Moving Company Methodology (2025 Guide)

At moveBuddha, we help people through the moving process by creating carefully researched rankings of the best moving companies for various types of relocations. We also put together independent reviews of the leading moving service providers across the country and craft thoughtful informational content that answers your biggest questions about the moving process.

We’ve been helping people move since 2015, and each year we find the ideal moving company for more than 400,000 people. We’ve also given more than $50,000 in grants through our Better Moves Project to real-life customers willing to discuss their moving experience with us. We pull information from over 25 different sources, including government databases, customer review platforms, and industry surveys. We then use this information to create our own database tracking nearly 4,500 moving companies and more than a million authenticated reviews.

We use this information to update our rating factors and guides, so we always provide the most up-to-date recommendations to our readers. We use our expert knowledge of the moving industry to help you make an informed choice that meets your needs.

Recommended

The Better Moves Project

Get real reviews from actual customers who’ve moved with companies like U-Pack, Pods, Safeway, JK, and more! You’ll learn more about the quote process, get pricing breakdowns, and find pros and cons for each mover. Plus, you’ll get insight into pre-move preparation, how moving day went, and key takeaways for better moving experiences.

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How we rate moving companies

Not all moving companies are created equally, so we have to account for variables during our review process. As such, we try to compare apples to apples as much as possible. In other words, we won’t compare a moving container company to a full-service moving company.

A few common threads run through the moving industry. We review every moving company based on the following factors:

• Moving services (35%)
• Customer feedback (28%)
• Online reviews (7%)
• State availability (12%)
• Additional services (12%)
• Quotes/Payment options (6%)

Learn more about how we research these factors and use them in our rankings below. 

Moving services (35%)

Moving services make up 35% of a company’s total score. This is the most heavily weighted factor in our rating system. This category looks at the range and quality of services each mover offers. Moving companies operate under different models to meet various needs and budgets, such as:

• Self-service (DIY) moves: You get the basics, like a truck or storage container, but you’re on the hook for packing, loading, driving, and unloading.
• Full-service moves: Movers handle everything, including packing, unpacking, loading, unloading, transportation, and often extras like furniture disassembly/reassembly.
• Hybrid model: These companies let you mix and match services. For example, you might pack your boxes but hire a pro to drive the truck.

We give extra points to companies offering value-added or uncommon services such as:

• Climate-controlled storage
• Complimentary storage (short- or long-term)
• Vehicle shipping
• White-glove service for fragile or high-value items

Moving companies are scored across six core categories, totaling up to 42 points as follows:

Distance coverage

• Local moves (50 miles or less): 7 points
• Limited local availability: 6 points
• Long-distance (interstate/cross-country): 7 points
• International moves: 7 points

Physical moving services

• Packing/unpacking: 7 points
• Loading/unloading: 7 points

Customer feedback (28%)

Customer feedback represents 28% of our overall rating, making it the second-largest factor in our evaluation framework. This category measures real-world customer experiences and satisfaction levels with each moving company. We prioritize authentic customer experiences over commercial relationships. Our ratings are not influenced by advertising revenue or affiliate partnerships. Instead, we gather genuine feedback from actual customers who have used these moving services and have no financial incentive to provide positive or negative commentary.

Customer feedback is scored across three key dimensions, for a maximum of 28 points:

• Pricing accuracy: 10 points
• Quote turnaround time: 10 points
• Service availability: 8 points

We conduct one-on-one interviews with Better Moves Project participants to get firsthand insights. This allows us to go even deeper than we can with our online review analysis. By interviewing and surveying thousands of Better Moves participants, we learn more about each company’s: 

• Communication and responsiveness
• Pricing transparency
• Punctuality
• Overall satisfaction
• Service range and quality

How we analyze the data

Our scoring isn’t based on star ratings alone. We take a structured, context-rich approach that includes the following steps:

1. Comprehensive review: We analyze all available customer input from interviews and online reviews.
2. Pattern identification: We highlight recurring feedback themes, especially common pain points like delays, poor communication, or surprise fees.
3. Contextual assessment: We determine whether problems are company-specific or industry-wide.
4. Final rating: We distill all our findings into an overall score that reflects the true customer experience.
5. Bottom line summary: Each company review opens with a quick-hit summary of what customers can realistically expect.

Online reviews (7%)

Online reviews make up 7% of a company’s total score. This category gives us an objective look at a mover’s reputation based on third-party assessments and aggregated customer feedback. We analyze reviews from multiple trusted platforms to build a complete picture of each company’s standing:

• Better Business Bureau (BBB): Accreditation status + letter-grade ratings
• Trustpilot: Customer ratings + detailed feedback
• Google Reviews: Star ratings + written user reviews
• Independent review sites: Consumer advocacy sites + niche moving platforms

This review system is an effective benchmark because it offers an objective criterion based on documented behavior, complaint handling, and transparency. It also gives us a standardized evaluation in which all companies are held to the same criteria with third-party neutrality. It also lets us conduct complaint tracking, in which the ratings reflect both the number of complaints and how they were resolved.

Here’s how we research it all:

1. Comprehensive reading: We read through all reviews, not just the scores, to identify both individual incidents and broader trends.
2. Industry contextualization: We evaluate whether complaints reflect company-specific problems or are just common moving industry pain points.
3. Theme assessment: We highlight recurring themes to pinpoint what customers consistently love, or hate, about a company.
4. Holistic evaluation: We merge insights across all platforms to create a fair, well-rounded view of customer satisfaction.

The BBB rating is our primary scoring metric for this category. It’s a reliable, standardized indicator of trustworthiness based on business practices, transparency, and complaint resolution.

Companies are scored as follows:

• A to A+ BBB rating: 7 points (excellent business practices)
• B to B+ BBB rating:  5 points (satisfactory practices)
• C or lower BBB rating: 3 points (below-average practices)

State availability (12%)

State availability accounts for 12% of our total rating. This category measures how widely a moving company operates across the United States, because more coverage means more consumers can access their services, no matter where they live. Wider geographic coverage translates to more access, reliability, and convenience. Here’s why it’s important:

• Accessibility: Customers need movers that actually serve their area, whether it’s for a short hop or a cross-country trek.
• Network strength: Companies with wider coverage usually have stronger logistics, more trucks, and better infrastructure.
• Convenience: Broad coverage eliminates the need to juggle multiple movers for multi-state relocations.
• Consistency: National movers tend to offer standardized service quality no matter the location.

We score companies based on the number of states they operate in, using a clear tiered system:

• 50 states: 12 points (full national coverage, including Alaska and Hawaii)
• 25–49 states: 10 points (strong regional/multi-regional coverage)
• Up to 25 states: 6 points (limited regional coverage)

How we assess state coverage

We don’t just take a company’s word for it. Instead, we verify their actual presence through multiple methods:

• Company documentation: We check service area maps, lists, and tools on official websites.
• Direct verification: If coverage info isn’t clear, we submit quote requests or contact customer support to confirm.
• Operational presence: We make sure the company actually serves a state and doesn’t just pass through it during interstate moves.

Additional services (12%)

Additional services account for 12% of a company’s total score. This category recognizes movers that go beyond the basics. These companies offer value-added services that simplify and enhance the relocation experience. Add-on services can make or break a move. Here’s why they’re important:

• Convenience: One-stop shops save time and reduce vendor juggling
• Expert handling: Fragile and oversized items are safer in trained hands
• Flexibility: Choose only what you need, based on your budget
• Simplified logistics: Bundling services = less coordination chaos
• Time savings: Services like furniture assembly and junk removal check off post-move tasks

Here are the extra services we look for that help companies stand out and make moves smoother:

• Cleaning services: Move-in/move-out cleaning options
• Custom crating: For fragile or high-value items (e.g., antiques, instruments)
• Furniture services: Disassembly before the move, reassembly after
• Junk removal: Hauling off items you don’t want to take with you
• Storage: Short- or long-term options before, during, or after the move
• Vehicle shipping: Transport for cars, motorcycles, etc.
• White-glove handling: Premium care for delicate or specialty items

Companies are scored across five core service areas, for a total of 12 points:

• Storage availability: 3 points
• Special handling for fragile or oversized items: 3 points
• Custom crates for specialty items: 2 points
• Vehicle shipping: 2 points
• Furniture disassembly and assembly: 2 points

How we assess additional services

We look at both what’s offered and how well it’s delivered. We confirm service offerings by reviewing company websites and customer reviews mentioning add-on services. We then go deeper and conduct direct outreach to sales reps and analyze each company’s official service lists and pricing guides.

We assess how services are positioned:

• Included: Bundled with no extra charge
• Optional add-ons: Available for an extra fee
• Competitively priced: Reasonable costs for the industry
• Premium-priced: Available but more expensive than average

We factor in training and tools for handling fragile items, storage security and cleanliness, verified credentials for vehicle transport, and customer satisfaction with how add-on services were executed. Offering a wide range of additional services adds real value. These companies give you more control, convenience, and confidence. This often justifies higher prices with smoother coordination and better service.

Quotes/Payment options (6%)

Pricing and payment practices account for 6% of a company’s total score. While this is a smaller category, it plays a big role in customer confidence and experience. Moving is stressful enough, and your payment shouldn’t add to the chaos. Transparent, flexible payment policies make the difference between a smooth move and a billing nightmare. Here’s why we focus on it:

• Budget certainty: Clear pricing helps customers avoid surprise charges
• Customer control: Online portals let users manage charges independently
• Financial protection: Binding estimates prevent last-minute price hikes
• Payment convenience: Multiple options = less friction
• Trust building: Fair deposits and clear terms show professionalism

We also review several behind-the-scenes factors. We check whether companies accept major credit/debit cards, cash, personal or cashier’s checks, digital payments (PayPal, Venmo, etc.), or if they offer custom financing or payment plans. Good customer portals allow for online payments, real-time invoice and receipt access, charge breakdowns and history, and easy navigation and mobile access.

We assess:

• How the payment applies (toward total cost or separate fee)
• Refundability (conditions for refund)
• Timing (when it’s due relative to the move date)
• The amount required (flat fee or percentage)

We also evaluate:

• Binding estimates (2 points): Full points go to companies offering binding or binding not-to-exceed estimates. This offers the most protective options for you.
• Discounts (2 points): We award points for meaningful offers like:
  • Military/veteran discounts
  • Senior and student discounts
  • Seasonal promos
  • Referral credits
  • Bundled service discounts
• Price matching (2 points): Companies that offer formal price match guarantees get full credit. We verify policies, including whether a written competitor quote is required and any restrictions.

moveBuddha’s moving pricing methodology

We base our scoring on moveBuddha’s monthly cost dataset, which has over 1,000 live price points collected each month across full-service movers, self-service/container companies, and truck rental providers. These figures come from a mix of live quote requests, automated API feeds, and user-submitted quotes via our moving cost calculator.

To provide accuracy and real-time relevance, we include rate signals from our calculator. That way, policies like binding or not-to-exceed estimates, deposit requirements, payment methods, portals, discounts, financing, and price-matching reflect what customers are actually experiencing. All of this works to make our cost data not outdated.

To keep everything fair and representative, we use median-based lane summaries, stratified sampling (by service type, region, and move size), monthly data refreshes, and outlier/provider verification.

How to pick the best moving company

You can pick the best moving company by weighing your needs against our in-house expertise. While we can reduce the burden of research, we can’t make any final decisions for you.

As such, you’ll need to carefully consider other customers’ satisfaction, the company’s ability to provide standard services, their reputation compared to similar providers, and any add-on services they offer.

You’ll also want to think about the company’s availability for their origin and destination locations and how that relates to the type of mover they are. Finally, you’ll need to consider how they process payments, how much they want upfront, and how guaranteed their scheduling is.

You can also consult our list of the best moving companies to narrow down your list and ensure you pick a service provider that’s already passed our quality standards. Keep in mind that there’s no one-size-fits-all company for all situations, so shopping around and comparing services will help you address your unique needs.