The best moving companies in Kentucky

International Van Lines is our pick for the best long-distance moving company. It can move you anywhere in the country and is upfront about its prices (most moving companies aren’t). IVL also offers substantial discounts if you’re a senior or need to ship a car. Plus, the moving company provides 30 days of free storage to provide a buffer when moving into your new home. On the downside, it has below-average customer reviews and annoying website pop-up ads.

Check Prices  |  Read International Van Lines Review

First National Van Lines is our pick for the best local moving company. While most moving brokers focus on helping you move between states, FNVL’s expertise enables you to move within the same state. It has a network of movers in nearly all US cities and receives above-average customer reviews. First National Van Lines can also give you a quote virtually or in person and provides attractive storage options. For example, it offers all customers a free month of storage and a remote video stream of their storage space. On the downside, FNVL’s website isn’t always up-to-date.

Check Prices  |  View First National Van Lines website

PODS is one of your best moving options. Think of the company’s containers as storage units that you can hang onto until you've set a date with a driver to pick up and hook onto the back of a specialized truck. A PODS truck drops off a moving container at your home. Once you load it, PODS picks the container up and transports it to your new home, where you unload it. The container company has top-notch customer reviews, excellent storage options, and nationwide availability. And despite confusing invoices, PODS has some of the lowest rates for moving containers in the United States. In some cases, it's even more convenient and cheaper than rental trucks.

Check Prices  |  Read PODS Review

Penske Truck Rental is our pick for the best moving truck company. Renting a truck is the cheapest way to move, and Penske brings a lot to the table. It offers local and long-distance moving services everywhere in the country (except Alaska), provides reliable reservations, and has moving discounts. In addition, Penske has the highest customer satisfaction rating of any rental truck company. So if you’re able to pack, load, and drive, there’s no better option than Penske Truck Rental.

Check Prices  |  Read Penske Review

HireAHelper is an excellent solution if you need help with only a few parts of the moving process. The company’s professional contractors can help you with everything from packing and loading to furniture assembly and junk removal. It’s also easy to find, with nearly 5,000 locations in all 50 states. Plus, HireAHelper movers get excellent customer reviews. Just be aware that you must hire your workers for at least two hours. It’s not cheap compared to other hourly moving labor companies, but customer reviews suggest the premium price is worth it.

Check Prices  |  Read HireAHelper Review

Around 4,509,394 people live in Kentucky, a 7.4% rise in 2020.¹ The state’s most current racial breakdown, according to US Census data, is White 87.1%, Black 8.6%, Hispanic or Latino 4.2%, Asian 1.7%, American Indian and Alaska Native 0.3%, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander 0.1%, and two or more races 2.2%. Approximately 97% of Kentucky residents are American citizens, and the median age is 39 years old.²

The employment rate increased by 0.618% in 2020, from 1.9 million employees to 1.91 million employees.² The most common jobs are driver/sales workers and truck drivers, nurses, and cashiers. The most common industries are schools, restaurants and food service, and construction, while the biggest industries are manufacturing and coal mining. Male employees in full-time positions made 1.34 times more than female employees in 2020. On a separate note, the Gini index is 0.454 for Kentucky, meaning wages are distributed more evenly than the national average (0.478).²

While Kentucky has a low cost of living compared to the national average, 16.6% of residents live below the poverty line. The median Kentucky household income is $52,238, a 3.26% increase from 2019. This income level is still below the national average household income of $67,521.²

Housing costs in Kentucky are 22.6% below the national average. The average household has 2.4 people, and the median price of a home in Kentucky is $239,300.³  Renters pay around $1,040 per month for a one-bedroom apartment or $1,199 for a two-bedroom,⁴ and average monthly utilities are around $374.⁵ 

Kentucky’s largest city, Louisville, has a population of 998,892, an average income of $59,915, and average monthly rent of $1,867,⁵ according to Move.org.

Kentucky leans Republican. Donald J. Trump won the vote in 2020, and the state has voted Republican in every presidential election since 2000.⁶ Its senators are Mitch McConnel and Rand Paul. Six members in the U.S. House represent Kentucky.

Moving costs vary depending on the type of moving services you need, where you’re moving from, how much stuff you have, seasonality, and the amount and type of belongings you’re moving. The average long-distance move using professional movers costs around $9,140.⁷ The cheapest way to move is by renting a moving container or moving truck.

Some of the best places to live in Kentucky are Fort Thomas, Anchorage, Edgewood, Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, and Cherokee Seneca.

Some benefits of moving to Kentucky include a lower cost of living, affordable housing costs, a centralized location, plenty of outdoor recreation, and of course, good bourbon. Some cons of moving to Kentucky are the lack of diversity, lower-quality public education, and in some areas, access to health care may be more limited.

You will pay an average of $105 per month for a non-climate-controlled storage unit in Kentucky.⁸ However, storage unit costs range depending on size, location, and whether or not you need climate control. Our analysis shows that prices from the best self-storage companies range from around $70 to $300, with an average of $190 a month.⁹

We conducted intensive research to identify the best moving companies for long-distance moves and local moves, in addition to container moves, truck rentals, and hourly moving labor:

• 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.

• Review accreditation. We check every company’s records in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s database to confirm companies are properly authorized to transport household goods.

• 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.

• Best Professional Movers
• Best Car Shipping Companies
• Best Moving Container Companies
• Best Cheap Moving Companies
• Best Moving Truck Rental Companies

• What Should Go on a Moving Checklist?
• What is the Cost of Living in Louisville?
• Should I Hire a Professional Mover?
• How Do I Update my License and Registration in Kentucky?
• When is the Best Time to Move?

1. The United States Census Bureau, “QuickFacts: Kentucky,” Accessed November, 8 2022.
2. Deloitte, “Data USA: Kentucky,” Accessed November 8, 2022.
3. Redfin, “Kentucky Housing Market,” Accessed November 8, 2022.
4. Zoe Baillargeon, “Cost of Living in Kentucky,” Rent.com, Published July 11, 2022. Accessed November 8, 2022.
5. Sarah Cimarusti, Move.org, “Utility Bills 101: Utilities Tips, Average Costs, Fees, and More,” Published October 28, 2022. Accessed November 8, 2022.
6. Ballotpedia, “Presidential Voting Trends in Kentucky,” Accessed November 8, 2022.
7. Colin Holmes, Move.org, “How Much Does It Cost to Move?” Published June 6, 2022. Accessed November 8, 2022.
8. RentCafe, “Storage Units in Kentucky,” Accessed November 8, 2022.
9. Kurt Manwaring, Move.org, “How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Storage Unit?” Published September 27, 2022. Accessed November 8, 2022.