Our top pick: Hire A Helper is your best bet for a moving labor company. It stands out for its professional contractors (other companies use amateurs), nationwide availability, and simple online quote process. Plus, you can get as much or as little help as you need—from loading and unloading to full-service moves.
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For over 8 years Move.org experts have examined pricing, credentials, and real customer reviews to give you (human) recommendations you can trust. See how we review.
7 min read
Reviewed ByAlina BradfordKurt simplifies moving with nearly a decade of research experience. His writing appears in USA Today, Slate, and Martha Stewart Living. He holds an MPA.
Last Updated: 3 weeks ago
Updated phone number for Hire A Helper.
The best moving labor companies
- : Best overall
- : Best for packing & unpacking
- : Best for price
Compare moving labor companies
Company | Lowest hourly cost | Licensed and insured contractors | Local or long-distance services | Learn more |
| Hire A Helper |
$100
|  Yes | Both | Book online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thumbtack |
$100
|  No | Local | Get a Quote |
| TaskRabbit |
$26
| No | Local | Get a Quote |
When comparing moving labor companies based on their lowest hourly costs and service offerings, TaskRabbit emerges as the most affordable option with a starting rate of $26 per hour. However, it lacks licensed and insured contractors and is limited to local services. Thumbtack, despite being less expensive at $100 per hour, also does not require all professionals on the platform to be licensed or insured. In contrast, Hire A Helper starts at $100 per hour but provides licensed and insured contractors along with both local and long-distance service capabilities. While it's not the cheapest, Hire A Helper offers the most comprehensive and secure moving support, making it the best option for more demanding or long-distance moves.
Can I trust a professional moving company?
(From Move.org’s State of Moving survey of 2,500 Americans)
👍 Nearly 8 in 10 people who used a professional mover didn't have any issues.
👎 2.5% had a professional moving issue that wasn't resolved.
👎 The most common issue was damaged property, with 17% reporting it.
👍 14% reported a pricing dispute, with 8% receiving a resolution that they accepted.
What it means for you: Despite the horror stories that are out there, the overwhelming majority of people who use a professional mover have a positive experience. And those who do report an issue are more likely than not to have an acceptable resolution.
Visit our Marketplace to compare quotes from trusted movers.
What should you look for in a moving labor company?
There are seven things you should look for in a moving labor company:
- Local and long-distance availability. Most moving companies aren’t available nationwide, so you need to find one that’s available in your area. If you're looking for a hourly labor to help you with a long-distance move, you also need to make sure they're available in your departure and destination cities.
- Services. Not all companies provide the same services. Some companies might offer help packing and unpacking or loading and unloading, but not help with furniture assembly or charitable donations. Check to see what services are available before getting a quote.
- Licensed and insured contractors. Most moving labor companies use amateur labor (think a random dude from Craigslist who’s looking to bank an extra buck or two). While that often keeps the price low, it’s a risk to trust a stranger with your belongings. Look for a company that uses licensed and insured workers and that doesn’t have a ton of angry customer reviews.
- Cost. Find a moving labor company that fits your budget (just be aware of the tradeoff between low prices and low-quality labor).
- Binding estimates. Pay special attention to nationwide companies that offer binding quotes. The guarantee means your price won’t change after signing on the dotted line—as long as you don’t have any major changes (like adding more items to the home inventory) that you and the movers agreed on during the quote process.
- Affordable deposit. Many moving companies charge a deposit, which can be from 10% up to 50% of the total cost. Make sure to choose a company that matches your budget. If you pay a deposit, make sure you understand the policies if you need to cancel or change your move.
- Customer service. Pay attention to how the company communicates with you when getting a quote. Ask what kind of communication to expect—and when—before you book. If you're moving on the weekend, consider a company that offers 24/7 customer support.
Hire A Helper Review | Best Moving Labor Company Overall
Hire A Helper shines the most when you need help packing boxes or loading a truck for half a day or more. It has more locations (by far) than any other company on our list, uses only licensed and insured movers, and can help with everything from loading your moving truck to assembling your furniture.
Hire A Helper moving labor rates
Hire A Helper says that hiring a moving company through the service averages to $499 and takes three hours with two movers. Here's what we found.
Data as of 3/4/2025. Offers and availability may vary and are subject to change.
Pros
1,000+ locations in 50 states
Professional movers
Easy quote process
Positive customer reviews
$25 Move.org discount
Over 1 million moves 
Cons
Higher costs than competitors
Two-hour minimum What sets Hire A Helper apart?
It’s easy to find
The moving labor industry is still in its infancy. Even some of the best-known companies are located in only a handful of states. Not Hire A Helper.
Hire A Helper works in more than 1,000 locations across all 50 states. By comparison, the next-largest competitor is available in fewer than 100 cities.
It’s easy to get a quote
Hire A Helper makes it easy to get an estimate for your job. With a quote box that pops up as soon as you go to its home page and multiple bids to choose from, you can get a ballpark estimate for most services in under 60 seconds.
It’s got rave reviews
Hire A Helper is more expensive than most of the competition, but a higher price may not always be a bad thing.
We researched the major customer review sites for all the companies on our list, and Hire A Helper consistently had better reviews than its competitors. According to the company, Hire A Helper has a current customer rating of 4.8 stars out of 5. The company also has a $1,000 service guarantee, so you take on less risk when you book with its movers.
We think the quality is often worth any extra cost.
Ready to find a local mover with Hire A Helper?
Thumbtack—Best for packing & unpacking
Thumbtack is an online marketplace that connects you with independent local professionals offering packing and unpacking services, often on an hourly basis. Instead of hiring a single moving company, you can compare multiple providers, pricing, and availability, making Thumbtack a flexible option for packing-only or labor-only help.
Thumbtack hourly rates
Thumbtack uses a quote-based pricing model for packing and unpacking services, so hourly rates vary by provider, location, and job size. Many Thumbtack pros charge by the hour, and costs depend on factors like how long the job takes, how many workers are needed, and whether you’re hiring help for packing only or unpacking as well. This setup gives you flexibility and the ability to compare prices from multiple local providers, but it also means pricing can be less predictable than platforms with set moving labor rates.
Pros
Wide variety of services
Free instant quotes
Thousands of positive customer reviews
Verified professionals searchable by zip code Cons
No direct phone numbers
Not full-service What sets Thumbtack apart?
Flexible packing and unpacking help
Thumbtack connects you with local professionals who offer packing and unpacking services, often by the hour. Instead of fixed packages or set prices, each provider sets their own rates, which can vary based on your location, the size of your move, and how much help you need. This makes Thumbtack a good option if you’re looking for packing-only or unpacking-only help without hiring a full moving crew.
Easy comparison of local packing pros
One of Thumbtack’s biggest advantages is the ability to compare multiple packing and unpacking providers in your area. You can review profiles, read customer reviews, and request quotes before deciding who to hire. If you want to explore different price points or find a provider that fits your schedule, Thumbtack makes it easy to compare options in one place.
Looking for a moving container company?
Now you’ve found a company to help you pack and load your things, check out our top moving container companies that will help you transport your things to your new home.
PODS is Move.org’s #1 rated moving container company and gives Move.org readers a 10% discount. Get a quote from PODS.
Ready to see what Thumbtack can do for you?
TaskRabbit—Best for price
TaskRabbit is an online marketplace that offers a wide variety of hourly moving services at inexpensive rates. However, the company only operates in about 70 cities. If you’re on a tight budget, TaskRabbit is a good bet for most jobs in most cities.
TaskRabbit moving labor rates
Pros
Competitive prices
Tons of services
User-friendly mobile app
Affordable packing services Cons
Amateur workers
No phone number
Limited locations What sets TaskRabbit apart?
Its prices are low
TaskRabbit is probably your overall least expensive option for hourly labor. We say “probably” because its prices can vary a bit depending on which city you’re in.
When we compared prices in Chicago, IL, TaskRabbit was almost always the least expensive option across the board (by about $20 per hour). When we looked at services in Denver, CO, TaskRabbit was the cheapest option about half the time.
Based on TaskRabbit’s prices and the range of services it offers, we think it’s a good value for moving labor. If TaskRabbit offers services in your city, we recommend getting estimates for your job and comparing them to similar companies so you ensure you’re getting the best bang for your buck.
It’s great for packing
TaskRabbit offers packing and unpacking at an affordable hourly price. Surprisingly, this is one service other companies struggle with.
Thumbtack connects you with local packing and unpacking professionals who set their own hourly rates, so costs vary based on location, experience, and the size of your job. Hire A Helper, by contrast, centers on moving labor crews, with packing and unpacking typically offered as higher-priced add-on services.
TaskRabbit, on the other hand, gives you multiple instant quotes at nearly half the price of its closest-priced competitor.
Don’t forget your packing supplies
Save time and money by having your packing supplies ready when you call TaskRabbit for help. We’ve put together a list of the most important packing supplies—as well as a guide to finding free packing supplies.
Ready to get low prices on moving labor?
Recapping our top 3 companies
- Hire A Helper—Best overall
- Thumbtack—Best for packing & unpacking
- TaskRabbit—Best for price
The #1 reason people go DIY
(From Move.org’s State of Moving survey of 2,500 Americans)
🚚 Affordability was the top motivator
🚚 Most DIY movers rented trucks for short-haul/regional moves
🚚 1 in 5 DIY movers hired help for packing or loading
What it means for you: If budget is the priority and you’re staying local or in-state, compare rates between rental trucks and moving containers. Surprisingly, moving containers are often cheaper after you account for gas, mileage, and other extras that come with a rental truck.
Honorable mention—U-Haul Moving Help
How does U-Haul Moving Help work?
U-Haul Moving Help is an online marketplace that also provides hourly labor for moving services. It didn’t make our list because it offers about half the services as our top three picks. However, it has the lowest rates in the business if you need help with loading and unloading.
Its average hourly rate of $43.73 for loading and unloading is the lowest we’ve seen. Just be aware that U-Haul Moving Help requires a two-hour minimum for its services, so it may not be the best fit for small jobs.
While U-Haul Moving Help is a marketplace that provides labor only, U-Haul (the company) offers truck rentals and U-Box moving container rentals.
Check out our full review of U-Haul Moving Help.
Moving labor FAQ
Moving labor companies help with parts of the moving process like packing boxes and loading rental trucks. They usually cost less than hiring a full-service company—but more than doing it all yourself.
Moving labor costs anywhere from about $26 to $450 per hour, depending on the type of service you need. Loading and unloading services are typically the cheapest, while donation pickup and delivery is often the most expensive moving labor service.
Moving labor companies help with parts of the moving process like packing boxes and loading rental trucks. They usually cost less than hiring a full-service company—but more than doing it all yourself.
Moving labor costs depend on factors such as location, date, and service type. Our research shows the average cost for loading and unloading (the most common moving labor service) is approximately $68 per hour.
Most moving labor services for loading and unloading cost $40–$80 per hour. Costs vary, but you can learn more in our guide to moving prices.
Yes. Moving labor companies specialize in services like packing and unpacking, loading and unloading, and junk removal.
U-Haul does not have employees that offer moving services, but it does connect customers with local movers via its U-Haul Moving Help online marketplace.
Yes, tip your movers just like you would for services like waiting tables or cutting hair. We recommend 5%–10% of your total for smaller moves or $20 for half a day’s work. Check out our guide to tipping your mover to learn more.
The main difference between moving labor and a moving company lies in the scope of services. Moving labor provides help with loading, unloading, packing, or furniture assembly, but doesn't include a moving truck or transportation—making it ideal for DIY moves where you’ve rented your own vehicle. In contrast, a moving company offers full-service solutions, including a truck, transportation, and often packing and unpacking, making it a more convenient but costlier option. Moving labor is typically more affordable and flexible, while moving companies offer a hands-off, comprehensive experience with licensed and insured professionals.
Yes, licensed moving labor companies must have valuation or liability insurance, but they may not cover all types of damage during transport of your items. Be sure to ask the moving company you're considering about its insurance and additional coverage. Most companies have additional plans with extra moving insurance to help protect and replace your breakable and valuable items if they get damaged.
Yes, you can hire movers to help for a few hours. For example, companies such as Hire A Helper and TaskRabbit offer short-term service from about one to three hours. This can be extremely helpful for the hardest and most labor-intensive parts of your move, like loading and unloading, without having to pay for a full day's service.
Why we recommend Hire A Helper
We recommend Hire A Helper for its professional contractors (other companies use amateurs), nationwide availability, and simple online quote process.
If you hate begging your friends to help you move or simply want to skip packing and hauling boxes yourself, use HireAHelper’s online, nationwide marketplace to hire professional local movers.
The pay-by-the-hour rates, online booking and payment system, and excellent customer support make it an easy and affordable middle ground for local or long-distance container or truck moves.
Since the companies listed in HireAHelper’s marketplace are independent, just be sure to study customer reviews and services before booking.
Want to try out Move.org’s #1 moving labor company?
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Methodology
Move.org evaluates and identifies the moving industry’s best moving labor companies using a threefold research approach:
- Compare pricing transparency. We gather quotes, check for binding estimates, and read customer reviews about pricing to ensure each 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 and customer service.
- 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.
