn’t be a fit for larger moves, their specialization in small-load moves, low prevalence of damage claims, and glowing reviews from Better Moves Project participants like Lyle make them our top contender.

Pros/Cons

Best for moving containers: U-Pack

If you’re up for handling the loading, packing, and unloading yourself, U-Pack is our top choice of moving container companies for small moves.

They drop off shipping containers to your home and give you three days to load them. U-Pack will then pick up the container and transport it either to your new home — where you’ll have three days to unpack — or to a short-term storage facility.

U-Pack only charges you for the space you use. In fact, if you order more storage containers than you need, you won’t have to pay for the unfilled containers. They also provide online tracking so you always know where your stuff is.

Not only does U-Pack offer moving containers (container dimensions: 6 x 7 x 8 feet), but it also rents 28-foot moving trailers. The trailers may be a great solution if you have a few larger pieces of furniture that won’t fit in the moving container as part of your small-load move.

Pros/Cons

Best if you have a few large items: TSI

TSI (formerly Transit Systems, Inc.) is a Pennsylvania-based shipping and moving company that brokers small moves for residential and commercial customers.

It offers everything from professional organization to packing services, and even has a branch of its business focused on older adults. Moves for Seniors helps people 65 years and older prepare for their golden years by downsizing and distributing family heirlooms to their new homes.

We’d recommend TSI as one of the top moving companies for small moves to anyone within the contiguous United States.

Pros/Cons

Best for moving fragile or high-value items: Ship Smart

If you just need help moving a piano, fine art, or antiques, consider Ship Smart. The company specializes in small moves, including assisting seniors, college students, and small business owners. We like their attention to detail when it comes to moving high-value furniture and heirlooms.

The company handles museum relocations, so they know how to use a careful touch when transporting treasured items across the U.S. Ship Smart can also handle small moves involving electronics, providing onsite full-wood crating and optional full value insurance to cover any damage to your items while in transit.

If you have a particularly bulky piece of fitness equipment or furniture that won’t fit in your moving container or truck, Ship Smart will come to your house to build a custom crate and move it for you.

Delivery with Ship Smart is either curbside or indoor, which includes reassembly and debris removal. While indoor is definitely the more white-glove option of the two, it is also the more expensive choice.

Pros/Cons

Best for competitive pricing: uShip

If you have flexible move dates and really want to get a deal, go with uShip’s online marketplace. This service connects people who are moving with truck drivers and other moving services.

However, uShip is just an online marketplace that essentially functions as a middleman. uShip doesn’t offer services directly, and you won’t find full-service movers offering packing, moving, or storage services on the platform.

Instead, you’ll get a platform where companies and contractors with equipment and moving crews bid on moving and transportation jobs. This competition keeps prices low, but service could vary depending on the contractor you hire.

uShip makes it easy to find a good match by providing real customer reviews through its verified vendor system. This way, you can have confidence when selecting a service provider that has submitted a bid for your move.

Pros/Cons

Best for moving labor: HireAHelper

If you need help loading and unloading items from your rented moving truck for a small move, HireAHelper is a great place to look. It is an online marketplace that allows you to hire movers on an hourly basis.

Apps like HireAHelper are great for moving from one home to another, but they’re also perfect for additional moving services like:

• In-home assembly (like after you buy furniture from IKEA)
• Rearranging furniture inside your home or apartment
• Clearing items from basements and garages before a yard sale
• Loading items into and out of mini storage units

Labor providers are generally less expensive than professional movers and are often more flexible, especially for local moves. HireAHelper quotes also include one flight of stairs and standard repair coverage.

However, there is a two-hour minimum for moving labor help, which might be longer than you need for a small move.

Pros/Cons

Comparing the best moving companies for small loads

Here’s an overview of our picks for the best moving companies for small moves.

Why van lines aren’t your best option

If you’re planning a small move, hiring a van line to handle everything for you is tempting. While this might seem like a good alternative, van lines aren’t a good fit for small-load moves for several reasons.

Minimum weight requirements

Many larger van line companies, like North American Van Lines, have a minimum weight requirement. For North American Van Lines, it’s 500 pounds, meaning even if your move weighs less than that, they still charge you at the 500-pound minimum rate. That leads to higher costs, especially for small moves.

Minimum size requirements

While not all van lines have a weight requirement, some do require that your items be a certain square footage. Some van lines may turn down your move because your items don’t take up enough space in the truck.

Charge minimums

Even if some van lines don’t have weight minimums, some have charge minimums. For example, International Van Lines has a long-carry minimum of $400.

If you’re moving a few household goods from apartment to apartment, you’ll likely need a moving company that offers long carry, which means the truck has to park more than 75 feet from your door. Even if you only have two pieces of small furniture, International Van Lines will still charge you $400 for this, which is incredibly pricey for a small move.

Extra built-in fees

One of the benefits of using a full-service van line like United Van Lines is you don’t have to worry about buying moving blankets or straps to keep your items secure during transit. These items are part of the flat fee you pay when you book your move with United Van Lines.

The problem is, if you’re just moving household items and no furniture, you’re still paying for these items in the base cost, even though you won’t use them.

Lost or damaged items

Many van lines require customers with smaller loads to share trucks with other customers. This arrangement makes it more likely your items could get mixed up with another customer’s items upon delivery.

Even if you have a truck to yourself, all that empty space could cause your items to knock against the sides of the truck, damaging them during transit.

Scheduling and delivery windows

Van lines specialize in large long-distance moves, so your small load isn’t a priority. This could lead to longer wait times for both pickup and delivery, since your belongings could get consolidated with other shipments. They might load your items onto a truck that makes multiple stops along the way, delaying delivery even more.

Of course, the items we mentioned above don’t apply to all van lines because some companies like Allied Van Lines also offer portable storage containers. The company’s Allied Express containers could be helpful if you’re making a move that’s too small to meet their size requirements or only want to ship an item or two.

Either way, if you’re making a small move and really want to use a van line, ask questions before signing a contract. Ask about size and load minimums and if the van line will split your shipment with another customer.

Small-load moving costs

The cost of a small move will vary widely, depending on whether you’re moving locally or shipping your items across the country.

A DIY move will be much cheaper than a full-service moving company. Moving truck rentals typically range from $50 to $300 and moving container companies usually charge an average of around $400–$1,200, but not everyone has the time or ability to pull off a DIY move.

If you’re thinking about hiring a pro mover, you can expect to pay $200–$500 for local moves and more than $1,000 for long-distance moves.

Factors affecting small-load moving costs

As you can see, pricing varies a lot depending on the circumstances of your move. The following are some of the most important factors that will influence your moving quote for a small move:

• Total size and weight: Some movers charge an hourly rate for small moves, while others charge a minimum fee based on the size and weight of your move.
• Move date: Moves will be more expensive on weekends and from May through September, when there’s greater demand for moving services. Most movers also charge extra for last-minute bookings because of the increased logistical challenges of coordinating these moves.
• Distance: The farther you transport your items, the more your move will cost due to mileage, gas, tolls, and other expenses incurred by the mover. For small moves, there’s usually a flat-rate fee for different mileage amounts.
• Special handling requirements: Expect to pay extra for fragile items that require crating or any other kind of special handling. Many movers also charge extra for small moves that require going up or down flights of stairs, which is common in apartment moves.
• Storage options: If you need temporary storage options, ask your mover what storage solutions they offer. Included storage is convenient, but it will increase your total quote. Opting for higher-end add-ons like climate-controlled storage units will also increase the price.
• Add-on moving services: Some movers charge extra for related moving services like furniture disassembly and reassembly, while others include it in their base quote. Be sure to ask if you think about add-on services if you need this help.

Preparing for a small-load move

Once you choose a move method or moving company, it’s time to get busy planning your move. Moving can feel overwhelming, but following a checklist will help you stay calm and organized.

Follow these steps to best prepare for this type of move:

• Downsize. When your goal is only to move the essentials, it’s worth decluttering for a move long before moving day. Start discarding, donating, and selling rarely used items weeks before your move to get the most bang for your buck.
• Pack and prep your items. You can save a lot on your move by handling packing, furniture disassembly, and other related tasks yourself, especially for non-fragile items. Get cheap or free moving boxes through marketplaces like Facebook, by checking NextDoor, or asking neighbors, or buy new packing supplies from a store like Home Depot. You can use your own towels or linens to pad fragile items inside boxes. Give yourself plenty of time to pack — it usually takes longer than you think!
• Keep essentials with you. Pack a bag of essentials to keep with you throughout the move. It should include important documents, toiletries, a change of clothes, medications, phone chargers, and anything else you might need if the rest of your shipment arrives late.
• Get a quote. Get moving quotes from multiple movers and ensure the estimate covers all the moving services you’ll need. Get at least three quotes so you can find the option that works best for you. Use our moving cost calculator to get started.

Not sure if your move is small enough for the companies on this list? You can also check out our picks for best moving companies and best interstate movers for more options.

FAQ about small-load moves

What is considered a small move?

A move that weighs under 2,000 pounds and involves moving a limited number of items is considered a small move. Examples of small moves include a studio or one-bedroom apartment and a college dorm. Some small moves involve relocating a few pieces of equipment or furniture.

How much does a small move cost?

A small move costs anywhere from $50 for a DIY truck rental to over $1,200 for a full-service cross-country move. Many variables influence the price, including distance, weight, and additional services purchased.

Is it worth it to hire movers for a small move?

It can be worth it to hire movers for a small move. Handling a move of any size yourself requires renting a truck, packing, driving, and loading and unloading. Many people don’t have the time or energy for that. Full-service movers cost more money, but they’re the most hassle-free option.

How can you save money on small moves?

You can save money on small moves by:

• Moving during non-peak seasons like fall or spring
• Decluttering before your move
• Doing your own packing to cut down on labor costs
• Being flexible on moving dates
• Requesting at least three quotes to find the best price

How far in advance should I book small-load movers?

You should book small-load movers at least two weeks before your move, whenever possible. If you can book it even further in advance, we’d recommend it, since booking early could get you better rates and moving dates.

Methodology

moveBuddha follows a rigorous methodology for choosing the best moving companies. Our editorial team compiled data on these movers and compared multiple metrics to come to these rankings:

• Customer satisfaction (30%): We listen to real-life customer experiences to rank moving companies. This includes input from our Better Moves Project participants, as well as feedback on TrustPilot, Google, and other review sites.
• Standard services (20%): We look at a moving company’s offerings and how they compare to the competition. We try to focus on companies that offer uncommon perks or services to their customers.
• Reputation (15%): This metric refers to a mover’s industry standing. We calculate this based on validating the U.S. Department of Transportation licensing and registration requirements. We also check to see if the company has insurance and holds a satisfactory BBB rating, and verify participation in professional organizations like the United States Movers Association.
• Add-on services (10%): We consider add-on services to calculate value for the money. Typical add-ons include custom crating, junk removal, cleaning, and furniture assembly and disassembly.
• Availability (10%): Not all moving companies are available everywhere. moveBuddha’s ranking system gives preference to companies with a national or international footprint.
• Type of mover (5%): We assess a moving company’s capabilities based on whether it’s a full-service provider, a self-service company, or something in between.
• Payment (5%): How easy is it for customers to pay a company? moveBuddha focuses on businesses with simple accounting and payment options.
• Scheduling (5%): This metric assesses how easily customers can schedule a mover. We look at the availability of online booking, lead time, and customer service availability.