Best Movers Near Rapid City, SD (2026 Reviews)
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Thomas & Sons Moving Company is Rapid City's top-rated local mover on moveBuddha, earning a 4.36/5 , followed by Green's Moving & Storage at 4.34/5. moveBuddha scored 5 movers based in Rapid City out of 14 reviewed across South Dakota, drawing on 12 verified customer reviews across South Dakota.
Local movers in Rapid City charge by the hour. The SD average is $182/hour for a 2-person crew. Use the moveBuddha moving cost calculator to get a fast cost baseline before you collect quotes.
How do Rapid City moving companies compare?
Rapid City's 5 reviewed moving companies are ranked by moveBuddha score, a composite of verified customer reviews, BBB rating, and proximity to Rapid City, with a market average of 4.26/5, drawing on 12 verified customer reviews across South Dakota. The ranked list above also includes movers that serve Rapid City from nearby locations, so scores reflect performance across the full local service area, not just companies with a Rapid City address.
Proximity to Rapid City is a ranking factor, so a mover ranked higher on the list may have a lower score than one ranked below. A nearby company can outrank a higher-scored mover based further out. Each company's positive review rate and BBB rating are included so you can compare quality and reputation side by side.
| Company | Our rating | Positive reviews | BBB | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
4.36 |
92% | A+ | ||
|
4.34 |
89% | A+ | ||
|
4.26 |
80% | A+ |
What are the top-rated moving companies in Rapid City?
Thomas & Sons Moving Company is Rapid City's top-rated moving company on moveBuddha, earning a 4.36/5, followed by Green's Moving & Storage at 4.34/5.
Each review profile below covers pricing transparency, crew quality, and claims handling, the 3 factors most predictive of move-day outcome, alongside each company's BBB grade, years in business, and positive review rate.
moveBuddha scored 5 Rapid City movers drawing on 12 verified customer reviews across South Dakota, with a market average score of 4.26/5. Rankings include movers based in Rapid City and those serving the area from nearby locations. Proximity is a ranking factor, so a mover's position in the list below does not always correspond directly to its score.
- Thomas & Sons Moving Company: 4.36 out of 5 stars
- Green's Moving & Storage: 4.34 out of 5 stars
- North Western Movers: 4.26 out of 5 stars
Professional and polite staff
Efficient service
Careful handling
Quick moving process
Helpful movers
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Company stats
Read full reviewIndustry experience 5.0
Companies with more years in business often outperform newer competitors. Thomas & Sons Moving Company has been in business for 12 years, demonstrating strong staying power in a competitive industry with services like interstate moving and intrastate moving.
Review quality 4.5
Customer reviews are the clearest window into a mover’s reputation. Thomas & Sons Moving Company has about 92% positive reviews across roughly 149 total reviews, with an average Yelp rating of 4.3.
Quote accuracy 3.7
Quote reliability often comes down to clarity and consistency. Customers can request quotes from Thomas & Sons Moving Company.
Customer service 4.4
From responsiveness to follow-through, customer service is a big differentiator. Thomas & Sons Moving Company emphasizes clear communication, careful handling.
Recent reviews
AJ and his crew were so fast, efficient, and polite. They made moving day much less stressful than I expected. And they were really nice to my dogs! Very highly recommend them!
We have moved over 15 times and this was the most efficient load we've seen. Guys were easy to talk to and work with. They were organized and took pride in their work.
Professional and polite staff
Helpful movers
Efficient service
Careful handling
Affordable rates
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Company stats
Read full reviewIndustry experience 5.0
Companies with more years in business often outperform newer competitors. Green's Moving & Storage has been in business for 72 years, demonstrating strong staying power in a competitive industry with services like international moving and interstate moving.
Review quality 4.1
Customer reviews are the clearest window into a mover’s reputation. Green's Moving & Storage has about 89% positive reviews across roughly 28 total reviews, with an average Yelp rating of 1.0.
Quote accuracy 4.1
Quote reliability often comes down to clarity and consistency. Customers can request instant email quotes from Green's Moving & Storage.
Customer service 4.1
From responsiveness to follow-through, customer service is a big differentiator. Green's Moving & Storage emphasizes clear communication, careful handling.
Recent reviews
"The crew was fantastic! Careful, courteous, and they did an amazing job packing our things. Highly recommend their services!"
"We moved from Rapid City to Boise and it went extremely smooth. John Paul was our driver and he was great. All of his guys that loaded us up… were so polite and hardworking."
Professional and polite staff
Careful handling
Good communication
Efficient service
Highly recommended
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Company stats
Read full reviewIndustry experience 4.7
Companies with more years in business often outperform newer competitors. North Western Movers has been in business for 93 years, demonstrating strong staying power in a competitive industry with services like intrastate moving and office moving.
Review quality 3.8
Customer reviews are the clearest window into a mover’s reputation. North Western Movers has about 80% positive reviews across roughly 40 total reviews, with an average Yelp rating of 4.2.
Quote accuracy 4.1
Quote reliability often comes down to clarity and consistency. Customers can request instant email quotes from North Western Movers.
Customer service 4.1
From responsiveness to follow-through, customer service is a big differentiator. North Western Movers emphasizes clear communication, careful handling.
Recent reviews
"Everyone at North Western was extremely helpful and understanding when we had to make last minute adjustments. The crew carefully loaded our belongings which arrived in good condition."
"Mike Sherry and the Allied team were awesome to work with! I felt he kept us informed each step of the way. Very professional and upfront about any delays! I definitely recommend them!!"
Which Rapid City movers offer specialty services?
Specialty moving services are not standard across every Rapid City mover. Based on moveBuddha's review of 5 Rapid City moving companies, here is what is available, how common each service is in this market, and which movers lead each category:
- Piano moving: 3 of 5 Rapid City movers (60.0%) offer it, vs. 72.52% nationally. Thomas & Sons Moving Company (4.36/5) is Rapid City's top-rated piano mover.
- Climate-controlled storage: 1 of 5 Rapid City movers (20.0%) offer it, vs. 33.2% nationally.
How much does piano moving cost in Rapid City?
Piano moving is available from 3 of 5 Rapid City movers (60.0%), compared to 72.52% nationally. Thomas & Sons Moving Company leads Rapid City piano movers with a 4.36/5 moveBuddha score, followed by Green's Moving & Storage at 4.34/5. A standalone piano move in Rapid City typically costs $784 to $3,430, depending on instrument type.
| Piano moving in Rapid City | Details |
|---|---|
| Rapid City movers offering this | 3 of 5 (60.0%) |
| National average | 72.52% |
| Top-rated Rapid City piano movers | Thomas & Sons Moving Company, Green's Moving & Storage |
| Upright piano | $784 to $1,470 |
| Baby grand piano | $1,176 to $2,450 |
| Grand piano | $1,764 to $3,430 |
Upright pianos weigh 400 to 800 lbs. Grand pianos exceed 1,200 lbs. Trained crews use piano boards, straps, and padded blankets to prevent structural damage that standard moving equipment cannot safely manage. Bundling a piano into a household move with full-service movers is usually cheaper than hiring a piano-only carrier.
How much does climate-controlled storage cost in Rapid City?
Climate-controlled storage is available from 1 of 5 Rapid City movers (20.0%), compared to 33.2% nationally. Storage-in-transit runs about $0.50 per cubic foot per month, putting a 1-bedroom load (about 514 cu ft) at roughly $252/month in Rapid City.
| Climate-controlled storage in Rapid City | Details |
|---|---|
| Rapid City movers offering this | 1 of 5 (20.0%) |
| National average | 33.2% |
| Storage-in-transit rate | About $0.50 per cubic foot per month |
| 1-bedroom monthly estimate (~514 cu ft) | $252 |
Climate-controlled units regulate both temperature and humidity, preventing warping, cracking, and mold in wood furniture, vinyl records, and electronics that temperature-only storage cannot protect. This matters most for storage gaps longer than 30 days or for moves that span seasonal humidity swings.
What is the top-rated moving company in Rapid City?
Thomas & Sons Moving Company (4.36/5 on moveBuddha) is the highest-rated moving company in Rapid City, drawing on 12 verified customer reviews across South Dakota. The Rapid City market averages 4.26/5 across 5 reviewed companies. Use the moveBuddha moving cost calculator to get a cost baseline before collecting quotes.
Frequently asked questions: moving in Rapid City, SD
How much do movers cost in Rapid City, SD?
Local movers in Rapid City, SD charge by the hour. Based on moveBuddha's data from 1 Rapid City movers, hourly rates in this market range from $165/hour to $165/hour, with a median of $165/hour. Rapid City's top-rated mover is Thomas & Sons Moving Company, earning a 4.36/5 on moveBuddha, drawing on 12 verified customer reviews across South Dakota.
Key cost factors for a Rapid City move, based on moveBuddha's review data:
- Access fees: stairs, elevators, long carries, and shuttle service each add $75-$500+ when the truck can't load directly. Get these costs itemized in your estimate before signing.
- Deposit requirement: many Rapid City movers require a deposit to secure your booking. Confirm refund terms before paying.
- Full valuation coverage: 20.0% of Rapid City movers (1.0 companies) offer it. The default released-value protection covers only $0.60 per pound. Full valuation coverage costs extra and covers replacement value.
- Hours on-site: local moves bill by the clock. Home size, floor access, elevator waits, and how much packing work the crew handles are the primary time drivers.
- Long-distance pricing: moves leaving Rapid City across state lines are priced by shipment weight and mileage, not hourly. 80.0% of Rapid City movers (4.0 companies) handle interstate moves. Fuel surcharges on long-distance moves typically add 8%-15% to transportation charges.
- Packing services: 80.0% of Rapid City movers (4.0 companies) offer full packing, and 20.0% supply packing materials. Professional packing adds $0.15-$0.21 per pound on average.
DIY options like a rental truck or moving container reduce costs by roughly 30% compared to full-service moving, based on moveBuddha's analysis. Use the moving cost calculator to get a market-specific baseline before collecting quotes.
What do full-service movers in Rapid City include, and what costs extra?
A standard full-service move in Rapid City, SD includes loading, transport, and unloading. Basic furniture padding and simple disassembly/reassembly for bed frames and standard furniture pieces are included in the base rate. Packing, valuation upgrades, storage, crating, and specialty-item handling are add-ons billed separately. The table below shows what Rapid City movers offer and what each add-on typically costs, based on moveBuddha's review data.
| Add-on service | % of Rapid City movers | Typical cost impact |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | 80.0% (4.0 companies) | +$0.15-$0.21 per pound on average |
| Packing materials | 20.0% | Priced per box or kit; confirm before booking |
| Storage | 80.0% | ~$0.50 per cubic foot per month; a 1-bedroom (~514 cu ft) runs ~$252/month |
| Full valuation coverage | 20.0% (1.0 companies) | 1%-2% of declared shipment value (~$300-$600 on a $30,000 shipment); default released-value protection pays only $0.60/lb |
| Crating (fragile/high-value items) | 60.0% (3.0 companies) | $150-$200 per item for antiques and artwork; $150-$400 for oversized pieces (safes, sectionals, appliances) |
| Access fees (stairs, elevator, long carry, shuttle) | Situational | $75-$500+ when the truck can't load directly; shuttle service adds $0.08-$0.12 per pound with minimums starting around $200 |
Every add-on above requires written confirmation before booking. A binding estimate locks the final price. A non-binding estimate can change based on actual weight or time. See the hidden and unexpected moving costs guide for a full breakdown of what to request in writing.
Do movers in Rapid City offer senior, military, or other discounts?
moveBuddha found no confirmed senior, military, AAA, student, teacher, or law enforcement discounts among the Rapid City movers in its database. That does not mean discounts are unavailable. Ask each mover directly at the quote stage, since some companies offer unpublished rates for eligible groups. Confirm any discount in writing before signing.
How we chose the best moving companies in Rapid City
moveBuddha's moving analyst team evaluated 14 South Dakota moving companies using a five-factor weighted scoring system: customer satisfaction (40%), dispute resolution (20%), industry reputation (15%), online reputation (15%), and service options (10%).
That scoring system draws on moveBuddha's dataset of 1,000+ live price points and research across 4,500+ movers nationwide, so you're getting recommendations built on real market data, not just review aggregation
- Customer satisfaction (40%): The company consistently completes moves on time, communicates proactively, and delivers within the estimated cost. These factors matter most when hiring a mover.
- Dispute resolution (20%): Problems happen in every industry. We reward companies that take clear ownership of issues and make genuine, documented efforts to resolve them.
- Industry reputation (15%): The company holds standing in professional moving organizations and participates in industry oversight, which signals accountability beyond customer reviews alone.
- Online reputation (15%): The company maintains accurate, up-to-date information online and responds promptly and professionally to customer inquiries and complaints.
- Service options (10%): We favor companies that offer full packing, storage, specialty item handling, and expedited delivery. These services matter on a complex move.
Read our complete moving company rating methodology for the full scoring breakdown.
