8 Cheapest Moving Companies (2023 Review)

Finding affordable movers can give you much-needed peace of mind as you go through the moving process. While moving costs aren’t the only thing you should consider when choosing a cheap mover, saving money on your move is never a bad thing.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best cheap moving companies in the industry for several different types of moves so you can make the right pick for your next move.

The cheapest moving companies (that are still great)

No matter which type of move you have in mind, finding cheap movers doesn’t have to mean sacrificing quality service. Here are our moving experts’ rankings for the best cheap moving companies. These are experts you can count on for both quality moving services and competitive pricing:

• Cheapest long-distance movers: North American Van Lines
• Cheapest interstate movers: International Van Lines
• Cheapest for DIY moves: U-Haul
• Cheapest local mover: JK Moving Services
• Cheapest packers and movers: HireAHelper
• Cheapest moving containers: U-Pack
• Cheapest for hybrid moves: Safeway Moving
• Cheapest for city-to-city moves: Zippy Shell

Comparing the best cheap moving companies

Here’s a quick overview of the best cheap moving companies and what they can offer for your move:

Our reviews of the most affordable moving companies

From full-service movers to DIY options, here’s a closer look at the best cheap moving companies that can offer the most affordable rates for your move.

Cheapest long-distance movers: North American Van Lines

If you’re planning a cross-country or long-distance move, North American Van Lines is a great choice. Their competitive pricing is backed by “not-to-exceed” quote options — meaning your total costs won’t exceed your initial quote. Their agents can even help assist with international moves, and their average long-distance move costs $3,500.

Founded in 1933, their full-service moves include professional packing (as well as packing supplies), furniture disassembly, and custom crating for specialty items. They can also help with shipping cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles. Most importantly, however, they offer flexibility in choosing services to match your needs and budget.

Pros/Cons

Check out our full North American Van Lines review here.

Cheapest interstate movers: International Van Lines

For help with interstate moves, International Van Lines is a solid, budget-friendly pick when choosing from the best cheap moving companies. With more than 20 years of experience, this award-winning moving company has earned a stellar reputation for customer service. In addition to offering ballpark moving quotes on their website, they also use virtual tours to finalize your quote for a hassle-free experience.

For interstate and long-distance moves, International Van Lines offers binding estimates that include basic furniture disassembly and reassembly, loading and unloading, basic liability coverage, protective equipment, and carrying your stuff up and down one flight of stairs. With binding estimates, you won’t pay any more than the estimate you’re given by the company rep, even if unexpected issues arise.

Pros/Cons

Check out our full International Van Lines review here.

Cheapest for DIY moves: U-Haul

For many budget-conscious movers, the go-to solution is to rent a moving truck and do the work themselves — and few names are more well-known for this option than U-Haul.

U-Haul rental trucks are an especially good option for local DIY moves. Their rental trucks typically come with a flat daily rate of $19.95-$39.95 per day, with an additional per-mile charge. With several truck sizes available at most locations, it’s easy to find one that works well for your move.

By renting a truck and doing the rest of the work yourself, you can expect moving costs to be a fraction of what you’d pay for full-service movers. However, while you can also buy and rent supplies from U-Haul, those tend to be more expensive than buying them elsewhere.

Pros/Cons

Check out our full U-Haul review here.

Cheapest local mover: JK Moving Services

If you need help with local moving within the D.C./Virginia/Maryland area, JK Moving Services is a great option. Each move comes with a personal move coordinator as well as a 100% background-checked moving crew. They also offer a small move program, which is great if you only need to move the contents of a one-room or studio apartment.

To help make your move more affordable, JK Moving Services also offers financing, with rates as low as 0%. This allows you to pay for your move in a series of monthly installments, rather than in one large lump sum.

To find the best local movers in your area, check out our list of the best moving companies broken down by city and state.

Pros/Cons

Check out our full JK Moving Services review here.

Cheapest packers and movers: HireAHelper

If you need help with packing and unpacking, you don’t necessarily have to pay an arm and a leg! HireAHelper is a unique service that connects you with local movers and packers you can hire to load and unload your moving truck or storage container.

They also offer a tool to help you compare moving truck prices in your area. With instant quotes and online booking, this tends to be easier and cheaper than using a full-service moving company. According to their website, the average cost for hiring movers through HireAHelper is $452.

Pros/Cons

Check out our full HireAHelper review here.

Cheapest moving containers: U-Pack

Moving containers allow you make a DIY move without worrying about driving a rental truck — and U-Pack is our pick for the cheapest moving container solution.

U-Pack will drop off ReloCube moving containers or a larger trailer at your property, after which you’ll have three business days to load your stuff. Once that’s done, the company will pick up your containers and take them to your new home. Upon delivery, you’ll have three days to unload everything

What really sets U-Pack apart is that you only pay for the space you use. If you rent a trailer, you only pay for the space you use inside the trailer. If you rent multiple ReloCubes and end up not using one of them, you won’t have to pay for the extra unused container.

Pros/Cons

Check out our full U-Pack review here.

Cheapest for hybrid moves: Safeway Moving

Safeway Moving is a unique hybrid mover, in that it is both a carrier and a broker. This means that they use both their own in-house movers as well as partner companies for nationwide service.

Safeway offers upfront pricing with over-the-phone estimates, and they price match certain competitors such as Atlas Van Lines and Mayflower. Online quotes aren’t available, however. But their personalized, customizable services mean you can get support for your long-distance move if necessary.

Pros/Cons

Check our our full Safeway Moving review here.

Cheapest for city-to-city moves: Zippy Shell

Zippy Shell is an excellent pick for city-to-city moves, offering a moving container solution that works well for local moves. Similar to U-Pack, Zippy Shell delivers a moving container to your property, after which you’ll have three days to load it. Their drivers will then pick up the container and transport it to your new home or to one of their secure warehouses for short- or long-term storage.

What sets Zippy Shell apart is the unique design of their containers, which look and function more like trailers than container boxes. These street-legal containers are especially helpful for cities, where parking could potentially become an issue with other providers.

In our analysis, we found that local moves with Zippy Shell typically cost $190-$750, depending on the size of your home and other factors.

Pros/Cons

Check out our full Zippy Shell review here.

How much you can expect to pay for cheap movers

The national average cost for a move is $1,400, with the cheapest short-distance moves costing around $800 and the cheapest long-distance moves costing around $2,200. With that being said, the amount you should expect to pay for cheap movers will vary based on several factors.

• Distance: The farther your move, the more expensive it will be.
• Size of the move: Small moves typically come with a lower total cost because they require less time (and a smaller moving truck) to load and unload everything.
• Type of move: Certain types of moves are more expensive than others. For example, a DIY truck rental will usually be cheaper than hiring full-service movers — especially for local moves. However, for a long-distance move, a freight trailer could be cheaper thanks to savings on fuel costs and liability coverage.
• Specialty needs: If you need help with specialty services (like piano moving, furniture disassembly, etc.), you’ll pay more than if you’re just hiring movers to help load the truck.

Don’t forget, our moving cost calculator is a fantastic way to compare costs for different types of moves.

How to get the cheapest price when moving

Even if you’re looking at cheaper moving companies, there are still several other ways to cut costs even more:

• Get multiple quotes: Most companies offer free quotes either online or over the phone. We always recommend getting moving quotes from multiple companies so you can compare the costs of their services and find who offers the lowest rates.
• Declutter: Consider downsizing to get rid of stuff you no longer want or need. You can donate, sell, or throw away any unwanted items. With less stuff, you can rent a smaller truck or pay less for moving labor. Plus, your move will go faster!
• Plan ahead: Always try to schedule your move as far ahead of your move date as possible. Many companies charge more for last-minute moves, while others might offer discounts for early booking. Just be sure to check a company’s cancellation policy when booking early.
• Consider a DIY move: The more you take care of yourself, the cheaper your move will be. While a full DIY move is usually the cheapest, you can still save by limiting the amount of professional help you enlist. Choosing not to add any packing services or storage services will help keep your costs down, even when working with professional movers.

What to look for in a cheap moving company

A low price alone doesn’t guarantee a positive moving experience. After all, it won’t do you much good to hire the cheapest professional movers if they break all your stuff!

To ensure a stress-free experience, it helps to do a little background research into the companies you’re considering. Start by looking at the basics, like our reviews as well as customer reviews on sites like Yelp or the BBB, and their years of experience. Just remember that online reviews tend to skew more negative than the average moving experience — though this is still a good way to identify potential red flags.

Depending on your needs, you should also be mindful of any additional services the company offers. Whether you require specific storage solutions or help with moving specialty items, make sure the moving company you choose offers all your desired services!

Finally, be aware of the type of estimate the moving company gives you. Generally speaking, binding estimates are best by setting a flat rate for your move, so even if unexpected extra costs pop up, you won’t pay more than the estimate you were given.

On the other hand, if a mover offers a non-binding estimate or charges hourly rates, you could end up paying much more than expected. Beware of any hidden fees that might not be included in an instant quote — always ask if any services aren’t included in the price!

FAQ

Is it cheaper to buy new furniture or move it?

It’s usually cheaper to move your furniture rather than getting rid of it and buying new stuff when you arrive at your new place. That being said, the cost of moving furniture goes up when moving long-distance or when you need to keep furniture in a storage unit.

Depending on its age and value (and the quotes you get from movers), you may find paring down helps you get a cheaper estimate or a smaller moving truck.

What’s the cheapest way to move?

Generally speaking, going the DIY route of renting a moving truck and packing everything yourself will be the cheapest way to move. Yes, you’ll have to do a lot of heavy lifting — but all the extra help offered by a full-service moving company can really add up!

It may feel like more of a hassle to do the work yourself, but the more you do on your own, the cheaper your move will be. Remember this when choosing the best cheap moving companies for your move.

Where can I get cheap moving boxes?

For moving boxes and other packing supplies, start by looking on Craigslist, Nextdoor, or a neighborhood Facebook group. You might be surprised by how many moving boxes your neighbors are willing to give away for free.

Restaurants, bookstores, and other retailers may also be willing to give away empty boxes if you call and ask. If you’d rather buy new boxes, getting them from a big box retailer like Home Depot or Lowe’s will usually be cheaper than buying them from your moving company.

When is the cheapest time to hire movers?

Even when hiring movers for a full-service move, you can still save money by hiring them at the right time. Generally speaking, it’s cheaper to hire movers during the week rather than on the weekend.

You can also save by scheduling your move during the fall or winter rather than the peak moving seasons of spring and summer. Lower demand means lower prices for your move.

What’s the cheapest way to ship a car?

Depending on the type of move you’re making, your cheapest options are usually either to drive your car yourself or tow it behind your moving truck as part of a DIY move.

However, there are also car shipping companies that can ship your vehicle to your new home. When using a professional car shipping company, open auto transport is usually the cheapest option.