Best Apartment Moving Companies for Small Moves in 2024

We've researched the pricing and services for dozens of moving companies to determine which ones are the best for customers who are moving out of apartments.

Most convenient
Two Men
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK
3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5
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    Full-service moving company
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    Loading and unloading included
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    Company delivers your stuff
Mid-range price/service
pods
PODS
4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2
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    Moving container company
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    Third-party moving labor available
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    Company delivers your stuff
Cheapest
uhaul
U-Haul
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
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    Rental truck company
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    Third-party moving labor available
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    You drive your stuff yourself
Julia Campbell
Feb 13, 2023
bullet7 min read

Apartment moves are a whole different animal than full-home moves. For starters, you probably have less stuff packed in your apartment that you might in a house. You might also have to navigate tricky stairwells and long hallways.

Whether you need a full-service moving company to maneuver your futon through a pesky narrow doorframe or a moving truck to put that futon in, we’ve put together the best small moving companies to help you with your apartment move.

We divided the best moving companies for small moves into three different categories:

Read on to see if you should roll up your sleeves and rent a truck or container or fork over some extra cash for full-service movers.


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Move.org Moving Grants: The 411

At Move.org, we offer financial assistance to individuals and families who are moving in exchange for details about their experience. Their candid reviews help us provide unique, real-life perspectives about the moving process.

Visit our Moving Grant hub to find out which companies we’ve worked with and to apply for funding for your next move!


Full-service apartment movers

If you have a load that’s too large to move on your own, if you’re on a time crunch, or if you need help carrying your furniture up and down multiple flights of stairs, a full-service moving company is the best place to start.

Although hiring a full-service mover is the most expensive option on our list, it’s also the most convenient. Plus, with add-ons like packing and storage services, it allows for customization. You can scale back the services you don’t want so you don’t have to break the bank—or your back.

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FYI

If you’re still torn between hiring a moving company and doing it yourself, our Should I Hire a Mover? article breaks down DIY moves, full-service moves, and everything in between.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK—Best for full-service moves

Most convenient
Two Men
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK
Our Rating
3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5

The folks at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK live by the mantra “Movers Who Care,” and with a reputation of killer customer service backed by consistently positive reviews, we believe them.

The company also takes its service offerings to the next level. For example, the background-checked movers will carefully pad wrap all your furnishings before carrying them out of your house to prevent them from getting damaged on the way to the truck.

pro
Pros
pro 380+ locations
pro Pickup and delivery services
pro Great customer service
pro Affordable prices on local moves
con
Cons
con No quick options to get a quote

Why TWO MEN AND A TRUCK is the best full-service moving company

Widespread availability

With over 380 locations across North America—covering a total of 46 states—TWO MEN AND A TRUCK can lend you a hand no matter which ZIP code you call home.

Affordable local moves

Each TWO MEN AND A TRUCK location is free to set its own rates, but they typically price long-distance moves based on overall weight and mile count. Meanwhile, local loads are typically priced by the hour.

If you have a studio apartment-sized load, this is great since you could probably pull off the move in a couple hours anyway.

Fair warning, though, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK’s quote generator isn’t as seamless as we’ve seen elsewhere—it forces you to jump through one too many hoops before giving you a concrete estimate.

Pickup and delivery services

In addition to your move, you can opt for TWO MEN AND A TRUCK’s door-to-door pickup and delivery service on any item you order to your new area.

So if you need your new sectional picked up and delivered to your new home, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK saves you a trip to the store (and from having to ask your friend with a pickup truck for help).

If you want to compare TWO MEN AND A TRUCK to a similar company, give our College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving review a read—the company has a knack for small local moves.

Want to learn more about TWO MEN AND A TRUCK?


Moving and storage containers

If you’re down to do your own packing and loading but need something to move your belongings in, renting a moving and storage container is a great option—especially if you’re moving a long distance and don’t want to drive the truck yourself.

PODS—Best for moving containers and storage

Mid-range price/service
pods
PODS
Our Rating
4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2

Portable On Demand Storage (a.k.a. PODS) is a key player in the moving container game. With its wide availability and sturdy containers, PODS is the happy medium between full-service convenience and DIY costs.

pro
Pros
pro Container sizes for all types of moves
pro Wide availability in 44 states
pro Sturdy, weather-resistant containers
con
Cons
con No pay-for-use policy

Why PODS is the best moving and storage container company

3 container sizes to choose from

Most container companies take a one-size-fits-all approach, but PODS has three size options: eight feet, twelve feet (for local moves only), and sixteen feet. Each container holds anywhere from one to four rooms, so you can find a combination of containers that matches your load.

Plus, since PODS is in all but six US states you have plenty of locations to choose from. So if your location doesn’t have the container size you want it’s likely another location nearby will.

Sturdy, easy-to-pack containers

Simply put, PODS containers are as strong as moving containers come. They’re weather-resistant, they feature easy-to-use roll-up doors, and they’re built on steel frame foundations, which is a stark difference from other containers on the market that are made of wood.

With PODS—as with any other moving container company—you can expect to pay more than you would for a rental truck but less than the cost of a full-service move.

And if you still want more options, check out our 1-800-PACK-RAT review. 1-800-PACK-RAT boasts the most robust moving containers in the industry and lets you choose from multiple sizes. Plus, 1-800-PACK-RAT price matches with PODS.

Want to get a quote or learn a little more about PODS first? 


Moving van and truck rental companies

If you’re prepared to pack and haul your belongings yourself and just need something to transport your stuff in, a moving van or truck rental is the way to go.

U-Haul—Best for rental trucks

Cheapest
uhaul
U-Haul
Our Rating
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5

U-Haul is one of the most recognizable names in the moving world in part because its services are available almost everywhere. And with a wide range of truck sizes it’s also a great option for small local moves.

pro
Pros
pro Lots of truck sizes
pro Good for small, local moves
pro Wide availability
con
Cons
con Misleading prices

Why U-Haul is the best moving van and truck rental company

Trucks from coast to coast

Boasting the largest moving rental truck company fleet, U-Haul's availability stretches from coast to coast. Much like PODS, if the closest U-Haul location doesn’t have your truck size available, you’ll more than likely be able to go to another nearby location and find what you need there.

5 truck sizes to choose from

U-Haul offers a whole host of truck sizes to choose from, beating out the industry standard of only small, medium, and large sizes. And U-Haul’s in-between sizes keep you from overpaying because you can match your truck’s capacity more closely to the load you’re moving.

Here’s the full list of the truck sizes U-Haul offers:

  • 10-foot truck
  • 15-foot truck
  • 17-foot truck
  • 20-foot truck
  • 26-foot truck

The 26-foot truck doesn’t apply as directly to apartment moves since most apartments don’t have more than four bedrooms, but when you’re estimating your load, it’s worth considering extra stuff you might have lying around in storage.

U-Haul also offers pickup truck and cargo van rentals, so if you’re moving out of a studio apartment, you may be able to fit everything you own into one of these instead of a fully-fledged moving truck.

It may also be worth checking out our Enterprise Truck Rental review—like U-Haul, the company has an impressive lineup of truck sizes to choose from.

Ready to rent a moving truck from U-Haul?


Recap—the best apartment moving companies

Full-service movers

Moving containers and storage

Moving truck rental


FAQ

What should I look for in a small load mover?

Apartment moves are also called small load moves for an obvious reason: they tend to be on the smaller side. More often than not, apartment moves involve no more than three bedrooms (unless you have a swanky 6-plus room penthouse in the middle of Manhattan).

Whatever the size of your apartment, if you’re moving out and want to hire help, here’s what to look for in a small load mover.

Cost factors

Generally speaking, long-distance apartment moves are less cost-effective than local apartment moves. Local movers charge by the hour—and since apartment moves typically have less stuff than full-home moves (and take less time to load, haul, and unload), paying by the hour can work in your favor.

If you’re making an apartment-sized long-distance move, expect to pay significantly more than you would for a local move. Rates for long-distance moves are based on the combined weight of your load and mile count, which can add up quickly.

Flight charge

Most moving companies charge extra based on how many flights of stairs movers have to hike. Every company handles this differently, so asking around and comparing prices can help you find the company with the most reasonable costs.

Truck or container size options

There’s no sense paying for the largest available truck on a smaller job like a one-bedroom apartment. The more options a moving company offers beyond just small, medium, and large sizes, the more opportunity you have to get the most bang for your buck.

Availability

A company’s availability in your area for your moving dates determines whether or not you can do business.

Usually, moving companies will have a page on their website that lists their locations, offerings, and operating hours.


Let us know which apartment mover you choose!

Did you decide to go full-service or rent a truck or container? No matter your method, we’d love to hear about your experience. Let us know in the comments section below, and while you’re at it feel free to call out a small moving company you think should have made the list.

Want more insider knowledge? Check out our article on how much it costs to move.


Methodology

Move.org evaluates and identifies the moving industry’s best movers using a fivefold research approach:

  • Compare pricing transparency. We gather quotes, check for binding estimates, and read customer reviews about pricing to ensure each moving company’s prices are trustworthy. 
  • Mystery shopping. We review every company’s website, pose as customers in calls to companies, and read customer reviews to analyze every company’s moving services, transit protection, and customer service. We also interview actual customers to learn how their moves went from start to finish.
  • Site visits.  We invite moving companies to our headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT, to share data and expertise. We verify the information they provide by comparing it to data gathered through independent research and interviews with other movers.
  • Regular review. We routinely repeat this process to update our recommendations to reflect current data and trends. We also revise each review annually and make updates throughout the year.
Julia Campbell
Written by
Julia Campbell
Julia Campbell is a full-time writer who knows the tricks of the trade when it comes to planning a hassle-free move. Having moved seven times in the past five years, she draws from her own experience and industry expertise to help you avoid her biggest mistakes (like that time she thought she could get away with packing her dishes without wrapping them first).